Sweet, waxy-floral, and green-citrus. Tangerine blossom smells like orange blossom's lighter, more citrusy sibling — less narcotic, more transparent, with the tangerine's specific sweetness woven into its petals.
Sweet, waxy-floral, and green-citrus. Less narcotic and intense than orange blossom/neroli. More specifically mandarin-sweet due to methyl anthranilate content. The waxy quality is characteristic of all citrus blossoms — a smooth, slightly oily florality.
Compared to neroli, tangerine blossom is lighter and less complex. Compared to lemon blossom, it is sweeter and less tart. It occupies a gentle, accessible position in the citrus-floral spectrum.
Evolution over time
Immediately
Immediately
Sweet, waxy-floral with green-citrus brightness
After a few hours
After a few hours
Softer, rounder — mandarin sweetness, less green
After a few days
After a few days
Faint, clean, sweet-floral trace — gentle and transparent
Terroir & Origins
Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.
The Full Story
Tangerine blossom is the flower of Citrus reticulata (mandarin/tangerine). Like all citrus blossoms, it is fragrant and produces an essential oil related to but distinct from neroli (from bitter orange blossom). Tangerine blossom is lighter, sweeter, and less indolic than its bitter orange counterpart.
The aromatic profile includes linalool (floral), methyl anthranilate (grape-like, sweet, characteristic of mandarin), limonene (citrusy), and geraniol (rosy). The methyl anthranilate content is the key differentiator — this molecule, which gives mandarin peel its particular sweet-fruity character, is also present in the blossom, linking the flower and fruit scents.
In perfumery, tangerine blossom provides a lighter, more citrusy alternative to orange blossom — useful when neroli's intensity is too much and petitgrain's greenness is too herbal.
Methyl anthranilate, the molecule that links tangerine blossom to tangerine peel, is also the primary flavor compound in Concord grape and grape-flavored candy. This molecular connection explains why mandarin and grape share a surprising aromatic affinity that perfumers can exploit in fruity-floral compositions.
Extraction & Chemistry
Extraction method: Steam distillation or solvent extraction of Citrus reticulata flowers. Production is very limited compared to neroli (from bitter orange blossom), as mandarin cultivation prioritizes fruit harvest. The oil composition is similar to neroli but with higher methyl anthranilate and lower indole content. Not a standard commercial product at perfumery scale.
N/A — natural blossom, no single-compound CAS (see petitgrain tangerine: 68917-33-9)
Botanical Name
Citrus reticulata
IFRA Status
No known restrictions
Synonyms
Citrus blossom, Mandarin blossom
Physical Properties
Odor Strength
Medium
Appearance
Colorless to pale yellow liquid
In Perfumery
Tangerine blossom is a heart note providing sweet, light citrus-florality. It bridges citrus and floral territories more gently than neroli. The methyl anthranilate component links it to mandarin peel notes, allowing smooth transitions between top and heart. Useful in citrus-floral, spring, and light-feminine compositions. Less frequent than neroli but known for transparency.
