Fragrant, sunny foreign word - "orange blossom". What is orange blossom? What is hidden behind this unusual name? And hiding behind it, in the literal translation from French, is “the flower of an orange tree”, otherwise an orange, or bigaradia.
It turns out that in everyday use this overseas word has several more meanings.
• What is orange blossom in the East? This is orange water. Once a very popular liquid, known to all readers of Russian classical literature. There are several ways to obtain this floral water, which has a pleasant citrus aroma. The easiest way: pour the crushed petals of a bitter orange flower with clean water and let it brew, then add fresh flowers and repeat the procedure. In industrial production, orange blossom is a secondary product of the processing of alcohol from bigarady flowers. It is actively used in the East as an indispensable ingredient in the preparation of dressings for salads, sauces, sweets and drinks. For example, in Morocco, this aromatic liquid is added to black coffee. It is known that orange water promotes good digestion and helps regulate the level of sebum secretion. We have orange water can be found in shops of oriental spices and eco-goods stores.
• What is orange blossom for a wealthy European of the beginning of the 18th century? This is part of the festive dress of the bride. The bride’s head ornament in the form of a wreath of orange flowers or individual inflorescences woven into a festive hairstyle have gained great popularity from the beginning of the 18th century among wealthy citizens. Also, the bride's hair was covered with wreaths and tiaras made of artificial wax or fabric flowers, surprisingly accurately imitating a real orange blossom. The bride’s bouquet, boutonnieres for the groom and guests were also made of orange flowers. He was a symbol of virginity, youth, fidelity and a happy marriage.
The origin of orange blossom
An exquisite snow-white bud with a wonderful aroma blooms every spring on the evergreen orange tree of the Rutov family, the genus Citrus. The aroma of an orange flower resembles the smell of jasmine with light honey notes. Its homeland is the Himalayas, but only the cultivated form of the plant, which is grown in the tropical zone of our planet and in the warm European climate, is currently known.
What is orange blossom in the world of citrus? There is an assumption that a bitter orange is a hybrid of pomelo and mandarin. Its fruit has a
bright orange color and a sour taste with a slight bitterness.
The modern use of orange blossom
The flowers of bigaradia contain essential oil - neroli. An expensive but very popular aromatic substance with a pleasant sensual aroma. Its unique properties actively influence the mental and physical state of a person. It has a relaxing and antidepressant effect. It is a strong aphrodisiac that enhances the love affection of both sexes. For external use, orange blossom is recommended for people with sensitive skin, due to its mild effect.
The use of orange blossom in perfumery
Orange blossom is used in a variety of perfumery products: traditional and solid perfumes, eau de toilette, colognes, deodorants. In the form of essential oil or flower water, orange blossom is often included in the composition of oriental perfumes, shading spicy oriental notes. The multifaceted orange blossom in perfume perfectly emphasizes fruit accents and emphasizes floral shades of aroma.