Petitgrain is distilled from the leaves, twigs, and occasionally from the undeveloped fruits of the mandarin tree. It has an intensely sweet, rich, deep-fruity, grapelike floral scent, with a plum-grape-like fruity undertone.

After the flowers are picked and distilled the tree is trimmed and this oil is distilled from the leaves and the twigs. It can also be acquired from lemon, lime, clemintine, and mandarine trees. It's used in many foods, especially candy, alcoholic and soft drinks.

Petitgrain is one of the classical ingredients of eau-de-cologne (traditionally with lavender, lemon, rosemary and bergamot.) I've often had people smell it from the bottle and they did not like it yet used modestly with Roman chamomile, bergamot, clary sage, labdanum, oakmoss and jasmine it can add the perfect sweet floral note. It's in most citrus blends and fougeres.