What is Lemon Oil?

Lemon oil…

What is it?

Answer: a fretboard conditioner? Cleaner.

Fretboard oils contain very little real lemon oil. The last thing any guitar product manufacturer wants is to damage their customer’s guitars.

So, many of the popular guitar lemon oils sold by well-known guitar companies are comprised primarily of other oils–usually, mineral oil, which is a pretty good (and cheap) fretboard conditioner by itself. They contain only a small amount of real lemon oil, and the yellow colour comes from artificial colouring.

In fact, some contain no real lemon oil at all. Instead, they’re just mineral oil or some other fret board-safe oil, with some lemon scent and yellow colouring added.

For this reason, most of the guitar lemon oils on the market are 100% safe when used in moderation on your guitar’s rosewood or ebony fretboard (don’t use lemon oil on maple). The tiny bit of lemon oil they do contain will remove some dirt and grime, while the remaining majority that isn’t lemon oil will condition and protect your fretboard quite nicely.

It’s okay to use one of the many lemon oils out there which are made for guitar fretboards

A Warning about Petroleum Distillates

“petroleum distillates.” This means that any rags used to apply lemon oil need to air out in a well-ventilated area afterwards, otherwise they can spontaneously combust.

So if your product says that it contains “petroleum distillates” take great care with the storing/disposal of the application rag.

This wont harm your rosewood or ebony fretboard. As long as they’re used sparingly–only a tiny dot of oil on each fret 1-2 times a year–your fretboard will look, feel, and smell great.

Lemon oil, in general, isn’t necessary on a maple fretboard. You can get by just fine by giving it a clean with a soft clean cloth and maybe a little bit of guitar polish/cleaner, if necessary.