Bitter Orange

Sour, zesty, bitter, sweet citrusy aroma.

An intensely aromatic ingredient, the bitter orange is an icon of the perfume industry. With deliciously sweet and zesty notes of citrus, bitter orange is an exceptionally versatile note—adding an unmatched freshness to floral fragrances, and most commonly used in Eau de Colognes and Chypres. The bitter orange tree provides an array of sensual possibilities: the neroli/orange blossom and petitgrain extracts derive from the one singular tree but add a sweet freshness to endless accords.

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Production

While the bitter orange tree is native to China, the main producers of bitter orange today are Sicily, the Caribbean islands, and Brazil. Unlike many other types of citrus fruit, the bitter orange is not edible. Rather, its sweet essences are relished by the perfume industry, and utilized for flavoring purposes by the food industry. Bitter orange can be found in bitters, jams, marmalades and teas.

History

Bitter orange was first imported from China into India, Syria and Egypt. Bitter orange has been on quite the pilgrimage: the Crusaders were the first to bring it to the south of France. One of the most famous orange trees is the one planted in the garden of the convent of Saint Sabina in Rome—its fruit was offered to the pope every year. According to legend, the original tree still stands.