Neroli (Citrus aurantium)
Neroli is steam-distilled from bitter orange blossoms — a delicate floral citrus oil best known for its calming, uplifting aroma.
How to use it
2–3 drops delivers a calming, uplifting floral note for self-care or perfume-style blends.
Dilute to 1–2% in a carrier oil — a classic soft floral note in skincare blends.
Safety in detail
- Max dermal use
- Dilute in a carrier oil for skin
- Phototoxic
- No
- A gentle, well-tolerated oil; it contains linalool, a recognised allergen, so patch-test if sensitive.
- Not phototoxic — unlike cold-pressed bitter orange peel, distilled neroli carries no phototoxic coumarins.
- Keep out of reach of children.
Sources: Ammar et al. (2012), Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences
Composition & chemistry
- Linalool 35%
- Limonene 15%
- Linalyl acetate 12%
- (E)-β-Ocimene 6%
- α-Terpineol 5%
- Nerolidol 3%
- Other minor constituents 24%
- Linalool — the soft floral alcohol central to neroli's calming, sweet-orange-blossom aroma Ammar et al. (2012), Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences
Steam-distilled neroli (from Citrus aurantium blossoms); a soft floral oil led by linalool. Distilled from the flowers, it is not phototoxic like the bitter-orange peel oil.
Source: Ammar et al. (2012), Pakistan Journal of Biological SciencesNamed after a 17th-century Princess of Nerola who wore orange blossom on her gloves.
What the research says
An honest read of the published research — what has actually been studied, at what stage. Not medical advice or a promise of results.
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Neroli oil has been characterised chemically and studied for antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in the laboratory. Its calming, mood-lifting reputation is traditional and preliminary, not clinically established.
Ammar et al. (2012), Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences
Evidence & sources
Peer-reviewed research on Neroli's chemistry and safety. These describe composition and documented effects — not health or treatment claims.
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Neroli is a soft floral oil dominated by linalool with linalyl acetate and limonene — a gentler, sweeter profile than the bitter-orange peel oil from the same tree.
Ammar et al. (2012), Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences
Frequently asked questions
What is neroli made from?
Neroli is distilled from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree (Citrus aurantium). The same tree gives petitgrain (from leaves/twigs) and bitter orange (from peel) — three distinct oils. Ammar et al. (2012), Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences
Is neroli phototoxic like other citrus oils?
No. Because neroli is distilled from flowers rather than cold-pressed from peel, it doesn't carry the phototoxic coumarins found in citrus peel oils, so there's no sun-exposure restriction. Ammar et al. (2012), Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences
Why is neroli so expensive?
It takes a large quantity of hand-picked orange blossoms to distil a small amount of oil, which is why genuine neroli is among the pricier floral oils.
Gallery
The tree & blossom
Neroli comes from the fragrant white blossoms of Citrus aurantium, the bitter (or Seville) orange tree — a single tree that, remarkably, yields three distinct essential oils depending on which part is distilled: neroli from the flowers, petitgrain from the leaves and twigs, and bitter orange oil from the peel.
How it’s extracted
The blossoms are steam-distilled shortly after harvest, and the process takes an enormous volume of flowers — commonly cited at roughly a thousand pounds of blossoms per pound of oil — which is why neroli is priced and bottled more like rose otto than like a typical citrus oil.
A name with a history
Neroli takes its name from Anne-Marie Orsini, Princess of Nerola, a 17th-century Italian noblewoman said to have popularized the scent of orange blossom as a perfume for her gloves and bathwater, after which the fashion — and the name — spread through European high society.
Aroma
Soft, sweet, and floral, with a faint honeyed-citrus warmth underneath — noticeably more delicate than either petitgrain or orange peel oil from the same tree.
Traditional & everyday uses
Neroli has been a cornerstone of classical perfumery for centuries, forming part of the original eau de cologne formulas alongside bergamot and other citrus oils. It’s also long been valued in skin-care blends aimed at a smooth, radiant-looking complexion, and it remains one of the most popular floral notes for calming, uplifting diffuser blends.
In the diffuser: 2–3 drops delivers a calming, uplifting floral note popular in both self-care and perfume-style blends.
On skin: dilute to 1–2% in a carrier oil. Because neroli comes from the blossom rather than the expressed peel, it doesn’t carry the phototoxicity risk of cold-pressed citrus peel oils.
Sourcing note
Given how labor-intensive genuine neroli is to produce, a bottle priced like an everyday citrus oil is worth a second look before buying.
Found in these blends
Neroli is one of the oils inside 1 Young Living blend.