Oxygenated terpenes, monoterpenes and nitrogen-containing
compounds together constituted 90% or more of the total blossom
volatile composition for all 15 cultivars. Oxygenated terpenes were
the predominant volatiles in pummelo and sour orange blossoms.
In contrast, monoterpenes dominated the headspace of lemons–
limes, Volkamer lemons, Kaffir limes, mandarins, grapefruits and
sweet oranges. Sour orange blossoms exhibited the largest relative
amounts of esters and ketones perhaps explaining their value as
perfume ingredients. Additional differences among the minor components
in each chemical class further distinguished these blossoms
from each other.