Product Overview
Petitgrain Bigarade essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves and twigs of a specific evergreen tree that also provides five other oils - from the blossoms: steamed distilled Neroli and solvent extracted Orange Blossom Absolute; from the leaves: solvent extracted Petitgrain Absolute; from the leaves, twigs, and blossoms: steam distilled Petitgrain sur Fleurs; and, expressed from the fruit peels: Bitter Orange oil.
Since the 1860s when nearly all citrus orchards, except for Bitter Orange trees, were destroyed due to root rot and gum disease, it has been the practice to use the highly resistant root stock of this specific citrus, Citrus aurantium var. amara, to propagate Lemon, Sweet Orange, Mandarin, Grapefruit, and Bergamot trees.[2] Petitgrain Bigarade is a subspecies of the sour or Bitter Orange, Citrus x aurantium L., with 'bigarade' denoting it as the true sour, true bitter (bigarade) or Seville Orange subspecies.[3] Please note that Petitgrain Paraguay essential oil is from a hybrid developed from a cross of Sweet Orange, Citrus sinensis, and (sour) Bitter Orange Citrus aurantium var. amara (or is possibly a mutation of Citrus aurantium var. amara) with a chemical profile and aroma that differs from that of Petitgrain Bigarade.[4]
Petitgrain has been called “poor man’s Neroli” as it is less expensive than Neroli essential oil yet offers many of the same benefits and uses. Due to its high linalyl acetate content, the aroma of Petitgrain is often used in calming massage blends, nighttime sprays and diffuser blends, after-shaves, and preparations for oily and congested skin.
1 Lawless, Julia. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, 1995, p. 118.
2 Guenther, Ernest. The Essential Oils, Vol. III, 1949, pp. 89, 228.
3 Ibid, p. 203.
4 Ibid, pp. 89, 203, 228.
5 Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, p. 526.
6 Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed., 2014, p. 375.
