Citrus · Natural material · Top notes
Orange
Orange is the sweet orange, Citrus sinensis, and its fragrant oil is taken from the peel. It smells juicy, sweet and bright, like the spray of oil when you peel the fruit. In perfume, orange almost always sits in the top notes and opens with a bright, easy-to-like feel, from citrus to gourmand.
· Written by the FRAG team
What does orange smell like?
Orange smells like a freshly peeled sweet orange: juicy, sweet and bright, with that typical peel character. Compared with lemon, orange is much sweeter and never sharp. Compared with mandarin, it is a little juicier and less floral.
Note lists use several kinds of orange. Blood orange from Sicily has red flesh and a slightly raspberry-like taste, and in perfume it usually reads fruitier. Candied orange imitates sugared peel, so it smells sweeter and warmer.
Where does orange oil come from?
Orange oil comes from the oil cells in the peel of the sweet orange. It is cold pressed and separated with a centrifuge, and much of it is a by-product of the orange juice industry. More than 90 percent of the oil is limonene, which gives orange peel its familiar scent.
In Indonesia, sweet oranges and relatives such as jeruk siam are everyday fruit. The smell that comes out when you peel one and the oil sprays onto your fingers is exactly what orange oil captures.
Orange in a perfume
In the scent pyramid, orange almost always sits in the top notes. Because it is sweet and easy to like, it suits many styles: light citrus, bright florals, and warm gourmand or amber perfumes. Orange is often used with mandarin and bergamot for a fuller citrus opening.
Orange has a close link with spice. Orange with cinnamon and clove smells like cake or a warm drink, and vanilla or amber in the base makes it sweeter. Orange itself evaporates quickly, but spice and vanilla keep that warm orange impression going, with results that differ with skin and weather.
When to wear an orange perfume
Orange with fresh notes suits daytime and hot weather. Orange with spice, vanilla or amber fits late afternoons, evenings or air-conditioned rooms. Because it is easy to like, orange is also comfortable for everyday wear.
