Natural Scents: Orange Blossom
Orange blossom is a fragrant distillation of fresh bitter orange flowers, one of the most popular white flowers in perfumery, obtained from the bitter orange tree (Citrus aurantium).
The bitter orange flower is one of the ingredients most appreciated by perfumers, and it is present in a wide variety of the Hesperide (citrus) family accords that are well-known to all. As Fragantica highlights, Orange Blossom is a fresh and sweet white floral note with an animalic undertone note.
This article will help you to learn more about this valuable ingredient in perfumery. Why is bitter orange prized in perfumery? Where does it grow? Does it have a scent similar to orange? Is orange blossom the same as neroli?
The use of bitter orange blossom in perfumery
The bitter orange, or sour orange, is typically too sour to eat. However, its bitterness makes it much more aromatic and suitable for use in the perfumery industry compared to other orange varieties. Almost all parts of the bitter orange are utilized to create aromatic materials for fragrances. The essential oil is extracted from the fruit’s peel, while the leaves are used to produce petitgrain oil. Additionally, the white flowers are used in the production of neroli and orange blossom absolute.
The bitter orange tree is highly versatile, offering us its leaves, fruits, and flowers. Its blossoms are widely used in perfumery, cosmetics, and culinary applications, often available in the form of floral water, essential oil, or absolute. The tree typically blooms in the spring, particularly in March and April.
Where does the bitter orange tree grow?
Bitter orange trees originate in China and India, but were introduced to the Mediterranean region in the ninth century during the Arab conquest. However, the bitter orange tree was not the first citrus to be introduced to the Iberian Peninsula, as it was the Romans who first introduced Citron, one of the original citrus fruits from which all other citrus evolved. The bitter orange tree blooms during the spring season, especially March and April.
From Spain to North America to Provence, orange blossom has been appreciated for centuries for its medicinal properties and its aroma. Bitter orange began to be grown specifically as a perfume crop in the Grasse area in the 19th century, but later on production moved to North Africa. Nowadays, orange blossom production comes principally from three countries: Tunisia, the world’s leading producer, Morocco, and Egypt.
Why is Bitter Orange is also known as Seville Orange?
During the 9th and 10th centuries, the Arabs popularized the use of the bitter orange tree as an ornamental plant. They planted these trees in streets, gardens, courtyards, and mosques, including at notable sites such as the gardens of the Alcazar of Seville and on the grounds of the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba. It was at that time that the bitter orange tree firmly established itself as the decoration of courtyards and gardens.
By the mid-1990s, Seville boasted over 25,000 orange trees lining its streets, courtyards, and squares, making it the city with the highest concentration of bitter orange trees in the world. This is why the variety is commonly referred to as Seville orange.
Is Orange Blossom the same as Neroli?
The fragrant flowers of bitter orange are used to produce two different ingredients in perfumery: Orange Blossom absolute and Neroli extracts. Although they come from the same flowers, they have distinct olfactory characteristics, primarily due to the different extraction processes used.
This highlights the significance of technology in the production of raw materials in perfumery. Despite originating from the same flower, Orange Blossom absolute and Neroli possess completely different properties. Orange Blossom absolute is obtained through solvent extraction, resulting in a concrete that is then washed and filtered with alcohol to create the absolute. In contrast, Neroli is derived from the steam distillation of freshly picked flowers, as noted by Fragantica.
Some example of perfumes with orange blossom
There are many well-known perfumes with orange blossom notes. You may have heard of:
- Original Eau de Cologne de Farina (1709)
- Jo Malone Orange Blossom (2003)
- Fleurs d’Oranger by Serge Lutens (2003)
- Le Parfum d’Elie Saab (2011)
- Neroli Portofino by Tom Ford (2011)
- Flor de Naranjo pour femme by Angel Schlesser (2011)
- Orange Blossom by Penhaligon’s (2010)
- La Vie est Belle L’Eclat by Lancôme (2017)
If you’re interested in learning more about ingredients in perfumery, be sure to check out our blog post on patchouli, amber, and sandalwood.
