What are the benefits of Neroli essential oil?
I am delighted to be writing about Neroli as our essential oil of the month, as it is my favourite essential oil! Neroli’s aroma is described as sweet, floral and creamy, and it’s all those and more. When I smell it, I feel a sense of sunshine, gentle warmth and expanding heart energy. It has ‘green’ citrus notes, too, that balance the creamy sweetness.
There are three essential oils that can be harvested from different parts of an Orange tree. Neroli from the highly fragrant blossoms, Orange from the fruit and Petitgrain from the leaves. Like the rest of the citrus family, the Rutaceae, oranges originate from Myanmar, Northeast India and Southern China. They are now grown across the globe and are the most cultivated citrus tree. Our Neroli comes from orange trees grown in Tunisia.
The name supposedly derives from a member of the French aristocracy in the 17th Century, Anna Marie de Tremoille, Princess of Nerola, who used the fragrance to scent her gloves and bath water. Oranges at that time were considered a true luxury item, and today Neroli oil is considered a precious oil and is widely used in perfumery.
Like the other flower essential oils, its chemical structure is complicated with many different volatile compounds and properties that give it its therapeutic effects. In Aromatherapy, it is primarily used for its ability to reduce stress. It can be helpful when there is ongoing emotional upset that results in Insomnia, panic attacks or anxiety. Often stress can impact the digestive system, and Neroli can be helpful, when used in a message blend, in calming tummy issues that are stress-related. It is also considered a gentle tonic and restorative for the skin. It can be used on all skin types, although it is very good for drier and more mature skin.
Neroli has a wonderful balance of being a top, middle and base note, making it very versatile to use in a blend. It does, however, have a tenacious aroma, so a little will go a long way. Neroli blends well with many essential oils but particularly well with other citrus oils, florals and woods. It will add a note of uplifting, positive energy to any blend.
Here are a few blend ideas for you to use at home:
Add the following essential oils to the water in your Aroma Spa Diffuser:
2 drops of Neroli - Citrus aurantium
4 drops of Bergamot - Citrus bergamia
1 drop of Sandalwood - Santalum album
1 drop of Vetiver - Vetiveria zizanoides
Use this blend in your diffuser when you feel the need to be grounded and are finding it hard to switch off that mental chatter. The floral notes of Neroli with the combined notes of Bergamot will lift the wonderful base notes of Sandalwood and Vetiver, bringing about a sense of harmony.
Add the following essential oils to 20ml of Jojoba blending oil:
1 drop of Neroli - Citrus aurantium
2 drops of Mandarin - Citrus reticulata
1 drop of Frankincense - Boswellia carterii
This is a wonderful ‘night-time’ facial oil. Massage gently into your face and over the decolletage after cleansing. No need to add a moisturiser. This amount will last several applications.
This is one of my ‘go-to’ blends for a wonderful nourishing body oil that is also uplifting and joyful.
Add the following essential oils to 10ml of your favourite blending oil:
2 drops of Neroli - Citrus aurantium
2 drops of Orange - Citrus aurantium dulcis
1 drop of Petitgrain - Citrus aurantium
NOT FOR THE FACE
Do let us know in the comments or on social media how you are using your Neroli essential oil.
About Jo Kellett
Our essential oil expert, Jo Kellett TIDHA MIFPA CIMI, graduated from the Tisserand Institute of Holistic Aromatherapy in 1996. She returned to the college in 1999 as an Essential Oil Therapeutics Tutor, where she taught until the college closed. Jo runs a successful private Aromatherapy practice in Brighton, specialising in Women’s health. Jo is also an internationally published author and has lectured on the subject of Aromatherapy both in the UK and abroad.
For more information on Jo Kellett, check out her website or Instagram
Origin & History
There are three essential oils that can be harvested from different parts of an Orange tree. Neroli from the highly fragrant blossoms, Orange from the fruit and Petitgrain from the leaves. Like the rest of the citrus family, the Rutaceae, oranges originate from Myanmar, Northeast India and Southern China. They are now grown across the globe and are the most cultivated citrus tree. Our Neroli comes from orange trees grown in Tunisia.
The name supposedly derives from a member of the French aristocracy in the 17th Century, Anna Marie de Tremoille, Princess of Nerola, who used the fragrance to scent her gloves and bath water. Oranges at that time were considered a true luxury item, and today Neroli oil is considered a precious oil and is widely used in perfumery.
The benefits of Neroli essential oil
Like the other flower essential oils, its chemical structure is complicated with many different volatile compounds and properties that give it its therapeutic effects. In Aromatherapy, it is primarily used for its ability to reduce stress. It can be helpful when there is ongoing emotional upset that results in Insomnia, panic attacks or anxiety. Often stress can impact the digestive system, and Neroli can be helpful, when used in a message blend, in calming tummy issues that are stress-related. It is also considered a gentle tonic and restorative for the skin. It can be used on all skin types, although it is very good for drier and more mature skin.
Neroli has a wonderful balance of being a top, middle and base note, making it very versatile to use in a blend. It does, however, have a tenacious aroma, so a little will go a long way. Neroli blends well with many essential oils but particularly well with other citrus oils, florals and woods. It will add a note of uplifting, positive energy to any blend.
Here are a few blend ideas for you to use at home:
De-Stress Diffuser blend
Add the following essential oils to the water in your Aroma Spa Diffuser:
2 drops of Neroli - Citrus aurantium
4 drops of Bergamot - Citrus bergamia
1 drop of Sandalwood - Santalum album
1 drop of Vetiver - Vetiveria zizanoides
Use this blend in your diffuser when you feel the need to be grounded and are finding it hard to switch off that mental chatter. The floral notes of Neroli with the combined notes of Bergamot will lift the wonderful base notes of Sandalwood and Vetiver, bringing about a sense of harmony.
Rejuvenating Facial Oil
Add the following essential oils to 20ml of Jojoba blending oil:
1 drop of Neroli - Citrus aurantium
2 drops of Mandarin - Citrus reticulata
1 drop of Frankincense - Boswellia carterii
This is a wonderful ‘night-time’ facial oil. Massage gently into your face and over the decolletage after cleansing. No need to add a moisturiser. This amount will last several applications.
Jo’s Body Oil
This is one of my ‘go-to’ blends for a wonderful nourishing body oil that is also uplifting and joyful.
Add the following essential oils to 10ml of your favourite blending oil:
2 drops of Neroli - Citrus aurantium
2 drops of Orange - Citrus aurantium dulcis
1 drop of Petitgrain - Citrus aurantium
NOT FOR THE FACE
Do let us know in the comments or on social media how you are using your Neroli essential oil.
About Jo Kellett
Our essential oil expert, Jo Kellett TIDHA MIFPA CIMI, graduated from the Tisserand Institute of Holistic Aromatherapy in 1996. She returned to the college in 1999 as an Essential Oil Therapeutics Tutor, where she taught until the college closed. Jo runs a successful private Aromatherapy practice in Brighton, specialising in Women’s health. Jo is also an internationally published author and has lectured on the subject of Aromatherapy both in the UK and abroad.
For more information on Jo Kellett, check out her website or Instagram
