Tagete Essential oil South Africa

The marigold, or tagetes, an invasive species in warm climates, is a fast-growing annual plant. The upright stems can reach two meters in height and bear narrow, toothed, pointed leaves of khaki green. The ventral side of these leaves have cell clusters containing photosensitizing molecules, and it is therefore recommended that marigold pickers cover their skin before venturing into the fields. The flowers are the plant part containing the essential oil, having secretory hairs rich with scent compounds on the corolla tube exterior. Flower heads are harvested during flowering or shortly after, when fruiting begins. They are cut fairly high up with a scythe or pruning shears to avoid having leaves in the harvest. The flowers are distilled directly after harvest to preserve the aroma of the plants. The essential oil, obtained through steam distillation, has an herbaceous, fruity fragrance reminiscent of that of chamomile.

Native to Central America, tagetes, also known as marigold or Mexican marigold, grows wild from Argentina to Canada. It came to South Africa by way of the 1900 Boer War between the British and the Afrikaners, as many horses and a large amount of feed were imported from Argentina to South Africa during the conflict. The marigold is a common plant in the fields of Latin America and its seeds were brought over in the hay mixture. Australian soldiers in South Africa, in turn, brought it back to Australia. Tagetes belongs to the Asteraceae family, alongside everlasting, tarragon, and blue chamomile.

Advised uses : Aromatherapy, Alimentary