Citrus reticulata cold pressed from the peel in the USA.
Aroma: Fresh, sweet, citrusy, similar to the brighter aroma of tangerine peels (as compared to orange peels), but more concentrated than sweet orange, and with a tangy finish.
The Tangerine tree was originally native to China but is now grown predominantly in the United States and Sicily. The tree is similar to the Mandarin. Tangerine Essential Oil, like most of the citrus family, can be depended upon for its refreshing and rejuvenating characteristics. Users may see Tangerine Essential Oil used in perfumes, some toiletries, and soaps.
Common Uses: stress-induced insomnia, nervous exhaustion, mild muscular spasm, cellulite, digestive problems, detoxification, flatulence, constipation, bodily congestion, fatigue, irritability, sadness, anxiety
Source: Valerie Ann Worwood, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, 25th Anniversary Edition (Novato, CA: New World Library, 2016, 625.
Major Constituents:
a-Pinene, Myrcene, Limonene, y-Terpinene, Citronellal, Linalool, Neral, Neryl Acetate, Geranyl Acetate, Geraniol, Thymol, Carvone
Source: B. Lawrence. Tangerine Oil. *Perfumer & Flavorist, October/November 1980), 27. Source cited in Salvatore Battaglia, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (Australia: The Perfect Potion, 1997), 201.]
Colour: Greenish Orange
Consistency: Thin
Perfumery Note: Top
Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium
Blends With: Basil, Bergamot, Clary Sage, Clove Bud, Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Neroli, Nutmeg and Orange.
Safety Information
As a rule, I caution against using any cold-pressed citrus essential oil on the skin exposed to sunlight. Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young recommend careful storage and avoiding use of oxidized Tangerine Oil to prevent skin sensitization. Tisserand and Young confirm that Tangerine Oil is not phototoxic. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 87,343.]
Photo thanks to BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
