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Properties of Sweet Clementine Oil

Sweet clementines are small citrus fruits similar to oranges and tangerines. They are often mistaken for mandarin oranges because of their size. In the United States, clementines are mostly grown in California. The essential oil from clementines is used in aromatherapy for its bright, sweet scent and the uplifting effects it causes emotionally.

  1. Extraction

    • There are several methods for extracting citrus essential oils, but the most efficient method is called cold pressing. The spray emitted from the rind of a citrus fruit when peeled is the most vibrant essential oil. Cold pressing takes advantage of this fact. The rind is scored or scraped in a machine for the collection and bottling of the essential oil spray. Other extraction methods involve heating the fruit and collecting the oil with the use of steam or water, but the heating process takes away some of the potency of the resulting oil.

    Uses

    • Sweet Clementine oil lifts spirits with its natural antidepressant effects. Its clean, citrus scent mixes well with other citrus fruit oils as well as flower scents. Like all orange oils, Clementine oil is used to combat depression and insomnia.

      Sweet Clementine peels can also be used in cooking. Add the peels to a bottle of extra virgin olive oil along with some dried cranberries and let the oil sit for a few weeks. The sweet Clementine peels and berries add a sweet flavor to the oil.

      Cats hate the taste and smell of sweet Clementine oil, which can be used to deter them from eating houseplants. Simply rub a little on the leaves of the plant and the cats will lose interest and stop eating the plants. The oil must be reapplied monthly to remain effective.

    Origin of Clementine Oranges

    • A clergyman named Pierre Clement is credited with the invention of Clementine oranges. He is said to have first crossed a sweet orange tree with a mandarin orange tree. The result was the Clementine orange: small, seedless and sweet. Clementine oranges are in season between November and January, which is the reason some call them Christmas oranges.

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