Plant/Part: Leaves, stalks and flowers (Source : Africa and France)

Latin Name: Tagetes minuta/glandulifera

Family: Compositae

Extraction: Extraction

AROMA: A wild, sweet, fruity almost citrus-like smell.

PROPERTIES: The therapeutic properties of Tagetes oil are anti-infectious, anti-microbial, antibiotic, anti-spasmodic, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, insecticide and sedative.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Tagetone, limonene, valeric acid and ocimene

PRECAUTIONS: Tagetes oil is a very powerful oil and should be used sparingly and should be avoided during pregnancy. Not to be used on a sensitive skin and may cause photosensitivity. Cases of dermatitis have been reported.

BLENDS: clary sage, jasmine, lavender, lemon, myrrh and tangerine.

A strongly scented annual herb with bright orange daisylike flowers and soft green oval leaves it grows wild in Africa, Europe, Asia and North America. Tagetes essential oil is extracted from Tagetes minuta (also known as Tagetes glandulifera) of the Compositae family and is also known as marigold, Mexican marigold and tagetette. It is often confused with calendula oil, which is Calendula officinalis, also known as "true marigold". Tagetes oil is extracted from the leaves, stalks and flowers, picked when the seeds are just starting to form.

Although very few people buy this oil for the fragrance, it is a very effective oil when used in cases of infection and especially weeping wounds and chest infections. Tagetes oil has a wild, sweet, fruity almost citrus-like smell and is yellow to reddish-amber in color. It is of medium viscosity that can turn thick and even gel-like if exposed to the air for a long time.

Known in Africa as 'Khaki bush', it is now also grown in France and North America and is a weed with deeply divided deep-green feathery leaves and numerous yellowish-orange carnation-like flowers. The leaves and flowers are a good insect repellent and are often seen hanging from native huts to deter swarms of flies and mosquitoes. In a 5% dilution, tagetes oil has been used to kill maggots in open wounds, while the roots and seeds have been found to help rid the body of poisons.

After the Boer war in South Africa, Australian troops brought plants to their native land where it grew profusely. It is an ingredient of many foot treatment preparations and is also used in some perfumes.

The therapeutic properties of Tagetes oil are anti-infectious, anti-microbial, antibiotic, anti-spasmodic, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, insecticide and sedative. Tagetes oil is valuable in keeping insects at bay, and can help with parasitic and fungal infestation. It is used for chest infections, COUGHS and CATARRH, dilating the bronchi, facilitating the flow of mucus and dislodging congestion and can be used in cases of skin infections. It has a healing effect on wounds, cuts, calluses, BLISTERS and bunions.

Tagetes oil can be useful for treating the respiratory system, infections of the skin and as an insect repellent.