ACQUIZHEN

Sweet Orange – Citrus aurantium var dulcis

Sweet Orange (Citrus aurantium var dulcis) originates from Southeast Asia and its German name ‘Apfelsine’ and Dutch name ‘Sinaasappel’ reflect this in their description of the fruit as Chinese apple. The synonymous scientific binomial name ‘Citrus sinensis’ also alludes to Chinese origin. Citrus trees readily hybridise and the Sweet Orange tree is a result of a cross between two other citrus trees; possibly the Pomelo and the Tangerine.

Orange is the English name which is derived from Sanskrit and began to be used to describe the fruit in 14th Century around the time that the Sweet Orange was introduced to England by traders. The naming of the fruit led to the replacement of the Old English word geoluhread, directly translated as yellow red, with the Modern English word of orange as the name for the familiar colour.

Orange trees are small evergreens with sweetly scented waxy white flowers. The fruit has an acidic pH and plant itself grows best in acidic soil. They are not tolerant of cold temperatures. The first orangery in England was built in 16th Century and demonstrated the difference between the Northern European climate and that of the Sweet Orange’s place of origin, demand for fruit undamaged by travel and the status of the wealthy orangery owner. Orangeries are built with south facing windows to maximise afternoon sunlight while brick walls on the northern side protect the plants from wind and cold, as well as radiating heat absorbed in the day through the cooler night. Tall wide doors allow trees in pots to be carried out of the orangery for the summer. Thus by visiting an orangery you get a sense of both the nature of the tree and the warmer climate it originates from.

The Sweet Orange tree yields three different kinds of essential oil which have different properties. The blossom is used to produce Neroli oil while the leaves, twigs and unripe fruits produce Petitgrain. Sweet Orange essential oil is that expressed from the fruit rind by pressing. The rind is so rich in this oil that when you peel an orange you release a fine mist of the oily liquid that carries the characteristic smell of the fruit. The oil is volatile and completely evaporates which makes the fragrance powerful.

The main component of Sweet Orange essential oil is limonene which has cleaning properties. ACQUIZHEN incorporates Sweet Orange in the Freshening Cleanser and the Sunrise Soap for contribution it makes to the cleansing process and for the fresh sweet smell balanced by a note of bitterness which gives the products a pleasant and revitalising aroma.