The bitter orange tree - Citrus x aurantium - is widely used in the world of fragrances. In addition to the bitter orange oil extracted from the fruit by cold pressing, a fragrance that is familiar to most can also be extracted from the tree's leaves and twigs. This fragrance is called petitgrain, a citrus-fresh-floral fragrance with woody and herbaceous nuances.
However, there is another fragrance that can also be extracted from the bitter orange tree, which caused a furor especially in the early "Eau de Cologne" perfume history and is still very popular today. The fragrance in question is called neroli. According to legends, the name "Neroli" originated in the 17th century, when the Sicilian Duchess Flavia Orsini, Princess of Nerola (small town near Rome), discovered the fragrance and learned to love it for herself.
Nowadays, neroli oil is mainly produced in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia by steam distillation of the flowers.
The fragrance character of Neroli is very similar to Petitgrain, but generally a bit more fruity, floral and does not have the herbaceous, almost bitter undertones of Petitgrain.