The orange blossom is one of my favourite little white perfumed flowers. Orange blossom is the fragrant distillation of fresh bitter-orange flower. These oranges are too sour to eat, but it is that bitterness that makes this the most aromatic of the orange varieties. The leaves become petitgrain oil, and the delicate white flowers become neroli and orange blossom absolute. It plays very well with many other perfume notes, staying pretty, feminine and delicate when paired with other floral notes, especially white flowers. It can also be sensuous and rich when paired up with woodsy or resinous notes, and perfectly unisex. And, of course, it enhances citrus notes beautifully. There is a lovely soapy aspect to orange blossom scents, which of course, I adore. I have a L’Artisan Parfumeur candle in Oranger en Fleurs and it is heavenly, filling the room with a heady fragrant orange blossom haze.
So- you like orange blossom, but how to wear it as a perfume? Should you choose a soliflore, a scent that features orange blossom all on its own? Or perhaps a lovely mix? Here are some of my favourite orange blossom perfumes, from cheap and cheerful to decadent and rich.
Yves Rocher Pur Desire de Fleur d’Oranger: Don’t be fooled by the amazingly reasonable price of this one. It is like delicate little blossoms floating in a cool stream. It never overwhelms, and smells like clean warm skin. It is almost always on sale for half of the reasonable price as well. Get it, you won’t regret it.
Jo Malone Orange Blossom Cologne: This is the loveliest, simplest pure orange blossom, uncomplicated by any other notes. It is refreshing, clear, and almost watery. Also, probably one the best summer perfumes out there. Her scented body products in the Orange Blossom line are divine, and the Jo Malone Orange Blossom Candle is one of my all time faves.
L’Artisan Parfumeur La Chasse aux Papillons: This is my personal favourite orange blossom scent. Light as air, as the name implies, the orange blossom is lifted up by the most delicate jasmine and tuberose, with a little lime blossom to tone down the sweetness. It is sheer, feminine and soft, if not a little fleeting. I often am most in love with the fleeting scents. They are always the most delicate and I would rather reapply then with I could wash something off. To me, La Chasse aux Papillons smells like a sunny summer day under a tree of orange blossoms. Beautiful.
Diptyque L’Eau de Neroli: A lovely shared orange blossom with notes of neroli and bergamot. The bergamot, while still citrus, has a tart and gently spicy aspect which keeps L’Eau de Neroli from veering off into too floral a perfume. Which would make it delicious on a man. Not perfumed, just clean and fresh, and making you want to lean in a little closer to that warm skin, perfect for someone who does not want a strong scent. Cool and green on the top, there is a lovely slightly woodsy dry down.
Serge Lutens Fleurs d’Oranger: Ok, now we are getting serious about orange blossom. Lutens perfumes have a cachet and intensity like no other perfumes on the planet. This is not a polite orange blossom, and frankly is a bit much for me, but I can appreciate it’s artful beauty. Loads of jasmine and dirty tuberose amp the orange blossom up to impossibly sexy and, yes, even dirty levels. For the confident perfume wearer, and I’d also say for those with the type of skin that eats up a light airy perfume. Orange blossom can be fleeting on some skin types & if that’s you, try this. Also available in the US here.
Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Collection: This is the luxe top of line orange blossom of the gods perfume, if that is what you are looking for. Tom Ford is a perfectionist and his gorgeous perfumes reflect this. Neroli Portofino is a simple scent, but it is lovely, elegant and perfect, if a simple orange blossom scent is what you want. It is cooling and fresh, and would be perfect on a hot summer day. It’s sort of like orange blossom essence in an icy cool waterfall. Yes, that’s it.
I know I’ve missed some, but I had to stop somewhere! Tell me what your favourite orange blossom scents are? Is it perfume? Is it a lotion, or other body product, maybe even a soap?