I should also add that Caswell-Massey's version of a bergamot
cologne--"Number 6"--was used by George Washington, and given by him as a
gift to the Marquis de Lafayette. They have the receipts to prove it.
Beyond that, my in the 1970s I recall buying a gift set from 4711 for a
Christmas present for my wife; it contained a bottle of Cologne and a jar of
bergamot marmalade. I combined that with some Earl Grey tea, and I remember
putting on the card, "have a bergamesque Christmas." Ellen thought it was
very witty at the time. The marmalade was quite bitter, I recall, and
thick, though not any thicker and not any more bitter than English Seville
orange marmalade. I learned later that "bergamot" is not related to the
Italian place-name "Bergamo", nor is it related to the herb also called
bergamot. The bitter orange is properly pronounced berg-a-maht, and not
berg-a-moh. Apparently, the word "bergamot" is derived from the Turkish
"beg armodi". There are people who do eat bergamots, apparently with great
relish. The Italian firm called more or less "Bova Essences" has been
selling the bergamot oil to perfumers and others for years, and now they
seem to be making a liqueur, which I have not had. The Turks and other
folks from the Balkans have been making bergamot marmalade it seems. You may
find it in groceries in the United States that carry Bulgarian or Turkish
preserves, It is usually labeled something like "bitter green orange
marmalade." It is as the label says, and I assure you, an acquired taste.
Salmonella
"Mike Petro" > wrote in message
...
>I use the essential oil in soap making as well. Bergamot, Sandalwood,
> and Eucalyptus have developed into my most used oils as well as some
> Lavender for the Ladies. I have dabbled in making cologne but I have
> never been satisfied with how long my scents lasted through the day.
>
> Mike
>
>
> On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 18:25:47 -0600, "Salmonella"
> > cast caution to the wind and posted:
>
>>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.?
>>>
>>
>
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