I’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Monday for a week. The anticipation almost feels like Christmas morning when I was a child. I tend to get like this when any oil is due to arrive but it is especially strong this time around. I will be receiving an essential oil that sounds so beautiful and one that I have never smelled before: a Neroli/Petitgrain Co-Distill (Citrus aurantium var amara).
What makes this oil so fascinating to me? Three different essential oils are distilled from the Bitter Orange Tree (Citrus arantium): from the fruit, the leaves and the flowers. All three have different therapeutic characteristics as well as aromas. The oils of Neroli (distilled from the flowers) and Petitgrain (distilled from the leaves) are distilled together to make this particular oil. I can’t wait to smell it and experiment with it in blends! It may be the perfect solution for a client who needs the benefits of Neroli but finds the aroma too sweet and floral.
The aroma of Neroli is also very special to me as it reminds me of my childhood. My oldest sister brought back perfume from our family vacation to Florida and wore it often. I vividly remember the little glass bottle with a white fabric flower attached to the side sitting on her dresser. I don’t remember exactly when it was all gone or when she stopped wearing it but the aroma stayed with me and I’ve often found myself looking for something similar without any luck. The moment I inhaled a bottle of Neroli in the summer of 2008, I knew I found the perfume’s key ingredient I had been looking for for almost 20 years. It is because of this that Neroli is the first oil I grab when I feel overwhelmed by adult responsibilities or the need to be comforted. I am really curious to smell how a co-distill with Petitgrain changes the aroma and my experience with it.
As far as chemical components go, the Neroli/Petitgrain co-distill has a high percentage of the Monoterpenol linalol which is an airborne antimicrobial, analgesic, antianxiety, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antifungal (candida), antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antispasmodic, antitumoral, antiviral, sedative, hypotensive (lowers high blood pressure) and immunostimulant. It also has a large percentage of the Ester linalyl acetate which is analgesic, antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, sedative and stimulates immune response. It would appear to be a crucial middle note for high blood pressure, anxiety, insomnia or any sort of spasmodic condition such as asthma or muscle cramps. Because all oils derived from citrus plants are some of the best antidepressants out there, I imagine this one will be as well.
I just tracked the package again and it is still on time. Is it Monday afternoon yet?
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