Of all the essential oils out there, the refreshing, citrus-sharp yet floral-sweet aroma of Orange Blossom, more commonly known as Neroli (Latin: Citrus Aurantium) is my favourite. It is made from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree and derives its name from Anne Marie Orsini, a 17th century Princess of Nerola, Italy, who made it popular when she used it to perfume her gloves and her bath.
Neroli has been used in aromatherapy for decades to reduce stress and promote wellbeing. Indeed, the positive benefits of Neroli have been the subject of recent academic research. In 2014, researchers from Korea University’s School of Nursing, studied sixty three postmenopausal women who had inhaled 01% - 0.5% neroli for 5 minutes twice daily for 5 days. Their research found that: “inhalation of neroli oil helps relieve menopausal symptoms, increase sexual desire, and reduce blood pressure in postmenopausal women”.
Some of the symptoms relieved were “vasomotor symptoms”, more commonly known as hot flushes. The women in the trial had reduced cortisol and stress levels and expressed a ‘significant increase in sexual desire’. This could be directly attributed to the aroma of Neroli or the fact that Neroli reduced stress and therefore relaxed the women to the point where their thoughts turned to love. Either way - it worked!
The reduced blood pressure was to do with the “diastolic blood pressure”, which is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. A reduction in pressure means that the heart has more time to fill with blood and get oxygen round to the rest of the body.
A more recent study (2019) by the University of Medical Sciences in Iran found that inhaling the aroma of Neroli could “significantly improve the sleep quality of postmenopausal women” after only four weeks of inhalation. Disturbed sleep is often a real problem for women at all stages of menopause, resulting in ‘brain fog’, anxiety and general poor wellbeing.
So, now that you know the good news about the health benefits of Neroli, how can Southside Soaps help you to enjoy this beautiful scent in one of our natural and effective products?
We are working hard now on introducing a number of Neroli based products and have recently launched our Orange Blossom Deodorant Balm, with 2% Neroli essential oil.
How do deodorant balms work? With your body’s own natural processes! They absorb sweat and reduce odour, leaving you feeling clean and fresh for up to 24 hours. The butters, oils and minerals produce an anti-microbial, protective film which traps in moisture, but does not prevent your body’s natural cooling processes. Ingredients such as Vitamin E, Shea Butter and Calamine (Zinc Oxide) are anti-inflammatory, moisturising and formulated for sensitive skin.
Our balms are not only a deodorant. The combination of Calamine, Beeswax, Coconut and Sweet Almond oils are also excellent for reducing 'skin on skin' friction, which can be a problem for damp/perspiring skin.
Available in our online shop with a 10% discount until 31st January 2025.
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