Almond, Bitter EO

Prunus armeniaca L.

(12)

Bitter Almond essential oil has the sweet, nutty, intense aroma of almonds reminiscent of marzipan and almond extract, with strong notes of cherry. The oil has been rectified to remove the naturally occurring, toxic prussic acid.

Size

Selected size SKU:59-016 - Almond, Bitter 15 ml (1/2 oz) (w/ orifice reducer)

1 ml (1/30 oz)
$6.00
5 ml (1/6 oz)
$25.25
with orifice reducer
15 ml (1/2 oz)
$58.50
with orifice reducer
30 ml (1 oz)
$104.50
59.14 ml (2 oz)
$191.50
118.29 ml (4 oz)
$350.00
236.58 ml (8 oz)
$647.00
$6.00
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Product Overview

Bitter Almond essential oil has the sweet, nutty, intense aroma of almonds reminiscent of marzipan and almond extract, with strong notes of cherry. The oil has been rectified to remove the naturally occurring, toxic prussic acid.

Our Bitter Almond essential oil is a delightful addition to any perfumer’s aromatic palette. Unlike its cousin the Sweet Almond and the extract of almonds, Bitter Almonds naturally contain traces of prussic acid (also known as hydrogen cyanide) making them ultimately lethal to ingest and a good thing to avoid. Our Bitter Almond essential oil is steam distilled from crushed and pressed apricot kernels (it can also be extracted from the kernels of cherries, plums and peaches[1]), then rectified to remove the toxic prussic acid. However, this oil is still NOT SUITABLE FOR INGESTION in any way and must be used with caution as it can cause severe skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Benzaldehyde, the primary constituent in Bitter Almond essential oil, has a long history of commercial use in fragrances. One of the classic gourmand aromas, Bitter Almond oil smells like marzipan (almond paste) heaven – rich, intense and very food-like. It lends a sweet, nutty, cherry-like top note to natural perfumes, and a seductive and alluring nuance to men’s colognes.[2] 

1 Arctander, Steffen.  Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, p. 51.

2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF_KCTYkoPg 

Blends Well With

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Butter CO2

$10.25 / 15 ml

Cocoa Family

$0.00

Coffee Bean Family

$0.00

Jasmine Family

$0.00

Osmanthus Absolute

$185.75 / 15 ml

Patchouli Family

$0.00

Sandalwood Family

$0.00

Tonka Bean Family

$0.00

Vanilla Family

$0.00

Ylang Ylang Family

$0.00

Amyris EO

$9.25 / 15 ml

4.8

12 Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Almond Extract

Rating

This reminds me of almond extract used for baking. It opens with a very sweet cherry hit and then it's straight almond extract. So, yes it smells edible. It also reminds me of the almond scented lotions that you can find in drugstores, which I actually like. It is a very fleeting scent and lacks any longevity. As it quickly dried down, I picked up a very soft floral hint. Since I had been smelling other oils, I'm not sure the floral was actually there or was a "ghost" from something I smelled earlier.

Review by Florence 9/9/2014

yes...marzipan!

Rating

I ordered a small sample to test. The oil is very bright and light and would serve well as a top note. Its profile is very cherry very marzipan and it does smell very edible. There is a tail end of something nutty but also a bit harsh on my skin. It reminds me of a comet or shooting star. Impressive and a delight, but no depth or lasting ability. It winks out on my skin in minutes. A skilled blender could make interesting use of this I imagine.

Review by Cheryl 8/1/2014

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