Orange Bitter Oil

Bitter Orange Essential oil shouldn’t be mistaken for neroli or even petitgrain essential oils. Bitter orange essential oil is made of the peel of the bitter orange tree, Citrus aurantium var. amara, neroli oil is made of the flowers of the bitter and often sweet orange tree, and petitgrain is made out of the leaves and also the twigs of the orange tree, along with varying features. The odor of bitter orange is much more intense, neroli smells more floral, and petitgrain features a warm somewhat spicy smell.

Bitter orange oil are used for gastrointestinal (GI) disorders including ulcers in the intestine, constipation, diarrhea, blood in feces, drooping (prolapsed) anus or rectum, and intestinal gas. These parts of the bitter orange plant are also used for regulating fat levels in the blood, lowering blood sugar in people with diabetes, stimulating the heart and circulation, “blood purification,” disorders of liver and gallbladder, kidney and bladder diseases, and as a sedative for sleep disorders.

In foods, Bitter Orange oil is used as a flavoring agent. The fruit is used for making marmalades and liqueurs such as Triple Sec, Grand Marnier, Cointreau, and Curacao. Because the fruit is so sour and bitter, it is rarely eaten, except in Iran and Mexico. The dried peel of the fruit is also used as a seasoning. In manufacturing, Bitter Orange oil is used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and soaps.

Bitter Orange oil is applied to the skin for swelling (inflammation) of the eyelid and its lining, as well as the retina in the eye. It is also used for bleeding from the retina, exhaustion accompanying colds, headaches, nerve pain, muscular pain, joint pain, bruises, swelling of the veins (phlebitis), and bed sores. In aromatherapy, the essential oil of bitter orange is applied to the skin and also inhaled as a painkiller.