Neroli oil is a fragrant essential oil steam-distilled from the blossoms of bitter orange trees, used primarily in aromatherapy for anxiety and stress relief, in skincare for its antioxidant and healing properties, and as a prized ingredient in perfumery. It takes roughly one ton of hand-picked blossoms to produce a single quart of oil, which explains why neroli is one of the most expensive essential oils on the market.
How Neroli Oil Is Made
Neroli comes specifically from the flowers of the bitter orange tree (not the sweet oranges you eat). The blossoms are hand-picked and then steam-distilled, a process that preserves the oil’s lighter, more delicate aromatic compounds. This distinguishes neroli from orange blossom absolute, which is extracted using chemical solvents and produces a deeper, sweeter, more intense scent. Neroli, by contrast, has a fresh, slightly bitter, green quality with herbal undertones.
The oil gets its name from a 17th-century Italian aristocrat, Anne-Marie Orsini, Princess of Nerola, who used orange blossom fragrance to scent her gloves and baths. But the tradition is much older. Arab cultures had been distilling the flowers for centuries before that, producing orange blossom water for both perfume and folk medicine.
Aromatherapy for Anxiety and Pain
The most studied use of neroli oil is inhalation-based aromatherapy for reducing anxiety. In a randomized controlled trial of 88 women during labor, those who inhaled neroli oil reported significantly lower anxiety and perceived pain at every stage compared to a control group. Pain and anxiety still increased as labor progressed for everyone, but the rise was notably milder in the group breathing neroli.
This calming effect likely stems from the oil’s primary chemical component, linalool, which makes up about 29% of neroli oil. Linalool is well established as having sedative and anxiety-reducing effects when inhaled. The oil also contains compounds that contribute to its complex scent profile, including beta-pinene (19%), limonene (12%), and smaller amounts of geraniol and nerol.
Menopausal Symptom Relief
A randomized controlled trial tested neroli inhalation in 63 postmenopausal women, who breathed in either neroli oil or a control (almond oil) for five minutes, twice daily, over five days. Women using the higher-concentration neroli oil had significantly lower systolic blood pressure than the control group. Both neroli groups also showed lower diastolic blood pressure and trends toward improved cortisol and estrogen levels.
The researchers concluded that neroli inhalation helped relieve menopausal symptoms, increased sexual desire, and reduced blood pressure. While five days is a short study window, the blood pressure findings were statistically significant, suggesting a real physiological response beyond simple relaxation.
Sleep Quality
Neroli appears in several aromatherapy blends studied for sleep improvement. A systematic review and network meta-analysis of inhaled aromatherapy for critically ill patients found that a blend of lavender, chamomile, and neroli (in a 6:2:0.5 ratio) produced the most significant improvement in sleep quality compared to standard care. That blend outperformed lavender alone, peppermint, and several other single oils. Neroli’s role in the blend is likely complementary rather than standalone, but it consistently appears in the top-performing combinations.
Skincare Uses
In dermatology, neroli oil has a broad traditional application profile. It is used for acne, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, scars, stretch marks, and wound healing. The oil functions as both an antiseptic and a healing agent on skin, and it has demonstrated antioxidant activity, which helps protect skin cells from damage.
Neroli is also used cosmetically for aging skin, broken capillaries, and thread veins. Its reputation as a skin toner and general tonic makes it a common ingredient in high-end facial oils and serums. Because the pure oil is so expensive, many skincare products use it in small concentrations or blend it with carrier oils.
Perfumery
Neroli has been a cornerstone of fine perfumery for centuries and was a key ingredient in the earliest Eau de Colognes. Its top note is pleasantly bitter, fresh, sweet, and herbal, making it versatile enough to anchor citrus fragrances, floral blends, and more complex compositions. The oil’s green freshness and complexity set it apart from other citrus-derived ingredients, and its cost means it is often reserved for premium fragrance lines.
Safety Considerations
Neroli oil is generally well tolerated when properly diluted, but it does carry some allergy risk. The oil is classified as a known contact allergen in humans, primarily because of its linalool and limonene content. These two compounds are not especially allergenic on their own, but when they oxidize through exposure to air and light, their breakdown products become significantly more likely to trigger skin reactions.
If you use neroli oil topically, keep it diluted in a carrier oil and store it in a dark, sealed container to slow oxidation. Patch testing on a small area of skin before broader application is a practical way to check for sensitivity. For aromatherapy use, where the oil is inhaled rather than applied to skin, the contact allergy risk does not apply.