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Bountiful, Aromatic Bitter Orange – A Formulator’s Guide
Written By: Robin Lander
The fragrant Bitter Orange tree, Citrus aurantium var. amara, has inspired both poetry and perfume for centuries. From ancient Chinese texts and Middle Eastern gardens to medieval verse and royal devotion, this extraordinary evergreen has long been celebrated for its mesmerizing beauty and aroma.
Few botanicals offer formulators as much variety as the Bitter Orange. Also known as ‘Seville Orange’ and ‘Bigarade,’ the tree yields a diverse range of aromatics from its fruit, flowers, and leaves. Each material carries a distinct aromatic profile and its own unique benefits, from tangy citrus to uplifting floral to leafy green. In this article, we’ll explore our offerings from the bountiful Bitter Orange and how you can use them enrich your creations.
Orange, Bitter Red
The intensely scented fruit is too tart to be eaten, but the ripe red peels are cold pressed to produce a citrus aroma like no other. Fresh, tart, soft green, with lightly sweet floral undertones and a dry, ‘bitter’ pithy note, Orange, Bitter Red essential oil is a top note preferred in high-end perfumery for its supreme ability to uplift florals and blend with almost any other note.Neroli
Steam distilled from the fresh flowers of the Bitter Orange tree, Neroli essential oil is named after a 17th century Italian princess, known as Princess Nerola, who popularized the fragrance. Neroli’s elevating, irresistible white floral aroma is widely used in perfumery and revitalizing skincare. From aromatherapy blends to cosmetics to fine fragrance, we have a Neroli for you:
Neroli, Morocco - Organic
Grown on our farm in Morocco, it has a sweet, perfectly balanced floral aroma with effervescent citrus and subtle green top notes. The ideal choice for organic cosmetics and luxurious body care.Neroli, Organic – 10%
For a budget-friendly option, we’ve blended our organic Neroli, Morocco at a 10% dilution in 90% organic fractionated coconut oil. Wear it directly as a perfume or add to your body care formulations.Neroli, Egypt
Very powerful, yet light and uplifting floral with an unusual fresh, sweet, terpene-like, somewhat bitter green top note. A complex and economical Neroli with a comforting aroma, lovely in nighttime sprays, relaxing baths, massage blends, and diffusers.Neroli, Tunisia
Etheric, fresh, sweet, and intensely voluptuous floral with green and fruity-jammy backnotes. Our most seductive Neroli, its unmistakable indole nuances are a favorite in perfumery and sensual body care.Orange Blossom
When the fresh flowers are solvent extracted, the materials are known as ‘Orange Blossom’ rather than Neroli. A staple for perfumers, Orange Blossom’s honeyed, subtly animalic floral aroma is sweeter and headier than Neroli, with powerful fixative qualities. Our Orange Blossom offerings are highly concentrated with a warm, sensual depth that must be diluted to appreciate:
Orange Blossom Absolute
Intense, indole-rich, deep, extremely sweet yet non-cloying citrus floral aroma of excellent tenacity with a subtle bitter-green backnote that lends aliveness. Sourced from Egypt, it pairs beautifully with Neroli, Egypt to represent the full fragrance of the hypnotic flower.Orange Blossom Absolute - Fine
Ultra sweet, rich, true-to-flower aroma with a delightful freshness, considering its depth, and remarkable tenacity. Produced from our Moroccan farm, it’s a little brighter and sweeter than the Egyptian grown. Perfect for exotic and ambery compositions, providing an opulent floral heart note.Orange Blossom Extract (Limited Supply)
Very sweet, complex floral with green notes and unique, deep, earthy undertones that become more pronounced in the drydown. Extracted with organic solvents through a modernized enfleurage technique, it’s a wonderful choice for oil-based perfumery and skincare applications.Petitgrain
Produced from the leaves and twigs of the true Bitter Orange Bigarade, the name Petitgrain comes from the French ‘little berry’ for the tiny buds of fruit amongst the branches. Versatile Petitgrain has a calming aroma prized in aromatherapy, clarifying benefits in skincare, and leafy-green qualities valued by perfumers:
Petitgrain Sur Fleurs
Distinct, fresh green floral, linalyl acetate-like, somewhat sharp, terpene-like aroma with a soft, sweet-woody, tenacious undertone. With the name meaning ‘Petitgrain over flowers,’ it’s distilled with end-of-season blossoms still on the branches, lending some of Neroli’s benefits.Petitgrain Bigarade, Paraguay – Organic
Fresh, leafy-green, floral, citrus aroma with soft Neroli-like notes and sweet-woody undertones. Although it does not contain any blossoms, the aroma is similar to Petitgrain sur Fleurs and is a classic ingredient of Eau de Cologne formulas.Petitgrain Absolute
Complex, floral/green leaf aroma with tart notes of citrus zest, citrus blossom and slight woody and indolic undertones. Grown on our farm in Morocco, formulators will enjoy adding this relatively new, powerful green aroma to personal care products and perfumery.One Tree, Many Options
The Bitter Orange tree stirs the imagination and the senses with a formulator’s palette of choices. From sparkling citrus to luminous floral to fresh green, the aromas of the Bitter Orange layer elegantly through each other, inviting creativity and endless aromatic possibilities. Need help choosing the right fit for your creations? We offer sample sizes of each for purchase to help you find your perfect note.
