Neroli and orange blossom, the difference
Neroli is distilled from the fresh blossoms with steam. It is a white floral, bright, green and faintly bitter. Orange blossom absolute is drawn from the same blossoms with a solvent instead of steam, and keeps more of their warmth: sweeter, rounder, more honeyed. One tree, two lights. The materials pages hold more on neroli and orange flower absolute.
Tunisian neroli, by day
Hayal, Turkish for dream, holds neroli from Tunisia at its heart, beside black tea and jasmine. Italian lemon, blood orange, bergamot and ginger open above it, and frankincense, labdanum and white musk settle beneath. Fresh at first, then soft and close. Tunisia is one of the principal sources of neroli, and the house uses it in both fragrances.
Orange blossom, after dark
Néroli de Nuit is Tunisian neroli and orange blossom after dark, steadied by black tea. Calabrian bergamot opens it, jasmine sambac deepens it, and amberwood, cashmere wood, guaiac wood and Somali myrrh carry it into the night. The warmer, sweeter side of the same flower.
The Same Neroli
Two fragrances, one flower. The Same Neroli brings Hayal and Néroli de Nuit together, one for the morning and one for the night. Two 50 ml bottles in two gift boxes, with the Discovery Set.
Wear them first
The Discovery Set holds all eight fragrances in 2.5 ml sprays, Hayal and Néroli de Nuit among them, for $60 with complimentary shipping. The $60 comes back to you toward any 50 ml bottle within 30 days of delivery.
Questions people ask about neroli
- What is the difference between neroli and orange blossom?
- Both come from the blossom of the bitter orange tree. Neroli is distilled with steam and smells bright, green and faintly bitter. Orange blossom absolute is extracted with a solvent and smells warmer, sweeter and more honeyed.
- What does a neroli perfume smell like?
- Like white blossom in morning light: fresh, clean and a little green, with a faint honeyed depth. In Hayal, the neroli sits beneath bright citrus, beside black tea and jasmine.
- Is orange blossom perfume good for evening?
- Yes. Orange blossom is the warmer, sweeter side of the flower, and it suits the evening. Néroli de Nuit was composed for after dark, with black tea and jasmine sambac over amberwood and Somali myrrh.
- What is the best way to try both?
- The Discovery Set: all eight fragrances in 2.5 ml sprays, Hayal and Néroli de Nuit among them, for $60. The $60 comes back to you toward any 50 ml bottle within 30 days of delivery.
