Essential Oils in Citrus

Citrus essential oils are precious natural compounds characterized by a strong odor and formed as secondary metabolites. They are widely used in many fields all over the world and they have a large economic impact. Their pleasant flavors, bioactive capacity and nutritional value make them an integral part of pharmaceutical, agricultural, cosmetic and food industries. An insight into the chemical compositions of citrus essential oils and their presence in commercial citrus species is given. The chapter presents an overview on the different fields of application of citrus essential oils. The modern frontiers of genetics and biotechnologies open new opportunities for their use in human health, agriculture and environment; potentials, future prospects and challenges are also discussed.