Almond, Bitter EO

Prunus armeniaca L.

(11)

Bitter Almond essential oil has the sweet, nutty, intense aroma of almonds reminiscent of marzipan and almond extract, with strong notes of cherry. The oil has been rectified to remove the naturally occurring, toxic prussic acid.

Size

Selected size SKU:59-016 - Almond, Bitter 15 ml (1/2 oz) (w/ orifice reducer)

Sample 1 ml (1/30 oz)
$3.00
Out of stock
5 ml (1/6 oz)
$25.25
Out of stock
with orifice reducer
15 ml (1/2 oz)
$58.00
Out of stock
with orifice reducer
30 ml (1 oz)
$101.00
Out of stock
59.14 ml (2 oz)
$179.25
Out of stock
118.29 ml (4 oz)
$319.00
Out of stock
236.58 ml (8 oz)
$574.00
Out of stock
Details
Solubility & Blending Suggestions
Suggested Resources
Safety Considerations
Certificates of Analysis (COA)
Documentation

Product Overview

Bitter Almond essential oil has the sweet, nutty, intense aroma of almonds reminiscent of marzipan and almond extract, with strong notes of cherry. The oil has been rectified to remove the naturally occurring, toxic prussic acid.

Our Bitter Almond essential oil is a delightful addition to any perfumer’s aromatic palette. Unlike its cousin the Sweet Almond and the extract of almonds, Bitter Almonds naturally contain traces of prussic acid (also known as hydrogen cyanide) making them ultimately lethal to ingest and a good thing to avoid. Our Bitter Almond essential oil is steam distilled from crushed and pressed apricot kernels (it can also be extracted from the kernels of cherries, plums and peaches[1]), then rectified to remove the toxic prussic acid. However, this oil is still NOT SUITABLE FOR INGESTION in any way and must be used with caution as it can cause severe skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Benzaldehyde, the primary constituent in Bitter Almond essential oil, has a long history of commercial use in fragrances. One of the classic gourmand aromas, Bitter Almond oil smells like marzipan (almond paste) heaven – rich, intense and very food-like. It lends a sweet, nutty, cherry-like top note to natural perfumes, and a seductive and alluring nuance to men’s colognes.[2] 

1 Arctander, Steffen.  Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, p. 51.

2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF_KCTYkoPg 

4.8

11 Reviews

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Customer Reviews

yes...marzipan!

Rating

I ordered a small sample to test. The oil is very bright and light and would serve well as a top note. Its profile is very cherry very marzipan and it does smell very edible. There is a tail end of something nutty but also a bit harsh on my skin. It reminds me of a comet or shooting star. Impressive and a delight, but no depth or lasting ability. It winks out on my skin in minutes. A skilled blender could make interesting use of this I imagine.

Review by Cheryl 8/1/2014

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