


Bitter Orange, also known as Seville orange, is one of the many types of oranges, and one the most important citruses used in modern perfume industry. Bitter orange is a main source of orange blossom and neroli extracts, prized for their delicious fragrance and wonderful and fresh bitter-sweet citrusy aroma. Bitter Orange grows in warm parts of the world, but the best quality oil is produced of peel from Spanish and Guinean orange. The odor of bitter orange is fresh, tart and hot and bitter.
Bitter oranges originate from northeastern India and certain regions of China and Myanmar. The fruit has spread to the rest of the world by the 1st century CE, when the Romans first started cultivating bitter oranges to use them in natural remedies and as a delicious treat. With fall of Roman Empire, the cultivation of Bitter Orange has staggered for a while in Europe. It was the Arabs who spread it all the way to Spain, where they grow even today, lining the streets and spreading the wonderful aroma of the fresh citrus blossoms. Some of these trees are more than 600 years old, but oldest live bitter orange tree is supposedly one planted back in 1421, and still growing at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris.
When the Americas were discovered, Spanish people brought the seeds of bitter orange to North America, namely to Florida and the Bahamas. Florida is today known as the world’s largest producer of oranges, and the fragrant blossoms of the orange tree are listed as Florida state symbols.
Bitter orange is mainly used for production of essential oils, which are used in perfume industry and as a flavoring. This sort of orange is not edible like the rest of the commonly grown oranges, however it is frequently used processed, especially in production of bitters, jams, marmalades, and to flavor tea. The extract of bitter orange is rich in synephrine which is known as very good appetite suppressant. Bitter orange has been used as a stimulant and herbal remedy for a long time, but recent studies have linked this substance with the increased risk of premature death from myocardial infarction (heart attack). Today, consumer groups advocate avoiding medicinal use of the fruit, but its sweet side is still preserved in perfume industry and poses no harm at all.
Bitter orange is a precious fruit for all perfumers, used for production of Orange blossom and neroli. The orange blossom absolute is obtained with the volatile solvents, while neroli is produced obtained by careful steam distillation of the freshly picked flowers. Neroli has a wonderful and heady refreshing but spicy floral aroma, which makes it a great addition to all kinds of floral compositions, eau de colognes and skin-care products. The orange blossom absolute is an intensively floral brownish liquid with a delicate and fresh scent that closely resembles the natural fragrance of fresh bitter-orange. The leaves of bitter orange, as well as the flower buds, are steam-distilled to produce petitgrain, an essential oil that has a greenish woody orange scent.
Another derivate from bitter orange, which truly marks this note in the world of perfumery, is the bitter orange oil. This oil has a distinctive citrusy aroma placed somewhere in the middle of sweet orange and bitter grape. Bitter orange oil lends a distinctively zesty and bitter flavor to the fragrance, and it is mostly used in production of eau de Colognes. This essence is obtained through the process of cold extraction from the orange peel.
Bitter Orange note is found in Miss Dior Cherie L`Eau by Dior, a clean and fresh composition designed to accentuate beauty of simplicity. It also emanates from Moschino’s Moschino Funny!, lively and cheerful fragrance designed especially for young girls. More sophisticated interpretation of bitter orange is offered in elegant and romantic Chopard’s Happy Spirit, as well as in optimistic and floral “Marry me!” by Lanvin. Cartier uses Bitter Orange in the top notes of Declaration, which is a woody floral musk fragrance for men, while Boucheron does the same in floral oriental fragrance for women – Boucheron.
Other fragrances containing Bitter Orange note can be found listed below this article.
Lolita Lempicka L de Lolita Lempicka
2006 for women
Giorgio Armani Armani Code for Women
2006 for women
Dior Miss Dior Cherie L`Eau
2009 for women
Moschino Moschino Funny!
2007 for women
Gucci Gucci Eau de Parfum II
2004 for women
Chopard Happy Spirit
for women
Lanvin Marry Me
2010 for women
Cacharel Liberte
2007 for women
Cartier Declaration
1998 for men
Boucheron Boucheron
1989 for women
Givenchy Givenchy Play Eau de Toilette
2008 for men
Givenchy Amarige Mariage
2006 for women
Gianfranco Ferre In The Mood For Love
2009 for women
Calvin Klein Obsession Night Woman
2005 for women
Azzaro Chrome Legend
2007 for men
Kenzo Tokyo by Kenzo
2007 for men
Lanvin Arpege Pour Homme
2005 for men
Diesel Plus Plus Feminine
1997 for women
Sean John Unforgivable Women
2007 for women
Kate Moss Kate Summer Time
2009 for women
Davidoff Silver Shadow
2005 for men
Custo Barcelona Custo Barcelona
2008 for women
Hugo Boss Baldessarini
2002 for men
David & Victoria Beckham Signature Story for Her
2009 for women
Giorgio Armani Armani Code Summer pour Femme
2009 for women
Anna Sui Sui Dreams
2000 for women
Max Mara Kashmina Touch
2008 for women
Azzaro Chrome Sport
2010 for men
Creed Original Vetiver
2004 for men
Carolina Herrera Carolina
2003 for women
Maison Martin Margiela (untitled)
2010 for women and men
Missoni Missoni
2006 for women
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic
2007 for women
Yves Saint Laurent M7 Fresh
2004 for men
Diesel Diesel Zero Plus Feminine
2000 for women
Joop! Joop! Go
2006 for men
Lubin Idole
2005 for men
Giorgio Armani Emporio Armani City Glam for Him
2005 for men
Avon U by Ungaro for Him
2008 for men
Bond No 9 Wall Street
2004 for women and men
Frederic Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire
2002 for men
Dior I Love Dior
2002 for women
Guerlain Habit Rouge Sport
2009 for men
Giorgio Armani Idole d`Armani Eau de Toilette
2010 for women
Kenzo L`Eau de Kenzo Amour
2011 for women
Naomi Campbell Mystery
2003 for women
Acqua di Parma Acqua di Parma Colonia Assoluta
2003 for women and men
Giorgio Armani Armani Code Summer Pour Femme 2010
2010 for women
Lancome Miracle Homme L'Aquatonic
2003 for men
Cerruti Cerruti 1881 Black
2006 for men
Frederic Malle Bigarade concentree
2002 for women and men
Giorgio Armani Armani Code Mirror Edition
2008 for women
Montale Chocolate Greedy
for women and men
Michael Kors Island Capri
2008 for women
Quiksilver Quiksilver for Men
2008 for men
Caron Montaigne
2007 for women
Lancome Hypnose Homme Eau Fraiche
2008 for men
Tocca Stella
2006 for women
Karl Lagerfeld Kapsule Light
2008 for women and men
Bath and Body Works Dancing Waters
2007 for women
Salvatore Ferragamo Incanto Pour Homme
2003 for men
Cartier Déclaration Bois Bleu
2001 for men
Esprit Life by Esprit Men
2006 for men
Guerlain L`Instant de Guerlain Fleur de Mandarine
2007 for women
Prada Prada Intense
2005 for women
Lanvin Vetyver
2003 for men
Emilio Pucci Vivara Silver Edition
2008 for women
Parfumerie Generale PG10 Aomassai
2006 for women and men
Kenzo Kenzo Pour Homme Fresh
2002 for men
Comme des Garcons Daphne
2009 for women
Sonia Rykiel Rykiel Woman Hot !
2007 for women
Guerlain Les Secrets de Sophie
2009 for women
E. Coudray Ambre et Vanille
1935 for women
Cartier Déclaration Edition Limitée
2008 for men
Joop! Joop! Jump Electric Heat
2009 for men
Avon Derek Jeter Driven Black
2007 for men
Laura Mercier Neroli Eau de Parfum
2008 for women
Guerlain Arsene Lupin Dandy Eau de Parfum
2010 for men
Guerlain Habit Rouge Beau Cavalier
2009 for men
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