Product Overview
Orange Blossom absolute is but one expression of the pure white blossoms of Citrus aurantium var amara, the Bitter Orange tree, a resilient evergreen of the Rutaceae family. Although these are the same flowers that are used to distill Neroli essential oil, Neroli and solvent extracted Orange Blossom absolute are produced using very different processes, rendering fragrance materials with somewhat different aromas and textures. The absolute has a powerful aroma and is more viscous while the essential oil is lighter in color and carries a more delicate aroma. Orange Blossom absolute is very popular for use as a fixative in fine natural perfumery and for the way it perfectly complements other citrus notes, florals, spices and woods.
The aroma of Orange Blossom absolute is greatly defined by the presence of the aromatically sultry, erotic and ‘animalic’ indole. The presence of indole, in stark contrast with the spring maiden and bridal imagery of this pure white flower, perfectly illustrates the blurred lines between virgin beauty and sexy siren.[1] Its popularity is legendary – approximately 12% of all modern quality perfumes contain Orange Blossom absolute.[2] Low yield and labor-intensive harvesting methods make Orange Blossom a very costly endeavor – only approximately 1 kilo of absolute is extracted from 1,000 kilos of freshly harvested flowers![3]
1 Rhind, Jennifer Peace. "Neroli: A Fresh Perspective on an Aromatic Icon," International Journal of Professional Holistic Aromatherapy, Spring 2016, 4(4): 23-32.
2 Groom, Nigel. The New Perfume Handbook, 2nd ed., 1997, p. 227.
3 Naturals Compendium, International Flavors and Fragrances, 2009, p. 108.
4 Lawless, Alec. Artisan Perfumery or Being Led by the Nose, 2009, pp. 73-4.
5 Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, p. 475.
6 Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed., 2014, p. 373.
