Neroli

Neroli essence is an essential oil produced from the flower of the bitter orange tree, a pretty little white flower. The name originates from Anne-Marie Orsini, princess of Nerola (Italy). She loved these white flowers so much that she put them everywhere, in her bath, her clothes, her palace. It is therefore quite naturally that her name was given to this essence. Its liquid resembles yellow gold. Care must be taken, however, not to confuse neroli oil with orange blossom oil. They are extracted from the same flowers, but orange blossom oil is extracted using a solvent. Neroli belongs to the citrus olfactory family.

The sweet notes of neroli

Neroli gives off a floral, sweet scent. The opening is citrus and very tangy. Then, this scent alternates between the tartness of bergamot and the sweetness of mandarin. Little by little, the notes become more opulent and resemble an enormous floral bouquet. In the base, a very sugary, even gourmand, effluvium remains. For some, neroli evokes childhood memories, fresh sheets, the happiness of family vacations, the madeleines our grandmothers used to make. The sweet notes of neroli bring a feeling of tenderness. Neroli is positioned mainly in the heart notes, as in the perfumes that pay it a true tribute, “Néroli” by Yves Rocher or “Eau de néroli doré,” by Hermès.

The pairing of neroli with different olfactory families in perfumery

Neroli is very often used in eaux de Cologne. Neroli is also found alongside floral notes, as in the famous perfume “Jardins de bagatelle” by Guerlain, a tribute to the real garden. Here, the heart is composed of white flowers (neroli, jasmine, gardenia), bringing joy, lightness and sensuality. Paired with woody notes, “Jardins de bagatelle” is a sweet, captivating perfume that has not aged a day. Neroli is also paired with woody, spicy notes, and is found in certain masculine fragrances, such as “1 million Intense” by Paco Rabanne. Here, neroli is placed in the heart notes, alongside rose and cinnamon. In the top notes, cardamom, pepper and nutmeg can be detected. In the base notes, leather, sandalwood and pepperwood are found. The spice cocktail is softened by rose and neroli, giving a perfume that marks the return of seduction for men. Paco Rabanne even calls it an addictive fragrance.