## 1 Introduction  
Emulgels [1, 2], emulsion gels [3], emulsion-filled gels [4], gelled emulsions, or creamed gels [5] are some of the different ways to name a system consisting of the dispersion of emulsion droplets in a gel-like matrix or structured phase [6]. Depending on the type of emulsion, they can be classified as oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulgels. At the same time, depending on the size of the droplet, they can be a macroemulsion gel, a nanoemulgel, or a microemulsion gel [5]. However, regardless of their classification, all of them are semisolid emulsions. In the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, emulgels have been employed extensively for some time [7, 8, 9, 10] and more recently in the food industry [11, 12]. Emulgels, which are formed by an emulsion and a gel-like structure, share the properties of both and can therefore be used as a dual control release system [13], namely, as delivery systems for hydrophilic and lipophilic ingredients (drugs, carotenoids, vitamins, probiotics, unsaturated fatty acids, etc.). Additionally, as a promising application in foods, they could also be used as fat replacers [14]. Emulgels are capable of overcoming the low solubility and chemical stability, as well as the poor absorption, bioaccessibility, and bioavailability of some active ingredients, while improving the texture, bioadhesivity, and penetration ability into the skin of the formulations [14; 15; 16]. These advantages are more relevant in nanoemulgels, that is, when the size of the droplet in the emulsion is less than 500 nm [17]. Three components are essential in the formulation of an emulgel, namely, the dispersed phase, the emulsifier, and the structured phase. As a dispersed phase, essential oils, due to their antifungal, antimicrobial, and therapeutic properties, are a good choice [18]. Among them, lemon essential oil has proven these properties [19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25]. Furthermore, the FDA considers it a safe ingredient [26]; therefore, it could have applications in industries as diverse as food, agrochemicals, cosmetics, flavorings, and household cleaning products. It should be noted that its inclusion in a formulation such as an emulgel is very interesting because this structure protects the lemon essential oil against oxidation, one of the main drawbacks of its use. Several papers on emulgels containing essential oils can be found in the literature. By way of an example, it is worth mentioning the work published by [PERSON] et al. (2022) [27] who studied emulgels formulated with tea tree oil and thymoquinone to be used to reduce psoriasis disease, or the articles reported by [PERSON] et al. (2018) [28] and [PERSON] et al. (2021) [29] for the treatment of vaginal candidiasis by the formulation and preparation of an emulgel containing menta essential oil and clove oil, respectively, or [PERSON] et al. (2023) [30] who after optimizing the formulation of erythromycin-loaded transethosomes obtained erythromycin-loaded transethosomes in cinnamon-oil-based emulgels to treat topical bacterial infections, or [PERSON] et al. (2023) [31] who evaluated anise-based emulgels to also treat skin infections caused by bacteria. Emulsifiers are adsorbed at the oil/water interface, facilitating not only the formation of the emulsion but also its physical stability, thus allowing the shelf life of the emulgel to be prolonged. Tween and Span are nonionic surfactants widely used as emulsifiers in food, cosmetic, or biomedical applications because of their low toxicity and compatibility with the other ingredients of the formulation. Their mixture could help improve the stability of products compared to surfactant alone [32; 33]. Regarding the structured phase, it is worth noting the relevance of selecting inexpensive and natural gelling agents that contribute to health to respond to current consumer demands. Pectin satisfies these conditions. It consists of long chains made up of galacturonic acid units, which can be found as such with a free carboxyl group or with a carboxyl esterified by methanol (methoxylated).