Scent Almanac
Petitgrain
Citrus aurantium
Green, woody and slightly bitter orange-leaf with a soft floral edge — like crushing an orange-tree leaf. Less sweet than the fruit.
- Made from
- Steam-distilled from the leaves and twigs of the bitter orange tree.
- Strength
- ●●●○○
- Cost
- Moderate
- Moods
- CalmingRefreshingClean
- Seasons
- Spring, Summer
- Rooms
- Bedroom, Bathroom, Office
Not phototoxic, unlike the expressed peel oil from the same tree. No special cautions at normal use.
How it behaves
CandlesWorkable
A modest thrower on its own but more tenacious than peel oils; useful to give citrus blends a longer-lasting green middle.
Wax meltsGood
Reed diffuserGreat
Room & linen sprayGreat
Electric (water) diffuserGreat
Cold-process soapGood
Holds noticeably better than peel oils and is an affordable way to suggest neroli in soap.
Melt-and-pour soapGreat
Laundry & cleaningGood
Pairs well with
Neroli
Top · Floral
Essential oil
Bergamot
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Lavender
Middle · Floral
Essential oil
Sweet Orange
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Geranium
Middle · Floral
Essential oil
Rosemary
Middle · Herbal
Essential oil
Atlas Cedarwood
Base · Woody
Essential oil
Clary Sage
Middle · Herbal
Essential oil
Jasmine
Middle · Floral
Absolute / CO2
Mandarin
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Don't have it? Try Neroli, Bergamot.
In these blends
Morning Grove
Sun through an orange grove at breakfast — bright, green and gently floral.
Geranium · Atlas Cedarwood · Sweet Orange · Petitgrain · Bergamot
UpliftingEnergizingSpringSummer
Orange Blossom Water
A Mediterranean courtyard where the orange trees are in bloom.
Petitgrain · Benzoin · Neroli · Mandarin · Palmarosa · Jasmine
UpliftingRomanticSpringSummer
A little lore
Its name means 'little grain' because it was once distilled from the small unripe fruits of the bitter orange rather than its leaves.