Mandarin and Tangerine Oil: Evidence, Safety and How It Is Used
Mandarin and tangerine essential oils: how the names overlap, what a trial in infants found, sun and skin cautions that sources do not settle, and where evidence is missing.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read essential oil safety before you use anything on this page.
Safety first. Do not swallow essential oils or add them to drinks. If anyone has swallowed any essential oil, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222; call 911 for collapse, a seizure or trouble breathing. [1] The FDA also notes that certain citrus oils used safely in food can be harmful in cosmetics, particularly on skin exposed to the sun. [2] Whether mandarin oil is one of them is not settled in the sources we read (below).
What mandarin and tangerine oil are
Both names appear on bottles and in research papers. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) lists the accepted name Citrus reticulata Blanco (family Rutaceae). [3] When we asked GBIF to match "tangerine"-type names such as Citrus tangerina, it returned only the genus Citrus, not a species, so we cannot say from our sources whether "tangerine" on a label is the same plant. [3] Look for the botanical name on the label; see Reading an essential oil label. Research papers sometimes say "mandarin oil" without a botanical name; where that is so we say it.Sun and skin
- Phototoxicity: Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed for mandarin or tangerine oil with phototoxicity and furocoumarins, and read the FDA aromatherapy page, but found no study measuring this for mandarin oil. The FDA statement above is about "certain citrus oils" without naming them. [2] Other citrus oils are documented; see Lemon oil, Bergamot oil and Phototoxicity: citrus oils and sunlight. Until a source says otherwise, we suggest treating mandarin oil like other citrus oils on skin exposed to sun, and checking with the maker or a pharmacist.
- Irritation and allergy: Poison Control says allergy to an essential oil is a very real possibility, and that a rash means stopping the product and gently washing it off. [1] Limonene, a common fragrance ingredient, readily oxidizes on exposure to air, and 8% of 90 people with suspected fragrance allergy reacted to oxidized limonene in one US patch-test study. [4] For storage, see Storing essential oils.
What research shows
Aromatherapy trials are small and hard to blind (people can smell what they are given), and the outcomes are often self-reported.| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Population and form studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distress and pain after surgery in infants | A randomized trial of 60 children aged 3 to 36 months after craniofacial surgery compared massage with carrier oil, massage with mandarin oil and standard care. Results did not support a benefit of massage with or without mandarin oil. [5] | No good evidence of benefit in this trial | Infants after major surgery; massage |
| Anxiety, sleep, mood, pain in adults | Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed for "mandarin essential oil" and "Citrus reticulata randomized"; the relevant results were this infant trial and an animal study. | Insufficient evidence | Not applicable |
| Lung conditions (COPD) | A 2024 paper reports inhaled Citrus reticulata oil in rats with COPD (per its title, it alleviated airway inflammation and emphysema in the rats). [6] That is an animal finding and tells us nothing about people. | Preclinical (animals) | Rats |
The infant trial reminds us that a gentle-sounding oil does not always show a measurable effect. The authors suggested several reasons, such as massage being given soon after anesthesia and young children's fear of strangers touching them. [5] The trial does not tell us about safety of mandarin oil for infants beyond that study.
Safety by group
- Babies and children: Poison Control says children have thin skin and immature livers, which might make them more susceptible to toxic effects than adults. [1] Ask a pediatric clinician before using any oil near a child. See Essential oils around babies and children.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: the sources we read give no mandarin-specific advice. Ask a clinician; see Essential oils in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Medicines: Poison Control notes that essential oils may interact with medications. [1] See How interactions work.
- Swallowing: Poison Control warns that aspiration can cause pneumonia. [1]
- Surgery: tell the surgical team about oils and supplements; see Before surgery.
Uses studied and safety checks for Mandarin and Tangerine Oil
Read the safety checks first. Each card says whether a finding comes from people or only from the lab, which way the oil was used (scent, on skin or swallowed) and how strong the evidence is. A finding for one way of using an oil does not carry over to another.
Check before you use (5)
- Skin allergy and oxidized oil. Poison Control says allergic reactions to essential oils are possible and the most common is a skin rash. In a US patch-test study, 8% of 90 people with suspected fragrance allergy reacted to oxidized limonene.
- Undiluted use on skin. Poison Control says pure essential oils are potent and that diluting them in a carrier oil is the best way to reduce skin reactions; it also says not to use oils on damaged skin.
- Cats, dogs and birds. Pet Poison Helpline lists citrus oils among oils that can poison animals and says cats and birds are at greatest risk; swallowing is the highest-risk route, then skin, then breathing.
- Children and babies. Poison Control says children have thin skin and immature livers, which might make them more susceptible to toxic effects. Oils should be locked away from children and pets.
- Swallowing: poison center advice. Poison Control says swallowing some essential oils is poisonous and that choking on an oil (aspiration) can cause pneumonia. If anyone swallows an essential oil, call a poison center (US 1-800-222-1222) or your local emergency number.
Massage with mandarin oil after surgery in infants
Not enough evidenceA randomized trial of 60 children aged 3 to 36 months after craniofacial surgery compared massage with carrier oil, massage with mandarin oil and standard care. Results did not support a benefit of massage with or without mandarin oil.
Supplements: No good evidence of benefit in this trial; it also says nothing about general safety for infants.
Sun sensitivity: not settled for mandarin oil
Not enough evidenceThe FDA says certain citrus oils used safely in food can be harmful in cosmetics, particularly on sun-exposed skin, without naming them. We found no study that measured phototoxicity of mandarin oil.
Supplements: Until a source says otherwise, treat like other citrus oils on sun-exposed skin; ask the maker or a pharmacist.
Inhaled mandarin oil in rats with COPD
Lab or animal research onlyA 2024 study reported that inhaled Citrus reticulata essential oil improved lung damage and inflammation markers in rats given cigarette smoke.
Supplements: Lab or animal only.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Body systems (1)
- Integumentary SystemDocumented risk
Poison Control: skin rash is the most common allergic reaction to essential oils (general statement).
Body parts (1)
- SkinDocumented risk
General allergy and irritation caution for essential oils.
Conditions & symptoms (1)
- Contact DermatitisDocumented risk
General essential-oil allergy caution; no mandarin-specific case series read.
Frequently asked questions
Are mandarin oil and tangerine oil the same?
Not established in our sources. GBIF accepts Citrus reticulata but did not match "tangerine" names to a species, so read the botanical name on the label. [3]
Is mandarin oil phototoxic?
Proper evidence not found for mandarin oil specifically. The FDA says certain citrus oils can harm skin exposed to sun. [2]
Does mandarin oil help babies after surgery?
A randomized trial of 60 young children found no benefit from massage with or without mandarin oil. [5]
Is mandarin oil good for anxiety or sleep?
Proper evidence not found for mandarin oil alone.
What should I do if a child swallows it?
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). [1]
References
- Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center). Essential oils: Poisonous when misused. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Aromatherapy. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: species name matching for Citrus limon, C. bergamia, C. x aurantium, C. sinensis, C. x paradisi, C. x aurantiifolia, C. reticulata. Read 2026-10-23.
- Contact Allergy to Hydroperoxides of Linalool and D-Limonene in a US Population. Dermatitis. 2017 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Does postoperative 'M' technique massage with or without mandarin oil reduce infants' distress after major craniofacial surgery? J Adv Nurs. 2012 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Inhalation of Citrus Reticulata essential oil alleviates airway inflammation and emphysema in COPD rats through regulation of macrophages. J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 (title read via PubMed search; abstract not read). Read 2026-10-23.