A fragrance needn’t slap you (or your fellow commuters) in the face. Yes, you want to turn heads, but you want to do it for the right reasons. On a date, the aim should be to make your dining companion lean in for a closer sniff, not leave them feeling like they’ve just huffed glue for an hour and a half.

That’s where notes such as neroli come in. Sitting at the opposite end of the spectrum to dark, oriental scents like oud and vetiver that hang thickly in the air, neroli fragrances are fresh – delicate, even.

The oils, extracted from bitter orange blossoms, were first used by Marie Orsini, princess of Nerola, Italy, during the 17th century to scent her gloves and bath water. The note became so popular in the area that others began calling it neroli after its home and founder.

Granted, silk gloves may be a step too far for a man in the modern world (and no one should bathe in a fragrance), but taking style tips from royalty is no bad thing. As a top note, neroli is incredibly versatile and, when deployed correctly, makes the ideal olfactory addition to your bathroom cabinet.

What Is Neroli?

Neroli is an essential oil extracted from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree, produced largely in two geographical regions: Tunisia and Morocco.

“It’s a real labour of love – the orange blossoms are often picked by hand in early spring,” says fragrance blogger Lee-Ann Hodgekins of The Perfume Expert. “It’s only then that the fragrant oil can be extracted by a process of steam distillation.”

Once distilled, neroli is multifaceted: crisp and citrusy, but with a heady floral side. Despite coming from the same plant, neroli is also typically fresher than its orange flower absolute counterpart, which tends to be sweeter.

“Neroli’s green and white floral facets present a […] refreshing odour profile that doesn’t feel heavy,” explains Thomas Dunckley, of the award-winning blog The Candy Perfume Boy. “But it’s also one that carries both complexity and depth.”