Fragrance Note
Blood Orange
Used in 60+ fragrances on FragranVerse
What it smells like
Blood orange is a natural mutation of the sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), distinguished by its deep red flesh colored by anthocyanins. A class of water-soluble pigments common in berries and grapes but rare in citrus. The main cultivars. Tarocco (Italy), Sanguinello (Spain), and Moro (Sicily). Developed in the Mediterranean. The essential oil, cold-pressed from the peel, is dominated by limonene with trace compounds giving it a raspberry-berry sweetness.
How it's used in perfumery
Blood orange is a top note providing richer, darker citrus brightness than sweet orange. The cold-pressed oil from Citrus sinensis (blood orange cultivars) contains approximately 96% limonene, but trace compounds. Beta-damascenone, linalool, and various esters. Give it a particular raspberry-berry overlay. This dual citrus-berry character allows blood orange to bridge citrus top notes and fruity-berry accords.
Fun fact
Blood oranges owe their red color to anthocyanins. The same pigments found in blueberries, red wine, and purple cabbage.