GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Bitter Orange, Red
Citrus aurantium var. amara
Chemotype: limonene-rich red-ripeness bitter orange type
- PLANT PART
- citrus rind (peel)
- EXTRACTION
- cold pressed / expressed
- AROMA NOTE
- top
LEARN AS YOU COMPARE
What’s inside this oil?
Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.
Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.
FOLLOW YOUR SENSES
Aroma & character
A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.
- Aroma intensity
- 50 / 100
- Note layer
- top
If you like this scent, explore
A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY
Using it thoughtfully
Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.
- Cited dermal maximum · leave-on
- 1.25%
- Phototoxicity
- Phototoxic — use caution
- Maximum for sun-exposed skin
- 1.25%
- Oxidation risk
- high
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
Red bitter orange is still an expressed bitter orange peel oil, so the public IFRA bitter-orange phototoxic restriction applies when furocoumarin level is not otherwise established.
Contraindications & cautions
- moderateExpressed bitter orange peel oil should be kept at or below 1.25% in leave-on products on UV-exposed skin because of phototoxicity.
Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches
A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT
Inside the oil
An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.
About this composition
This profile is anchored to the 'red' cold-pressed bitter orange fruit oil analyzed by Dugo et al. The paper's Egyptian red-ripeness sample shows a very limonene-dominant peel oil with lower oxygenated minors than the Italian sample. Eden Botanicals was used to confirm that 'bitter red orange' refers to peel oil produced from fruit at the final red stage of ripeness.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limonene | 96.52% | 96.52–96.52% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceCharacterization of Oils from the Fruits, Leaves and Flowers of the Bitter Orange Tree https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232909013_Characterization_of_Oils_from_the_Fruits_Leaves_and_Flowers_of_the_Bitter_Orange_Tree (Table II sample 2 red bitter orange limonene 96.52%) |
| Myrcene | 1.56% | 1.56–1.56% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceCharacterization of Oils from the Fruits, Leaves and Flowers of the Bitter Orange Tree https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232909013_Characterization_of_Oils_from_the_Fruits_Leaves_and_Flowers_of_the_Bitter_Orange_Tree (Table II sample 2 red bitter orange myrcene 1.56%) |
| alpha-Pinene | 0.34% | 0.34–0.34% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceCharacterization of Oils from the Fruits, Leaves and Flowers of the Bitter Orange Tree https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232909013_Characterization_of_Oils_from_the_Fruits_Leaves_and_Flowers_of_the_Bitter_Orange_Tree (Table II sample 2 red bitter orange alpha-pinene 0.34%) |
| beta-Pinene | 0.1% | 0.1–0.1% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceCharacterization of Oils from the Fruits, Leaves and Flowers of the Bitter Orange Tree https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232909013_Characterization_of_Oils_from_the_Fruits_Leaves_and_Flowers_of_the_Bitter_Orange_Tree (Table II sample 2 red bitter orange beta-pinene 0.10%) |
| Sabinene | 0.09% | 0.09–0.09% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceCharacterization of Oils from the Fruits, Leaves and Flowers of the Bitter Orange Tree https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232909013_Characterization_of_Oils_from_the_Fruits_Leaves_and_Flowers_of_the_Bitter_Orange_Tree (Table II sample 2 red bitter orange sabinene 0.09%) |
| Decanal | 0.09% | 0.09–0.09% | aliphatic aldehyde | View sourceCharacterization of Oils from the Fruits, Leaves and Flowers of the Bitter Orange Tree https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232909013_Characterization_of_Oils_from_the_Fruits_Leaves_and_Flowers_of_the_Bitter_Orange_Tree (Table II sample 2 red bitter orange decanal 0.09%) |
| Linalyl acetate | 0.08% | 0.08–0.08% | monoterpene ester | View sourceCharacterization of Oils from the Fruits, Leaves and Flowers of the Bitter Orange Tree https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232909013_Characterization_of_Oils_from_the_Fruits_Leaves_and_Flowers_of_the_Bitter_Orange_Tree (Table II sample 2 red bitter orange linalyl acetate 0.08%) |
| Linalool | 0.06% | 0.06–0.06% | monoterpene alcohol | View sourceCharacterization of Oils from the Fruits, Leaves and Flowers of the Bitter Orange Tree https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232909013_Characterization_of_Oils_from_the_Fruits_Leaves_and_Flowers_of_the_Bitter_Orange_Tree (Table II sample 2 red bitter orange linalool 0.06%) |
| Geranial | 0.03% | 0.03–0.03% | aliphatic aldehyde | View sourceCharacterization of Oils from the Fruits, Leaves and Flowers of the Bitter Orange Tree https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232909013_Characterization_of_Oils_from_the_Fruits_Leaves_and_Flowers_of_the_Bitter_Orange_Tree (Table II sample 2 red bitter orange geranial 0.03%) |
| Neral | 0.01% | 0.01–0.01% | aliphatic aldehyde | View sourceCharacterization of Oils from the Fruits, Leaves and Flowers of the Bitter Orange Tree https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232909013_Characterization_of_Oils_from_the_Fruits_Leaves_and_Flowers_of_the_Bitter_Orange_Tree (Table II sample 2 red bitter orange neral 0.01%) |
Profile source: Characterization of Oils from the Fruits, Leaves and Flowers of the Bitter Orange Tree; Orange, Bitter Red - Organic EO; Bitter Orange Essential Oil: Benefits, Uses & Insights; Amendment 49 IFRA Standard Bitter orange peel oil expressed · https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232909013_Characterization_of_Oils_from_the_Fruits_Leaves_and_Flowers_of_the_Bitter_Orange_Tree ; https://www.edenbotanicals.com/orange-bitter-red-organic.html ; https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/bitter-orange-essential-oil.php ; https://d3t14p1xronwr0.cloudfront.net/docs/standards/IFRA_STD_088.pdf
A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY
Traditional & reported uses
These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.
- traditionally used in aromatherapy for uplifting, mood-brightening citrus effects
- reported to support relaxation and ease occasional tension
- used in perfumery as a rich, tangy-sweet citrus top note
- traditionally associated with comforting, cheerful blends
- used in blends intended to promote calm alertness
For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.
What we're still learning · 2 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- No public source located in this pass gave directly measured volatility-rate or tenacity-hour values for bitter orange red peel oil.
- Public red-bitter-orange sources located in this pass did not provide a directly published 0-100 odor intensity value; the archive's 50 score normalizes AromaWeb's generic bitter orange 'Medium' aroma strength.