Orange Flower Water Absolute

#### Orange Flower Water Absolute. During the production of neroli oil by water distillation of flowers from the bitter orange tree (see monograph on **Neroli Oil), **significant amounts of essential oil dissolve in the distillation waters, or form a suspension in this water. It is generally estimated that about 25% of the distillable essential oil in the flowers remains dissolved or dispersed in the distillation waters, while about *75%** *of the distillable oil separates as **Neroli**** ****Oil.**** **More correctly, the total oil in the flower is "extracted" with water during the distillation, the most water-soluble components going into solution while the less water-soluble components will preferably remain in the separated neroli oil. The chemical composition of the "total" or "original oil in the flowers is thus changed significantly. It should be noted at this point that not only is the yield of absolute by extraction of orange flowers smaller than the yield of essential oil by distillation, but the chemical compositions of the re products are distinctly different. A satisfactory explanation of these facts has not yet been published, and the author regrets that he, too. s unable to answer this question at the pre moment. It is understandable that the essential oil contains small amounts of terpenes which inevitably are formed during the slightly acid distillation (in water) of the flowers, containing linalool, linalyl acetate and other esters which are easily hydrolized. The linalool may undergo a molecular rearrangement, and materials are formed which were not present in the flower. Bu this does not explain the higher yield by distillation, or the tremendous difference in odor type of the two materials, a difference which is evade to any perfumer. This latter fact, however. s partly explained in the above description of the distillation during which significant amounts of oil dissolve in the water and are not included the final neroli oil. As we shall see in the following description of the odor type of the "water oil", a mixture of the neroli oil and the "water oil" would have at least some notes in common with the odor of orange flower absolute. The distillation water from neroli oil is extracted with petroleum ether as soon as possible after separation of the neroli oil. The petroleum ether extract is evaporated under gentle vacuum, and the orange flower water "absolute" remains as a residue. Knowing about the chemical composition of neroli oil and orange flower absolute, one can predict the main constituents of the "water oil" to a certain extent. Alcohols are more easily soluble in water than are their esters, and hydrocarbons are poorly soluble, etc. Thus, we will find terpineol, linalool, geraniol, phenylethyl alcohol in higher concentration in the water oil than in the neroli oil. Methyl anthranilate is somewhat soluble in water, and forms an important part of the water oil. Terpenes are practically absent in the water oil, while we find—at least odorwise— significant amounts of eugenol, jasmone, phenylacetonitrile and other powerful odorants. **Orange Flower Water Absolute **is a yellowish to orange-yellow or pale brownish yellow colored oil which discolors significantly on ageing; it has a peculiar dry-floral, musty-herbaceous odor, reminiscent of mandarin leaf oil, petitgrain oil, and, faintly, of orange flower absolute. Being the odorous principle of orange flower water, formerly a very popular household and cosmetic article, the water absolute is occasionally used to prepare "reconstituted orange flower water" or concentrated flavor essences with the flavor of orange flower water. But the water oil has found increasing use in perfumery where its popular notes offer to the perfumer a valuable tool in the creation of neroli bases, jasmin bases, ylang-ylang compounds, etc. and also in the reproduction of certain essential oils. It finds furthermore use in modern colognes, "powder" type perfumes, aldehydic fantasy fragrances, etc. The **Orange Flower Water Absolute **is available in very limited quantities only, but production has been steadily increasing since orange flower water is no longer a very popular article and actually is a surplus product in the south of France, Tunisia, Italy, and wherever large quantities of neroli oil are produced. See also **Neroli Oil **and **Orange Flower **and **Petitgrain Water**** ****Absolute.** See **Ylang-Ylang**** ****Absolute**** **for comparison (extraction product + distillation product are mixed together).