If you answered flowers such as roses or jasmine, sniff again. The very first eau de toilette was created in the 16th century with sun-drenched Mediterranean orange leaves as its base. Yes, it all started with a fruit.
L’Occitane continues the tradition, using orange tree leaves blended with the aromas of mandarin, mint, jasmine and cedar to create its Orange Eau de Toilette, a light and breezy spray that energizes and refreshes the spirit. It is a modern and refined scent, one that you would associate with the young. (Scents that are too strong are dubbed "matronic," take note).
Olivier Baussan, the handsome man behind L’Occitane en Provence, clarifies that Provence is more suited to aromatic plants, hence orange flowers are now harvested for the perfume industry mainly on the other side of the Mediterranean, in Egypt and in Tuscany. No wonder when we visited Provence three summers ago, its beautiful landscape was painted mostly with lavender blooms.
L’Occitane uses the Neroli orange flower for its orange line. Its scent is so delicate and feminine, it was named after a famous Italian aristocratic beauty of the 16th century called the Princess of Nerola. "It takes over 2,000 pounds of the blossom to produce just 35 ounces of essential oil," explains Baussan. "The fragile flowers are gathered by hand very early in the morning, before the sun’s heat affects their freshness. They are distilled on the very same day to preserve their full fragrance."
Baussan says it was the fragrance derived from the Neroli orange that sustained the reputation of the Grasse region for many years. "This precious and refreshing orange flower scent has been used thousand of years on the eastern side of the Mediterranean to wash the hands of honored guests before meals in a timeless ritual of welcome and respect."
In the Philippines where L’Occitane is distributed by Rustan’s Essenses, the die-hard followers of L’Occitane know that this company uses natural ingredients to produce not only floral and fruity scents, but beauty and skincare products as well.