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Solubility & Blending Suggestions
  • Dilute well and add drop by drop to your blends until the desired effect is achieved.
  • Soluble in fixed (carrier) oils and alcohol.
  • Bitter Almond essential oil blends well "with anisic-balsamic types of odor, for example in lilac and other sweet florals."* This oil has no fixative value because it is highly volatile** thus the aroma fades very quickly, but the addition of vanillin [as found in Vanilla Absolute and Vanilla CO2] "may greatly improve the tenacity and stability of the oil."***

    • *Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, p. 53.

    **Ibid.

    ***Ibid.

    Suggested Resources
    Safety Considerations
    Certificates of Analysis (COA)
    Documentation

    Almond, Bitter EO

    Prunus armeniaca L.

    (12)

    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
    5 ml (1/6 oz)
    $25.25
    with orifice reducer
    15 ml (1/2 oz)
    $58.00
    with orifice reducer
    30 ml (1 oz)
    $101.00
    59.14 ml (2 oz)
    $179.25
    118.29 ml (4 oz)
    $319.00
    236.58 ml (8 oz)
    $574.00
    Out of stock
    $58.00
    Inquire About Bulk Pricing
    Details
    Botanical NamePrunus armeniaca L.
    Suggested UsePerfumery, Soapmaking, Candle Crafting
    INCI NamePrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
    CAS Number90320-35-7
    OriginMorocco
    Extraction MethodHydrodistilled
    CultivationConventional
    Plant Partkernels.
    Notetop, middle.
    Aroma Familygourmand, powdery.
    Aroma ProfileSweet, nutty, intense aroma of almonds reminiscent of marzipan and almond extract, with strong notes of cherry.
    AppearanceColorless, transparent, mobile liquid.
    Shipping Restriction9 – Misc. Hazard

    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 

    Blends Well With

    Balsam of Peru Oil EO

    Aroma Family: Balsamic, Resinous.

    Butter CO2

    Aroma Family: Gourmand.

    Cocoa Family

    Aroma Family: Gourmand.

    Coffee Bean Family

    Aroma Family: Gourmand, Balsamic.

    Jasmine Family

    Aroma Family: Floral.

    Osmanthus Absolute

    Aroma Family: Floral, Fruity.

    Patchouli Family

    Aroma Family: Earthy.

    Sandalwood Family

    Aroma Family: Woody.

    Tonka Bean Family

    Aroma Family: Gourmand.

    Vanilla Family

    Aroma Family: Gourmand, Balsamic.

    Ylang Ylang Family

    Aroma Family: Floral.

    Amyris EO

    Aroma Family: Woody.

    4.8

    12 Reviews

    83.3%
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    Customer Reviews

    Perfect

    Rating

    A little goes a long way with this one, but I absolutely love it for natural perfumery. Used in the right percentage, it is lovely for creating synthetic fragrance free gourmands. I hope it's back in stock soon!

    Review by Tara Rose 3/7/2025

    mascarino cherry!

    Rating

    Out of the bottle, i get hit with mascarino cherry! super sweet, super nutty, super volatile, almond goodness!

    Review by blake 1/27/2024

    True Almond smell

    Rating

    One of the most volatile oils I have ever experienced....The smell seems to be gone in 10 minutes if applied neat to the skin....But those 10 minutes are pure almond love....I love mixing this with cacao, labdanum and nutmeg to create a delectable chocolate amber accord.....its a great tippy top note to play with...but beware...It does not take much to be potent in a blend...

    Review by Aroma Alchemist 3/31/2018

    Yummy!

    Rating

    I added some (a little too much, possibly: the entire sample vial) to a batch of coffee eye creme (12 oz organic ground coffee infused for a month in 20 oz sunflower oil, then strained & coffee oil whipped with 8 oz shea butter). I was striving for a scent evocative of coffee & rich pastry. I don't know if that's what I achieved, but it sure smells yummy.

    Review by Rosalie Stafford 2/3/2018

    Cherry goodness

    Rating

    If you like the smell of marischino cherries in a super concentrated form, this is the oil for you. Works wonders for gourmand blends, but use with caution. Very strong stuff and one or two drops too many will easily overpower your blend.

    Review by Justin 10/18/2017

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