Ingredient of the Month: Mandarin
MASAJ Founder and Aromatherapy enthusiast, Alice Vaughan, focuses on one of MASAJ's integral essential oils, Mandarin - discussing the 5 key benefits the oil has for both our body and mind. All of our MASAJ oils are highly unique aromas, blended in-house to elevate your bodywork experience - chose from our 5 different blends depending on your mood and instantly find yourself transported to a place of calm.5 Body-and-Mind-Boosting Applications of Mandarin Essential Oil
Background
Tangy, fresh and uplifting - Mandarin essential oil (lat. Citrus Reticulata) is an absolute staple at MASAJ - fused with Lavender and Vetiver to make Eve, one of our most popular massage oils - and sometimes even vapourised throughout our Studios to help create the welcoming and calming vibe synonymous with MASAJ.
Expressed from the peel, or rind of the fruit - Mandarin trees were originally native to Southeast Asia, but are now found across the Mediterranean and North Africa, as well as North and Central America.
Known for centuries as a symbol of fortune and prosperity in Chinese culture, Mandarin fruits are traditionally gifted at Chinese New Year. Not only does their shape reference the lunar cycle, but there’s also a glorious bit of wordplay here too; the pronunciation of Jú (桔, “mandarin oranges”) is almost the same as Jí (吉, “auspiciousness”) - and so Mandarins continue to be celebrated as a symbol of joy, wealth and luck.
Properties
Neat Mandarin oil is a bright, light, green-orange colour - and as we find with many of the other citrus oils, the light viscosity of the oil references the free-flowing, bright nature of the main properties of Mandarin as an ingredient. Mandarin is a complex aroma; both sweet and bitter in equal measure - yet immediately brightening and cheering, too.
Mandarin has a few stand-out properties for both body and mind which make it a hugely valuable addition to the MASAJ aromatherapy kit. Firstly, it’s very hard not to be uplifted by a Mandarin-based blend. Clean and bright - the refreshing aroma of Mandarin is a powerful mood-booster, yet contains mild sedative properties too. This makes it a super versatile ingredient, as it offers the adaptability to be used for many different types of products and aromatherapy blends.
According to aromatherapy guru Patricia Davis, ‘Its delicate aroma breathes a message of happiness, especially to children or the child that is within each of us. It helps us to get in touch with that inner child’.
Mandarin is also a particularly safe oil, providing safety warnings are heeded and the oil is never, ever ingested or applied neat to the skin. It’s also worth checking the safety data on your bottle of oil to ensure it’s free of any phototoxic properties, as can be found in some oils from the citrus family.
Another reason to love Mandarin essential oil is the price point. Not to be crass - but as with most consumer items, the price of essential oils have rocketed in recent years - and it can sometimes be hard to find affordable ingredients with sustainability credentials that match our values. Due to the broad availability of Mandarin, it’s easy to find beautiful quality oil at a sustainable price point - our favourite suppliers are ID Aromatics and Oshadhi.
Our Favourite Applications
1. Post-Sickness Blend
Especially at this time of year, cold and flu can feel like a weekly occurrence - and the final ‘oomph’ you need to get out from under the duvet after a bout of sickness might just present itself in this boosting blend.
Try adding Mandarin and Clary Sage essential oils to your diffuser in equal parts - not only will this sweet blend help summon a smile; these oils contain powerful antibacterial and antiseptic properties to help cleanse the home as well as your respiratory system.
2. Pre/Post Natal Massage
Safe for use in pregnancy massage (after the first trimester) - Mandarin makes a great addition to a pre/post-natal routine as it can help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, while helping support skin elasticity and skin cell regeneration. For this purpose, Mandarin oil blends beautifully with a rich and nourishing carrier oil such as Jojoba Oil - conveniently, both of which can be found within our Eve Studio Oil - so make sure to request this upon your next visit to the MASAJ Studios.
3. Skin Balancing
Looking to switch up your skincare routine? Many brands are latching on to the power of Mandarin essential oil, and even a simple sweep of your favourite skincare products is likely to unearth this super ingredient. Known for balancing and brightening skin, Mandarin oil can help to minimise the appearance of fine lines, scars and age spots due to its cytophylactic properties - this literally means ‘cell-protecting’.
Rich in antioxidants (hello, Vitamin C!) - Mandarin essential oil has also been shown to help combat the damage caused to skin cells by environmental toxins and other free radicals. By the time you add in its anti-inflammatory properties, Mandarin just about has it all covered!
4. Reducing Swelling + Fluid Retention
Fluid retention (oedema) can appear as a result of pregnancy, PMT, sprains, strains and other soft tissue injuries and even allergic reactions, and fortunately our friend Mandarin can be deployed to help tackle the associated symptoms.
The benefits of Mandarin oil are believed to stimulate the lymphatic system, and in turn improve blood circulation below the skin which may provide relief for those experiencing rheumatism and arthritis, too.
Our Eve Studio Oil makes the perfect partner for a lymphatic drainage massage - helping to relieve swelling and boost circulation. Or, for an at-home fix, try blending 1 drop of Mandarin Essential Oil with 1 cup of Epsom Salts to make a bathing-blend - relax in the soothing waters for 15-20 minutes to allow the ingredients to take effect.
5. Get Happy
Delicate, sweet and uplifting - Mandarin makes the perfect addition to a mood-boosting oil blend.
Research suggests that Mandarin Oil can help combat mental fatigue caused by excessive workloads, by providing soothing support. Additional studies have indicated that this stimulating yet peaceful ingredient can enhance dream and memory recall, making it easier to remember the details of your subconscious thoughts.
Perfect to diffuse around the home, blend into a massage oil, or add to scrubs, lotions and salts for daily use - Mandarin blends beautifully with spicy oils such as Black Pepper, Clary Sage, Cinnamon and Clove for a quick hit of invigoration - or with more relaxing oils such as Lavender, Neroli, Bergamot or (my personal favourite) Petitgrain, if you’re in need of some soothing, calming vibes.If you don’t feel comfy experimenting with oils yourself, you can experience the magic of Mandarin Essential Oil by visiting a MASAJ Studio - there’s a very good reason why Eve is our most popular year-round massage oil blend.