Bergamot Oil
Item#: 507825 CAS: 8007-75-8 FEMA: 2153
Odor Strength: Medium
Odor Description: citrus, woody, orange peel, green, spicy, linalyl acetate
Taste Description: Bergamot
If you have ever enjoyed a cup of Earl Grey tea, you are familiar with the unique flavor and aroma of Bergamot Oil. Bergamot is found in more than just tea cabinets though; the ingredient is a key note in many perfumes and is a favorite among luxury fragrance houses. Bergamot’s citrusy spice is essential to market favorites such as Bergamote 22 by Le Labo, By the Firelplace by Maison Margiela, and Bergamote Soleil by Atelier.
Bergamot Oil is a product of citrus bergamia, commonly known as bergamot oranges. Though the fruit is referred to as an orange, citrus bergamia bears more of a resemblance to a lime or lemon with its deep green or yellow hue and round shape. For use in the flavor and fragrance industry, bergamot is grown in picturesque Italy; in Sicily and Calabria. Harvesting the citrus is a labor of love, and usually done by hand between the months of November and January.
The process by which Bergamot Oil is extracted, is called “expression”. Expression, also know as cold pressing, involves using mechanical pressure to squeeze the natural oils out of the peels of ripe bergamot oranges. Cold pressing is commonly used when extracting oils from citrus fruits, because the essential oils they possess are housed in their peels.
Bergamot smells citrusy and woody, saccharine and spicy. Perfumers often use it to balance sugary tonka bean and vanilla formulations. The extract is versatile, and can also be paired with other citrus scents and lavender for more herbal, woodsy fragrances.
In the flavor industry, bergamot is most often used in to create Earl Grey tea, which is black tea flavored with bergamot extract. However, in recent years the use of bergamot oil has begun to extend past just tea. Similar to its use in perfumery, flavorists pair bergamot with lavender or citrus for use in sweets and beverages to create aromatic flavors that pack a punch.
Bergamot Essential Oil is rich in terpenes and antioxidants such as bergaptene, linalool, linalyl acetate, myrcene, and bisabolol. These compounds give the extract powerful aromatherapy virtues. Bergamot Oil can combat nausea and relieve stress, and even be used as a cleaning agent due to its antiseptic qualities.
Fun Fact: Bergamot Oranges take their name from the city they were first sold in: Bergamo, Italy.
If you are interested in seeing a sample or placing an order, please email Nicholas Bourne at nbourne@vigon.com or call 570-422-6026.