For skin
Honey attracts and holds water: the CosIng database lists emollient, humectant and moisturizing functions for it. In a clay mask or a gentle cleanser, it moisturizes and softens the skin, which stays comfortable after rinsing.
Animal-derived ingredientMoroccan heritage
Orange blossom honey
The orange tree in bloom white flowers, rich in nectar.
The bee it gathers nectar, flower after flower.
The honeycomb the nectar ripens into honey in the wax cells.
The golden pour a light honey with an orange blossom aroma.
INCI · MELBuild my orange blossom honey range
- INCI name
- MEL
- Other names
- Orange flower honey, citrus honey, honey
- Family
- Animal-derived ingredient (hive product)
- Origin
- Nectar of orange blossoms (Citrus), gathered by bees; in Morocco, orange blossom honeys are produced notably in the Béni Mellal province
- Part used
- Honey
- Areas of use
- Face, body, hair, bath
In brief
Orange blossom honey in 30 seconds
By the Carmel Cosmetics Labs R&D team · updated October 18, 2026
- INCI nameMEL (honey)
- What it isa floral honey made from the nectar of orange blossoms
- For skina humectant that helps hold water and softens, in a mask or scrub
- For hairin a shampoo or mask, it helps keep lengths supple
- Originorange tree nectar, turned into honey by bees
( A )WHAT IT IS
What is orange blossom honey?
Orange blossom honey is a floral honey that bees produce from the nectar of orange blossoms (Citrus). Pale yellow, it keeps a fresh orange blossom aroma. Like any honey, it is mostly made of sugars, mainly fructose and glucose. In cosmetics, it is declared under the INCI name MEL: the European CosIng database lists emollient, humectant and moisturizing functions for it. It appears in masks, scrubs, bath oils and shampoos.
Orange blossom honey, multifloral honey or orange blossom water: the difference
Orange blossom honey
A honey that comes entirely or mainly from orange blossom nectar, with the taste, color and pollens that prove it. It is declared as MEL in the INCI list.
Multifloral honey
A honey from mixed nectars, with no dominant floral source. It is also declared as MEL, but it cannot carry the name of a flower.
Orange blossom water
A hydrosol, obtained by distilling orange blossoms. It is not a hive product: it scents and freshens the formula, without the humectant role of honey.
( B )ITS BENEFITS01 02 03
Orange blossom honey for skin and hair: benefits
For hair
In a shampoo or hair mask, its humectant role helps keep lengths supple and easy to detangle. It pairs well with argan oil, which nourishes the fiber.
For the formula
It brings a soft texture, an amber color and a story that is simple to tell. In a scrub, it binds the grains and makes the massage more pleasant.
How do you use orange blossom honey?
- Face
As a mask, apply an even layer on clean skin, avoiding the eye area. Leave it on for a few minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water.
- Body
Bath oil is poured into warm water, and shower oil emulsifies on contact with water. The scrub is massaged onto damp skin, then rinsed off.
- Hair
Shampoo is lathered on a wet scalp, then rinsed. The mask is applied to towel-dried lengths, before a thorough rinse.
( C )IN OUR PRODUCTS
Launch your orange blossom honey range
We add it to face masks, bath and shower oils, scrubs and shampoos ready to carry your brand. Pick a category to see the formulas.
( D )FORMULATOR NOTES
How we use it
What our formulators take into account when orange blossom honey goes into your product.
Often paired with
- 01The right INCI name
The INCI list shows MEL, with no floral origin. The “orange blossom honey” mention is reserved for a honey whose supplier documents the floral origin with its certificate of analysis.
- 02Batch traceability
Quality varies from one honey to another: monitoring studies of Moroccan honeys have found residues in some batches. We require a certificate of analysis for every batch (residues, heavy metals).
- 03Preservation
Pure honey protects itself through its high sugar concentration; diluted in a water-based formula, it no longer does. The complete formula therefore receives a validated preservative system and is made with reverse osmosis water.
- 04Color and claims
We add it at a moderate temperature to preserve its light shade and aroma. Your claims stay cosmetic: moisture, softness, comfort, with no therapeutic promise.
Did you know?
What makes a true orange blossom honey
- Floral origin
Under the international Codex Alimentarius standard, a honey can carry the name of a flower only if it comes entirely or mainly from that source, with the matching properties.
- Fructose and glucose
For blossom honey, the Codex sets at least 60 g of fructose and glucose per 100 g, and at most 20% water.
- Methyl anthranilate
This aromatic molecule is one of the chemical markers of citrus honeys, along with hesperidin, a flavonoid typical of Citrus.
Orange blossom honey and honey for the face: your questions
A project with this ingredient?Our product specialist answers you on WhatsApp.Message us on WhatsApp
What are the benefits of honey for the face?
Honey is a humectant: it attracts water and helps skin hold it. The European CosIng database lists emollient, humectant and moisturizing functions for it. In a mask or a gentle cleanser, it leaves skin soft and comfortable, and softens clay masks, which can feel tight.
How do you make a honey mask?
With a formulated mask, apply an even layer on clean skin, leave it on for a few minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water. In a homemade version, pure honey is sticky and runny; it is often mixed with a clay such as kaolin or rhassoul (ghassoul). Avoid the eye area and patch test on a small area first.
What is orange blossom honey?
It is a honey produced from the nectar of orange blossoms. To carry this name, it must come entirely or mainly from that source, according to the Codex Alimentarius standard. It is pale yellow, with a fresh orange blossom aroma, and contains markers specific to citrus, such as methyl anthranilate.
What is the INCI name of honey?
Honey is declared as MEL in the INCI list. The European CosIng database lists emollient, humectant and moisturizing functions for it. The floral origin does not appear in this name: the “orange blossom honey” mention goes in the product name or description, provided the supplier documents it.
Is honey good for hair?
In a shampoo or hair mask, honey plays its humectant role: it helps keep lengths supple and easier to detangle. It is often paired with argan oil, which nourishes the fiber. In a finished product, it is dosed so it does not weigh hair down or feel sticky.
Does honey feel sticky in a cosmetic?
Not if it is well formulated. Honey dissolves in water: in a mask, cleanser or shampoo, it spreads through the formula and rinses off easily. Our formulators adjust its role to the texture wanted, pairing it with clays, oils or gels.
Can you create an orange blossom honey range with Carmel Cosmetics Labs?
Yes. We add it to white label face and body masks, bath and shower oils, scrubs, cleansers and shampoos, or to an exclusive private label formula, made in our ISO 22716 factory in Morocco. The consultation is free and comes with no commitment.
Sources
- European Commission, CosIng database: MEL (honey)
- FAO/WHO, Codex Alimentarius, Standard for Honey CXS 12-1981
- Kurek-Górecka A. et al., Bee Products in Dermatology and Skin Care, Molecules 25(3):556 (2020)
- Kasiotis K.M. et al., Fingerprinting Chemical Markers in the Mediterranean Orange Blossom Honey, Molecules 28(9):3967 (2023)
- Massous A. et al., Monitoring Moroccan Honeys: Physicochemical Properties and Contamination Pattern, Foods 12(5):969 (2023)
Your orange blossom honey range, made in Morocco
Send your brief: we formulate and manufacture in our ISO 22716 factory in Aït Melloul. Free consultation and formula selection, no commitment.