Neroli-flower

What Does Neroli Smell Like

Are you thinking about buying a Neroli perfume and wonder what it would smell like? We have the answer – and much more.

Neroli perfumes are quite popular now days.

If you are curious to know more about Neroli scents and what goes with it – here is all you need to know.

What does neroli smell like

Neroli, due to its mixed citrus and floral origin, has a scent which has a light sweetness that we attribute to flowers, paired with some of the punch that citrus brings to the table. Some might say that the sweetness is like a light honey. There is also a bit of ‘green’ in the note as well.

This complex scent profile is what makes it such a unique note to use in perfumes.

Citrus fruits and flowers are frequently used as top notes in perfumery. Considering that neroli combines these two in a sense, it is no surprise that it is also frequently utilized as a top note.

There’s no better way to know if you like a note than to actually smell it though. You can only get so much from reading about how it is.

What scents go well with neroli

Neroli is one way to add the beloved zest of citrus to any fragrance. Perfumes are complex and pairings that you’d have never imagined to work together may become your favorite fragrance. However, under regular circumstances, some notes are just known to go better with others.

When it comes to neroli, there are certain notes or scents that you see it commonly paired with, as well as notes that its scent profile will accentuate when paired with.

We’ve mentioned some of neroli’s best partners below:

  • Smoky notes: The reason neroli pairs well with these is because of how it acts as a great counterbalance for the weight and darkness of these notes. This includes notes such as benzoin, tobacco, frankincense, myrrh, and incense.
  • Florals: Neroli is from a flower itself and mixing it with other flowers is a great way to augment a floral fragrance. This is why it is no surprise to see neroli as one of the components in a fragrance with jasmine, tuberose, rose, and others.
  • Citrus notes: As much as neroli is from a flower, it is also from the citrus family. Because of this, it carries a light citrus zest with it. Fragrances typically stack citrus fruits in the top or middle notes, so there’s nothing wrong with adding neroli to the mix. Plus, it has the benefit of being more diverse than simply using grapefruit or orange because it has that sweet floral and honeyed flavor to it.
  • Spices and aromatics: Sportier fragrances tend to rely on a lot of citrus in the opening, and for sporty men colognes looking to be sexy, spices such as pepper and ginger are never left behind. Getting some of the characteristic scent of neroli into the formulation gives it a softer citrus opening while maintaining the zest that makes such a fragrance sporty. Don’t ignore the herbs such as rosemary, sage, and lavender!

Where does neroli come from

Neroli is a word that most people will never have heard before. Fragrance lovers are a different story though, but not all of them will actually know where it comes from.

Neroli is an oil which is gotten from the flowers of the bitter orange tree. Bitter orange itself is a note seen frequently in perfumes, and so is orange blossom, so it is not out of place to see the oil extracted from the blossom here as well!

 

Where is neroli found

You might be curious as to the part of the world that neroli can be found. Well, the plant from which it is derived, the bitter orange tree, is a tree native to Italy. It tends to be linked most to the country as a princess of Italy was perhaps the first person to turn it into a fashion statement by using it as perfume.

However, neroli is not only gotten from Italy. It can also be found in France. However, when it comes to the top producers of neroli, you should be looking at North African countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco.

 

What are popular neroli fragrances

In order to get a whiff of neroli in person, you might want to know some of the best fragrances that have a strong neroli element.

Here are some of the best neroli fragrances to take a look at:

  • Tom Ford Néroli Portofino
  • Creed Neroli Sauvage
  • Diptyque L’Eau de Neroli
  • Jo Malone Basil & Neroli
  • Hermes Eau de Néroli Doré