Fragrance note guide

What Does Neroli Smell Like in Perfume?

Neroli in perfume usually smells fresh, floral and green, with citrusy, slightly bitter and softly sweet sides. It has the scent of white orange flowers but generally feels lighter and more sparkling than orange blossom absolute. Neroli can also have clean, leafy and gently soapy qualities. It is mainly used in the top or heart to add bright floral freshness.

White bitter orange blossoms, unopened buds and glossy green leaves on a pale yellow-grey background

What Does Neroli Smell Like?

Neroli sits between a citrus note and a white floral. It can suggest fresh white petals, bitter orange peel, green leaves and clean air. The scent is often lighter and less honeyed than orange flower absolute because the two ingredients are made using different methods. Neroli oil has a fresh white-floral character with a natural orange blossom effect and green facets.

Where Does Neroli Come From?

Neroli oil comes from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree, Citrus × aurantium. The freshly picked flowers are hydro-distilled to produce essential oil. A large amount of blossoms is needed to make a small amount of neroli oil. Orange blossom absolute comes from the same type of flower but is made by solvent extraction, so it is a related but different perfume material.

How Neroli Is Usually Described

  • Fresh
  • Floral
  • Green
  • Citrusy
  • Slightly bitter
  • Clean

How Is Neroli Used in Perfume?

Neroli is usually used in the top or heart of citrus, floral, cologne-style, amber and fresh fragrances. It blends naturally with bergamot, lemon, mandarin, orange blossom, jasmine, lavender, rosemary, musk, amber and woods. It can connect a citrus opening with a floral heart, while its green bitterness helps stop sweet flowers from becoming too heavy.

Notes Commonly Paired With Neroli

White jasmine flowers and green leaves against a soft blue green background
Fragrance note

Jasmine

Jasmine in perfume usually smells rich, sweet and floral. It can also seem creamy, green, fruity or slightly spicy, depending on the type of jasmine and the other...

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Golden labdanum and benzoin resins used in amber perfume accords
Fragrance note

Amber

Amber in perfume usually smells warm, sweet and resinous, with soft vanilla, balsamic, powdery or slightly smoky sides. It is not normally taken from fossilised amber. In perfumery,...

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White black locust flower clusters with green leaves on a pale lavender-blue background
Fragrance note

Black Locust

Black locust in perfume usually smells sweet, floral and honeyed, with green, powdery and softly orange-blossom-like sides. The effect can suggest clusters of white spring flowers and light...

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Creamy white gardenia flowers and glossy dark green leaves on a dusty lilac-grey background
Fragrance note

Gardenia

Gardenia in perfume usually smells rich, creamy and floral, with sweet white-petal, green and softly fruity sides. It can feel smoother and more velvety than jasmine, although the...

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Fresh lavender flower spikes and grey-green leaves on a light warm stone background
Fragrance note

Lavender

Lavender in perfume usually smells fresh, aromatic and softly floral, with herbal, clean, slightly sweet and sometimes powdery sides. Some lavender notes feel light, airy and calming, while...

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Fresh lemons, curled lemon peel and green leaves on a pale lilac-grey background
Fragrance note

Lemon

Lemon in perfume usually smells bright, fresh and sharply citrusy, with a clean, zesty character that often suggests freshly cut peel. It may also have green, lightly floral...

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Fresh mandarins, curled peel and glossy green leaves on a light pale mint background
Fragrance note

Mandarin

Mandarin in perfume usually smells sweet, juicy and zesty, with soft fruity, floral and slightly green sides. It is generally rounder and less sharp than lemon, making it...

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Ambrette seed pods and white flowers representing soft musk notes
Fragrance note

Musk

Musk in perfume can smell soft, warm, clean and slightly powdery, often with a smooth quality that is compared with fresh skin or clean fabric. Some musk notes...

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Fresh sweet oranges, a sliced orange and curled peel with glossy green leaves on a pale blue-grey background
Fragrance note

Orange

Orange in perfume usually smells juicy, sweet and zesty, with the fresh character of newly peeled fruit. It is softer and sweeter than lemon, while usually feeling less...

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Fresh rosemary stems with green leaves and pale blue flowers on a powder rose background
Fragrance note

Rosemary

Rosemary in perfume usually smells fresh, herbal and aromatic, with camphoraceous, minty, pine-like and lightly woody sides. It has a clean and stimulating character that can feel cool,...

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Cedarwood, sandalwood and pale natural wood pieces on a light mist grey background
Fragrance note

Woody Notes

Woody notes in perfume can smell dry, warm, earthy, smoky, creamy or resinous. They do not describe one single ingredient because different woods and woody materials have very...

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Luxaro Perfumes With Neroli as a Top Note

These fragrances introduce Neroli near the opening of the scent.

Luxaro Perfumes With Neroli as a Heart Note

These fragrances reveal Neroli through the central body of the scent.

Related Fragrance Notes

Fresh bergamot oranges with glossy green leaves
Fragrance note

Bergamot

Bergamot in perfume smells fresh, bright and citrusy, with a soft floral character and a slightly bitter green edge. It is less sharp than lemon and often feels...

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White bitter orange blossoms, glossy green leaves and flower buds on a pale peach background
Fragrance note

Orange Blossom

Orange blossom in perfume usually smells rich, white floral and softly sweet, with citrusy, honeyed, green and slightly creamy sides. It can feel bright and fresh in one...

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Bitter orange twigs with green leaves, unripe fruit and white blossoms on an apricot-grey background
Fragrance note

Petitgrain

Petitgrain in perfume usually smells green, citrusy and aromatic, with leafy, woody, floral and slightly bitter sides. It is less juicy than orange peel and greener than neroli....

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