Essential Oil 50ml - Mandarin

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-orange and has the aroma of a fresh orange. A whole group of citrus fruits falls under the mandarin umbrella, including Satsuma, Clementine, Dancy, Honey, Pixie, and other varieties.

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 helpful for digestive problems. Mandarin oil is also useful for treating acne, oily skin, and blemishes. It is also believed to help alleviate problems such as water retention and obesity. The oil, diluted to about 1-2% in a carrier oil, is gently massaged onto a child's tummy to relieve stomach aches. 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 given as gifts to mandarins in China. In France, mandarins are considered a safe remedy for indigestion in children and the elderly, as they help strengthen the digestive system and liver. Native to southern China and the Far East, mandarins were brought to Europe in 1805 and to America in 1845.