Neroli is an essential oil produced from the blossom of the bitter orange tree. Its scent is sweet, honeyed and somewhat metallic with green and spicy facets. The orange blossom tree was first discovered in China and India, and its culture soon spread to countries around the Mediterranean such as Spain, Tunisia and Morocco. Tunisia is now the world's leading producer of orange blossom. In the early 15th century, the French considered the orange flower to be a symbol of love, longevity and prosperity. On the other hand, in the Christian religion it represents the purity of Mary. This is why this sweet flower is often associated with marriage. By the end of the 17th century, Anne Marie Orsini, duchess of Bracciano and princess of Nerola, Italy, introduced the essence of bitter orange tree as a fashionable fragrance by using it to perfume her gloves and her bath. Since then, the term "neroli" has been used to describe this essence. Neroli has a refreshing and distinctive, spicy aroma with sweet and flowery notes.
Natural or Synthetic?
Neroli oil is extracted from Citrus aurantium var. amara flowers through steam distillation. It is used for its natural, sweet, and floral citrus scent. Synthetically, compounds like linalool, linalyl acetate, and methyl anthranilate are used to replicate its fragrance.
Fragrance Families Neroli Most Commonly Found In
Show fragrances that contain Neroli as a note