Citrus reticulata Cold pressed from the fruit peel, from Italy.
Aroma: Mandarin Essential Oil has an intense, sweet, fresh scent characteristic of citrus fruit, and has the sweetest scent of all.
History: The name is said to come from the fact that it was a traditional gift to the Mandarins, the official bureaucrats of Imperial China. It is native to southern China and the Far East and was brought to Europe in 1805 and to the USA forty years later.
FYI: Clementines and tangerines are varieties of mandarin orange.
Colour: Orange-yellow to a dark orange liquid.
Common Uses: Mandarin Essential Oil is often used as a digestive aid, for use against hiccups, anxiety, and to assist the liver functions of the elderly. Mandarin Essential Oil is also commonly used in soaps, cosmetics, perfumes and men's colognes.
Mandarin Essential Oil is a favourite of children and parents. Of all the citrus oils, Mandarin Oil is the sweetest and tends to be the most calming. If desiring to use a citrus oil in the evenings before bed or with children, Mandarin Essential Oil is usually the best choice.
Suggested Uses: Acne, dull skin, insomnia, oily skin, scars, spots, stress, wrinkles. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 56-67.]
In traditional Chinese medicine, the dried peel of the fruit is used in the regulation of ch'i and also used to treat abdominal distension, enhance digestion, and reduce phlegm. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. 1985. Los Angeles: Institute of Chinese Medicine. Mandarins have also been used in Ayurveda (the traditional medicine of India). Chopra, R. N.; Nayar, S. L.; Chopra, I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. 1986. New Delhi: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandarin_orange
Constituents: Limonene, methyl anthranilate, geraniol, citral, citronellal. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 121.]
Typical constituents: Limonene (p-1,8-menthadiene) 70% - 95%, Decanal <1 %, Myrcene <1 %, Neral <1 % This batch: Limonene: @70%, γ-Terpinene: @20%
Consistency: Thin
Note: Top
Strength of Aroma: Light
Blends well with: other citrus oils such as Lime, Orange, Lemon, and Grapefruit, as well as spice oils such as Nutmeg, Bay and Clove Bud.
Safety Information: Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand does not indicate any special precautions when using Mandarin Oil. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 219.]
Cautions: There is some evidence that Mandarin Essential Oil is photo-toxic, so treat it as such. Direct sunlight should be avoided after use. Avoid use during pregnancy.