Pomelo Peel Oil

Pomelo peel oil comes from the green outer layer of the peel of Citrus maxima, by steam distillation or cold pressing. Its main component is limonene (about 90%), with myrcene and α-pinene, giving a sweet, fresh pomelo scent.

Vietnamese women have long washed their hair with pomelo-peel water. Today the oil is used in shampoos, soaps and room fragrance. The raw material is by-product peel from pomelo-growing areas and processors.

Quick facts

Scientific name

Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. (synonym C. grandis (L.) Osbeck)

Trade name

Pomelo oil, pummelo peel oil

Part used

Fruit peel (green outer layer)

Method

Steam distillation or cold pressing

Appearance & odour

Pale yellow; fresh, sweet pomelo scent, slightly bitter

Main components

Limonene about 90%; myrcene, α-pinene

Storage

Dark glass bottle, tightly closed, in a cool place; limit contact with air

What is pomelo peel oil?

Pomelo peel has two layers: a thin green outer skin and a thick, spongy white pith underneath. The essential oil sits in tiny glands in the green outer skin.

Pomelo peel oil is pale yellow, with a fresh, sweet pomelo scent and a faint bitter edge. On the international market it is sold as “pomelo oil” or “pummelo peel oil”. It is a different oil from grapefruit oil, which comes from Citrus × paradisi.

The pomelo tree and Vietnam’s pomelo regions

According to Do Tat Loi’s reference work on Vietnamese medicinal plants, pomelo (Citrus maxima, synonym Citrus grandis) belongs to the citrus family and grows to 10–13 m. Its large flowers grow in clusters and are very fragrant; the fruit is large and round with a thick peel.

Pomelo is grown throughout Vietnam, and each region has its own varieties:

Region	Varieties and notes
Phu Tho (Doan Hung)	Doan Hung pomelo, geographical indication since 2006; about 2,700 ha; Bang Luan and Suu varieties
Hanoi	Dien pomelo, originally from the Phu Dien area; now grown widely in the outskirts and harvested around Tet
Vinh Long	Nam Roi pomelo, originally from My Hoa commune (Binh Minh); green-skin pomelo from the former Ben Tre province, with a geographical indication
Can Tho	Nam Roi pomelo in Chau Thanh (formerly Hau Giang province)
Dong Nai	Green-skin pomelo in Vinh Cuu; the Binh Loi cooperative distils oil from young fruit thinned from the trees

Doan Hung alone produces about 36,000–52,000 tonnes of fruit a year, according to the State Management Review (2025).

Pomelo peel in Vietnamese life

For generations, Vietnamese women have washed their hair with water boiled from dried pomelo peel, often together with honey locust pods (bồ kết). The rinse leaves the hair clean, soft and scented with pomelo. Around the end of the lunar year, many families also boil pomelo leaves and coriander to bathe in.

The white pith is used for pomelo sweet soup (chè bưởi) and candied peel, yet most of the peel is still thrown away. According to a research team at Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City (VnExpress, 2022), Vietnamese consumers mainly use the flesh, about 48% of the fruit by weight.

Uses

For information only; not a substitute for medical advice.

Cold-pressed vs steam-distilled

Criterion	Cold-pressed	Steam-distilled
Method	Peel is pressed or rasped, then the oil is separated	Steam carries the oil out of the peel
Scent	Closest to fresh peel; round and full	Fresh and clean, slightly “flatter”
Non-volatile compounds	Present, including furanocoumarins	Practically none
Sun sensitivity	Can cause a sun-sensitive reaction on skin	Low risk
Mostly used for	Flavours and perfumes	Soaps, shampoos, room fragrance

According to the US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) safety report on citrus peel oils, steam distillation removes furanocoumarins, because they do not evaporate. Cold-pressed citrus peel oils can cause phototoxic reactions, while oils free of furanocoumarins generally do not.

Industrial applications

Industry	Applications
Cosmetics	Shampoo, conditioner, soap, shower gel
Household	Room fragrance, floor cleaners, dishwashing liquid, deodorisers
Perfume	Fresh citrus top note

Scent profile and blending

Pomelo has a sweet citrus scent that most people find pleasant.

• Blend with cornmint for a cool, clean scent for bathrooms and cars.
• Blend with white champaca leaf for a soft floral scent in the bedroom.
• Blend with clove basil and Java citronella in floor cleaners.

How to use at home

• In shampoo: 1–2 drops in the amount of shampoo for one wash; work in and rinse well.
• Scalp massage: 2 drops in 10 ml coconut oil (about 1%); massage for 5 minutes before washing.
• Room diffusing: 3–5 drops in a diffuser.
• Kitchen and floor cleaning: 10 drops in a bucket of water.

Make a traditional pomelo-peel hair rinse

1. Dry pomelo peel in the sun; lightly roast a few honey locust pods.
2. Simmer 1–2 handfuls of peel and a few pods in about 2 litres of water for 15–20 minutes.
3. Let it cool a little and strain. When washing, add 2–3 drops of pomelo peel oil for extra scent.
4. Wash and massage the scalp, then rinse with clean water. Keep the rinse out of your eyes.

Limonene and oxidation

Limonene makes up about 90% of pomelo peel oil. It reacts easily with oxygen in the air, especially with light and heat. The products are hydroperoxides, which are much stronger skin allergens than limonene itself.

This is why pomelo peel oil “ages” faster than many other essential oils:

• Close the cap straight after use.
• Keep it cool and out of sunlight; do not leave it in a car.
• Use within about 1 year of opening.

Quality specifications

The main parameters are the chromatogram (limonene, myrcene, α-pinene), relative density and refractive index. For oils used on skin, buyers usually also ask for the peroxide value and the extraction method (cold-pressed or distilled). Every lot comes with a COA and MSDS.

Reference figures; actual values follow the COA of each lot.

Why source pomelo peel oil from Vietnam?

Vietnam has well-known pomelo regions from the northern midlands to the Mekong Delta, each with its own varieties. Large volumes of fruit are eaten fresh or processed, and much of the peel is left over.

Using that peel for essential oil turns a by-product into a raw material. It also gives orchards, processors and small food businesses an outlet for something they would otherwise throw away.

What buyers usually ask for

Cosmetic manufacturers, fragrance houses and distributors typically ask for:

• COA (certificate of analysis) for the lot, with limonene content.
• GC-MS or GC chromatogram showing limonene and the minor components.
• Extraction method: cold-pressed or steam-distilled, which matters for leave-on skin products.
• Peroxide value, since oxidised limonene affects skin safety.
• MSDS / SDS for handling and transport.
• A sample before contract, to check the scent in their own formula.

If you need pomelo peel oil for a product line, contact us to discuss volumes and documents.

Growers & cooperatives

The company buys fresh pomelo peel and sun-dried peel that is free of mould. Suitable sources:

• Processors: facilities that segment fruit, make juice or candied peel.
• Pomelo sweet-soup shops and peeling stalls: the soup uses the white pith, and the green outer skin is usually thrown away — yet this is the part richest in oil.
• Orchards and cooperatives: young fruit thinned from the trees, and fruit that does not meet market grade.

Priority areas:

• Phu Tho: the Doan Hung pomelo area.
• Hanoi: the Dien pomelo area.
• Vinh Long (including former Ben Tre province), Can Tho (including former Hau Giang province), Dong Nai: Nam Roi and green-skin pomelo.

Requirements:

• Peel must be clean, not rotten and not mouldy; fresh peel should be delivered within 1–2 days.
• Green outer peel is preferred, with little white pith and no segments or seeds.

According to two studies from 2021, green-skin pomelo peel gives about 1.9% oil and Nam Roi pomelo peel about 1.8% (steam distillation). To talk about selling pomelo peel, call or message on Zalo: +84 983 299 529. See more on the Raw material sourcing page.

Extraction process

1. Receive the peel and remove any rotten or mouldy parts; trim away white pith and cut into small pieces.
2. Steam-distil and separate the oil layer.
3. Settle, filter and remove water; fill bottles fully to limit air contact.
4. Test and keep the COA under the lot code.

Frequently asked questions

Read more: Vietnamese Herbal Steam Blend Cornmint oil White champaca leaf oil Vietnamese herbal essential oils

References: Green-skin pomelo peel oil (Hue University Journal of Science) · The Doan Hung pomelo brand (State Management Review) · Pomelo tree – Do Tat Loi, Medicinal Plants of Vietnam