Red Mandarin Essential Oil, 500 ml

Red mandarin essential oil is obtained by pressing the peel of Citrus nobilis fruit and brings to cosmetics a sweet citrus scent, which the manufacturer describes as invigorating and refreshing. In a formulation it acts as a natural fragrance ingredient. It is used at low rates in body oils, balms, creams, shower products and soaps, and it is also suitable for a diffuser or an aromatherapy blend.

The raw material is of plant origin, contains no ingredients of animal origin, and the manufacturer states that it is vegan and not tested on animals. Besides its scent, it is associated with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. When formulating, these can be treated as a supplement to the recipe, but they do not replace a preservative system.

Scent and effects

• Citrus scent – sweet and clean, reminiscent of mandarin peel.
• Antioxidant action – helps protect the oil phase from oxidation, but the effect depends on the usage rate and the rest of the recipe.
• Antimicrobial effect – the manufacturer states antimicrobial properties. In the finished product they should be regarded as a support and do not replace preservation.
• Skin refreshment – according to the manufacturer, it leaves a cooling, refreshing feeling on the skin, which is why it appears in after-sun products, body mists and cooling gels.
• More even skin tone – the manufacturer also mentions support for a more radiant appearance and a more even skin tone. This claim comes from the supplier’s marketing materials and the result depends on the whole formulation.

Use in formulations

The oil dissolves in vegetable oils and alcohol, but not in water. In emulsions and anhydrous products it is added at the end of production, once the mixture has cooled below 40 °C, so that the volatile components do not escape and the scent stays full. In a water-based toner, body mist or bath product a solubiliser is needed, otherwise the oil separates onto the surface and the scent is not distributed evenly.

It suits recipes with a pH of 4.0–8.0 and is compatible with alcohol and non-ionic surfactants, so it can be used in shower gels and shampoos. The maximum usage rate is set by the IFRA limits for each product category separately. A different ceiling applies to lip products, another to body creams, and another to rinse-off products or candles. We recommend checking the final scent intensity and the behaviour in the recipe on a test batch.

Suitable for products such as

• Body oils, massage oils and anhydrous balms – the oil dissolves in them directly, without a solubiliser.
• Body butters, lotions and creams – added to the cooled emulsion, below 40 °C.
• After-sun products and cooling gels – for the refreshing feeling stated by the manufacturer.
• Shower gels, shampoos and bath products – compatibility with non-ionic surfactants and acidic to neutral pH.
• Lip balms, lip oils and lip scrubs – lip products form a separate IFRA category, and the usage rate follows its limit.
• Hair mists, hair perfumes and leave-in hair products – according to the manufacturer, they give the hair a fresh citrus scent impression.
• Soaps, diffusers and aromatherapy blends.

Good to know

The substance is classified under CLP and marked with pictograms for flammability, irritation and sensitisation, serious health risks on long-term exposure, and hazard to the environment. Store the concentrate away from heat sources; details on safe handling are given in the safety data sheet. The product contains one or more ingredients classified as CMR, but as a whole it does not have a CMR classification.

The oil contains fragrance allergens listed in Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. This must be taken into account when labelling the composition of the finished product.

The colour of the oil is orange. At the usual low usage rate it has little effect on the product, but in clear or very light products it is worth checking the effect on the shade.

Frequently asked questions