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. Mandarins are usually eaten plain or in fruit salads. Specifically reddish-orange mandarin cultivars can be marketed as tangerines, but this is not a botanical classification. Mandarins are smaller and oblate, rather than spherical like the common oranges (which are a mandarin hybrid). The taste is considered less sour, as well as sweeter and stronger. A ripe mandarin is firm to slightly soft, heavy for its size, and pebbly-skinned.

Mandarin Essential Oil is extracted from the peel by cold expression.

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

The main chemical components of Mandarin Essential Oil are a-thujone, a-pinene, camphene, sabinene, b-pinene, myrcene, limonene, y-terpinolene, linalool, citronellal, terpineol-4-ol, nerol and geranial.

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

Mandarin Essential 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.

In vapor therapy, mandarin oil can help with soothing the nervous system and thereby reduce stress and tension, while also boosting the digestive system.

As a blended massage oil or diluted in the bath, Mandarin Essential 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.

In a lotion or cream, it is used to help prevent stretch marks when pregnant, while increasing circulation and reducing fluid retention.

Although most essential oils blend well with other oils, Mandarin Essential Oil blends particularly well with Bergamot, Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Clove, Frankincense, Lavender, Nutmeg and Neroli.