Orange oil is an essential oil derived from the glands of the orange peel. Pale to dark orange in color, it has a strong, fragrant aroma that is uplifting to the senses. Orange oil may be used in cooking and baking or as a treatment in alternative medicine. Alternative medicine practitioners often use orange oil as an anti-inflammatory, antidepressant and as a sedative. You can prepare orange oil at home for your own personal use.
Peel the skin of 20 large oranges. Put the skins in a bowl, and set them aside to dry for two hours.
Process the orange skins in a food processor until they become a very dry paste, which will usually take about five minutes.
Put the grounded orange peels into a Mason jar. Add 1 cup of vodka, or enough to cover the skins. Cover the jar with a lid.
Put the jar in a sunny area of your house, and leave it there for about three days. Shake the jar at least twice a day.
Put on kitchen gloves. Open the Mason jar, and strain the mixture with a strainer. Throw away the orange peels.
Pour the mixture into a shallow bowl, and allow the alcohol to evaporate, which will take about 12 hours. You should end up with about 1 ounce of orange oil. Store the orange oil in a small amber bottle and use as needed.