Petitgrain Oil
Petitgrain oil is extracted from the leaves, twigs and branches of the Bitter Orange tree. It is a member of the Rutaceae plant family. It is indigenous to tropical parts of Asia and Eastern Africa. This tree of the orange family is widely cultivated in many other parts of the world including, Canada, Florida, the Mediterranean region and California. Petitgrain oil is one of the three oils that are obtained from the bitter orange tree. The other two oils being the neroli oil extracted from the flowers. Orange oil is extracted from the rind of the orange fruit. Initially Petitgrain oil was extracted from the unripe oranges that were green in color. These unripe oranges were just cherry-sized. Since the essential oil was extracted from these small fruits, it was called as “Petitgrain oil” or “Little grains oil”.
Petitgrain oil is extracted from fresh leaves, branches and twigs of the Bitter Orange trees by steam distillation method. This oil has a fresh, floral, refreshing, energizing, floral and woody aroma. Petitgrain oil is pale yellow to amber in color with a watery viscosity. This oil blends well with rosewood oil, bergamot oil, sandalwood oil, Palmarosa oil, lavender oil and geranium oil. Petitgrain essential oil is used as a highlighting ingredient in many men’s colognes and other pharmaceutical products.
Latin name: Citrus aurantium var. amara.
Alternative names: Petitgrain bigarade, Citrus Bigardia, Bitter Orange, Marmalade Orange, Sour Orange, Seville Orange.
Petitgrain plant requires full sun and can tolerate partial shade. It is capable of growing in all types of soil with a good drainage system. The chief chemical components of petitgrain oil are neryl acetate, geranyl acetate, geraniol, trans-ocimene, linalool, linalyl acetate, nerol, myrcene and y-terpineol. This oil has deodorant, anti-spasmodic, nervine, anti-depressant, sedative and antiseptic properties.
Uses: Petitgrain oil is highly valued for its calmative effects. This oil is trusted to control your anger and panic while boosting the mind’s intellectual powers. Petitgrain is also used as bath oil as it provides numerous health benefits. It is diluted in the bathing tub to aid insomnia, tension, anger, anxiety, pain, panic, irritability, convalescence, rapid heartbeat and drowsiness. This oil also helps in relaxing the mind and body while acting effectively against skin blemishes. Nervous exhaustion, aches, muscular spasms, greasy skin, breathing troubles, lifeless skin, stress disorders, stomach pain and few other nervous disorders are treated with the soothing effects of this oil.
