Ingredient

Orange Flower Water

Citrus aurantium amara

With a delicate floral scent that uplifts the mood, orange flower water gently tones and rejuvenates the skin. It is also thought to have mild antimicrobial qualities that help keep the skin clear.

There are many different ways to obtain orange flower water, with the oldest technique being simply to make an infusion with buds. It is also a synonym for ‘hydrosol’, a byproduct of neroli oil production. At Lush, we proceed differently. Orange flower absolute is dispersed in water with the help of a few other materials - all declared in the product’s ingredient list. This way, we make sure that the skin gets the most properties, as absolutes are the most concentrated extracts made from flowers. It also preserves longer than infusions.

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 is made from the flowers of the bitter orange tree (Citrus aurantium amara),  an evergreen member of the Rutaceae plant family. Many materials are derived from this tree: the fruits flavour food and drinks, the flowers provide neroli oil and orange flower absolute, and even the leaves and twigs can be distilled to obtain petitgrain oil.

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 decades ago.