Orange, or Sweet Orange is believed to be of ancient origin and perhaps a hybrid between pomelo and mandarin which were believed to be first cultivated in Southeast Asia. This evergreen ("leaves in all seasons") flowering tree produces a hesperidium ("modified fruit with tough, leathery rind"), a type of berry ("fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary") and is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world. The orange first mention appears in writings of Arabs, but, their first introduction in Europe remains uncertain. The seeds have since been spread around the world as oranges are currently grown in many different countries. The word “orange” derived from the Arabic naranj and arrived in English as “narange” in the 14th century, gradually losing the initial “n”. Orange was first used as the name for a color in 1542 so orange as a fruit came first before the color. They ended up giving the name “orange” because it is a subtropical and not tropical fruit and the color of an orange depends on where it grows.
There are many different kinds of oranges that all have many uses. In perfumery, the Bitter Orange, which produces Petitgrain oil, Neroli oil and Bergamot oil from the different parts of the tree, is very different from the Orange or Sweet Orange. The Sweet Orange blossoms oil is commercially known as "Neroli petalae". This oil is less fragrant than its counterpart from the Bitter Orange flower. The Sweet Orange oil is known as Oil of Portugal and Oil of Bigarade would be the Bitter Orange oil. Orange essential oil has a fresh, sweet, citrus smell and being citrus oil itself, it blends well with other citrus essential oils. It also mixes well with essential oils of Cinnamon, Cloves, Frankincense, Ginger, Black Pepper, Sandal Wood and Vetiver. Orange essential oil in medicinal use is attributed to its anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant and other properties. It is also great for wood care and furniture and for cleaning grease and dirt.