ABSTRACT
Petitgrain oils are obtained by steam distillation of the leaves, buds, and small branches of the different citrus species.
Due to its odor properties, bitter orange petitgrain is the most important and the most appreciated among these oils. It is produced mainly in the Mediterranean countries and in Paraguay. The oils produced in the Mediterranean area present better odor properties if compared with those produced in Paraguay, which are usually obtained from an hybrid named “Apepu-Jhai” (Di Giacomo, 1974; Huet, 1991).
