Mandarin Essential Oil from Natural Health Crafters

Mandarin - the essential oil is gently uplifting and mildly sedative – and a useful skin care ingredient.

Mandarin Citrus reticulata Blanco is a group name for a class of oranges with thin, loose peel, which have been dubbed "kid-glove" oranges. These are treated as members of a distinct species, Citrus reticulata Blanco. They have been cultivated in china for centuries. According to some records, the fruit is so named because it was a gift to the Imperial Chinese officials of the same name. Other sources point to a resemblance between the size, colour and shape of the fruit and the trimmings at the top of the officials’ hats. Unlike many other citrus fruits the mandarin has a loose skin and separates easily into segments, they have been dubbed "kid-glove" oranges. In the Philippines all mandarin oranges are called naranjita. Spanish-speaking people in the American tropics call them mandarina.

The mandarin tree may be much smaller than that of the sweet orange or equal in size, depending on variety. With great age, some may reach a height of 25 ft (7.5 m) with a greater spread. The tree is usually thorny, with slender twigs, broad-or slender-lanceolate leaves having minute, rounded teeth, and narrowly-winged petioles. The flowers are borne singly or a few together in the leaf axils. The fruit is oblate, the peel bright-orange or red-orange when ripe, loose, separating easily from the segments. Seeds are small, pointed at one end, green inside.

The mandarin orange is considered a native of south-eastern Asia and the Philippines. It is most abundantly grown in Japan, southern China, India, and the East Indies. It gravitated to the western world by small steps taken by individuals interested in certain cultivars. Two varieties from Canton were taken to England in 1805. They were adopted into cultivation in the Mediterranean area and, by 1850, were well established in Italy. Sometime between 1840 and 1850, the 'Willow-leaf' or 'China Mandarin' was imported by the Italian Consul and planted at the Consulate in New Orleans. It was carried from there to Florida and later reached California. The 'Owari' Satsuma arrived from Japan, first in 1876 and next in 1878, and nearly a million budded trees from 1908 to 1911 for planting in the Gulf States. Six fruits of the 'King' mandarin were sent from Saigon in 1882 to a Dr. Magee at Riverside, California. The latter sent 2 seedlings to Winter Park, Florida. Seeds of the 'Oneco' mandarin were obtained from India by the nurseryman, P.W. Reasoner, in 1888. In 1892 or 1893, 2 fruits of 'Ponkan' were sent from China to J.C. Barrington of McMeskin, Florida, and seedlings from there were distributed and led to commercial propagation.

Mandarin or Tangerine Although we use the word ‘mandarin’ and ‘tangerine’ interchangeably, they actually denote two different varieties of loose-skinned orange. The tangerine is larger and rounder than the mandarin, with a more yellow skin, probably more like the original Chinese type. Mandarins are now grown in the Mediterranean regions of Europe and North Africa; whereas the tangerine is produced mainly in Texas, Florida and California. Many hybrids have also been developed, including the tangelo (mandarin x grapefruit), the clementine (tangerine x sweet orange) and the temple orange (mandarin x sweet orange).

Essential Oil Mandarin oil increases the local blood circulation which helps tone the skin and improve its texture. Its is a mildly sedative oil. In France, because of its gently action. Mandarin essential oil is often thought of as ‘the children’s remedy’. French herbalists even prescribe mandarin juice for nervous tension and irritability, and certainly the essential oil can help quieten an over–excited child or encourage sleep. The soothing effect of mandarins (and tangerines) is attributed to their bromine content, which is higher than in any other citrus fruit.

Mandarin oranges of all kinds are primarily eaten out-of-hand, or the sections are utilized in fruit salads, gelatins, puddings, or on cakes. Very small types are canned in syrup.

The essential oil expressed from the peel is employed commercially in flavoring hard candy, gelatins, ice cream, chewing gum, and bakery goods. Mandarin essential oil paste is a standard flavoring for carbonated beverages. The essential oil, with terpenes and sesquiterpenes removed, is utilized in liqueurs. Petitgrain mandarin oil, distilled from the leaves, twigs and unripe fruits, has the same food applications. Tangerine oil is not suitable for flavoring purposes. The essential oil is a golden-yellow liquid, with an intriguing blue-violet tint that is visible in bright light. The aroma is gentle, sweet and citrusy, just like the fresh fruit. The effect of inhaling it is generally soothing, gently uplifing and cheery.

The drawback with mandarin, and other cold-pressed citrus essences (except for bergamot), is that the oil deteriorates very quickly once exposed to the air. This may well account for occasional reports of skin reactions to mandarin and other citrus oils. Buy small quantities from a reputable supplier and use within six to eight months of opening the bottle.

In France, the essence is regarded as an internal remedy for indigestion and sleeplessness in the elderly and children, although no essential oils should be swallowed unless under the direction of a qualified practitioner. In aromatherapy, you can use mandarin as one of the main ingredients in massage blends, baths and blends for burners with similar benefits. A few mandarins eaten at bedtime can help promote restful sleep too.

A tonic for the skin As well as its general skin care properties, mandarin essential oil is excellent in a skin tonic for an oilly skin. Alternatively, when it’s blended with a little camomile or rose otto essential oil, in a base body or unperfumed lotion or carrier oil base, it becomes an effective, soothing and toning treatment for drier complexions. Mandarin essential oil is also commonly used in preparations designed to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. Here it works best blended with other gentle skin-rejuvenating essences such as neroli, lavender and rose.

Adulteration

Addition of g-terpinene, dimethyl anthranilate, a-sinesal & perilla aldehyde to Tangerine oil (Citrus reticula var. tangerine):