Tangerine Zest

Tangerine zest is the aromatic outer peel of the tangerine fruit, offering a bright and zesty fragrance profile.
- Type
- Ingredient
- Olfactive family
- Citrus
- Subfamily
- Zesty citrus
- Cluster
- Orange-mandarin sweet citrus
- Source
- fruit peel
- Chemical class
- complex natural
Scent
The Full Story
Did You Know?
Tangerines are also called 'child-friendly oranges' due to their easy-to-peel skin and sweet flavor.
Extraction & Chemistry
Extraction method
Cold-pressing of the outer peel
- Formula
- C₁₀H₁₆ (limonene, ~90% of essential oil)
- CAS
- 8016-85-1 (tangerine oil)
- Botanical
- Citrus reticulata
- Appearance
- Yellow to golden mobile liquid
- Odour strength
- Medium
- Lasting power
- 40 hours at 100 percent (TGSC)
- Synonyms
- CITRUS RETICULATA ZEST TANGERINE PEEL
Restricted: cold pressed tangerine oil is a furocoumarin bearing citrus oil under the IFRA 51st amendment, about 50 ppm 5-MOP against a 15 ppm cap in the finished product, with IFRA Annex restricted components citral and citronellol.
- Flash point
- 120 °F TCC (49 °C)
- Specific gravity
- 0.848–0.855 @ 25 °C
- Refractive index
- 1.473–1.477 @ 20 °C
- Note
- Cold-pressed tangerine zest oil; predominantly limonene with gamma-terpinene, myrcene.
In Perfumery
In perfumery, tangerine zest is primarily used as a top note. Its bright and uplifting character makes it ideal for initial impressions, often paired with other citrus notes like lemon and grapefruit, as well as fruity elements such as peach or pear. It can complement floral notes like jasmine or rose, lending refreshing contrast that enhances the overall fragrance. Tangerine zest is utilized to create lively and cheerful compositions that carries feelings of joy and vitality.