Tegetes Oil

Description:
Tegetus is also known as Mexican marigold, Tagetes oil is obtained from Tagetes minuta plant which belongs to compositae family. Tagetes oil is native to Africa and also grows in France and North America and its growth reaches up to 2 meters in height and has tiny white or pale yellow flowers with deeply divided deep green feathery leaves.

It grows up to 2 metres tall and produces tiny white or pale yellow flowers. Native to South America, it was introduced to Europe during the Spanish conquests. Tagetes minuta is a popular companion plant in gardening, because its roots produce a compound, which keeps slugs, pests and weeds at bay. In Peru, minuta is known as ‘huacatay’ and made into puree and seasoning that give local dishes a unique herbal flavor. It is said to taste like a mixture of mint, coriander and basil. It has been used this way since the ancient Inca civilization. Tagetes belongs to the same family of plants as the dahlia and daisy (Asteraceae) 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.

It is an ingredient of many foot treatment preparations and is also used in some perfumes.

Aromatic Description: Fresh, sweet, floral, slightly fruity.

Major Constituents of Egyptian Tagetes Oil:
(Z)-B-Ocimene
Dihydrotagetone
(Z)-Tagetone
(Z)-Tagetenone
(E)-Tagetenon

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.

Oil properties

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. 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.

Extraction
Tagetes oil is extracted from the leaves, stalks and flowers, picked when the seeds are just starting to form.

Chemical composition
The main chemical components are tagetone, limonene, valeric acid and ocimene etc.