ORANGE LEAVES

Orange leaves suggest leafy green freshness with a bitter citrus edge. Depending on the material, the scent may feel watery, floral or lightly woody. IFF’s bitter-orange leaf absolute emphasises green leaves, bitter citrus and watery facets, while Robertet’s petitgrain bigarade oil includes floral, zesty and bitter nuances. These offer different views of the tree’s greenery.

Leaves and twigs of Citrus aurantium can yield more than one perfumery material. Steam distillation produces petitgrain oil; solvent extraction and alcohol purification produce a leaf absolute. Orange leaves are therefore not simply another name for one particular oil. In a perfume, the note can connect citrus with greener flowers or woods. It describes the leafy side of the tree, distinct from fruit-peel oil and orange-blossom extracts, without specifying every ingredient in the composition.