Ingredient Guide
The essential oil obtained from bitter orange blossoms is called neroli (orange flower), while the oil obtained from its twigs and leaves is called petitgrain.
In the seventeenth century, the duchess of the Italian state of Nerola first made essential oil from bitter orange blossoms to scent her wardrobe and perfume her baths. Its seductive fragrance soon spread among the people, and the blossom oil was named neroli in her honor.
Neroli and orange flower (orange blossom) refer to exactly the same flowers, but the names differ according to the extraction method. The essential oil obtained by steam distilling freshly picked blossoms is called “neroli.” With solvent extraction, the flowers are first extracted as a concrete, then washed with alcohol; the essential oil obtained as an absolute is called “orange blossom.”
Neroli has a fresh, green, aromatic scent, whereas orange blossom has the intoxicating sweetness and depth of fresh flowers. Neroli conveys a sense of purity, while orange flower has a sensual character. What they share is a bright, sunlit facet.
The finest-quality essential oil is said to come from Tunisia.
What Does It Smell Like in Perfume?
Even fragrance materials obtained from the same orange blossoms have different characters depending on the extraction method. Neroli essential oil, distilled from the flowers, layers a refreshing green-leaf quality over dewy white blossoms, making the whole fragrance brighter and lighter. Solvent-extracted orange flower absolute combines warm flowers with the sweetness of fruit and honey, adding fullness and sensual depth to florals. Both are natural fragrance materials, but they are not interchangeable as though they were the same ingredient.
Choosing a fragrance with neroli and orange blossom
Orange-flower fragrances can be chosen for citrus-like freshness or the soft sweetness of white flowers.
- Crisp citrus: Neroli with bergamot or mandarin suits a preference for freshness.
- Rich floral sweetness: Other white flowers alongside orange blossom create the fullness of a bouquet.
- A soft finish: Amber, musk and powdery woods each leave a different impression after the orange-flower notes.
Two fragrances featuring neroli and orange blossom
Neroli Portofino Eau de Parfum (Tom Ford)
Tunisian neroli meets bergamot, mandarin, orange flower and lavender. Bright, cologne-like citrus and neroli are finished with amber.
Orange Blossom Cologne (Jo Malone London)
Clementine and orange flowers meet white lilac and orris wood. It offers soft white flowers alongside powdery woods.
Find your next fragrance
In Fragrance Finder, choose “Favorite fragrances & notes” on the home screen, then look for notes you enjoy under “Favorite notes”. Select from the available suggestions and press “Next”.
