Orange, Bitter (Organic)

One tree, Citrus aurantium, supplies three distinct oils. The flowers give neroli, the leaves and twigs give petitgrain, and the peel gives bitter orange. The three are often grouped as one family of scents. In a formula they behave as separate materials.

01 · Origin

The bitter or Seville orange is a hybrid of the pomelo and the mandarin, grown more for its aromatic parts than for its sour fruit. This oil is cold-pressed from the peel of certified organic fruit grown in Egypt.

02 · Chemistry

Limonene dominates, as in all orange peel oils. Myrcene and sabinene follow. Cold pressing keeps the non-volatile fraction, including furocoumarins, in the oil. Bitter orange peel oil is phototoxic, and leave-on skin products are formulated within recognised limits for it.

03 · In Practice

Fresh, dry and slightly bitter, with less sugar than sweet orange and a faint floral undertone. A top note. Diffusion, rinse-off bath and body products, and natural perfumery, where it lifts colognes and chypres. Comparative study with Neroli (No. 2261), Petitgrain Bigarade (No. 2450) and Orange, Sweet (No. 2310) maps the full tree. Blends with lavender, clary sage, frankincense, clove, cinnamon and black pepper.

General information: For external use only. Dilute before applying to skin. Keep away from heat and sunlight. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.