A sweet, delicate and captivating flowerIf there is a plant that symbolises the south and the sun, it has to be the bitter orange tree, also known as the Seville orange. Its white flowers, which are larger than those of the sweet orange tree, bloom in the Mediterranean region in the spring.

Enchantment all the way to the bathroomAfter the success of Damana Terre et Soleil, Groupe GM President Laurent Marchand continued his reflection and his quest for natural and authentic amenity products. He sets his sights on orange blossom, this icon of the Mediterranean, when the fashion of the moment was all about verbena, green tea and mint.

He followed his nose and innovated by introducing the very first line of amenity products with natural and soothing extracts of orange blossom for hotel bathrooms. Inspired by the story and character of the Italian princess of Nerola, who popularised the scent in the 17th century, he named it Damana Neroli.

The delicate fragrance of orange blossom they exude is a true invitation to travel through time and across continents. Without leaving the bathroom, we can retrace the history of this tree whose orange fruit, deep green leaves and immaculate white flowers are nourished by the heat of the Mediterranean sun.

Damana Neroli, an invitation to travelThe Damana Neroli line, with natural and soothing extracts of orange blossom, consists of a plant soap (15 and 30 g), an exfoliating plant soap (50 g) and bath salts (55 g). The line of bottles consists of Cleansing Gel, Hair & Body Gel, Conditioning Shampoo, Conditioner, and Moisturising Body Lotion (40 ml).

Damana NéroliOrange blossom in all its splendour

They exude a sophisticated fragrance that is so heady that is has become renowned across the continents and the centuries. The origin of the bitter orange lies in China and East India. From ancient times, the Romans offered garlands of bitter orange flowers to newly weds, their whiteness and purity symbolising virginity.

It is named in Arabic texts from the 15th century and its cultivation continued to expand across the Middle East, the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily and southern France. In 17th-century France, its scent filled the king’s entire court, captivating Marie de Médicis and her son Louis XIV.

A tribute to Princess Nerola

It is said that in 1680, Marie-Anne de La Trémoille, daughter of the Duke of Noirmoutier, who became princess of the Italian town of Nerola on her second marriage, loved orange blossom. She filled her bath with it to perfume her body. She used an astronomical amount to scent her dresses and gloves.

A plant with a thousand virtues

We are also invited to reap all the bene-fits of this generous plant. Its flower has soothing and sedative properties used to ease sleep disorders. Contained in Damana Neroli Cleansing Gel and Damana Neroli Hair & Body Gel, natural orange blossom extracts soothe, refresh and tone the skin. They also bring their hydrating and softening properties to Damana Neroli Moisturising Body Lotion and Plant Soaps. Its high flavonoid content, with restorative properties, makes orange blossom an ideal antioxidant and anti-wrinkle ingredient.

How can we not be enchanted by the Damana Neroli line with its natural orange blossom extracts? Marie-Anne de la Tremoille, Princess of Nerola, who reigned in the royal courts of Italy, Spain and France, would certainly have adopted it.

The princess was accustomed to receiving high society in her home. Her passion for this warm, rich fragrance with fresh aromas and spicy and sweet notes, was so infectious that she launched the fashion that spread through the whole of Rome. So much so that her name was given to the neroli essence that is extracted from it.