Essential Oil Database

Photo: Citrus Aurantium

Neroli

Essential Oil

Botanical Name:

Citrus Aurantium

Family Name:

Rutaceae

Source Country:

France

Plant Parts Used:

Flowers

Extraction Method:

Steam distillation

Major Constituents:

Limonene, pinene, camphene, neryl acetate, dimethyl, decanal, jasmone, nerolidol, farnesols

Botanical Description

Photo: Citrus Aurantium

Citrus Aurantium is native to Asia, and cultivated in subtropical climes worldwide. It is an evergreen tree commonly known as Bitter Orange growing up to 10 meters tall. Bitter Orange has glossy dark green leaves and fragrant white flowers.

Essential oil from the flowers of the Bitter Orange is known as Neroli, from the leaves and twigs as Petitgrain, and from the fruit peel as Bitter Orange.

As with most essential oil extracted from blossom, Neroli is a precious scent, used in the perfumery industry.

Photo: Citrus Aurantium

Fragrance

Neroli essential oil has a powerful, delicate, bitter sweet scent.

Neroli essential oil is a pale yellow liquid.

Neroli blends well with chamomile, clary sage, geranium, grapefruit, jasmine, lavender, lemon, mandarin, rose, sweet orange, tangerine and ylang ylang.

Traditional Therapeutic Uses

Photo: Citrus Aurantium

Properties: antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, bactericidal, carminative, cicatrizant, deodorant, fungicidal, nervine, sedative.

Aids: circulation, immune system, sleep.

Alleviates: acne, anxiety, colic, colitis, depression, diarrhoea, flatulence, headache, nervous tension, palpitations, scars, stretch marks, spasm, tension, vertigo.

Neroli has been traditionally used as an aphrodisiac.

Safety Data

Disclaimer:

All healing uses, magical uses and metaphysical definitions are provided as a means of education, do not imply a guarantee of effect, and may not be complete or accurate. Those suffering from illness should consult with their General Practitioner in the first instance. Aromatherapy is a holistic complementary healthcare practice and should be carried out by a suitably qualified aromatherapy practitioner.

Pure, medical grade, essential oils & absolutes are for use in aromatherapy and other disciplines of natural healing; and for their fragrance. Essential oils should not be ingested, and avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes. Pregnant women should not self administer essential oils. Do not administer essential oils to babies. Do not apply undiluted essential oil to the skin and wash hands after use and before visiting lavatory. Do not use essential oils while in a sauna, steam room, or other humid environment; or while engaged in strenuous exercise.

Massage oil should consist of no more than 3% essential oil(s) to 97% carrier or fixed oil. Absolutes should be blended with no less than 98.5% carrier oil. When adding essential oil to bath water do not use more than 4 drops.

Store essential oils at low room temperature, in a dark place, out of the reach of children, pets and away from foodstuffs.