Bergamot is perhaps the most common scent in perfumery, it has been said
that the majority of perfume blends contain at least some oil of bergamot.
The other truism is that when one considers the second most common scent
(sandalwood), the vast majority of perfume blends certainly contain one, the
other, or both. The classic cologne (that gave the name "eau de cologne"
or "kolnisch wasser" to watered-down perfume) is 4711, over 200 years old
and made in Cologne (actually Koln, with an umlaut or dieresis, in German).
4711 has been made at Glockengasse 4711 in Cologne since the 1700s by
Muelhens. It positively reeks of bergamot, and when I was growing up in a
French town in Louisiana in the 1950s, 4711 was much beloved of my various
maiden aunts. I remember thinking of it as a rather old fashioned cologne,
used by women and by men as well (as an after shave lotion. The blend of
bergamot and rosemary was not originated by Muelhens, however; there is
definitely an account of a similar product at the court of Marie de Medicis
under the name aqua hungarica {Hungarian water}, and much later Napoleon I
is said to have been exceedingly partial to bergamot cologne. Supposedly
Guerlain's Imperiale was made up by them for Napoleon III. Imperiale is
much more refined than 4711, and much more expensive. There are other
versions as well, by other manufacturers. Bourbon Orleans Perfumes in New
Orleans has been selling their version since 1840 as "Napoleon's secret
formulation from his own personal apothecary." This may or may nor be true.
You can buy some and make your own judgment.

Salmonella

"Tom Koeppl" > wrote in message
...
> earl grey tea has bergamot in it. what is it ? where does it come
> from.? why was it used?
> does it have other uses? history? a recent post stated that very hot
> water ruins the bergamot taste. Is this true.?
>