Orientational order parameters can be effectively and economically defined using spherical tensors. However, their definition in terms of Cartesian tensors can sometimes provide a clearer physical intuition. We show that it is possible to build a fully Cartesian theory of the orientational order parameters which is consistent with the traditional spherical tensor approach. The key idea is to build a generalised multi-pole expansion of the orientational probability distribution function in terms of outer products of rotation matrices. Furthermore, we show that the Saupe ordering super-matrix, as found, for example, in the text by de Gennes and Prost [The Physics of Liquid Crystals, 2nd ed. (Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 1995)] and which is used to define the Cartesian second-rank orientational order parameters, is not consistent with its spherical tensor counterpart. We then propose a symmetric version of the Saupe super-matrix which is fully consistent with the spherical tensor definition. The proposed definition is important for a correct description of liquid crystal materials composed of low symmetry molecules. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3589961]