Bergamot - the fragrant fruit
One of the most popular scents used in perfumery and
aromatherapy, the bergamot fruit is a versatile member of the citrus family that
has been cultivated for centuries. This small, sour fruit contains a fragrant
scent and flavor that appears in many forms including Earl Grey tea, marmalade,
soaps, aromatherapy oils, bath and body products and perfume to name a few.
Bergamot oil also is revered for its medicinal properties, and can be used to
treat depression and anxiety.
The Origins of Bergamot
Named after the town of Bergamo (found in northern Italy), it
is rumored that the Bergamot tree was first brought over to Europe after
Christopher Columbus discovered it in the Canary Islands. It was originally
grown in Africa and Southeast Asia and further cultivated in Calabria, Italy. To
this day, the majority of bergamot oil is produced in the Calabria province of
Italy, however production also occurs in Argentina, America, Greece and Brazil.
The oils produced in these regions are substandard compared to the Italian
produced oil, as the soil conditions needed for high quality bergamot fruits are
only found in the Ionic coastal region of Italy.
The Harvesting Process
Bergamot fruits are ready for harvesting in the winter months
(November- February). By this time, the fruit is fully grown but not ripe.
Manual harvesting is the most common method used, but ‘tree shakers’ are still
employed on occasion. The fruits are stored in a shady area and then immediately
delivered to the factory for extraction.
Bergamot Oil Extraction
Bergamot oil is extracted using the cold-pressed expression
method. This is a common method that is used for extracting oils from the peels
of citrus fruits such as the bergamot orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit and
tangerine.
Here is how cold-pressed expression works:
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The fruits are passed over a specially designed trough that
contains sharp spikes which are used to open the ‘pockets’ in the peel of the
fruit that contains the fragrant oil.
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The whole fruit is then pressed, allowing the juice from
the pulp and the essential oil to be released.
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The oil forms a layer on top of the juice, which is then
extracted by centrifugation.
Some manufacturers in Italy also use the Pelatrice process,
where the rinds of the fruits are penetrated to release the essential oil under
a water sprayer. The oil is then separated from the water using centrifugation,
and the leftover peel is then made into a lower-quality distilled essence.
Some uses for bergamot essential oil:
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Perfume
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Tobacco and tea flavorings
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Skin treatments - acne, eczema, wounds
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Infection treatments - cold sores, herpes, mouth ulcers
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Aromatherapy - to treat depression, anxiety, digestive
problems, chronic fatigue and stress
Popular bergamot products:
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Blu Mediterraneo perfume by Acqua di Parma
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Amber Pour Homme by Prad
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Provence Santé Bath Salts
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Bliss Vanilla Bergamot Body Butter
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The Body Shop Bergamot Body Spritzer
Did you know...?
bergamot is found in a third of all women's perfumes and half of all men's
colognes. |
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