Product Spotlight - Gilly's Nourishing Citrus-Based Oils

All of Gilly's citrus-based oils are sustainable, made from natural raw materials, locally sourced where possible. We also use 100% recycled PET bottles (from Ant Packaging), made from the plastic contents of sourced from residential yellow recycling bins in NSW. Gilly's oils are all food safe, which means they can be used on timber surfaces that come into direct contact with food.

All of our oils are very versatile; the citrus solvent in the formula is also an excellent gentle cleaner. Check out our lovely new bamboo polishing cloths - a perfect pair for use with all of our products. One for applying, another for buffing/cleaning and no annoying fluff left behind!

Orange Oil – An All-Purpose Polishing Oil

After many requests from her customers for an easy to apply oil that would be suitable for use on a variety of timber furniture, Gilly decided to create her legendary Australian Orange Oil in the early 1990s.

Based on a natural solvent made from crushed orange peels, this superb, rich oil is one of our most popular lines. Incredibly versatile and suitable to use on a variety of timbers, bamboo and cane to nourish and rejuvenate tired, dry fibres. It will darken the surface as if it were wet but does not colour or tint and smells like freshly-peeled oranges. It is 100% natural; good for your furniture and good for the earth.

When a timber surface is oiled, it will naturally darken. This effect will also enhance the patterning of the grain, which improves the depth in a beautiful way. The citrus solvent carries the rich oils deep into the dry fibres, nourishing from within, preventing splitting and cracking. The oils will only buff to a soft matte sheen. For those who wish to add a high sheen finish, we recommend coating with a wax, such as Gilly's Carnauba Polish or Cream Polish.

Gilly's Orange Oil can be brushed on or applied using a soft cloth. It is deal for undersides of drawers and other unfinished timber on furniture that isn't necessarily visible but still requires nourishing to prevent splitting. It is particularly effective on Asian hardwoords, which tend to be vulnerable to cracking in drier climates.

Lemon Chopping Board Oil – Not Just for Chopping Boards

Originally developed as a line for use on musical instruments, in keeping with  the tradition of lemon oil having been used for maintaining both the timber and metal components. Lemon Chopping Board Oil has exactly the same characteristics as the Orange Oil and put simply, is just an alternative for those who prefer the lemon scent to the orange.

How to care for your chopping and grazing boards

Caring for and protecting your timber or bamboo boards need not be complicated.

1. Firstly, clean your board regularly using hot water on both sides to avoid warping.  
2. Apply oil when the board looks dull or faded. Simply wipe on with a soft cloth rub back to remove any excess (there may not necessarily be any excess if the fibres are very dry).
3. Every few weeks it's a good idea to sprinkle coarse salt or bicarbonate of soda over both surfaces and rub the granules around with half a lemon. Rinse with hot water to remove any stains.
4. If the board is used heavily, it's worth doing a deep conditioning treatment every now and then. Apply the oil liberally and leave overnight. Wipe away any oil that has not soaked in the next day.

Liquid Beeswax - An Extra Rich Feed

Around 2014, Gilly's responded to our many customer requests for a blend of wax and oil, which would provide an extra feed but still be as easy to apply as the Lemon and Orange Oils. And so, our Liquid Beeswax was born. Made using a combination of citrus solvent, plant oils and pure beeswax, like the other oils, Liquid Beeswax can be applied with a brush or cloth. It is also popular with woodworkers for use on a lathe. Its fragrance is similar to the Orange Oil but a little more subtle. It is cloudy in the bottle but does dry clear on the timber.

If you are in too much of a hurry to shop with us online, please do check out our Store Locator where we have listed retailers who stock our products. Where possible, we have included the individual lines that are sold in that store. Most of our stockists sell at least one variety of our oils.