Orange Blossom
A luminous, honeyed white floral with a green, slightly indolic depth. Orange blossom carries the warmth of Mediterranean citrus groves at dusk.
Fragrance Pyramid
Olfactive Character
Luminous, honeyed, and gently narcotic. Orange blossom is brighter than jasmine but shares its indolic depth. It has a waxy, almost edible quality that evokes Mediterranean warmth.
Origin & Harvest
From the flowers of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium). Neroli is the steam-distilled essential oil. Orange blossom absolute is obtained by solvent extraction, capturing more of the waxy, honeyed notes. Grasse, Tunisia, and Morocco are primary sources.
Key Molecules
Linalool provides freshness. Indole adds narcotic depth. Nerolidol contributes a green, woody quality. Methyl anthranilate gives the characteristic orange blossom warmth. The absolute is richer and more complex than neroli.
Safety & Regulation
Contains known allergens including linalool and farnesol. IFRA compliant at standard use levels. Orange blossom is one of the most studied and well-characterised floral materials in perfumery.
In Perfumery
A cornerstone floral. Essential to many classic compositions. Found in Chanel No. 5 and A la Nuit by Serge Lutens. In KIDA KYO, orange blossom brings Mediterranean luminosity.
History
Orange trees were introduced to the Mediterranean from China. The distillation of neroli is attributed to the Duchess of Bracciano in the 17th century. Orange blossom absolute became a Grasse specialty.
