51 CITRUS AURANTIUM 



Official Parts and Names. The FLOWERS only are official in 

 the British Pharmacopoeia as follows : AQUA AURANTII FLORIS. 

 The distilled water of the flowers of the Bitter Orange tree, Citrus 

 Bigaradia, Risso ; and of the Sweet Orange tree, Citrus Auran- 

 tium, Risso. In the Pharmacopoeia of India, under the head of 

 CITRUS AURANTIUM, Linn., which is called the Sweet and Bitter 

 Orange tree, both the dried outer portion of the rind of the fruit 

 (Aurantii Cortex) and Flowers are mentioned, but the flowers of 

 the Sweet Orange are alone directed to be used in the prepara- 

 tions of that volume. 1. AURANTII FLORES. The flowers of Citrus 

 Aurantium and of Citrus vulgaris j 2. AURANTII DULCIS CORTEX. 

 The rind of the fruit of Citrus Aurantium (U. S. P.). 



1. AURANTII FLORES. Orange Flowers. Orange flowers are 

 white when fresh, but become yellowish on being dried. They 

 have a fragrant odour which is most powerful in the fresh v 

 flowers. 



Production of Orange Flower Water. By distilling the fresh 

 flowers with water in ' the ordinary way, Orange Flower Water 

 passes over, together with a volatile oil called Oil of Neroli, which 

 floats on the surface. When the oil is removed we have the 

 Aqua Naphfs or Orange Flower Water of commerce. This is 

 commonly prepared in the South of France at Grasse, Cannes, 

 and Nice ; it is, however, generally distilled from the flowers of 

 the bitter orange, which are regarded as yielding the most 

 fragrant product. 



General Characters and Composition of Orange Flower Water. 

 Orange flower water is nearly colourless, or with a slight greenish- 

 yellow tint. It has a very fragrant odour and a bitter taste. 

 From being distilled or kept in copper or lead vessels it some- 

 times contains metallic impurity; hence the test of the British 

 Pharmacopoeia : " Not coloured by sulphuretted hydrogen." 

 Orange flower water also frequently contains some of the distilled 

 water of orange leaves, for these, like orange flowers, yield by 

 distillation a water and a volatile oil called Essence de Petit Grain. 

 The perfume of these are, however, far less sweet than the similar 

 products of the flowers. 



