Tangerine (Citrus reticulata)
Tangerine is a sweet, sunny citrus oil loved for its cheerful aroma and its low risk of causing photosensitivity.
How to use it
3–5 drops creates a cheerful, uplifting atmosphere well suited to daytime use.
Dilute before topical application and patch-test first, as with any oil.
Safety in detail
- Max dermal use
- Dilute in a carrier oil for skin
- Phototoxic
- No
- Cold-pressed tangerine/mandarin is generally considered non-phototoxic (unlike bergamot, lemon, and lime) — but dilute for skin anyway.
- Citrus oils oxidise quickly; store cool and sealed.
- Keep out of reach of children.
Sources: Foods study (2022)
Composition & chemistry
Aggregated from 38 GC-MS samples across 18 peer-reviewed open-access studies (2021–2026). Figures are the distribution across those samples — median with interquartile range — not a single reading.
- Monoterpene hydrocarbon 95.1%
- Oxygenated monoterpene 4%
- Unclassified 0.5%
- Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon 0.3%
- Aliphatic / small aromatic 0.1%
| Constituent | Median | Typical range | Max | Detected in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| limonene ↗ C10H16 | 68.6% | 55.4–72.5% | 98.4% | |
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| γ-terpinene ↗ C10H16 | 9.6% | 1.9–12.7% | 26.3% | |
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| myrcene ↗ C10H16 | 1.9% | 1.2–2.2% | 8.0% | |
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| α-pinene ↗ C10H16 | 1.7% | 1.4–2.5% | 5.3% | |
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| β-pinene ↗ C10H16 | 1.1% | 0.9–2.3% | 13.0% | |
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| terpinolene ↗ C10H16 | 0.9% | 0.6–1.4% | 1.5% | |
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| linalool ↗ C10H18O | 0.8% | 0.4–2.3% | 11.0% | |
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| terpinen-4-ol ↗ C10H18O | 0.6% | 0.4–0.8% | 1.3% | |
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| α-terpineol ↗ C10H18O | 0.5% | 0.3–1.4% | 1.8% | |
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+ 75 more compounds reported across the dataset.
18 peer-reviewed sources behind these figures
- Shi J, Peng L, Chen W, Qiao W, Wang K, Xu Y, Cheng J. (2024). Evaluation of chemical components and quality in Xinhui Chenpi (Citrus reticulata 'Chachi') with two different storage times by GC-MS and UPLC. Food science & nutrition.
- Rashed MMA, You L, Ghaleb ADS, Du Y. (2022). Two-Phase Extraction Processes, Physicochemical Characteristics, and Autoxidation Inhibition of the Essential Oil Nanoemulsion of Citrus reticulata Blanco (Tangerine) Leaves. Foods (Basel, Switzerland).
- Song Z, Xu J, Tian J, Deng J, Deng X, Peng M, Luo W, Wei M, Li Y, Zheng G. (2025). Differentiating Tangerine Peels from Other Citrus reticulata through GC-MS, UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS, and HPLC-PDA. ACS omega.
- Fahmy NM, Elhady SS, Bannan DF, Malatani RT, Gad HA. (2022). Citrus reticulata Leaves Essential Oil as an Antiaging Agent: A Comparative Study between Different Cultivars and Correlation with Their Chemical Compositions. Plants (Basel, Switzerland).
- Venkatachalam K, Charoenphun N, Noonim P, Pechwang J, Senthong P, Lekjing S. (2026). Comprehensive Analysis of Physicochemical Properties, Structure, Bioactive Potential, and Flavor Profiles of Tangerine Pericarp Powder from Different Varieties. ACS omega.
- Abdelkader RMM, Hamed DA, Abdel-Khalek HH. (2026). Combinational effect of gamma irradiation and sustainable bioactive absorbent bacterial cellulose pads impregnated with tangerine essential oil against some bacterial fish fillet-borne pathogens. Bioresources and bioprocessing.
- Cao J, Zheng W, Chen B, Yan Z, Tang X, Li J, Zhang Z, Ang S, Li C, Wu R, Wu P, Chen WH. (2024). Chemical Composition of Essential Oil from Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Chachiensis (Chachi) and Its Anti-Mosquito Activity against Pyrethroid-Resistant Aedes albopictus. Insects.
- Zhong W, Xiong Y, Luo J, Ahmad S, Wang J. (2026). Integrative GC-MS, network pharmacology, and molecular dynamics elucidate synergistic anti-diabetic mechanisms of Chongqing Citrus reticulata 'Dahongpao' volatile oil via multi-target stabilization. PloS one.
- Xu H, Zou J, Gan X, Wang F, Chen L, Chen H, Hu Y, Liu Y. (2026). Unraveling the volatile profile and bioactivity of Zhoupigan (<i>Citrus reticulata</i> cv. Manau Gan) essential oil via HS-GC-IMS and HS-SPME-GC-MS: a comprehensive evaluation of different extraction techniques. Frontiers in nutrition.
- Argote-Vega FE, Delgado-Ospina J, Suárez-Montenegro ZJ, Arteaga-Cabrera EH, Chaves-López C, Pérez-Álvarez JÁ. (2026). Antibacterial Activity of Nanoemulsions Prepared with Essential and Seed Oils Against Isolated Bacteria from Rainbow Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>). Foods (Basel, Switzerland).
- Campos S, Espinoza J, Fuentes JM, Jofré-Fernández I, Tortella G, Navarro D, Quiroz A, Diez MC, Rubilar O, Fincheira P. (2025). The Impact of Essential Oils Derived from Citrus Species to Control <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> and Their Potential Physiological Actions. Plants (Basel, Switzerland).
- Khanh Nguyen NP, Kwon JH, Kim MK, Tran KN, Huong Nguyen LT, Yang IJ. (2024). Antidepressant and anxiolytic potential of Citrus reticulata Blanco essential oil: a network pharmacology and animal model study. Frontiers in pharmacology.
- Zou J, Wang P, Xu H, Gan X, Zhang H, Chen L, Chen H, Wang F, Hu Y, Liu Y. (2024). Metabolic profile and bioactivity of the peel of Zhoupigan (Citrus reticulata cv. Manau Gan), a special citrus variety in China, based on GC-MS, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis, and in vitro assay. Food chemistry: X.
- Elmaidomy AH, Abdel-Maqsoud NMR, Tammam OY, Abdel-Rahman IM, Elrehany MA, Bakhsh HT, Altemani FH, Algehainy NA, Alzubaidi MA, Alsenani F, Sayed AM, Abdelmohsen UR, Zahran EM. (2023). Egyptian mandarin peel oil's anti-scabies potential via downregulation-of-inflammatory/immune-cross-talk: GC-MS and PPI network studies. Scientific reports.
- Sreepian A, Popruk S, Nutalai D, Phutthanu C, Sreepian PM. (2022). Antibacterial Activities and Synergistic Interaction of Citrus Essential Oils and Limonene with Gentamicin against Clinically Isolated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. TheScientificWorldJournal.
- Ali HM, Elgat WAAA, El-Hefny M, Salem MZM, Taha AS, Al Farraj DA, Elshikh MS, Hatamleh AA, Abdel-Salam EM. (2021). New Approach for Using of Mentha longifolia L. and Citrus reticulata L. Essential Oils as Wood-Biofungicides: GC-MS, SEM, and MNDO Quantum Chemical Studies. Materials (Basel, Switzerland).
- EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP), Bampidis V, Azimonti G, Bastos ML, Christensen H, Kouba M, Fašmon Durjava M, López-Alonso M, López Puente S, Marcon F, Mayo B, Pechová A, Petkova M, Ramos F, Ramos F, Sanz Y, Villa RE, Woutersen R, Brantom P, Chesson A, Westendorf J, Manini P, Pizzo F, Dusemund B. (2021). Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of expressed mandarin oil from the fruit peels of Citrus reticulata Blanco for use in all animal species (FEFANA asbl). EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority.
- Bava R, Castagna F, Piras C, Palma E, Cringoli G, Musolino V, Lupia C, Perri MR, Statti G, Britti D, Musella V. (2021). In Vitro Evaluation of Acute Toxicity of Five Citrus spp. Essential Oils towards the Parasitic Mite Varroa destructor. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland).
Every figure above traces to a named table in one of these open-access papers. How this was built →
- Limonene — the dominant sweet-citrus terpene; antioxidant activity reported in vitro Shah et al. (2018), Asian J. of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Tangerine sits between lemon and orange — lighter than lemon, sweeter than orange.
What the research says
An honest read of the published research — what has actually been studied, at what stage. Not medical advice or a promise of results.
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Tangerine oil is limonene-dominant, a terpene with antioxidant activity reported in laboratory studies. That's a chemistry finding, not a proven health benefit of the oil.
Shah et al. (2018), Asian J. of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Evidence & sources
Peer-reviewed research on Tangerine's chemistry and safety. These describe composition and documented effects — not health or treatment claims.
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Cold-pressed tangerine peel oil is around 90% limonene, giving it a sweet, gentle citrus aroma.
Foods study (2022)
Frequently asked questions
Is tangerine oil phototoxic?
Cold-pressed tangerine and mandarin are generally considered non-phototoxic, unlike bergamot, lemon, and lime. It's still a good idea to dilute it for skin, but there's usually no sun-exposure restriction. Foods study (2022)
Is tangerine the same as mandarin?
They're very closely related Citrus reticulata varieties with near-identical, limonene-dominant oils. Aromatically they're almost interchangeable — sweet, soft, and gently citrusy. Foods study (2022)
Why does tangerine oil fade fast?
Like all cold-pressed citrus oils, it's limonene-rich and oxidises quickly. Keep it cool, sealed, and out of light, and use it within a year or so.
Gallery
Tangerine (Citrus reticulata) is cold-pressed from the peel of the fruit, a small, easy-peel citrus in the mandarin family cultivated widely in the Mediterranean basin, China, and the southeastern United States. The result is a sweet, sunny aroma that has made it a household favorite for daytime diffusing.
Extraction and origin
Like most citrus oils, tangerine is expressed (cold-pressed) rather than steam-distilled — a mechanical process that squeezes the oil from the peel without heat, preserving its bright top notes. The peels used are typically a byproduct of the fresh-fruit and juice industry, which is part of why citrus oils tend to be more affordable than resin or root oils.
Aroma character
Tangerine sits between lemon and orange on the citrus spectrum: lighter and less sharp than lemon, with a gentler, sweeter edge than orange. Many people describe it as smelling closer to the actual fresh-peeled fruit than either of its more common citrus cousins.
In the diffuser
3–5 drops creates a cheerful, uplifting atmosphere well suited to daytime use, study sessions, or simply brightening a room. It blends easily with florals like lavender or geranium, woodsy oils like cedarwood, or other citrus notes like grapefruit and bergamot.
On skin
Dilute before topical application and patch-test first, as with any essential oil.
Sun exposure note
Unlike bergamot and some other cold-pressed citrus oils, tangerine — like sweet orange — contains very low levels of the furanocoumarins responsible for phototoxicity (the skin reaction some citrus oils cause when exposed to UV light). That makes it a gentler citrus choice if you’ll be heading out into the sun after topical use, though standard dilution guidance still applies.
Pairs well with
Lavender, geranium, cedarwood, ylang ylang, and other citrus oils are all common pairings in diffuser blends built around tangerine’s sweet, sunny character.
A note on the name
“Tangerine” and “mandarin” are sometimes used interchangeably in casual conversation, but they refer to related, slightly different citrus varieties within the same family — tangerines tend to have a deeper orange-red rind and a slightly more tart edge than true mandarins.
Found in these blends
Tangerine is one of the oils inside 10 Young Living blends.