Ingredient

Orange Flower Absolute

Citrus aurantium amara

Orange flower absolute has an intensely floral aroma with fresh green notes and is one of the most popular essential oils used in perfumery. It refreshes and mattifies the skin while calming and uplifting the mood.

The bitter orange tree (Citrus aurantium amara) is an evergreen member of the Rutaceae plant family. Many parts of the tree are used for perfuming and culinary purposes: the fruits flavour food and drinks, the flowers are distilled to produce neroli oil and orange flower absolute and, finally, petitgrain oil is obtained from the leaves and twigs of the tree.

Where does Lush source orange flower absolute?

The producers of neroli and orange flower absolute, who have been supplying Lush since 2005, are based in the north of Tunisia. The business is run by three siblings, whose father started many years ago. Bitter orange trees are grown without pesticides, benefiting from the Mediterranean climate. Each April, predominantly female workers harvest the blossoms by hand, earning more from the flowers than from other crops. The flowers are processed into absolute through hexane extraction and purification, supporting local economies and preserving a longstanding tradition.