method from the green twigs of bitter orange plant. This oil is available in yellow to brownish yellow color and in clear liquid form. It is popular for its sweet floral clary stemmy odor. Petitgrain essential oil (Citrus aurantium var amara) is very much similar to neroli essential oil; as they are obtained from the bitter orange tree. Petitgrain is used in perfumery industry since the 18th century and is a classic ingredient of the eau-de-cologne fragrance.

The bitter orange tree is one of the most generous plants as far as its oil yield is concerned. It provides three different types of oils, each as wonderful as the next: Neroli, derives from its flowers, bitter orange oil is pressed from the peel of the fruit, and Petitgrain derives from the twigs and leaves. In the old days, Petitgrain oil also included some small, unripe fruit, hence the name 'Petitgrain', which is French for 'little seed'. However, this reduced the fruit harvest and so the producers eliminated the fruit part of Petitgrain oil, but kept the name. Petitgrain oil is in fact the least fruity of the Orange scents. Its aroma is deeper and more woody. It is one of the classic ingredients of 'Eau-de-Cologne' and used to only be used for perfumery and cosmetics. Aromatherapy has popularized it and it is now included in massage and bath oils and other skin care products for its refreshing and toning properties.