Neroli bigarade is a product obtained by processing flowers of the bitter orange tree. The blossoming flowers are the only part used. Neroli bigarade has a very powerful floral odor with a bitter flavor.
The essential oil is obtained in ca 0.1% yields by steam distillation of the flowers. The distillation waters, rich in dissolved essence, are used as is in perfumery, cosmetics, and sweets. Neroli bigarade essential oil, or simply neroli oil, has slightly different physical- chemical properties depending on its origin. Italian neroli oil, qualitatively equal to the French product of much larger production, is a pale-yellow to amber liquid, slightly fluorescent, with an intense, suave, flowery aroma.
The main constituents include pinene, camphene, dipentene, lina-lool, ι-linalyl acetate, α-terpineol, geraniol, nerol, nerolidol, methyl anthranilate, indole, farnesol, and phenylacetic acid esters.
The derivatives are concrete and absolute. Orange flower concrete is obtained in 0.24 to 0.28% yields by extracting freshly picked flowers with a solvent (usually petroleum ether). Treatment of the concrete with ethanol produces the orange flower absolute in approximately 50% yields. The absolute is a yellow-red liquid with an extremely suave odor typical of the flower.
