Mandarin Essential Oil
Of all the citrus essential oils, Mandarin Essential Oil is often thought to have the sweetest aroma, and it tends to be less stimulating than most other citrus oils with the exception of Bergamot Essential Oil. Although it's not typically found to be as stimulating, Mandarin Oil can be a wonderfully uplifting oil. Aromatically, it blends well with many other essential oils including citrus, floral, wood, spice and herb families of oils.
Mandarin Essential Oil tends to be a favorite of children. If desiring to diffuse a citrus oil in the evenings before bed, Mandarin Essential Oil may be the best choice.
Mandarin Essential Oil is not phototoxic according to Essential Oil Safety edition 2 (see below).
Mandarin Essential Oil Benefits and Uses
- Acne
- Dull Skin
- Insomnia
- Oily Skin
- Scars
- Spots
- Stress
- Wrinkles
Source: Julia Lawless, The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Updated Edition) (London: Harper Thorsons, 2014), 131.
Botanical Name
Plant Family
Common Method of Extraction
Cold Pressed/Expressed
Plant Part Typically Used
Color
Greenish Orange
Consistency
Thin
Perfumery Note
Top
Strength of Initial Aroma
Medium
Aromatic Description
Mandarin Essential Oil smells sweet and citrusy.
Major Constituents
- Limonene
- gamma-Terpinene
- a-Pinene
- B-Pinene
- B-Myrecene
See Essential Oil Safety for more complete list of typical constituents.
Source: B.M. Lawrence, Progress in Essential Oils. (Perfumer & Flavorist 21 no. 2, 1996), 25-28. Source cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 342.
Mandarin Essential Oil Safety Information
Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young recommend careful storage and avoiding use of oxidized Mandarin Oil to prevent skin sensitization. Tisserand and Young confirm that Mandarin Oil is not phototoxic. However, Mandarin Petitgrain Oil from the leaves of Citrus reticulata is phototoxic. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 87,343.]
General Safety Information
Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. For general dilution information, read AromaWeb's Guide to Diluting Essential Oils. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. Before using this or any essential oil, carefully read AromaWeb's Essential Oil Safety Information page. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.
Shelf Life
Important Information About the Profiles
The essential oil information provided on AromaWeb is intended for basic educational purposes only. The references to safety information, test results, constituents and percentages is generalized information. Essential oils can vary greatly in composition. The data is not necessary complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate. The essential oil photos are intended to represent the typical and approximate color of each essential oil. However, essential oil composition and color can vary based on harvesting, distillation, age of the essential oil and other factors. Profiles for several CO2 Extracts and absolutes are included within the directory, and are denoted as such.
