Native to China and Southeast Asia, citrus trees were first brought to Southern Europe by the Arabs around the first millennium AD. The oils extracted from their fruits, via distillation or cold-pressing, became a popular perfume ingredient, notably in the 18th century with the creation of Aqua Admirabilis and its successor, Eau de Cologne.
Also known as hesperidic, a reference to the Greek myth about the Hesperides (daughters of the God of Evening), citrus oils feature in many perfumes, usually as uplifting head notes. With similar chemical compositions, most citrus oils blend harmoniously together and pair well with many other ingredients including white flowers, vetiver, spices, patchouli, musk and woody notes.