Abstract: Deriving carotenoid coloring agents from citrus by extracting the natural peel oil from the flavedo of the fruit, treating the oil to remove the undesirable sterols, coumarins and other undesirable waxes therein, and thereafter deterpenating the de-waxed oil by successively folding the oil to a concentration of at least 15-fold in order to remove the major portion of the limonene therein. The de-waxed and deterpenated oil is then distilled under vacuum in a molecular still at a pressure between about 10 microns to 1.0 millimeters of mercury, and at a temperature of between 90.degree. to 120.degree. C to remove the balance of the unwanted constituents and to provide the desired concentrated carotenoids as an output thereof.