Botanical name Citrus nobilis
Botanical synonyms Citrus reticulata Blanco var. clementina
Family Rutaceae
Source Fruits
Origin Italy
Processing Method Cold pressed
Color/Consistency A thin, clear, dark orange to reddish yellow or brownish orange liquid.
Aromatic Summary / Note / Strength of Aroma A middle note of medium aroma, Clementine Essential Oil smells identical to the fruit.
Blends With Clementine blends easily with other essential oils, particularly those from the citrus and floral families.
Product Abstract
Clementines are succulent fruits with a smooth and shiny appearance. They are generally seedless and a cross hybrid between a sweet orange and mandarin orange. Clementine fruit is believed to have been discovered in the early twentieth century by a French missionary in Algiers and has been gaining a great deal of popularity since then. They are very easy to peel and disperse into multiple segments, just like tangerines. In fact, they are sometimes referred to as seedless tangerine.
History
In ancient times, Clementine was considered the crown jewels of the mandarin family. An Algerian priest, Pierre Clément, is credited with crossing a mandarin and an orange in 1902, which resulted in a seedless mandarin with a looser skin that was easier to peel.
Harvesting/Extraction Information
Clementine essential oil is made from the peel of the fruit. Clementine’s are sweeter, juicier and less acidic than oranges. The bright yellow oil is extracted through a cold pressed method.
Common Usage
Caution
Some people may develop itching or swelling in the throat or digestive troubles like nausea and cramps after eating citrus fruits like clementines. People with known citrus allergy may avoid or be cautious while eating clementines. Other than that, it’s always better to exercise natural vigil while trying something for the first time.
Key constituents
(þ)-Limonene 94.8–95.0%
b-Myrcene 1.6–1.8%
Safety summary
Hazards Skin sensitization if oxidized.
Cautions Old or oxidized oils should be avoided.
Our safety advice
Because of its limonene content we recommend that oxidation of clementine oil is avoided by storage in a dark, airtight container in a refrigerator. The addition of an antioxidant to preparations containing it is recommended.
Regulatory guidelines
IFRA recommends that essential oils rich in limonene should only be used when the level of peroxides is kept to the lowest practical level, for instance by adding antioxidants at the time of production.
Organ-specific effects
Adverse skin reactions No information found! Autoxidation products of (þ)-limonene can cause skin sensitization.
Reproductive toxicity The low developmental toxicity of (þ)- limonene in rabbits and mice suggests that clementine oil is not hazardous in pregnancy.
Systemic effects
Acute toxicity No information found! (þ)-Limonene is nontoxic
Carcinogenic/anticarcinogenic potential No information found. (þ)-Limonene displays anticarcinogenic activity.
Comments
Clementine oil has not been tested for phototoxicity. Limited availability.