Tagetes Marigold

Tagetes minuta L.

Chemotype: ocimene / tagetone / tagetenone type

freshsweetfloralslightly fruity

PLANT PART: flowers
EXTRACTION: steam distillation
AROMA NOTE: top

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LEARN AS YOU COMPARE

What’s inside this oil?

Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.

I’m interested in

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FOLLOW YOUR SENSES

Aroma & character

A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.

freshsweetfloralslightly fruity

Aroma intensity: 50 / 100

Soft & subtleBold & expressive

Note layer: top

If you like this scent, explore

A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY

Using it thoughtfully

Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.

Cited dermal maximum · leave-on: 0.01%
Phototoxicity: Phototoxic — use caution
Maximum for sun-exposed skin: 0.01%
Oxidation risk: med

A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.

AromaWeb's public safety profile states that Tagetes oil is phototoxic and gives a dermal maximum of 0.01% to avoid phototoxic reaction, citing Tisserand and Young.

Contraindications & cautions

majorGenuinely phototoxic, not merely undocumented: alpha-terthienyl (terthiophene) content drives strong phototoxic/photosensitizing potential on sun-exposed skin. IFRA restricts Tagetes minuta/patula extracts and oils to a maximum of 0.01% in leave-on cosmetic products applied to skin exposed to sunlight, contingent on the material's alpha-terthienyl content not exceeding 0.35%. Not restricted in rinse-off products.
moderatePregnant individuals (and those with sensitive skin) are advised to avoid Tagetes oil; a healthcare provider should be consulted before use during pregnancy, nursing, or on children. This is consistent with the oil's ketone-rich profile (tagetone/dihydrotagetone-type constituents), which is a class generally treated with caution in these populations.

Read the complete safety guide

Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches

A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT

Inside the oil

18 constituents

An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.

About this composition

This profile is anchored to the directly readable Tagetes minuta review in Perfumer & Flavorist using the full-bloom Iranian hydrodistilled profile that reports exact percentages for the principal constituents. AromaWeb was used to confirm the common extraction method, floral plant part, aromatic description, and the public phototoxic dermal maximum attributed to Tisserand and Young. Tagetes composition varies strongly by origin, cultivar, and harvest stage, so the constituent table reflects one explicit full-bloom profile instead of an invented global average.

Constituent	Typical amount	Reported range	Chemical family	Source
alpha-Terpineol	20.8%	20.8–20.8%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: alpha-terpineol 20.8%)
(Z)-beta-Ocimene	17.7%	17.7–17.7%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: (Z)-beta-ocimene 17.7%)
Dihydrotagetone	13.7%	13.7–13.7%	monoterpene ketone	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: dihydrotagetone 13.7%)
(E)-Tagetenone	13.3%	13.3–13.3%	monoterpene ketone	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: (E)-tagetenone 13.3%)
(Z)-Tagetone	8.4%	8.4–8.4%	monoterpene ketone	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: (Z)-tagetone 8.4%)
(Z)-Tagetenone	6.1%	6.1–6.1%	monoterpene ketone	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: (Z)-tagetenone 6.1%)
cis-Dihydrocarvone	5%	5–5%	monoterpene ketone	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: cis-dihydrocarvone 5.0%)
Sabinene	0.3%	0.3–0.3%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: sabinene 0.3%)
Limonene	2.6%	2.6–2.6%	monoterpene hydrocarbon	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: limonene 2.6%)
(E)-Tagetone	1.9%	1.9–1.9%	monoterpene ketone	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: (E)-tagetone 1.9%)
trans-beta-Terpineol	0.7%	0.7–0.7%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: trans-beta-terpineol 0.7%)
Borneol	0.6%	0.6–0.6%	bicyclic monoterpene alcohol	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: borneol 0.6%)
Terpinen-4-ol	0.8%	0.8–0.8%	monoterpene alcohol	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: terpinen-4-ol 0.8%)
(Z)-Jasmone	0.7%	0.7–0.7%	jasmonate-related ketone	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: (Z)-jasmone 0.7%)
beta-Caryophyllene	0.6%	0.6–0.6%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: beta-caryophyllene 0.6%)
alpha-Humulene	0.4%	0.4–0.4%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: alpha-humulene 0.4%)
Bicyclogermacrene	0.5%	0.5–0.5%	sesquiterpene hydrocarbon	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: bicyclogermacrene 0.5%)
Spathulenol	1.8%	1.8–1.8%	oxygenated sesquiterpene alcohol	View source Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf (Moghaddam et al. 2007 full-bloom Tagetes minuta profile: spathulenol 1.8%)

Profile source: Progress in Essential Oils: Tagetes oil review; Tagetes Essential Oil: Benefits, Uses & Insights · https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/document/2009/07/pf.PF_34_08_054_05.pdf ; https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/tagetes-essential-oil.php

A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY

Traditional & reported uses

These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.

used in perfumery for its distinctive fruity-green, apple-like top note
traditionally used in folk herbal practice in some cultures for topical skin applications
reported use in blending for a warm, herbaceous-fruity, tobacco-like facet
used cautiously in aromatherapy due to phototoxicity/sensitization concerns associated with tagetone-rich oils

For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.

What we're still learning · 2 data gaps

Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.

No public source reviewed in this pass provided directly measured volatility-rate or tenacity-hour values for tagetes essential oil.
The odor intensity is an archive normalization of AromaWeb's qualitative 'Medium' aroma-strength label rather than a published 0-100 instrument scale.