March Oil of the Month: Kumquat

Just in time for spring and summer, we have a refreshingly juicy offering for this Oil of the Month.

Meet Kumquat!

This little fruit with a funny name boasts a big personality and an awesome array of benefits.

Background

As one of the five original ancestral citruses,[1] Kumquat descends from an ancient history appearing as early as the 12^th century in Chinese literature.[2] The kumquat fruit has been revered in traditional Chinese medicine for its therapeutic benefits.

Native to Southeast Asia, the kumquat is the size of an olive and grows on a small, compact evergreen tree. Kumquat translates to “golden orange” for its color. [3]

Because the rind of the kumquat is so refreshingly sweet, the small fresh fruit is often eaten whole, or enjoyed preserved in sugar syrup, or as a jelly.[4] And, Kumquat Essential Oil is cold pressed from this delicious fruit peel. 

Benefits

While it offers some similar therapeutic benefits to other orange fruits, Kumquat is not your everyday citrus essential oil. Kumquat is especially high in Limonene giving it a bright, beautiful aroma and a bounty of benefits.

Kumquat is very uplifting to the senses and energizing to the mind. If you need a morning boost to get out of bed, or an afternoon pick-me-up, Kumquat can help get you going, while doing double duty to lift your mood.

It supports a healthy immune system and can help boost your household cleaners. The rich scent adds a remarkable freshness to clear a stale room while creating a positive environment.

Bringing a burst of joyful sunshine, Kumquat would be especially perfect to clear out the winter blahs, while putting a pep in your step when completing spring cleaning.

Blending

Wondering what to blend with Kumquat? Oh my goodness, the possibilities are endless to satisfy the senses. It can be cast as the central star, or bring a boost of sparkle to your synergy.

One whiff of Kumquat and I was off and running with quite an array of mini-master blends, including several previous Oil of the Month selections.  I hope these will inspire you to explore and enjoy your own creations as well. Just see where the gorgeous Kumquat leads you and your nose.

These mini-master blends can be placed in your diffuser or tripled for a personal aromatherapy inhaler. They can also be diluted appropriately in your favorite carrier oil for topical application, or your favorite DIY base, except where noted.

Kumquat itself is KidSafe® and safe for the sun. Because it is being mixed with other essential oils, please note any cautions listed with each synergy.

Tropical Coffee

• 2 drops Cinnamon Leaf Cinnamomum verum
• 2 drops Kumquat Fortunella japonica
• 1 drop Coffee Coffea arabica

A delicious aroma to help get you going in the morning, waking you up to the possibilities of a positive day.

KidSafe®: No

Cautions: For cinnamon leaf, we recommend a maximum dilution of 0.6%  for topical use applications.

Move Mint

• 2 drops Kumquat Fortunella japonica
• 2 drops Spearmint Mentha spicata
• 1 drop Rhododendron* Rhododendron anthopogon

A beautifully expansive aroma to help move stagnant, negative energy and emotions and to support you in coming back into a more positive place.

KidSafe®: Yes

Cautions: For spearmint, we recommend a maximum dilution of 1.7% for topical applications.

*Rhododendron was featured as an Oil of the Month. Check back to see if it will be stocked for general availability. 

Fruity Fresh

• 2 drops Kumquat Fortunella japonica
• 2 drops Bergamot Mint Mentha citrata
• 1 drop Chamomile  German CO2 Matricaria chamomilla

A simple way to send some happy to your senses, while helping to sweetly freshen your living space.

KidSafe®: Yes

Cautions: For Chamomile German CO2, we recommend a maximum dilution of 0.1% – 0.2% in blends for the skin.

Freshly Clean

• 2 drops Kumquat Fortunella japonica
• 2 drops Balm Mint Bush Prostanthera melissifolia
• 2 drop Lemon Myrtle* Backhousia citriodora

A wonderfully refreshing addition to to help clear the air and to boost your cleaning products.

KidSafe®: No

Cautions: For Lemon Myrtle, we recommend a maximum dilution of 0.7% for topical application.

• Lemon Myrtle was featured as an Oil of the Month. Please check back to see if it will be stocked for general availability. 

Green Peace

• 2 drops Kumquat Fortunella japonica
• 2 drops Petitgrain Citrus x aurantium
• 1 drop Marjoram Sweet Origanum majorana

An uplifting and calming scent to soothe an overworked mind and body.  Can do double duty if properly diluted for an aromatic bath.

KidSafe®: Yes

Cautions: None known.

Fresh Blossom

• 2 drops Kumquat Fortunella japonica
• 2 drops Neroli Citrus x aurantium
• 1 drop Rose Otto Diluted 10% Rosa x damascena

A beautifully refreshing scent bringing forth the softly sweet blooms of spring and summer to sooth the senses.

KidSafe: No

Cautions: Do not use Rose Otto Diluted 10% in your diffuser due to the presence of carrier oil. For Rose Otto, we recommend a maximum dilution of 0.6% for topical use.

Peace of Paradise

• 2 drops Kumquat Fortunella japonica
• 2 drops Sandalwood Indian Santalum album
• 1 drop Black Pepper Piper nigrum

An indulgent exotic escape, this sumptuous synergy can help a tired mind stay open and on point while practicing meditation or other introspective self-care.

KidSafe®: Yes

Cautions: For Sandalwood Indian, we recommend a maximum dilution of 2% for topical applications.

Mental Staycation

• 2 drops Kumquat Fortunella japonica
• 2 drops Massoia Bark* Cryptocaria massoia
• 1 drop Peru Balsam* Myroxylon balsamum

Needing your summer vacation now? Try this for a mental get away that will take you right to the tropics. Soothing and calming, this synergy is for diffusion only.

KidSafe®: No

Cautions: This synergy is for diffusion only.  For Massoia Bark, do not use on skin. Recommended for diffusion only. Do not use while pregnant or nursing. For Peru Balsam, we recommend a maximum dilution of 0.4% for topical application.

• Massoia Bark was featured as an Oil of the Month. Please check back to see if it will be offered for general availability. 

• Peru Balsam was featured as an Oil of the Month. Please check back to see if it will be offered for general availability. 

 

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Sources: 

[1] Stone, Daniel. “For Citrus, It’s All Relative.” National Geographic, Feb. 2017, p. 24.

[2] “Kumquat.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumquat.

[3] “Kumquat.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumquat.

[4] Lim, T. K. Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 4, Fruits. Springer Netherlands, 2012.