Our organic Petitgrain Bigarade has a full-bodied leafy-green aroma, citrus notes and light, bitter/dry notes with rich, sweet undertones. Petitgrain has a Neroli-like aroma and is a classic ingredient of eau-de-cologne formulas.

Petitgrain Bigarade essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves and twigs of a specific evergreen tree that also provides five other oils from the blossoms: steamed distilled Neroli and solvent extracted Orange Blossom Absolute; from the leaves: solvent extracted Petitgrain Absolute; from the leaves, twigs, and blossoms: steam distilled Petitgrain sur Fleurs; and, expressed from the fruit peels: Bitter Orange oil. Since the 1860s when nearly all citrus orchards, except for Bitter Orange trees, were destroyed due to root rot and gum disease, it has been the practice to use the highly resistant root stock of this specific citrus. aurantium ssp. amara, to propagate Lemon, Sweet Orange, Mandarin, Grapefruit, and Bergamottrees. Petitgrain Bigarade is a subspecies of the sour or Bitter Orange,Citrus aurantium, with bigarade denoting it as the true sour, true bitter (bigarade) or Seville Orange subspecies. Please note that Petitgrain Paraguay essential oil is from a hybrid developed from a cross of Sweet Orange, Citrus sinensis, and (sour) Bitter Orange Citrus aurantium ssp.amara (or is possibly a mutation of Citrus aurantium ssp. amara) with a chemical profile and aroma that differs from that of Petitgrain Bigarade.

Petitgrain essential oil is known to reduce anxiety and calm the mind due to its linalyl acetate content, the most important constituent of Petitgrain oil. It is this component that has a balancing and stabilizing effect on the autonomic nervous system. Sedative, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, and antibacterial properties are attributed to this essential oil. It can also be used for acne, oily skin and hair, toning the skin, excessive perspiration, as a digestive aid, for flatulence, insomnia, and as a comforting oil in convalescence.