Petitgrain () is an essential oil that is extracted from the leaves and green twigs of the bitter orange tree ( Citrus aurantium ssp. amara) via steam distillation.
Etymology
Petitgrain (Fr.: “little grain”) gains its name from the fact that it used to be extracted from the unripe small green fruits of the plant.
Production
Its main regions of production are
Paraguay and
France, with the former's product being of higher odour tenacity. The oil has a greenish woody orange
Odor that is widely used in
and found in
colognes. Though distilled from the same botanical species as
neroli and
bitter orange essential oil, petitgrain bigarade oil possesses its own characteristically unique aroma. The oil is distilled from the leaves and sometimes the twigs and branches of the tree, whereas neroli is distilled from the blossoms and bitter orange oil is typically cold pressed from the rinds of the fruits. Petitgrain mandarin (Petit grain Mandarine) is distilled from leaves and branches of trees producing
Mandarin orange fruit.
Chemical composition
Use
It is used in
perfumery and
aromatherapy as fresh-
essential oils. As of 1923, it was part of the formula for
Pepsi.
