This week we're taking closer look at one fragrance note to discover all you need to know about neroli!
What is neroli?
Neroli is an essential oil that comes from the flowers of the bitter orange tree. Neroli oil is produced by steam distillation, where hundreds of blossoms are heated to extract the scented oil.
The bitter orange tree gives us a wealth of fragrant materials. Orange essential oil and petitgrain essential oil also come from the fruit and the leaves of the tree, each part producing a different, unique scent.
Where does neroli come from?
The bitter orange tree that neroli comes from is native to Southeast Asia. The trees grow around the world in warm, sunny climates like those of Morocco, Spain and Italy.
Neroli gets its name from Nerola, Italy thanks to a 17th century princess who popularised neroli as a fragrance. Princess Marie Anne of Nerola loved the scent of neroli so much she would even bathe in water scented with the precious essential oil. From then on neroli has remained a popular fragrance ingredient, appearing in the original Eau de Cologne as well as Chanel No. 5.
What does neroli smell like?
Neroli is part of the floral family of fragrances. It has a sweet, flowery scent, reminiscent of orange blossoms, with a green nuance of citrus to give it an uniquely fresh and uplifting tang.
Neroli is typically used as a top or base note in fragrances, adding sparkling freshness and subtle sweetness to a scent.
Our favourite neroli fragrances
If you want to experience the enchanting scent of neroli for yourself, try one of our fragrances featuring this note! Pearl Magnolia & Neroli creates a gorgeous floral fusion of neroli and delicate magnolia. Sweet Amber & Neroli deepens the scent by combining neroli with warn notes of amber & tonka. While Ylang Ylang & Neroli creates an exquisite exotic scent with the creamy floral note of ylang ylang.
