This even gave birth to the phrase ‘to gather orange blossoms’ which actually meant ‘to seek a wife.’ Legends had spread around the continent of maidens entwining fresh orange blossoms into a bridal wreath for their hair. By the time the orange blossom reached England, the world was already enthralled by its scent. Only the mild and fragrant orange blossom scent soothed him every other scent was too overpowering. King Louis XIV, who had been passionate about perfumes from a very young age, suffered from severe headaches. Quickly becoming fashionable, this scent spread throughout the French Court. In Rome, the orange blossom essence gained much popularity because of a nobleman’s wife, who would wear this essence everywhere. Three centuries later, this fragrant plant made its way to Sicily and then Provence, introduced by the Crusaders. The craze for this flower is reported to have spread throughout the Islamic empire, and it reached Spain in the ninth century. Mythology states the orange tree symbolizes paradise and love, its white flowers are purity, and its fruit is fertility.

Today, it is found all over the Mediterranean Sea, from Italy to Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia. The white flower of the bitter orange tree - cousin to the sweet orange and lemon trees - is a native of India and China but has grown in sun-drenched lands for centuries.

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