Essential Oils & Aromatherapy · Essential oil
Yuzu Oil
Citrus junos Siebold ex Yu.Tanaka · also called Yuzu, yuja, yuzu peel oil, yuzu essential oil
Yuzu oil is the citrus-and-floral oil from the peel of the yuzu fruit, a Japanese citrus. It is used in perfume and aromatherapy, and a few small trials from Japan have tested the smell for mood and stress. The evidence is low quality and mostly from one research group. The main cautions: essential oils must not be swallowed, they can cause skin allergy, and sources disagree about whether pressed yuzu oil can cause sun reactions.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Yuzu Oil
Yuzu oil is a citrus perfume oil from Japan. Small trials report calmer mood when it is smelled, but they are low quality. Safety comes first: essential oils should not be swallowed, they can cause skin allergy, and sources disagree about sun reactions with the pressed oil.
What yuzu oil is
Yuzu (Citrus junos) is a Japanese citrus fruit with a strong aroma. Yuzu oil is the essential oil from its peel. It can be pressed from the peel (cold-pressed or expressed) or made by steam distillation, and the two have a different make-up.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) lists the accepted name as Citrus × junos. Citrus peel oils are mostly d-limonene. Yuzu's distinct aroma is credited to compounds such as yuzunone, found solely in yuzu peel oil among the citrus compared in a 2009 paper.
Yuzu seed oil, juice and peel extract are different products, and one study you may see named 'yuzu' used an oil whose source the abstract gives as a different citrus.
What people use it for, and how strong the evidence is
Mood and stress are the best-studied uses, and every trial is about smelling the oil. Two small crossover studies of healthy young women found lower mood-disturbance scores after 10 minutes of the scent. One found a lower saliva stress marker, and another found lower heart rate and a higher calm-nervous-system measure. These came from one research group, tested one short session, and the smell cannot be hidden from people.
A clinic study of 121 mothers found lower anxiety scores, but it was not clearly randomized. One very small premenstrual study (17 women) compared yuzu with lavender, not with no scent. A 2021 study reported less fatigue and better task performance; some authors work for a fragrance company.
None of these trials tested the oil on skin or swallowed, and none supports using it that way.
The winter-solstice yuzu bath
In Japan, whole yuzu fruit is floated in the bath at the winter solstice. Wikipedia traces the custom to the Edo period (1603 to 1867) and says people believe it guards against colds, eases rough skin, warms the body and relaxes the mind.
These are beliefs. We searched PubMed and found no trial of a yuzu bath, and none of yuzu essential oil added to bath water. The custom uses the whole fruit, which is a different product from the pressed oil. Essential oil can float undiluted on bath water and reach the skin, so this page gives no bath advice.
The research in one view
Seven small human or survey studies were read: four on mood, stress or calm measures, one on premenstrual symptoms, one on fatigue in a driving simulator, and one memory survey. Certainty is low or very low. Laboratory and mouse studies exist but do not show benefit in people.
Gaps: no hidden-placebo scent trial, no trial in people with an anxiety or sleep disorder, no yuzu sun-reaction test, and no bath trial.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Strong aroma used in Japanese cooking (2009 flavour paper).
- Described as traditionally used in Japan to promote psychosomatic health (2016 trial background).
- Whole fruit floated in the bath at the winter solstice in Japan, believed to guard against colds and ease rough skin (Wikipedia article; a custom, not a studied treatment).
Studied for research
- Mood and stress markers, smelled oil, low
- Heart rate and calm-nervous-system measures, smelled oil, low
- Anxiety in mothers of sick children, diffused oil, very low
- Premenstrual emotional symptoms, smelled oil, very low
- Fatigue and alertness, smelled oil, very low
- Yuzu bath, no trial found, insufficient
Main compounds
- d-Limonene, the main compound in citrus peel oils
- Terpinen-4-ol, linked to stress-test results in mice
- Yuzunone, an aroma compound found solely in yuzu peel oil among citrus compared (2009)
Common forms
- Essential oil pressed from the peel (cold-pressed or expressed)
- Steam-distilled peel oil
- Yuzu seed oil, yuzu juice and peel extracts (different products)
- Whole fruit in the bath at the winter solstice (a custom, not the oil)
Research links: NAHA safety page (photosensitizer and non-phototoxic tables) · Poison Control: Essential oils · Pet Poison Helpline: Essential oils · Review: Biological activities and safety of citrus essential oils (abstract) · Yuzu scent and salivary stress marker (abstract) · Yuzu scent and autonomic activity (abstract) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
What it is and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Citrus junos
- Naming authority
- Siebold ex Yu.Tanaka (as in GBIF: Citrus × junos Siebold ex Yu.Tanaka)
- Common names
- Yuzu (Japanese / English); Yuja (Korean)
- Family or group
- Rutaceae (the citrus family), per GBIF.
- Classification
- Plantae > Rutaceae > Citrus > Citrus junos
- Native range
- Not checked beyond the papers: the 2009 flavour paper calls it a Japanese tree-grown fruit used in Japanese cooking.
- Habitat
- Not checked.
- What it looks like
- Part used: The oil is the essential oil of the fruit peel. Cold-pressed (expressed) and steam-distilled oils both exist, and the 2024 Foods paper analysed both types.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Other 'yuzu' products; Note: Yuzu seed oil, yuzu juice, yuzu peel extract and yuzu-scented products are different from the peel essential oil. The 2014 clinic trial names its oil source as Citrus ichangensis x Citrus reticulata, so 'yuzu' on a label may mean different citrus.; Name: Other citrus peel oils; Note: Lemon, lime, bitter orange and bergamot pressed oils are on NAHA's photosensitizer list; yuzu is listed by the same page as non-phototoxic. They are different oils.
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not checked.
Photographs
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese cooking and seasonal use | The 2009 flavour paper says yuzu is widely used in Japanese food and cooking for its flavour. The 2016 trial says yuzu has traditionally been used in Japan to promote psychosomatic health. | Miyazawa et al 2009; Matsumoto et al 2016 |
| Winter-solstice yuzu bath (yuzuyu), Japan | Whole fruit is floated in the bath at the winter solstice. Wikipedia traces the custom to the Edo period (1603 to 1867) and says it is believed to guard against colds, ease rough skin, warm the body and relax the mind. These are beliefs, not tested effects, and the custom uses the whole fruit rather than the pressed oil. | Wikipedia 'Yuzu bath', read 2026-10-25 |
Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| d-Limonene PubChem 22311 | monoterpene | Peel oil 50.88 to 97.19% across the peel oils of 21 citrus cultivars (2025 paper); a yuzu-specific percentage was not read reliably. | Main compound of citrus peel oils; forms oxidized skin allergens as the oil ages; reduced reactive oxygen species and MCP-1 in a cell line. 24 21 6 18 | Laboratory, patch test series |
| Terpinen-4-ol PubChem 11230 | monoterpene alcohol | Peel oil Not read for yuzu. | Shortened immobility time in the mouse swim test (single compound). 24 8 | Animal research |
| Linalool PubChem 6549 | monoterpene alcohol | Peel oil Not read reliably for yuzu. | Oxidized linalool is a known skin allergen in patch-test series. 24 18 17 | Patch test series |
| Yuzunone and Yuzuol | odour compounds | Peel oil Not given in the abstract. | A 2009 paper reports that yuzunone contributes greatly to the distinct yuzu aroma; yuzuol was identified for the first time in nature. (E)-non-6-enal and yuzunone were found solely in yuzu peel oil among the citrus compared. 12 | Laboratory |
| Furanocoumarins (bergapten, bergamottin and relatives) | furanocoumarin | Pressed citrus peel oil A yuzu value was not found. | Compounds behind sun reactions in some pressed citrus oils; levels vary between species, varieties and origins. 4 | Laboratory |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calm-nervous-system measures after smelling the oil | Not specified | Heart rate fell and high-frequency heart-rate variability rose in healthy women; the authors read this as more calm-branch activity. Mechanism of how the smell causes this is not established. 10 14 | Human, small trials |
| Brain growth factors in mice (BDNF, NGF, NT-3) | BDNF, NGF, NT-3 | A synthetic copy of steam-distilled yuzu oil raised these in the mouse hippocampus; terpinen-4-ol alone shortened immobility in a swim test. 8 | Animal research |
| Eosinophil inflammation signals | NF-kappa B, p38 MAPK, MCP-1 | Limonene from yuzu oil lowered reactive oxygen species and MCP-1 and reduced cell movement in a leukemia cell line. 6 | Laboratory research |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- Not established for yuzu oil.
- Distribution
- Not established.
- Metabolism
- Not established for yuzu oil. A lab test found yuzu slice (a food) had very weak CYP3A inhibition compared with grapefruit juice.
- Elimination
- Not established.
- Bioavailability
- Not established.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
Yuzu peel essential oil is not yuzu fruit, juice, peel extract or seed oil. The scent trials used the peel oil; the mouse eczema study used seed oil by mouth; the lung-cell work used an extract. Results do not carry between them. Cold-pressed and steam-distilled oils also differ in make-up (2024 Foods paper).
Nutritional composition
Yuzu oil is not a nutrient or a food source of any vitamin or mineral.
2 low certainty3 very low certainty5 not enough evidence
What is Yuzu Oil good for?
The uses people ask about and how strong the evidence is for each. Read the certainty label first. Every result here is for smelling the oil.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Mood and stress markers (smelling the oil)
Low certaintyTwo small crossover studies in healthy young women found lower mood-disturbance scores after 10 minutes of yuzu scent than after unscented water. One also found a lower saliva stress marker. Both come from one research group.
2 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
In a randomized crossover study of 20 healthy women (2014), 10 minutes of yuzu scent was compared with unscented water. In a single-blind crossover study of 21 women (2016), yuzu scent was compared with water in two phases of the menstrual cycle.
Results
2014: salivary chromogranin A fell after the scent and fell further at 30 minutes; POMS total mood disturbance and tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility and confusion were lower for up to 30 minutes. 2016: POMS total mood disturbance, tension-anxiety and fatigue were lower for up to 35 minutes in both cycle phases.
Effect sizes as reported
p-values only in the abstracts.
Why this rating
Small trials from one research group; healthy young women only; one short session each; the smell cannot be hidden, so blinding is weak; no long-term follow-up.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Who was studied
Healthy women in their 20s in Japan.
Limits
Same research group; self-rated mood scores; short-term; only women in their 20s; a stress marker is not a health outcome.
Why researchers looked
Yuzu has a strong, pleasant citrus-and-floral scent that is part of daily life in Japan, so researchers tested it as a calming smell.
Traditional use
Yuzu is described as used 'to promote psychosomatic health in Japan' in the 2016 trial's background.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Not established in the papers read.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Scent only. These studies do not show the oil is safe on skin in sunlight or safe to swallow. See the Safety tab.
Heart rate and calm-nervous-system measures (smelling the oil)
Low certaintyIn the 2016 crossover study of 21 women, 10 minutes of yuzu scent lowered heart rate and raised a heart-rate-variability measure linked to the calm branch of the nervous system. A 2021 Japanese study also reported calmer-nerve signs.
2 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
The 2016 study (21 women) measured heart rate and heart-rate variability before and after yuzu scent or water. The 2021 study tested yuzu and iyokan oils on pupils, fingertip temperature and brain blood oxygen.
Results
2016: heart rate fell and high-frequency heart-rate variability rose, for at least 25 minutes, in both cycle phases. 2021: both oils raised pupil-constriction rate and fingertip temperature; the authors read this as a move toward parasympathetic (calm) dominance.
Effect sizes as reported
p-values only in the abstracts.
Why this rating
Short-term body measures in small groups of healthy adults. The 2021 abstract gives no sample size, and several of its authors work for a fragrance company.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Who was studied
Healthy young adults in Japan.
Limits
Body measures are not health outcomes; industry-linked authors on the 2021 study; the scent cannot be hidden.
Why researchers looked
Researchers wanted a body measure of calm, not only a questionnaire.
Traditional use
Not applicable.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Not established in the papers read.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Scent only. These studies do not show the oil is safe on skin in sunlight or safe to swallow. See the Safety tab.
Anxiety in mothers of sick children (diffused oil)
Very low certaintyA Japanese clinic study of 121 mothers found lower state-anxiety scores in the group with diffused yuzu oil than in the group without. It was not clearly randomized, and the abstract names a different citrus parentage for the oil.
1 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A controlled clinical trial in a paediatric clinic: 60 mothers in the aromatherapy room and 61 in a comparison group. Anxiety was scored with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory after 15 minutes.
Results
State anxiety was lower in the aromatherapy group (significant group-by-time difference).
Effect sizes as reported
Significance only in the abstract.
Why this rating
Not described as randomized or blinded; the authors themselves ask for a multicentre randomized or double-blind trial; the oil is named in the abstract as Citrus ichangensis x Citrus reticulata, not Citrus junos.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Who was studied
Mothers of children receiving an infusion at a clinic in Japan.
Limits
Allocation method unclear; self-rated scores; one clinic; plant identity questioned.
Why researchers looked
Waiting while a child has an infusion is stressful, so staff tested a calming scent in the room.
Traditional use
Not applicable.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Not established in the papers read.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Scent only. These studies do not show the oil is safe on skin in sunlight or safe to swallow. See the Safety tab.
Man-made copy of yuzu scent and stress tests (humans and mice)
Not enough evidenceA lab-made fragrance built to copy steam-distilled yuzu oil lowered heart rate in people. In mice it shortened immobility in a swim test, as did a single compound, terpinen-4-ol. This is not evidence about the natural oil.
1 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Three experiments: one in people and two in mice, using synthetic copies of cold-pressed and steam-distilled yuzu oil and five single compounds.
Results
The steam-distilled copy lowered heart rate in people. In mice it shortened immobility time and raised BDNF, NGF and NT-3 in the hippocampus. Terpinen-4-ol alone shortened immobility time.
Effect sizes as reported
Not given in the abstract.
Why this rating
The human part used a synthetic copy, the numbers of volunteers are not in the abstract, and the mouse swim test is an animal stress model.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Who was studied
Human volunteers and laboratory mice.
Limits
Synthetic copy, not the natural oil; animal model; no sample sizes in the abstract.
Why researchers looked
Researchers wanted to know which parts of the scent do the work.
Traditional use
Not applicable.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
In mice, the steam-distilled copy raised brain growth factors (BDNF, NGF, NT-3) in the hippocampus; terpinen-4-ol alone shortened immobility. Not shown for people.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Laboratory and animal findings only. Not a reason to use the oil in any way.
Premenstrual emotional symptoms (smelling the oil)
Very low certaintyOne very small crossover study of 17 women with premenstrual symptoms found lower tension, anger and fatigue scores after yuzu scent, with results close to lavender. There was no unscented comparison.
1 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A single-blind randomized crossover study in the luteal phase compared 10 minutes of yuzu with lavender (used as the control).
Results
Heart rate fell and high-frequency heart-rate variability rose. POMS tension-anxiety, anger-hostility, fatigue and total mood disturbance were lower for up to 35 minutes. Yuzu and lavender did not differ.
Effect sizes as reported
p-values only; no difference from lavender.
Why this rating
Only 17 women; compared with lavender rather than no scent, so it cannot show yuzu works better than nothing; short follow-up; one research group.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Who was studied
Women in their 20s with self-reported premenstrual symptoms.
Limits
Very small; no unscented control; self-rated scores.
Why researchers looked
Mood changes before a period are a common reason people try aromatherapy.
Traditional use
Not applicable.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Not established in the papers read.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Scent only. Severe or unusual period problems need a clinician.
Fatigue and alertness (smelling the oil)
Very low certaintyA 2021 Japanese study reported less fatigue, more feeling of refreshment and better task performance after yuzu oil. A 2025 driving-simulator study found that fragrance in general lowered fatigue, but did not show yuzu to be different from two other scents.
2 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
2021: healthy adults smelled yuzu or iyokan oil while pupil response, fingertip temperature, prefrontal blood oxygen and tasks were measured. 2025: 40 drivers in a simulator, with three scents (hinoki, grassy, yuzu) compared with no scent.
Results
2021: less fatigue, more refreshment, higher prefrontal oxygenated haemoglobin and better task performance after yuzu. 2025: fragrance lowered fatigue ratings and negative mood overall; the authors say fragrance type had limited effect.
Effect sizes as reported
Not given in the abstracts for yuzu alone.
Why this rating
Abstracts give no sample size for the 2021 study; several of its authors work for a fragrance company; the 2025 study did not separate yuzu from the other scents and may not have used a pure oil.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Who was studied
Healthy adults; simulated drivers.
Limits
Industry-linked authors (2021); short-term; scent cannot be hidden; yuzu not isolated in the 2025 study.
Why researchers looked
Citrus scents are often described as refreshing, so researchers measured fatigue and task performance.
Traditional use
Not applicable.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Not established in the papers read.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Scent only. These studies do not show the oil is safe on skin in sunlight or safe to swallow. See the Safety tab.
Scent as a memory trigger in older adults (survey)
Not enough evidenceIn a survey of 118 older adults in Japan, at least 70% said the scent of yuzu fruit brought back memories. Nobody was shown to benefit; this only describes what people say.
1 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A questionnaire study: people were asked about 40 familiar scents; they were not given the scents to smell.
Results
At least 70% reported recalling the past for 16 scents, including sandalwood and yuzu fruit.
Effect sizes as reported
No effect size.
Why this rating
A questionnaire about the fruit scent, not a test of any oil, and no outcome of benefit or safety.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Who was studied
Adults aged 65 and over in Japan.
Limits
Self-report; not a test of the oil; no health outcome.
Why researchers looked
Familiar scents are used in memory-based care for older people.
Traditional use
Not applicable.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Not established in the papers read.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Not applicable.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory tests in the lab (peel oil)
Not enough evidenceIn a test-tube study of 21 citrus oils, the Citrus junos oil had the highest phenolic content, but it was not the most active in the antioxidant tests. Limonene from yuzu oil lowered inflammation signals in a cancer cell line. Neither shows a benefit in people.
2 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human trial. Both papers are laboratory studies.
Results
2025: Citrus junos oil had the highest phenolic content (360.04 mg GAE/100 g); the main compound in all oils was d-limonene. 2010: limonene lowered reactive oxygen species and MCP-1 and reduced cell movement in HL-60 clone 15 cells at millimole-per-litre concentrations.
Effect sizes as reported
Test-tube values only.
Why this rating
Test-tube and cell-line work cannot be applied to people.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Who was studied
Chemistry tests and a human cell line.
Limits
Laboratory only; concentrations not realistic for breathing a scent.
Why researchers looked
Labs often test peel oils for antioxidant chemistry.
Traditional use
Not applicable.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
d-Limonene is the main compound in the oils tested; a cell-line study suggests it can lower reactive oxygen species and MCP-1. Lab only.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Laboratory findings only. They are not a reason to use the oil in any way.
Yuzu seed oil and eczema-like skin in mice (a different oil)
Not enough evidenceYuzu seed oil, a different product from the scent oil, eased eczema-like skin changes in mice when given by mouth. This is animal work and does not apply to the peel essential oil.
1 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human trial of seed oil was read. The abstract mentions earlier clinical trials in 41 people but gives no results here.
Results
In mice with mite-induced dermatitis, unheated seed oil by mouth lowered skin scores, ear thickness and IgE after 28 days compared with water; histamine was unchanged.
Effect sizes as reported
Not given in the abstract.
Why this rating
A mouse study of a different product; the human trials mentioned in the abstract were not read.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Who was studied
Laboratory mice.
Limits
Animal only; different oil; swallowed.
Why researchers looked
Seed oil is sold as a food oil in Japan.
Traditional use
Not applicable.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Not established in the papers read.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Essential oils should not be swallowed. This finding is about a seed food oil in mice, not the peel essential oil.
Yuzu bath (winter-solstice tradition)
Not enough evidenceIn Japan people float whole yuzu fruit in the bath at the winter solstice. We found no trial of a yuzu bath, and none of yuzu oil added to bath water, so no health effect can be stated.
1 studiesNot covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
No human study of a yuzu bath was found in PubMed searches on 2026-10-25.
Results
No results to report.
Effect sizes as reported
None.
Why this rating
No study of the custom was found. The custom uses the whole fruit, not the pressed essential oil.
Form and dose studied
Not covered. This page gives no amounts and no ways of using the oil.
Who was studied
None studied.
Limits
Tradition only; whole fruit is a different product from the oil; any bath advice would be a guess.
Why researchers looked
It is a seasonal custom people enjoy for the scent.
Traditional use
Wikipedia's article on the yuzu bath describes the custom, traces it to the Edo period (1603 to 1867), and says it is believed to guard against colds, ease rough skin, warm the body and relax the mind. That is a belief, not a finding.
Proposed mechanism Preliminary mechanism
Not established in the papers read.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Essential oil added to bath water can still reach the skin and can float undiluted on top. No bath use of the oil is advised here.
Connections to the rest of health
How Yuzu Oil connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
A. Wellness goals
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stress Reduction | Potential benefit | Low certainty | Mood and stress markers (smelling the oil): Two small crossover studies in healthy young women found lower mood-disturbance scores after 10 minutes of yuzu scent than after unscented water. One also found a lower saliva stress marker. Both come from one research group. Anxiety in mothers of sick children (diffused oil): A Japanese clinic study of 121 mothers found lower state-anxiety scores in the group with diffused yuzu oil than in the group without. It was not clearly randomized, and the abstract names a different citrus parentage for the oil. | 9 10 20 |
| Mood Balance | Potential benefit | Low certainty | Mood and stress markers (smelling the oil): Two small crossover studies in healthy young women found lower mood-disturbance scores after 10 minutes of yuzu scent than after unscented water. One also found a lower saliva stress marker. Both come from one research group. Premenstrual emotional symptoms (smelling the oil): One very small crossover study of 17 women with premenstrual symptoms found lower tension, anger and fatigue scores after yuzu scent, with results close to lavender. There was no unscented comparison. | 9 10 11 |
| Calm Relaxation | Potential benefit | Low certainty | Mood and stress markers (smelling the oil): Two small crossover studies in healthy young women found lower mood-disturbance scores after 10 minutes of yuzu scent than after unscented water. One also found a lower saliva stress marker. Both come from one research group. Heart rate and calm-nervous-system measures (smelling the oil): In the 2016 crossover study of 21 women, 10 minutes of yuzu scent lowered heart rate and raised a heart-rate-variability measure linked to the calm branch of the nervous system. A 2021 Japanese study also reported calmer-nerve signs. | 9 10 14 |
| Stress Relaxation | Potential benefit | Low certainty | Heart rate and calm-nervous-system measures (smelling the oil): In the 2016 crossover study of 21 women, 10 minutes of yuzu scent lowered heart rate and raised a heart-rate-variability measure linked to the calm branch of the nervous system. A 2021 Japanese study also reported calmer-nerve signs. | 10 14 |
| Anxiety Support | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Anxiety in mothers of sick children (diffused oil): A Japanese clinic study of 121 mothers found lower state-anxiety scores in the group with diffused yuzu oil than in the group without. It was not clearly randomized, and the abstract names a different citrus parentage for the oil. | 20 |
| Stress Reduction | Not enough evidence | Man-made copy of yuzu scent and stress tests (humans and mice): A lab-made fragrance built to copy steam-distilled yuzu oil lowered heart rate in people. In mice it shortened immobility in a swim test, as did a single compound, terpinen-4-ol. This is not evidence about the natural oil. | 8 | |
| Womens Wellness | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Premenstrual emotional symptoms (smelling the oil): One very small crossover study of 17 women with premenstrual symptoms found lower tension, anger and fatigue scores after yuzu scent, with results close to lavender. There was no unscented comparison. | 11 |
| Reduce Fatigue | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Fatigue and alertness (smelling the oil): A 2021 Japanese study reported less fatigue, more feeling of refreshment and better task performance after yuzu oil. A 2025 driving-simulator study found that fragrance in general lowered fatigue, but did not show yuzu to be different from two other scents. | 14 2 |
| Mental Clarity | Potential benefit | Very low certainty | Fatigue and alertness (smelling the oil): A 2021 Japanese study reported less fatigue, more feeling of refreshment and better task performance after yuzu oil. A 2025 driving-simulator study found that fragrance in general lowered fatigue, but did not show yuzu to be different from two other scents. | 14 2 |
| Memory Support | Not enough evidence | Scent as a memory trigger in older adults (survey): In a survey of 118 older adults in Japan, at least 70% said the scent of yuzu fruit brought back memories. Nobody was shown to benefit; this only describes what people say. | 5 | |
| Cellular Protection | Not enough evidence | Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory tests in the lab (peel oil): In a test-tube study of 21 citrus oils, the Citrus junos oil had the highest phenolic content, but it was not the most active in the antioxidant tests. Limonene from yuzu oil lowered inflammation signals in a cancer cell line. Neither shows a benefit in people. | 21 6 | |
| Inflammation Balance | Not enough evidence | Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory tests in the lab (peel oil): In a test-tube study of 21 citrus oils, the Citrus junos oil had the highest phenolic content, but it was not the most active in the antioxidant tests. Limonene from yuzu oil lowered inflammation signals in a cancer cell line. Neither shows a benefit in people. | 21 6 | |
| Healthy Skin | Not enough evidence | Yuzu seed oil and eczema-like skin in mice (a different oil): Yuzu seed oil, a different product from the scent oil, eased eczema-like skin changes in mice when given by mouth. This is animal work and does not apply to the peel essential oil. | 1 | |
| Seasonal Wellness | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Yuzu bath (winter-solstice tradition): In Japan people float whole yuzu fruit in the bath at the winter solstice. We found no trial of a yuzu bath, and none of yuzu oil added to bath water, so no health effect can be stated. | 22 |
| Calm Relaxation | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Yuzu bath (winter-solstice tradition): In Japan people float whole yuzu fruit in the bath at the winter solstice. We found no trial of a yuzu bath, and none of yuzu oil added to bath water, so no health effect can be stated. | 22 |
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nervous System | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Mood and stress markers (smelling the oil) Studied for: Heart rate and calm-nervous-system measures (smelling the oil) | 9 10 14 20 8 2 5 |
| Stress Mood | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Mood and stress markers (smelling the oil) Studied for: Anxiety in mothers of sick children (diffused oil) | 9 10 20 8 11 |
| Reproductive System | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Premenstrual emotional symptoms (smelling the oil) | 11 |
| Brain Focus | Biological association | Very low certainty | Studied for: Fatigue and alertness (smelling the oil) Studied for: Scent as a memory trigger in older adults (survey) | 14 2 5 |
| Cells | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory tests in the lab (peel oil) | 21 6 |
| Skin | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Yuzu seed oil and eczema-like skin in mice (a different oil) | 1 |
| Whole Body | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Yuzu bath (winter-solstice tradition) | 22 |
E. Health conditions
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photosensitivity of skin | Adverse effect or risk | Disputed risk | Sources disagree about yuzu; no independent test or case report was found. Preparation or compound: Pressed citrus peel oils (furanocoumarins); yuzu disputed |
13 4 3 |
| Contact dermatitis | Adverse effect or risk | Documented risk | Patch-test clinic series; not tests of the oil itself. Preparation or compound: Oxidized limonene and linalool (components of aged citrus oils) |
18 17 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salivary chromogranin A | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: decrease. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 9 |
| Heart rate and high-frequency heart-rate variability | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: decrease (heart rate) / increase (HF-HRV). A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 10 |
| Profile of Mood States (POMS), total mood disturbance | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: decrease. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 9 |
| State anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: decrease. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 20 |
| POMS tension-anxiety, anger-hostility and fatigue sub-scores | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: decrease. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 11 |
| Prefrontal oxygenated haemoglobin | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: increase (yuzu). A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 14 |
J. Genes, receptors and enzymes
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CYP3A4 | Preliminary mechanism | In vitro | Grapefruit-type enzyme blocking; a yuzu slice food showed very weak activity in a lab test; not tested for the oil. | 7 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| d-Limonene | Biological association | Laboratory, patch test series | Main compound of citrus peel oils; forms oxidized skin allergens as the oil ages; reduced reactive oxygen species and MCP-1 in a cell line. Preparation or compound: Peel oil |
24 21 6 18 |
| Terpinen-4-ol | Biological association | Animal | Shortened immobility time in the mouse swim test (single compound). Preparation or compound: Peel oil |
24 8 |
| Linalool | Biological association | Patch test series | Oxidized linalool is a known skin allergen in patch-test series. Preparation or compound: Peel oil |
24 18 17 |
| Yuzunone and Yuzuol | Biological association | Laboratory | A 2009 paper reports that yuzunone contributes greatly to the distinct yuzu aroma; yuzuol was identified for the first time in nature. (E)-non-6-enal and yuzunone were found solely in yuzu peel oil among the citrus compared. Preparation or compound: Peel oil |
12 |
| Furanocoumarins (bergapten, bergamottin and relatives) | Biological association | Laboratory | Compounds behind sun reactions in some pressed citrus oils; levels vary between species, varieties and origins. Preparation or compound: Pressed citrus peel oil |
4 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
The evidence
The research centre for Yuzu Oil. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We read the abstracts of 17 PubMed papers, the full text of one review, and the NAHA, Poison Control, Pet Poison Helpline and Tisserand pages; we checked the plant name in GBIF and the compounds in PubChem. We did not check NCCIH, EMA, LiverTox, LactMed or IFRA.
Study library: every study we checked 24
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asano 2024 Oral Ingestion of Yuzu Seed Oil Suppresses the Development of Atopic Dermatitis-like Skin Lesions in NC/Nga Mice. Int J Mol Sci · PMID 38473936 · DOI |
Animal experiment mouse |
NC/Nga mice with mite-antigen-induced dermatitis | Unheated yuzu SEED oil given by mouth (a different product from the peel essential oil) seed oil Not reported here 28 days · vs Water, and heated/purified seed oil |
Unheated seed oil lowered skin scores, ear thickness and IgE compared with water. Histamine did not change. Not given in the abstract Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Skin severity score, ear thickness, serum IgE Limitations: Mouse study; the oil is pressed from seeds and swallowed, which is not what this page is about; two authors list a yuzu research course and an agricultural cooperative as affiliations. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Two authors list a yuzu research course and an agricultural cooperative as affiliations. Read: abstract |
| Chen 2025 Efficacy of Fragrance Types and Intervention Methods in Reducing Driver Fatigue and Modulating Emotional Development Assessed by HRV and Subjective Indicators. Sensors (Basel) · PMID 41157503 · DOI |
Randomized simulated driving experiment |
40 Healthy drivers (mean age 31) in a driving simulator; one group tested three fragrances (hinoki, grassy, yuzu) |
Yuzu fragrance (one of three) released in a car cabin fragrance (type of product not specified in the abstract) Not reported here Simulated driving task · vs No fragrance |
Fragrance overall lowered fatigue ratings and negative mood compared with none. The authors say fragrance type had limited effect, so yuzu was not shown to be different from the other two scents. Not given for yuzu alone in the abstract Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Fatigue ratings; POMS; heart-rate variability Limitations: Yuzu was one of three scents and was not separated out in the abstract; a simulator, not real driving; the abstract does not say the product was a pure essential oil. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no competing interests. Read: abstract |
| Dosoky 2018 Biological Activities and Safety of Citrus spp. Essential Oils. Int J Mol Sci · PMID 29976894 · DOI |
Narrative review review |
Review of 11 citrus essential oils including yuzu (Citrus junos) | Citrus essential oils essential oil (peel) Not reported here n/a · vs n/a |
Full text (PMC) read for the yuzu and safety sections. States that distilled citrus oils are not phototoxic while expressed oils carry a low to moderate phototoxicity risk because of furanocoumarins; that old or oxidized oil can sensitize skin; that yuzu oil is listed as not phototoxic, not irritating and not sensitizing (citing an earlier reference work); and that citrus oils should be diluted in a carrier oil before skin use and stored dark, airtight and cool. For yuzu it lists cell and animal findings and the human scent trials. No pooled numbers Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Biological activities and safety Limitations: Narrative review, not systematic; the yuzu safety rows rest on an older reference work, not new tests; authors at an essential-oil research centre; the abstract notes a company had no role in the writing. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no conflict of interest. dōTERRA International had no role in the writing. Read: full-text |
| Dosoky 2022 Authentication of Citrus spp. Cold-Pressed Essential Oils by Their Oxygenated Heterocyclic Components. Molecules · PMID 36234812 · DOI |
Laboratory chemistry survey in vitro |
Cold-pressed oils of 12 citrus species | Cold-pressed citrus oils essential oil (expressed peel) Not reported here n/a · vs n/a |
Citrus oils are routinely adulterated. Furanocoumarin levels varied a lot between species and also between crop varieties and origins of the same species. Italian bergamot had the highest levels. The abstract gives no yuzu value. No yuzu number in the abstract Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: 14 coumarins and furanocoumarins Limitations: The abstract does not report yuzu, so it shows only that levels differ between oils and suppliers. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Read: abstract |
| Hanaoka 2019 Study of aromas as reminiscence triggers in community-dwelling older adults in Japan. J Rural Med · PMID 31191771 · DOI |
Questionnaire survey |
118 Community-dwelling adults aged 65 and over in Japan |
Questionnaire about 40 familiar scents, including yuzu fruit (people were asked, not given the scent) scent names Not reported here n/a · vs n/a |
At least 70% of participants reported recalling the past with 16 scents, including sandalwood and yuzu fruit. No effect size Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Whether a scent brings back memories Limitations: A survey of what people say, not a test of any oil; says nothing about benefit or safety. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Hirota 2010 Anti-inflammatory effects of limonene from yuzu (Citrus junos Tanaka) essential oil on eosinophils. J Food Sci · PMID 20492298 · DOI |
Laboratory cell study in vitro |
Human eosinophilic leukemia HL-60 clone 15 cells | Limonene from yuzu peel oil, applied to cells single compound from peel oil Not reported here n/a · vs Untreated cells and pathway blockers |
Limonene lowered reactive oxygen species and MCP-1 and reduced cell movement in these cells. The authors suggest it may have potential for asthma. Cell-level values only Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Reactive oxygen species, MCP-1, NF-kappa B, p38 MAPK, cell movement Limitations: A cancer cell line in a dish; the concentrations used are in millimoles per litre, and nothing here shows an effect of inhaling the oil in people with asthma. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Ishihara 2011 Furanocoumarins contents and cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) inhibitory activities of various processed fruit peel products. Yakugaku Zasshi · PMID 21532264 · DOI |
Laboratory study (article in Japanese; English abstract read) in vitro |
Processed fruit-peel food products | Processed peel foods, including a yuzu slice food product (not an essential oil) Not reported here n/a · vs Grapefruit juice |
The yuzu slice had very weak CYP3A inhibitory activity, 1/8 to 1/20 of 100% grapefruit juice. Ratio to grapefruit juice only Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Furanocoumarins and CYP3A inhibition in the lab Limitations: A food product, not the pressed oil, and a lab enzyme test; it says nothing about the oil or about interactions in people. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Kitamoto 2024 Antistress Effects of Terpinen-4-ol and Compounds of Mimicked Yuzu Synthetic Fragrance in Humans and Mice. Foods · PMID 39410087 · DOI |
Three experiments: a human experiment and two mouse experiments human and mouse |
Human volunteers (number not in the abstract) and mice | Two synthetic fragrances built to copy cold-pressed and steam-distilled yuzu oil; five single compounds (including terpinen-4-ol) synthetic copies of peel oil, not the natural oil Not reported here Not given in the abstract · vs Not stated in the abstract |
The synthetic copy of steam-distilled oil lowered participants' heart rate. In mice it shortened immobility time and raised BDNF, NGF and NT-3 in the hippocampus. Terpinen-4-ol alone shortened immobility time. Not given in the abstract Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Heart rate and chromogranin A (humans); immobility time in the forced swim test and brain growth-factor levels (mice) Limitations: The human part used a synthetic copy, not natural yuzu oil; the mouse swim test is an animal stress model, not a model of human anxiety; only the steam-distilled copy worked in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Read: abstract |
| Matsumoto 2014 Effects of olfactory stimulation from the fragrance of the Japanese citrus fruit yuzu (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka) on mood states and salivary chromogranin A as an endocrinologic stress marker. J Altern Complement Med · PMID 24742226 · DOI |
Randomized controlled crossover study |
20 Healthy women, mean age 20.5, in the follicular phase of the cycle |
Yuzu essential oil scent (inhaled) essential oil (peel) Not reported here 10-minute inhalation, measured up to 30 minutes after · vs Unscented water |
Salivary chromogranin A fell after 10 minutes of yuzu scent and fell further at 30 minutes. POMS total mood disturbance and four sub-scores (tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, confusion) were lower, for up to 30 minutes. p-values only in the abstract Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Salivary chromogranin A (stress marker); Profile of Mood States (POMS) Limitations: Small, healthy young women only; one session; the scent cannot be hidden from people, so blinding is weak; same research group as two later yuzu trials. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Matsumoto 2016 Aromatic effects of a Japanese citrus fruit-yuzu (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka)-on psychoemotional states and autonomic nervous system activity during the menstrual cycle: a single-blind randomized controlled crossover study. Biopsychosoc Med · PMID 27103942 · DOI |
Single blind randomized controlled crossover study |
21 Women in their 20s, tested in the follicular and late-luteal phases |
Yuzu essential oil scent (inhaled) essential oil (peel) Not reported here 10-minute inhalation; effects followed for 25 to 35 minutes · vs Water |
Only the yuzu scent lowered heart rate and raised high-frequency heart-rate variability (a measure linked to the calm branch of the nervous system), for at least 25 minutes. POMS total mood disturbance, tension-anxiety and fatigue were lower for up to 35 minutes, in both cycle phases. p-values only in the abstract Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Heart rate; heart-rate variability (high-frequency power); POMS Limitations: Small; healthy young women; single-blind; one short session; short-term body measures, not health outcomes. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Matsumoto 2017 Does Japanese Citrus Fruit Yuzu (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka) Fragrance Have Lavender-Like Therapeutic Effects That Alleviate Premenstrual Emotional Symptoms? A Single-Blind Randomized Crossover Study. J Altern Complement Med · PMID 28481623 · DOI |
Single blind randomized crossover study |
17 Women in their 20s with self-reported premenstrual symptoms, tested in the luteal phase |
Yuzu essential oil scent (inhaled) essential oil (peel) Not reported here 10-minute inhalation; followed up to 35 minutes · vs Lavender scent (no unscented control) |
Yuzu lowered heart rate and raised high-frequency heart-rate variability. POMS tension-anxiety, anger-hostility, fatigue and total mood disturbance were lower for up to 35 minutes. The effects did not differ from lavender. p-values only in the abstract; no difference from lavender Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Heart rate; heart-rate variability; POMS Limitations: Very small; the comparison was lavender, not an unscented control, so it cannot show yuzu beats no scent; short follow-up; same research group. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Miyazawa 2009 Novel character impact compounds in Yuzu (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka) peel oil. J Agric Food Chem · PMID 19203264 · DOI |
Laboratory aroma analysis in vitro |
Yuzu peel oil | Yuzu peel oil essential oil (peel) Not reported here n/a · vs n/a |
Seven odorants newly identified; (E)-non-6-enal and yuzunone found solely in yuzu peel oil among citrus compared; yuzuol identified for the first time in nature; yuzunone contributes greatly to the distinct yuzu aroma. n/a Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Odour-active compounds Limitations: Aroma chemistry only; authors at a flavour company (T. Hasegawa Co., Ltd.); no health outcome. Funding and conflicts: Authors from T. Hasegawa Co., Ltd. (flavour company). Funding not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| NAHA 2026 Safety (National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy), page read 2026-10-25 NAHA · Source |
Professional association guidance (not independent testing) n/a |
n/a | Essential oils in general essential oil Not reported here n/a · vs n/a |
Lists skin reactions (irritation, sensitization, photosensitization). Its table of photosensitizing oils includes expressed lemon, expressed lime, expressed bitter orange and bergamot; its table of non-phototoxic citrus oils includes 'Yuzu oil (expressed or distilled)'. Notes that oxidized oils, including citrus oils, can sensitize. Points to the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists for pregnancy guidance. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Safety guidance Limitations: A trade association page, not a test report; it gives no yuzu data of its own. Read: full-text |
| Ohata 2021 Application of integrative physiological approach to evaluate human physiological responses to the inhalation of essential oils of Japanese citrus fruits iyokan (Citrus iyo) and yuzu (Citrus junos). Biosci Biotechnol Biochem · PMID 34747971 · DOI |
Human crossover type physiological study (design details not in the abstract) |
Healthy adults (number not given in the abstract) | Yuzu essential oil (and iyokan oil) scent (inhaled) essential oil (peel) Not reported here Short inhalation sessions · vs Not stated in the abstract |
Both oils raised pupil-constriction rate and fingertip temperature and lowered feelings of fatigue while raising feelings of refreshment. Oxygenated haemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex rose after yuzu and fell after iyokan. Task performance improved after yuzu. Not given in the abstract Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Pupil response, fingertip temperature, prefrontal blood oxygen, feelings, task performance Limitations: Sample size and design are not in the abstract; several authors work for Ogawa & Co., Ltd., a fragrance and flavour company; short-term measures. Funding and conflicts: Authors from Ogawa & Co., Ltd. (fragrance company). Funding not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Pet Poison Helpline 2026 Essential Oils (Pet Poison Helpline, page read 2026-10-25) Pet Poison Helpline · Source |
Veterinary poison helpline guidance n/a |
n/a | Essential oils in general essential oil Not reported here n/a · vs n/a |
Essential oil poisoning can affect all species, with cats and birds at greatest risk. Common signs include drooling, vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite and breathing, skin or gum irritation. Its list of oils that can cause poisoning includes citrus oils (orange, lemon, lime, bergamot, mandarin, grapefruit). Yuzu is not named. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Safety guidance Limitations: A class statement; yuzu is not named. Read: full-text |
| Poison Control (US) 2026 Essential oils: Poisonous when misused (Poison Control, page read 2026-10-25) Poison Control (US) · Source |
Poison centre public guidance n/a |
n/a | Essential oils in general essential oil Not reported here n/a · vs n/a |
Some essential oils are very dangerous if swallowed; breathing a swallowed oil into the lungs can cause pneumonia. Children's thinner skin and developing livers make them more vulnerable. Keep oils out of sight and reach of children and pets. Rashes are the most common allergic reaction: wash the oil off and seek help if breathing is difficult. Pure oils are potent and are best diluted in a carrier oil before any skin use. Pregnancy is not addressed. If swallowed, call 1-800-222-1222 (US). Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Safety guidance Limitations: General guidance for all essential oils; it does not name yuzu. Read: full-text |
| Schubert 2023 Patch testing hydroperoxides of limonene and linalool in consecutive patients-Results of the IVDK 2018-2020. Contact Dermatitis · PMID 37177844 · DOI |
Patch test series |
5511 Consecutive dermatitis patients tested in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, 2018 to 2020 |
Limonene and linalool hydroperoxides (patch test) test preparations Not reported here 2018 to 2020 · vs n/a |
Positive reactions to limonene hydroperoxides were 3.1% (n = 170) and to linalool hydroperoxides 8.8% (n = 483). Many were weak, doubtful or irritant, so the authors warn of false positives. 3.1% and 8.8% Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Positive patch tests Limitations: Skin-clinic patients; tests chemicals, not yuzu oil; the authors warn the test preparations can irritate. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Sukakul 2022 Contact allergy to oxidized linalool and oxidized limonene: Patch testing in consecutive patients with dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis · PMID 34561893 · DOI |
Retrospective patch test series |
5773 Patients with dermatitis tested in Sweden, 2013 to 2020 |
Oxidized linalool and oxidized limonene on the skin (patch test) test preparations, not whole oils Not reported here Tested 2013 to 2020 · vs n/a |
Contact allergy to oxidized linalool was 7.0% and to oxidized limonene 5.1% among these dermatitis patients, with rising trends. 7.0% and 5.1% of patients Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Contact allergy Limitations: Patients already attending a skin clinic, so rates are higher than in the general public; tests oxidized chemicals, not yuzu oil. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Tisserand Institute 2026 Safety Guidelines (Tisserand Institute, page read 2026-10-25) Tisserand Institute · Source |
Educational safety guidance n/a |
n/a | Essential oils in general essential oil Not reported here n/a · vs n/a |
Says not to apply undiluted essential oils to the skin; the most common adverse reaction is a skin reaction and the commonest cause is using an undiluted oil. Advises seeing a doctor first if you have a skin condition, are pregnant, have epilepsy or asthma, or take prescribed medicines. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Safety guidance Limitations: General guidance; no yuzu-specific statement was read. Read: full-text |
| Ueki 2014 Effectiveness of aromatherapy in decreasing maternal anxiety for a sick child undergoing infusion in a paediatric clinic. Complement Ther Med · PMID 25453522 · DOI |
Controlled clinical trial (allocation to aromatherapy or control group; not described as randomized in the abstract) |
121 Mothers of sick children receiving an infusion at a paediatric clinic in Japan (60 aromatherapy, 61 control) |
Yuzu oil in a diffuser (inhaled) essential oil (the abstract names the source as Citrus ichangensis x Citrus reticulata) Not reported here 15 minutes in the room · vs No aromatherapy |
Maternal state anxiety was lower in the aromatherapy group than in the control group (significant group-by-time interaction). Significance only in the abstract Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: State anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) Limitations: Not clearly randomized and not blinded; the abstract itself asks for a multicentre randomized or double-blind trial; the abstract names a different citrus parentage for the oil than Citrus junos, so it may not be the same plant. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Yang 2025 Antioxidant Effects of Essential Oils from the Peels of Citrus Cultivars. Molecules · PMID 40005143 · DOI |
Laboratory study (test tube chemistry) in vitro |
21 citrus cultivars (oils made by hydrodistillation) | Peel essential oils, including Citrus junos essential oil (peel) Not reported here n/a · vs Other cultivars |
The Citrus junos oil had the highest phenolic content (360.04 mg GAE/100 g), but a different hybrid oil had the highest radical-scavenging activity. The main compound in all oils was d-limonene (50.88 to 97.19%). Test-tube values only Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Antioxidant chemistry tests (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP) and total phenolic content Limitations: Test-tube measures do not show a benefit in the body; the Citrus junos oil was not the most active in the antioxidant tests; oil was hydrodistilled. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Read: abstract |
| n/a 2026 Yuzu bath (Wikipedia article, read 2026-10-25) Wikipedia · Source |
Encyclopedia article (tertiary source) n/a |
n/a | Whole yuzu fruit floated in bath water (tradition) whole fruit Not reported here n/a · vs n/a |
Describes a winter-solstice bathing custom in Japan, traced to the Edo period (1603 to 1867); lists beliefs that it guards against colds, treats rough skin, warms the body and relaxes the mind. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Description of the custom Limitations: Encyclopedia article; the beliefs are cited there to news and lifestyle sites, not to studies. Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Citrus junos match (GBIF match API, read 2026-10-25) n/a · Source |
Registry or database n/a |
n/a | n/a n/a Not reported here n/a · vs n/a |
Exact match 'Citrus × junos Siebold ex Yu.Tanaka' (key 3831766), status ACCEPTED, family Rutaceae. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Name status and family Read: full-text |
| n/a 2026 PubChem compound records for limonene (CID 22311), terpinen-4-ol (CID 11230) and linalool (CID 6549), read via API 2026-10-25 n/a · Source |
Registry or database n/a |
n/a | n/a n/a Not reported here n/a · vs n/a |
CIDs and formulas confirmed (C10H16; C10H18O; C10H18O). Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Compound identity Read: full-text |
What we do not know yet
- What the evidence supports: every benefit result is low or very low certainty and is for smelling the oil.
- No trial with a reliably hidden placebo smell was found.
- No independent test or case report of yuzu oil and sunlight was found; the sources disagree.
- No trial of a yuzu bath or of the oil in bath water.
- No yuzu-specific study of pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, asthma, epilepsy or pets, and no NCCIH, EMA, LiverTox or LactMed statement was checked.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and are placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it is added.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Other 6
Salivary chromogranin A
Decrease in trials
A protein in saliva used as a marker of stress-related activity of the sympathetic nervous system; lower means less stress activity.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Main body measure in the 2014 trial.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A stress marker, not a health outcome.
Safety implication
Not applicable.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Lower after 10 minutes of yuzu scent than after unscented water, and lower again at 30 minutes (significance stated; values not in the abstract). |
Heart rate and high-frequency heart-rate variability
Decrease (heart rate) / increase (HF-HRV) in trials
Heart rate is beats per minute; the high-frequency part of heart-rate variability is read as activity of the calm (parasympathetic) nervous system.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Main body measures in the 2016 trial.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Short-term body measures in healthy women.
Safety implication
Not applicable.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Yuzu scent lowered heart rate and raised high-frequency power for at least 25 minutes, in both cycle phases; water did not. |
Profile of Mood States (POMS), total mood disturbance
Decrease in trials
A questionnaire that adds up negative mood feelings; lower means fewer negative feelings.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Mood outcome in the 2014 and 2016 trials.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A self-rated score from small trials by one group.
Safety implication
Not applicable.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Lower after yuzu scent than after water, for up to 30 minutes (2014); the 2016 trial also found lower tension-anxiety and fatigue for up to 35 minutes. |
State anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory)
Decrease in trials
A questionnaire that scores how anxious a person feels right now; lower means less anxious.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Main outcome in the clinic trial of mothers.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A self-rated feeling score, not a lab test.
Safety implication
Not applicable.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Lower in the aromatherapy group than in the control group (significance stated; values not in the abstract). |
POMS tension-anxiety, anger-hostility and fatigue sub-scores
Decrease in trials
Sub-scales of a mood questionnaire; lower means fewer negative feelings.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Outcomes in the premenstrual crossover study.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Self-rated; no unscented control.
Safety implication
Not applicable.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Lower after both yuzu and lavender, with no difference between them, for up to 35 minutes (significance stated; values not in the abstract). |
Prefrontal oxygenated haemoglobin
Increase (yuzu) in trials
A brain-blood-flow signal measured near the forehead; read as brain activity in that area.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 6
- Sun reaction: the sources do not agree, so treat the pressed oil with care.. A US aromatherapy association (NAHA) lists yuzu oil, expressed or distilled, among non-phototoxic citrus oils, and a 2018 review lists yuzu as not phototoxic, citing an older reference work. But pressed lemon, lime and bitter orange oils are on NAHA's photosensitizer list, and the 2022 chemistry paper found furanocoumarin levels differ between citrus species, crop varieties and origins. We found no independent test of yuzu oil on skin, and no yuzu sun-reaction case report. Until a test report for your particular bottle says otherwise, keep any citrus oil off skin that will meet strong sun or a tanning bed. Expert opinion 13 3 4
- Do not swallow essential oils.. Poison Control says misuse of essential oils can cause serious poisoning, that breathing a swallowed oil into the lungs can cause pneumonia, and that children are more vulnerable. We found no yuzu-specific poisoning report. This page gives no advice to swallow any oil. If anyone may have swallowed one, call a poison centre straight away (US: 1-800-222-1222). Regulatory 16
- Skin allergy and irritation can happen, especially with old oil.. Citrus peel oils are mostly limonene. When limonene and linalool age in air they form oxidized products that are known skin allergens: in skin-clinic patch-test series, 5.1% to 7.0% of dermatitis patients reacted to oxidized limonene or linalool in one Swedish series, and 3.1% to 8.8% to the hydroperoxides in a German-speaking series. Those patients were already attending skin clinics, and the tests used chemicals, not yuzu oil. The 2018 review says old or oxidized citrus oil can sensitize skin. The same review lists yuzu oil as not irritating and not sensitizing, based on an older reference work. Both can be true: fresh oil may be better tolerated, and old oil may not. Observational 18 17 3
- Never put undiluted essential oil on skin.. The Tisserand Institute says the most common adverse reaction to essential oils is a skin reaction, and that its most common cause is using an undiluted oil. Poison Control also says pure oils are potent and best diluted before any skin use. This page gives no dilution figures. Expert opinion 19 16
- Cats and birds are at the greatest risk from essential oils around the home.. Pet Poison Helpline says essential oil poisoning can affect all species, with cats and birds at the greatest risk, and lists citrus oils among those that can poison pets. Yuzu is not named. Keep bottles and diffusers away from pets. Regulatory 15
- Pregnancy, babies, asthma and epilepsy: ask a clinician first.. No yuzu-specific pregnancy, newborn, asthma or epilepsy study was found. The Tisserand Institute advises seeing a doctor before using essential oils if you are pregnant or have asthma or epilepsy. NAHA points to professional-aromatherapist pregnancy guidelines. Expert opinion 19 13
Side effects 5
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin reaction to sun after citrus oil on skin (phototoxicity): blistering, redness, dark patches Documented for other pressed citrus oils (see the bergamot oil page); not documented for yuzu in any source read. Sources disagree on yuzu; no independent test was found. | Not established | can be moderate to severe for other pressed citrus oils Not described for yuzu | Theoretical 13 4 |
| Contact allergy or irritation of the skin, more likely with old oil that has been exposed to air Rates come from patch tests of oxidized limonene and linalool in skin-clinic patients. | Not known for yuzu oil | mild to moderate Usually settles when the oil is stopped; not studied for yuzu | Observational 18 17 3 |
| Poisoning if swallowed, including lung damage if the oil is breathed in General essential-oil guidance. No yuzu case was found. | Not established | can be serious, especially in children Depends on the amount and the oil | Regulatory 16 |
| Illness in pets, especially cats and birds Class statement for essential oils; yuzu not named. | Not established | varies Not described | Regulatory 15 |
| No harm was reported in the yuzu scent trials read The abstracts do not describe how side effects were checked, so this is not proof of safety. | Not reported in the abstracts | n/a n/a | Controlled trial 9 10 |
Liver
No liver injury from yuzu oil was found in the sources read. No LiverTox record was checked for yuzu oil. Swallowing essential oils is not advised. 16
How often. Not established.
Monitoring. Not applicable.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Yuzu Oil supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 3
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicines or treatments that make skin sensitive to light (and ultraviolet therapy) photosensitizing-medicines | Theory: if a pressed citrus oil does carry furanocoumarins, another light-sensitizing agent could add to the effect. | No study of this with yuzu oil was found. | Theoretical Not enough evidence 13 4 | Tell your pharmacist or dermatologist about any citrus oil you use on skin, especially before ultraviolet treatment or tanning. |
| Medicines broken down by the liver enzyme CYP3A4 (the grapefruit warning) cyp3a-grapefruit-type | Grapefruit furanocoumarins such as bergamottin and dihydroxybergamottin block this enzyme. A Japanese lab test of processed peel foods found a yuzu slice had very weak CYP3A inhibitory activity (1/8 to 1/20 of grapefruit juice). | This was a food product in a lab test, not the oil, and not a test in people. No interaction involving yuzu oil used as a scent was found. | Laboratory research Not enough evidence 7 | If you take a medicine with a grapefruit warning, ask your pharmacist before swallowing any citrus product. This page does not suggest swallowing the oil. |
| Other medicines no-data | Not studied. | No interaction study of yuzu oil with any medicine was found. | None found Not enough evidence 19 | Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you take regular medicines and plan to use essential oils heavily. |
Who should check first 4
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Swallowing the oil, especially by or near children or pets | Do not swallow. If anyone may have swallowed any essential oil, call a poison centre (US: 1-800-222-1222) or your local emergency number. | Regulatory 16 |
| Undiluted oil on skin, or on damaged skin | Do not use undiluted oil on skin. Do not put oils on broken skin (Poison Control). Stop at the first sign of a rash and wash the oil off. | Expert opinion 19 16 |
| Skin that will meet strong sun or a tanning bed soon after | Because sources disagree about yuzu and no independent test was found, treat pressed yuzu oil like other pressed citrus oils and keep it off skin that will be in strong sun. | Expert opinion 13 4 |
| Known allergy to citrus oils or fragrance, or very sensitive skin | Do not use. Ask a doctor or allergy clinic first. | Observational 18 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. The documented harms are swallowing poisoning and skin allergy for essential oils in general. For yuzu there are no case reports at all in the sources read, and sun reaction is disputed between sources.
Amounts. No safe amount is established, and this page gives none.
Onset and course. Not described for yuzu.
Repeated use. Not studied beyond the short scent trials.
Animal data. Yuzu seed oil by mouth in mice (a different product) was used without reported harm in the abstract; this is not a safety study of the peel oil.
Toxic parts. The peel oil is the concentrated form. Limonene is the main compound in citrus peel oils (50.88 to 97.19% across 21 cultivars in one paper). Furanocoumarins are the compounds behind sun reactions; a yuzu value was not found.
Not read. Original reference work behind the yuzu 'not phototoxic' row; any IFRA or EU opinion naming yuzu; veterinary guidance naming yuzu; any asthma study of yuzu scent.
Essential oil products are not well regulated, and the 2022 paper says citrus oils are routinely adulterated. A bottle labelled yuzu may not be pure Citrus junos peel oil.
Adulteration of citrus oils. The 2022 paper says citrus essential oils are routinely adulterated because of the lack of regulation and authentication methods, and that cheaper oils are sometimes used in place of dearer ones. 4
Different oils, different furanocoumarin levels. Levels differed between species and between crop varieties and origins of the same species. The abstract gives no yuzu value, so no figure can be given for yuzu. 4
Age and storage. The 2018 review says old or oxidized citrus oil can cause skin sensitization and recommends storing citrus oils dark, airtight and cool. 3
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| NAHA (National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy; a US professional association) (United States (private association)) | Lists 'Yuzu oil (expressed or distilled)' among non-phototoxic citrus oils; lists expressed lemon, expressed lime, expressed bitter orange and bergamot among photosensitizers; says oxidized citrus oils can sensitize; says do not apply undiluted. source | Page read 2026-10-25 (page undated) |
| Poison Control (US national poison centre network) (United States) | Warns about poisoning, skin rash and children; call 1-800-222-1222 if swallowed. source | Page read 2026-10-25 (page undated) |
| Pet Poison Helpline (United States / Canada) | Essential oil poisoning can affect all species; cats and birds at greatest risk; lists citrus oils. source | Page read 2026-10-25 (page undated) |
When to get medical help
- If anyone may have swallowed any essential oil, call a poison centre straight away (US: Poison Help 1-800-222-1222) or your local emergency number.
- Trouble breathing, a swollen face or lips, or a rash spreading across the body after contact with an oil: get emergency help.
- Blistering, a burning sensation or strong redness on skin that had oil on it and then met the sun: stop using the oil, keep the skin out of the sun and see a doctor.
- A pet that drools, vomits, is very sleepy, stumbles or has trouble breathing after exposure to an oil: call a vet or an animal poison line at once.
Stop using the product and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is yuzu oil safe?
Used as a scent in small amounts it was not reported to cause harm in the trials read, but those abstracts do not describe how side effects were checked. The real risks come from other uses: swallowing can cause serious poisoning, undiluted oil on skin can cause rashes, and old oil can cause allergy. Ask a pharmacist or doctor if unsure.
Can yuzu oil burn your skin in the sun?
Sources disagree. NAHA lists yuzu oil (expressed or distilled) as non-phototoxic, and a 2018 review lists it as not phototoxic, citing an older reference work. Pressed lemon, lime and bitter orange oils are on NAHA's photosensitizer list. We found no independent test of yuzu oil and no case report, and a 2022 paper shows furanocoumarins vary between citrus oils and suppliers. Until a test report for your bottle says otherwise, treat it like other pressed citrus oils.
Is yuzu oil good for stress and anxiety?
Small trials of healthy young women report lower mood-disturbance and a lower stress marker after smelling it for 10 minutes. The evidence is low quality, mostly from one research group, and the smell cannot be hidden. A clinic study of mothers also found lower anxiety scores but was not clearly randomized.
Does yuzu oil help with premenstrual symptoms?
One very small study of 17 women reported lower tension, anger and fatigue after the scent, with results close to lavender. It had no unscented comparison, so the certainty is very low.
Is a yuzu bath good for you?
It is a seasonal custom in Japan, and people believe it guards against colds and eases rough skin. We found no trial of a yuzu bath, so no health effect can be stated. The custom uses the whole fruit, not the pressed oil.
Can you swallow yuzu oil?
No. Essential oils should not be swallowed. Poison Control says misuse can cause serious poisoning and that breathing a swallowed oil into the lungs can cause pneumonia. Yuzu seed oil is a different food product. If anyone swallows an essential oil, call a poison centre (US 1-800-222-1222) or your local emergency number.
Can I put yuzu oil on my skin?
Is yuzu oil safe in pregnancy or around children?
Is yuzu oil safe for cats, dogs and birds?
Pet Poison Helpline says essential oil poisoning can affect all species, with cats and birds at the greatest risk, and lists citrus oils. Yuzu is not named, but keep oils and diffusers away from pets and call a vet if a pet seems unwell.
Can yuzu oil cause an allergy?
Yes, any essential oil can. Citrus oils are mostly limonene, and aged, air-exposed limonene forms allergens that caused positive patch tests in 3.1% to 8.8% of dermatitis patients in two series (skin-clinic patients, tested with chemicals, not yuzu oil). Stop at the first rash and wash the oil off.
What is the difference between yuzu oil, yuzu seed oil and yuzu extract?
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Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We read the abstracts of 17 PubMed papers, the full text of one review, and the NAHA, Poison Control, Pet Poison Helpline and Tisserand pages; we checked the plant name in GBIF and the compounds in PubChem. We did not check NCCIH, EMA, LiverTox, LactMed or IFRA.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown. Trials with fragrance-company authors are labelled.
Sources 24
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Asano K, Watanabe Y, Miyamoto M, et al. Oral Ingestion of Yuzu Seed Oil Suppresses the Development of Atopic Dermatitis-like Skin Lesions in NC/Nga Mice.. Int J Mol Sci. 2024. PMID 38473936. DOI 10.3390/ijms25052689. (abstract)
- Chen Z, Liu Q, Li B, Fu J. Efficacy of Fragrance Types and Intervention Methods in Reducing Driver Fatigue and Modulating Emotional Development Assessed by HRV and Subjective Indicators.. Sensors (Basel). 2025. PMID 41157503. DOI 10.3390/s25206450. (abstract)
- Dosoky NS, Setzer WN. Biological Activities and Safety of Citrus spp. Essential Oils.. Int J Mol Sci. 2018. PMID 29976894. DOI 10.3390/ijms19071966. (full-text)
- Dosoky NS, Satyal P, Setzer WN. Authentication of Citrus spp. Cold-Pressed Essential Oils by Their Oxygenated Heterocyclic Components.. Molecules. 2022. PMID 36234812. DOI 10.3390/molecules27196277. (abstract)
- Hanaoka H, Muraki T, Okamura H. Study of aromas as reminiscence triggers in community-dwelling older adults in Japan.. J Rural Med. 2019. PMID 31191771. DOI 10.2185/jrm.2982. (abstract)
- Hirota R, Roger NN, Nakamura H, et al. Anti-inflammatory effects of limonene from yuzu (Citrus junos Tanaka) essential oil on eosinophils.. J Food Sci. 2010. PMID 20492298. DOI 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2010.01541.x. (abstract)
- Ishihara M, Toda H, Sunagane N, Ohta T. Furanocoumarins contents and cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) inhibitory activities of various processed fruit peel products.. Yakugaku Zasshi. 2011. PMID 21532264. DOI 10.1248/yakushi.131.679. (abstract)
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- Matsumoto T, Asakura H, Hayashi T. Effects of olfactory stimulation from the fragrance of the Japanese citrus fruit yuzu (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka) on mood states and salivary chromogranin A as an endocrinologic stress marker.. J Altern Complement Med. 2014. PMID 24742226. DOI 10.1089/acm.2013.0425. (abstract)
- Matsumoto T, Kimura T, Hayashi T. Aromatic effects of a Japanese citrus fruit-yuzu (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka)-on psychoemotional states and autonomic nervous system activity during the menstrual cycle: a single-blind randomized controlled crossover study.. Biopsychosoc Med. 2016. PMID 27103942. DOI 10.1186/s13030-016-0063-7. (abstract)
- Matsumoto T, Kimura T, Hayashi T. Does Japanese Citrus Fruit Yuzu (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka) Fragrance Have Lavender-Like Therapeutic Effects That Alleviate Premenstrual Emotional Symptoms? A Single-Blind Randomized Crossover Study.. J Altern Complement Med. 2017. PMID 28481623. DOI 10.1089/acm.2016.0328. (abstract)
- Miyazawa N, Tomita N, Kurobayashi Y, et al. Novel character impact compounds in Yuzu (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka) peel oil.. J Agric Food Chem. 2009. PMID 19203264. DOI 10.1021/jf803257x. (abstract)
- NAHA. Safety (National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy), page read 2026-10-25. NAHA. 2026. (full-text)
- Ohata M, Zhou L, Ando S, et al. Application of integrative physiological approach to evaluate human physiological responses to the inhalation of essential oils of Japanese citrus fruits iyokan (Citrus iyo) and yuzu (Citrus junos).. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2021. PMID 34747971. DOI 10.1093/bbb/zbab193. (abstract)
- Pet Poison Helpline. Essential Oils (Pet Poison Helpline, page read 2026-10-25). Pet Poison Helpline. 2026. (full-text)
- Poison Control (US). Essential oils: Poisonous when misused (Poison Control, page read 2026-10-25). Poison Control (US). 2026. (full-text)
- Schubert S, Geier J, Brans R, et al. Patch testing hydroperoxides of limonene and linalool in consecutive patients-Results of the IVDK 2018-2020.. Contact Dermatitis. 2023. PMID 37177844. DOI 10.1111/cod.14332. (abstract)
- Sukakul T, Bruze M, Mowitz M, et al. Contact allergy to oxidized linalool and oxidized limonene: Patch testing in consecutive patients with dermatitis.. Contact Dermatitis. 2022. PMID 34561893. DOI 10.1111/cod.13980. (abstract)
- Tisserand Institute. Safety Guidelines (Tisserand Institute, page read 2026-10-25). Tisserand Institute. 2026. (full-text)
- Ueki S, Niinomi K, Takashima Y, et al. Effectiveness of aromatherapy in decreasing maternal anxiety for a sick child undergoing infusion in a paediatric clinic.. Complement Ther Med. 2014. PMID 25453522. DOI 10.1016/j.ctim.2014.09.004. (abstract)
- Yang J, Park MJ. Antioxidant Effects of Essential Oils from the Peels of Citrus Cultivars.. Molecules. 2025. PMID 40005143. DOI 10.3390/molecules30040833. (abstract)
- n/a. Yuzu bath (Wikipedia article, read 2026-10-25). Wikipedia. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Citrus junos match (GBIF match API, read 2026-10-25). n/a. 2026. (full-text)
- n/a. PubChem compound records for limonene (CID 22311), terpinen-4-ol (CID 11230) and linalool (CID 6549), read via API 2026-10-25. n/a. 2026. (full-text)