Looking for softness, comfort or simply to slow down?Neroli essential oil, available on Soin-et-Nature, is a precious ally for soothing tension, restoring sleep and caring for sensitive skin. Obtained from the flowers of the Bitter Orange tree, this rare floral essence is the perfect combination of serenity, olfactory elegance and therapeutic efficacy.
The story of neroli is first and foremost that of a precious, delicate yet powerfully evocative essence extracted from the flowers of the bitter orange tree. This plant, originally from India and China, was introduced into the Mediterranean basin around the 12th century, and cultivated from the 13th century in Italy, first in Versailles, then in Grasse, the perfume capital. Its distinctive name refers neither to a plant nor a botanical terroir, but to a woman: Anne-Marie de La Trémoille, Princesse des Ursins, also known as Princesse de Nerola, a small Italian town some 50 kilometers from Rome.
The story goes that around 1680, this princess abundantly perfumed her gloves, clothes, hangings and baths with orange blossom essence, contributing to the fame of this fragrance to the point that the name of her adopted city, Nerola, became inseparable from neroli essential oil. Other flower essences from the same Mediterranean region share a rich history with neroli, imbued with symbolism and therapeutic virtues handed down from generation to generation.
But before orange blossom was embalmed in princely splendors, it was already sacred in Antiquity. A symbol of purity, it adorned bridal crowns, and its hydrosol was used in medicinal, spiritual and cosmetic preparations. In the Arab-Andalusian world, the flower was used in many traditional therapeutic formulas. Renaissance literature abounds with references to "eau de naphae", derived from the Arabic nafha, meaning "pleasant scent".
A fragrance of virginity and fertility, orange blossom is also a source of soothing. As Brillat-Savarin points out, it evokes "a sweet and peaceful sleep", and traditional medicine uses it to calm nerves, digestive disorders and promote rest.
Neroli is extracted by steam distillation from the fresh flowers of Citrus aurantium ssp. aurantium, better known as the bitter orange tree. Neroli should not be confused with the other essences derived from this tree, although each has its own specific therapeutic properties:
Yields are particularly low (around one ton of flowers is needed to obtain one kilo of essential oil), making this one of the most expensive essences on the market.
Neroli essential oil contains several major bioactive components:
These compounds justify neroli's many indications, both physical and emotional.
Neroli has several interesting properties:
Neroli essential oil is above all a natural sedative, anxiolytic and antidepressant. Its action on the autonomic nervous system is profound: it regulates stress, relieves insomnia, calms anxiety attacks and accompanies states of shock or mourning. It is also indicated for psychosomatic disorders, latent or reactive depression, and states of emotional hypersensitivity.
According to Michel Faucon, it "combats maladjustment to situations through hypersensitivity". It is aimed at people who are affected by everything, those who live in a state of hyper-reactivity and emotional exhaustion. It restores the inner connection, encouraging reconnection with the heart (Anahata chakra), bringing warmth and consolation.
Neroli has interesting skin-regenerating properties. It is used to care for mature, sensitive, dry or tired skin. It helps reduce wrinkles, stretch marks and scars. Its delicate fragrance makes it an ingredient of choice in high-end skin care and perfume compositions.
Antispasmodic and carminative, it is useful against difficult digestion, bloating, aerophagia, digestive cramps and even nervous nausea. It also promotes bile production and regulates intestinal peristalsis. Its calming properties relieve emotional spasms.
Its regulating action on heart rhythm and hypotensive properties make it an invaluable essence for psychosomatic disorders of cardiac origin (anxiety-related palpitations, benign tachycardia, feelings of chest tightness).
Neroli is much more than a simple floral fragrance. It's a royal and consoling essence, a true balm for the heart and soul. Its olfactory richness, therapeutic nobility and historical heritage make it one of the most precious essential oils in contemporary aromatherapy. At the crossroads between healing, the sacred and emotion, it embodies the sweetness of life, inner calm and the grace of the present.
Often associated with sacred femininity, neroli has stood the test of time, retaining its evocative and therapeutic power. It is one of the few essential oils capable of healing both mind and body, and anchoring beauty in the subtle.
The Soin-et-NatureEssential Oils Index contains a complete selection of single essential oils, precisely identified by their botanical name. This index provides quick access to the therapeutic properties, clinical indications and precautions for use of each oil, to promote safe, effective use adapted to every need.
The Soin-et-Nature Essential Oil Index is a valuable resource for anyone wishing to integrate aromatherapy into their natural health approach. Each essential oil is presented according to its botanical specificity, biochemical profile and therapeutic applications, for reasoned, effective and best-practice use.
