PETITGRAIN (Citrus aurantium)

Other Names: Citrus Aurantium is also known as bitter orange, green orange, sour orange, or Seville orange.

Family: Labiatae

Extraction Process: Steam Distillation

Parts Used: Leaves

Major Constituents: Similar to Neroli and Orange Oils.

According to Alvarez (2004), Citrus aurantium L. contains the following constituents:

Leaf: essential oil (0.2–0.4%) (monoterpene hydrocarbons [limonene], alcohols [linalol, nerol, and methyl antranilate]), flavonoid-glycosides (hesperidine), tetranortriterpenoids (limonin) (Arteche García, 1998; Font Quer, 1992, p. 435; Hou et al., 2000a).

Flower: essential oil (0.05–0.5%) (monoterpene hydrocarbons [limonene], alcohols [linalol, nerol, and methyl antranilate]) (Arteche García, 1998).

Fruit: flavanone (Hou et al., 2000b).

Peel: essential oil (2%) (monoterpene hydrocarbons [limonene 90% ]), bitter (naringoside, neohesperidoside) and non-bitter (hesperidoside, rutoside, and sinensetoside) flavonoids, furanocoumarins, meranzin, nobiletin, tangeretin, flavonoid-glycosides (hesperidin, neohesperidin, naringin, narirutin, rhoifolin), mineral salts, pectin, organic acids (ascorbic, citric, malic) (Tsuchida et al., 1996 and Arteche García, 1998).  

Note Value: Top-Middle

Aromatic Description: Fresh, floral, citrusy, lighter in fragrance than neroli and slightly woody.

Energy Centre: Solar Plexus

Contraindications and Cautions: Some individuals may experience dermal sensitivity, and phototoxicity may be a problem.

Major Organs/Organ Systems: Nervous system, Skin, Digestive system

Actions: Sedative, Anti-Phlogistic (Anti-inflammatory), Vulnerary

Indications: Acne, oily skin, stress, dyspepsia, fatigue, poor and sluggish digestion, anxiety, insomnia, irritability and restlessness.

Mode of Application:

• Internally: Honey Water, Inhalation, Infusion of the leaves
• Externally: Oil Blend, Baths, Compresses, Cream, Lotions.

Mental/Emotional: Sedating, Calming, Euphoric.