We tested the most popular brands of orange blossom water to see which was the best for cooking and baking. Keep reading to see our recommendations for the best orange blossom water brand.
Update: The Spice House no longer makes and sells orange blossom water unfortunately!
You can purchase all these brands online - they include the Spice House's Orange Blossom Water, Cortas' Orange Blossom Water, and Nielsen-Massey's Orange Blossom Water.
Links on this post might be affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What is Orange Blossom Water?
Orange blossom water is a flower water (like rose water) that's made from the blossoms on orange trees. It's a wonderfully floral, citrus flavor to add to baked goods, salads, and drinks.
The key to using any flower water is to not overdo it. Orange blossom water adds a lovely flavor to a dish, but it is deceptively strong.
Orange blossom water can be used in baking - like in this olive oil cake with orange blossom glaze, or in cooking like in this spicy Thai grapefruit salad recipe.
The Best Orange Blossom Water to Buy
We purchased the three most popular orange blossom waters to see which one was the best! We reviewed them based on four criteria: smell, use in cooking, use in baking, and price.
- The Best Smelling Orange Blossom Water - Cortas (winner). While all the orange blossoms smell great, they are very different. The Cortas water is highly floral, and the Nielsen-Massey water is citrusy but slightly acidic smelling.
- The Best Orange Blossom Water for Baking - Neilsen-Massey's Orange Blossom Water (winner). We thought the NM blossom water offered just the right amount of flavor without overpowering baked goods.
- The Best Priced Orange Blossom Water - Cortas Orange Blossom Water (winner). At the time of publishing, Cortas Rose Water is by far the cheapest.
Conclusion
I can highly recommend both Neilsen-Massey and Cortas orange blossom water. I found that a little of the Cortas water went a long way. So if you plan to use it, just keep that in mind!
If you're looking for bang for your buck or baking a large number of items, we'd suggest buying the Cortas water. If you're a home cook looking for the occasional splash of flower water, I'd recommend Nielsen-Massey's.
Laura says
I followed your link to purchase The Spice House orange blossom water, and it seems they no longer carry it, which is sad.
EW says
Oh no! I will go to the store this week and check with them to see if they are out for now or if they've fully stopped carrying it.
Michelle says
I bought a bottle of orange blossom water today at my local Harvest Market. I thought I was buying flavored water. I took a big swig of the water and thought I was going to die!! It tasted like soap water!! I cannot get this taste out of my mouth. I had no idea what I was buying. I saw there were no carbs in this drink and thought how refreshing it would be. UGH!
EW says
Oh no! It is so concentrated that must have been horrifying - like drinking vanilla extract! Sorry you had this experience, but I hope you find a nice way to use it in some baked goods or a recipe!
Jill says
Would it be possible to substitute therapeutic grade orange essential oil for the orange blossom water?
Harper says
No. Please don't eat/drink essential oils! But also, it'd be quite different - think "orange peel" vs "flowers".
Donald Weissman says
I plan to make Lebanese Rice Pudding. It calls for Orange Blossom water. Which brand would be best for this dish?
Donald Weissman