Tangerine essential oil (Citrus reticulata), the brightly sweet essential oil expressed from the pericarp (peel) of the ripe tangerine, is excellent for cleansing, purifying, refreshing and toning skin. For this reason, tangerine essential oil is a primary unique ingredient in PHYTO5’s Cleansing Milk.
Tangerine essential oil contains a significant quantity of d-limonene, an antioxidant, found to be excellent for skin and hair. D-limonene reduces inflammation and fights disease-causing germs.
The antiseptic, antibacterial properties of the oil help to remove bacteria on the surface of the skin and reduce excess sebum and congestion in oily and combination skin types. This makes tangerine essential oil an effective fighter against acne.
Tangerine essential oils helps alleviate stagnant fluids.
With a high folate content (vitamin B9/folic acid, tangerine essential oil speeds the healing of wounds while it staves off infection.
Further, tangerine essential oil assists in the healing of scars, spots and stretch marks and is widely considered a tonic for the entire body.
The high vitamin C, vitamin B, potassium and magnesium content in tangerine essential oil means good hair health when it’s present as an ingredient in haircare. It penetrates the scalp to nourish follicles from within.
Tangerine essential oils is regarded as a remedy for indigestion. It helps to eliminate toxins by regulating liver function and health.
A 2018 scientific study referenced in the endnotes of this article found that the use of citrus peels, particularly of Citrus reticulata (tangerine) which is wasted in huge amounts, may indeed be a cancer preventive and anticancer agent, in part, because of its strong antioxidant properties.
The essential oil of tangerine is known to relax both physically and mentally. Post workout, it can assist to relax strained muscles and relieve muscle cramps.
When mentally stressed tangerine can be mildly aphrodisiacal as it helps soothe and comfort and uplifts a sad spirit. Tangerine essential oils supports a feeling of stability and strength when one is in need. It promotes better, sounder sleep and encourages mental focus. Diffused tangerine essential oil works to lift burdens of the creative mind to allow the art to flow and it nurtures a sense of well-being. (Read our blog about diffusing essential oils to purify the air here.)
Tangerine is a hybrid of the mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata) and the pomelo (Citrus maxima). Often interchangeably called mandarin essential oil, the two are actually distinctly different since each represents different chemotypes.
Tangerine is one of the sweetest of the citrus fragrances. The first shipment of tangerines from Asia was believed to have been sent to Tangiers around 1845 and so tangerines got their name from Tangiers in Morocco.
In both the flavor and fragrance industry, differences are said to exist between the various varieties of tangerine both in the juice and the essential oil.
Applications for tangerine essential oil are skincare, haircare, the bath, massage, in a diffuser, in perfume and as flavorings in food.
The following is a summary of the properties of tangerine essential oil:
antibacterial
antioxidant
antiseptic
antispasmodic
carminative (flatulence relieving)
digestive
diuretic (mild)
laxative (mild)
sedative
stimulant (digestive and lymphatic)
tonic
#####
Quezada, Maria. Finding Infinity, Vol. 1: An Easy Aromatherapy Guide to Blending Essential Oils (Anti-Aging Secrets). Mount Olympus Books. Aliso Viejo, CA. 2010.
Lawless, Julia. The Encyclopedia of Essential OIls: The Complete Guide to the Use of Aromatic Oils In Aromatherapy, Herbalism, Health and Well-Being. Red Wheel. San Francisco, CA. June 2013.
Ishfaq M, Akhtar B, Muhammad F, Sharif A, Akhtar MF, Hamid I, Sohail K, Muhammad H. Antioxidant and wound healing potential of essential oil from Citrus reticulata peel and its chemical characterization. Medicinal values of peels essential oil. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2020 Sep 17. doi: 10.2174/1389201021999200918102123. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32957881.
Nair S A, Sr RK, Nair AS, Baby S. Citrus peels prevent cancer. Phytomedicine. 2018 Nov 15;50:231-237. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2017.08.011. Epub 2017 Aug 17. PMID: 30466983.
Photo by Sunsetoned at Pexels