Bitter orange leaf/twig oil (petitgrain)
Bitter orange leaf/twig oil, also known as petitgrain, is a fresh, green-scented essential oil steam-distilled from the leaves and twigs of the bitter orange tree. It is widely used in UK skincare and fragrance products for its balancing, clarifying aroma and gentle skin-soothing properties. shoppers often find it in natural facial mists, cleansers and perfumes.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare petitgrain essential oil acts as a fragrant, volatile component that delivers a clean herbaceous scent while helping to balance sebum production and impart a toning effect on the skin. Its light astringent character makes it a popular choice in toners, cleansers and mattifying formulations where it contributes to a fresh, refined finish without stripping the skin.
Key benefits
- Delivers a fresh, green fragrance to skincare and fragrance products
- Helps balance oily and combination skin
- Provides a gentle toning and refining effect
- Soothes and calms the appearance of skin
- Works as a natural deodorising ingredient in body care
- Adds a herbaceous note in hair and scalp formulations
Best for
oily skin, combination skin, acne-prone skin, normal skin
Where it comes from
Petitgrain oil is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves and young twigs of the bitter orange tree (Citrus aurantium). It is a citrus-derived botanical ingredient native to regions including Spain, Italy and Paraguay.
Products with Bitter orange leaf/twig oil (petitgrain)
Not every product on UK Lips lists a full ingredient breakdown — so there may be many more formulas that contain Bitter orange leaf/twig oil (petitgrain) than we can show here. These are the comparisons where we’ve confirmed it in the listed ingredients.