Mandarin Essential Oil

Latin name: Citrus Nobilis

Part of the plant used: Fruit Peel

Source: Italy

Extraction Method: Cold Expression

Tangerine essential oil is obtained from Citrus Reticulata, by cold pressing the peel. Petitgrain mandarin oil is also extracted in small quantities by steam distillation of the leaves and twigs. The oil is golden yellow-orange and has the aroma of a fresh orange. A whole group of citrus fruits falls under the umbrella of tangerines, including Satsuma, Clementine, Dancy, Honey, Pixie, and mandarins.

This oil is very gentle and is therefore said to be used to treat even children and pregnant women, one of the few oils used in this way. With its tonic and stimulating effect on both the stomach and liver, it is useful for digestive problems. Tangerine oil is also helpful in treating acne, oily skin, and blemishes. It is also supposed to help alleviate problems such as fluid retention and obesity. The oil, diluted around 1-2% in a carrier oil, is gently massaged onto a child's tummy to relieve stomach ache. A few drops in the bath calm hyperactive children. Used in an oil burner, it dispels depression and relieves anxiety.

Mandarin oranges are so named because they were traditionally offered as gifts to the mandarins of China. In France, mandarin is considered a safe remedy for treating indigestion in children and for the elderly, as it helps strengthen the digestive system and liver. Native to southern China and the Far East, mandarin was brought to Europe in 1805 and to America in 1845.