ABSTRACT
Petitgrain oils are obtained by steam distillation of the leaves, buds and small branches of the different citrus species.
Due to its odour 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. Bitter orange petitgrain oils produced in the Mediterranean areas present better odour properties if compared with those produced in Paraguay, usually obtained from an hybrid named ‘Apepu-Jhai’ (Di Giacomo, 1974; Huet, 1991).
