This tangy and zesty essential oil has some great properties to help relieve stress and digestive problems, but is mostly used to increase circulation to the skin, reducing fluid retention and to help prevent stretch marks.

Oil properties: It is sweet and tangy and yellowy orange color.

Origin of tangerine oil: It is a native of China, but was taken to Europe in 1805 and a little later to America, who now is a large producer of this oil. The difference between tangerines and mandarins are the fact that tangerines are harvested around November while mandarins are harvested around February.

Tangerines are also deeper orange in color and do not have pips, while mandarins are more yellow and do have pips.

Extraction: Tangerine oil is extracted from the peel by cold expression.

Chemical composition: The main chemical components of tangerine oil are a-thujone, a-pinene, camphene, sabinene, b-pinene, myrcene, limonene, y-terpinolene, linalool, citronellal, terpineol-4-ol, nerol and geranial.

Precautions: It is a non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing oil, but some phototoxicity has been reported and it would be best to not expose the skin to sunlight after a treatment.

Therapeutic properties: The therapeutic properties of tangerine oil are antiseptic, antispasmodic, cytophylactic, depurative, sedative, stomachic and tonic.

Uses: Tangerine oil is soothing to the nervous system and has a tonic effect on the digestive system, while helping flatulence, diarrhea and constipation. It is also useful for the skin and is used to help with stretch marks, increasing circulation and reducing fluid retention.

Summary: It is an oil that can boost the digestive system, reduce retention, increase circulation and sooths the nervous system and relieve stress and tension.

• Burners and vaporizers: In vapor therapy, tangerine oil can help with soothing the nervous system and thereby reduce stress and tension, while also boosting the digestive system.
• Blended massage oil or in the bath: As a blended massage oil or diluted in the bath, tangerine oil can assist the nervous system, reduce flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, and other digestive complaints, but also increase circulation to the skin, reduce fluid retention and help prevent stretch marks.
• Cream or lotion: In a lotion or cream, it is used to help prevent stretch marks when pregnant, while increasing circulation and reducing fluid retention.

Tangerine oil blends well with: Although most essential oils blend well with other oils, Tangerine oil blends particularly well with bergamot, cinnamon, clary sage, clove, frankincense, lavender, nutmeg and neroli.