Tagetes oil

Common Name:  Tagetes oil

Botanical Name:  Tagetes Grandulifera

Other Names:  Tagetes minuta, Tagetes Marigold Oil, Marigold oil

Introduction

Tagetes is a perennial and herbaceous plant in the sunflower family and is native to North and South America but some species have become naturalized around the world. The botanical name is t.minuta. It has green leaves and the flowers are golden, orange and yellow in colour. It grows in almost any type of soil. It grows well in a warm sunny atmosphere with well drained soil.

Tagetes oil has a wild, sweet, citrus like smell and is yellow to reddish-amber in colour. It has a medium viscosity and turns thick and gel like if exposed to air for a long time.

Uses of Tagetes oil:

Aromatherapy uses: It is used as an antiseptic, sedative and antibiotic. Therefore it is used as massage oil for the treatment of various skin conditions and to get relief from insomnia. It is also used in creams and lotions

Medicinal uses: It is used for chest infections, coughs, dilating the bronchi and facilitating the flow of mucus, chest infections, treating the respiratory system and can be used in healing wounds, cuts, calluses and burns. It is useful in treating fungal and microbial infections.

Culinary uses: It is used as an insect repellent and as massage oil or in the bath. It is used in a cream or a lotion. The powders and extracts are used as a food colour in baked goods, confectionery, ice cream, dairy products, yoghurt, vegetable oil etc.

Holistic uses: Tagetes is often used in planting of tomato, chilli pepper, tobacco and potato due to its insect repellent quality.