Bitter orange is a small citrus tree native to Southeast Asia, now widely grown in Mediterranean and South American regions. The essential oil is derived from the cold expression of Citrus aurantium fruit peel, and has a sharp, tangy, and slightly bitter aroma, halfway between the fruitiness of sweet orange and the bitterness of grapefruit. As it is extracted from the same plant as Neroli (flowers) and Petitgrain (leaves and twigs) oils, it shares similar therapeutic qualities such as antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. Historically used in traditional medicine and liqueurs, bitter orange is also prized in perfumery for its unique, complex fragrance, and this oil is particularly beautiful, being certified organic.
