In short
Orange flower absolute is solvent-extracted from bitter orange blossoms, giving a warmer and more animalic picture of the flower than neroli, which is distilled from the same blossoms.
What Orange Flower Absolute smells like
Orange-flower absolute, solvent-extracted from bitter-orange flowers, is deep, rich and sultry: darker, waxier and profoundly honeyed, with an indolic, narcotic depth that grows after a few hours. Perfumers describe it as more richly indolic and longer-lasting than neroli, and as lacking neroli's fresh citrus top.
- Leading note
- Honeyed, indolic orange blossom
- Clear facets
- Indolic
- Supporting facets
- Waxy
- Faint facets
- Animalic
- Character
- Rich, heady, warm, lasting
What makes Orange Flower Absolute distinctive
The heavy, narcotic face of orange blossom — honey and indole where neroli is fresh citrus.
How Orange Flower Absolute is used
Used for depth and sweetness in the heart and base of white-floral and oriental compositions.
Typical role: backbone (used in large proportions as a structural material of an accord).
How Orange Flower Absolute differs from similar materials
- Neroli Oil
- Neroli is thinner, sharper and more citrus; the absolute is deeper, honeyed, indolic and longer-lasting. (compared directly by a cited source)
- Aurantiol
- Aurantiol is a softer, less indolic honeyed orange blossom; the absolute is richer and more animalic. (compared directly by a cited source)
An asterisk marks a difference that a cited source states directly. The others compare the published descriptions of each material. Smell varies with grade, supplier and dilution; compare them side by side on blotters before substituting one for another.
Formulation considerations
Contains methyl anthranilate and indole, which can discolour with aldehydes and over time.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Absolute
- Origin
- Natural
- Odour family
- Floral / Animalic
- Note position
- Heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Liquid
- Also known as
- Neroli absolute
- Botanical source
- Citrus aurantium L.
- CAS number
- 8030-28-2
The CAS number was checked on 19 October 2026 against a PubChem substance record that gives it for this material. A natural material is a mixture, so it has no single formula; its composition varies with origin and processing.
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
-
Methyl Anthranilate
Aroma chemical · Floral / Fruity — orange blossom, grape, sweet, floral
-
Petitgrain Bigarade Oil
Essential oil · Citrus / Floral — green, citrus, floral, bitter
-
Jasmine Absolute (Grandiflorum)
Absolute · Floral / Animalic — jasmine, floral, indolic, fruity
-
Indole
Aroma chemical · Animalic / Floral — animalic, indolic, floral, narcotic
Orange Flower Absolute is also suggested as a partner on the pages for Bitter Orange Oil (Expressed), Jasmine Sambac Absolute, Mandarin Oil, Petitgrain Absolute and Tuberose Absolute.
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 16 published formulas
Orange Flower Absolute is an ingredient in 13 perfume formulas, 2 accords and 1 base in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Orange Flower Absolute
Is Orange Flower Absolute natural or synthetic?
Orange Flower Absolute is natural. It is a concentrated extract obtained from plant material with a solvent, then washed with ethanol to remove the waxes.
What is the CAS number of Orange Flower Absolute?
8030-28-2, the registry number for the absolute as a substance rather than a single molecule. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Orange Flower Absolute?
Orange Flower Absolute is used in 16 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Beeswax Throne, Champagne Static and Eau de Cologne Base. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — substance 135320124, checked 19 October 2026.
- Basenotes — orange blossom versus neroli (forum) — published perfumery reference.
- Marc-Antoine Barrois — The sensory art of orange blossom perfume — published perfumery reference.
- Premiere Peau — Orange blossom — published perfumery reference.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 20 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.