In short
Nerolina oil is distilled from the leaves of an Australian chemotype of Melaleuca quinquenervia rich in nerolidol and linalool. It is fresh and diffusive, with a citrus-floral, neroli-like back note.
What Nerolina Oil smells like
CSIRO describes nerolina as the chemotype of Melaleuca quinquenervia composed of E-nerolidol (60–95%) and linalool (trace to 40%). Eden Botanicals, which sells it from Australia, describes a fresh, diffusive, cineolic aroma with a citrus-floral, neroli-like back note; Essentially Australia gives an earthy, fresh, near-fruity aroma with a hint of lilac.
- Leading note
- Fresh floral
- Clear facets
- Neroli
- Supporting facets
- Citrus, cineolic
- Faint facets
- Lilac
- Character
- Fresh, diffusive
What makes Nerolina Oil distinctive
A melaleuca that smells of flowers rather than of eucalyptus.
Where the descriptions disagree: Eden Botanicals calls the aroma cineolic, while CSIRO describes the chemotype as nerolidol and linalool rather than cineole.
How Nerolina Oil is used
Used for a fresh, floral-aromatic top note, near neroli and petitgrain, in citrus, cologne and fresh floral accords.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Nerolina Oil differs from similar materials
- Niaouli Oil
- Niaouli oil is the cineole-rich chemotype of the same tree, camphoraceous and medicinal; nerolina is the nerolidol–linalool chemotype, fresh and citrus-floral.
Each difference compares the published descriptions of the two materials. Smell varies with grade, supplier and dilution; compare them side by side on blotters before substituting one for another.
Formulation considerations
The same species as niaouli oil, of a different chemotype: it shares niaouli's CAS number (8014-68-4), so none is given here. The chemotype can vary with the time of harvest.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Essential oil
- Origin
- Natural
- Odour family
- Aromatic / Floral
- Note position
- Top to heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- Nerolina essential oil
- Botanical source
- Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake, nerolidol–linalool chemotype
No CAS number is shown: suppliers use different identifiers for this material, and none could be confirmed as its own.
Safety and compliance
This page is general information, not a safety assessment or a specification. Confirm identity, composition, IFRA status and allergen content from your supplier's documents for the lot you hold.
Materials it works with
-
Neroli Oil
Essential oil · Floral / Citrus — floral, citrus, orange blossom, honeyed
-
Petitgrain Bigarade Oil
Essential oil · Citrus / Floral — green, citrus, floral, bitter
-
Linalool
Aroma chemical · Floral / Citrus — floral, fresh, woody, citrus
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 3 published formulas
Nerolina Oil is an ingredient in 2 perfume formulas and 1 base in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Nerolina Oil
Is Nerolina Oil natural or synthetic?
Nerolina Oil is natural. It is a volatile oil obtained from plant material by steam distillation or, for citrus peels, by cold expression.
Which published formulas use Nerolina Oil?
Nerolina Oil is used in 3 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library: Neroli Bigarade Base, Neroli Compass and Orange Blossom Chalk. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- Eden Botanicals — Nerolina — distributor's description.
- CSIRO — Melaleuca quinquenervia — published perfumery reference.
- Essentially Australia — Nerolina Essential Oil — distributor's description.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 25 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.