Favourite Essential Oils, Part I – Neroli (orange blossom)

When it comes to essential oils, it can be very difficult to choose favourites! In general, floral oils (rose, neroli, chamomile, and more) are the oils I love and use the most, but I do have an affinity for the freshness of citrus oils such as blood orange and clementine. Perhaps that is why my first choice for a favourite oil is neroli because it’s a floral that comes from the bitter orange tree!

What does neroli smell like?

To me, neroli captures the brightness of citrus and the sweetness of white flowers; it smells soft, happy and fresh. It’s included in many perfumes, including Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom (supposedly what Kate Middleton’s signature perfume and what she wore on her wedding day), Kilian Paris Love Don’t be Shy, and Dior Addict. The name of this oil comes from the 17th century Italian princess (of Nerola, Italy) who used the flowers to scent her gloves and baths.

What are the benefits?

As an essential oil, neroli has many benefits including:

reducing stress, anxiety, and insomnia
supporting high quality sleep
reducing symptoms of menopause (Choi et al.)
aphrodisiac qualities
aiding in skin regeneration

Neroli oil, like many essential oils, has antimicrobial qualities for the skin. It is a very safe oil (although always be sure to dilute in a carrier oil and test on your own skin for personal use!) and can be used on the skin in proper dilutions. Neroli has a high percentage of linalool, which helps to reduce anxiety and depression.

How I like to use neroli:

Neroli oil is one of the more expensive oils, as it can take many blossoms to produce the essential oil, however a little can go a long way in terms of both scent and effects. I love to use neroli in face oil serums because you receive the skin-enhancing benefits along with the relaxing properties. It smells sweet and my little ones love to hug me closely after using neroli. Neroli blends well with other floral oils such as rose and chamomile, and I also love to add a drop of bergamot (another beautiful citrus oil, which you may know from earl grey tea). In terms of value, I would typically be using only 3 drops of neroli essential oil in 30ml of a carrier oil (my current favourite is a blend of argan, raspberry seed, and rosehip oils).

In 2024, one of my goals is to vastly improve my sleep. My amazing aromatherapy teacher, Danielle Sade, recommended neroli as an oil to use in a hot bath to reduce anxiety and help me sleep. It has been such a wonderful experience to learn from Danielle in the certification program – listening to her process of explaining the oils and modelling the case study experience has been transformative. I hope to one day have her knowledge and sensitive and intuitive touch when recommending oils.

If you have experienced neroli, what are your thoughts?

Barre with Justine