Bergamot oil
Bergamot oil is cold-pressed from the peel of the bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia, listed in US regulations as Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia), grown mainly in Calabria in southern Italy. It is the characteristic flavor of Earl Grey tea and a staple of perfumery. Because whole oil contains bergapten and other furocoumarins, a furocoumarin-free (FCF) grade, made by distillation or other treatment, is sold for products applied to skin.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Whole expressed oil with the full bergamot profile, used in tea and food flavors.
Oil treated to remove bergapten and related furocoumarins, mainly for cosmetics and fragrance.
Fractionated oil with adjusted linalyl acetate and terpene content.
Certified organic bergamot oil from a small number of producers.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Citrus peel oils oxidize quickly once opened, so store them cool (often refrigerated), dark and in full containers, and nitrogen-flush partly used drums. Cold-pressed oils can drop a waxy sediment in the cold, which is normal and can be decanted or filtered. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, commonly shorter for cold-pressed than for folded or terpeneless oils, and aged stock should be retested for peroxide value and odor.
Bergamot supply is concentrated in one region, and linalyl acetate and linalool vary by harvest. Record grade (whole or FCF), bergapten result and GC profile per lot, and keep FCF and whole oil clearly separated in the warehouse.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 182.20 lists bergamot (bergamot orange, Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia) among essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free) and natural extractives that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for their intended use.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists bergamot oil (CAS 8007-75-8) with the technical effect flavoring agent or adjuvant, citing 21 CFR 182.20.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Manufacturer · Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom
UK-based maker of natural extracts and flavor ingredients for beverage, flavor and fragrance companies, including citrus essential oils, brewed coffee extracts, tea extracts and aroma chemicals.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include cold-pressed, fCF (furocoumarin-free), rectified or terpeneless and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect gC profile, physical constants, bergapten, appearance and odor and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Citrus peel oils oxidize quickly once opened, so store them cool (often refrigerated), dark and in full containers, and nitrogen-flush partly used drums. Cold-pressed oils can drop a waxy sediment in the cold, which is normal and can be decanted or filtered. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, commonly shorter for cold-pressed than for folded or terpeneless oils, and aged stock should be retested for peroxide value and odor.
21 CFR 182.20 lists bergamot (bergamot orange, Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia) among essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free) and natural extractives that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for their intended use. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists bergamot oil (CAS 8007-75-8) with the technical effect flavoring agent or adjuvant, citing 21 CFR 182.20.
Request a free listing for the ingredients you make or distribute. No paid placement.