Mandarin Essential Oil

Latin name: Citrus Nobilis

Part of the plant used: fruit peel

Source: Italy

Extraction method: Cold Expression

Mandarin 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 mandarins, including Satsuma, Clementine, Dancy, Honey, Pixie, and tangerines.

This oil is very mild and is therefore said to be used to treat even children and pregnant women, making it 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. Mandarin oil is also useful for treating acne, oily skin, and blemishes. It is also believed to help relieve problems such as fluid retention and obesity. The oil, diluted to around 1–2% in a carrier oil, is gently massaged onto a child's tummy to relieve stomachache. 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 the elderly, as it helps strengthen the digestive system and liver. Originally from southern China and the Far East, the mandarin was brought to Europe in 1805 and to America in 1845.