ABSTRACT
Bergamot essential oil is widely used in the cosmetics industry for perfumes and suntanning lotions; in the pharmaceutical industry as avoring, cicatrizing, and antiseptic; and in the confectionery industry as aromatizing for liqueurs, teas, sweets, and candied fruits. To ensure the quality and goodness of an essential oil, it is necessary that the product be free of any contaminants and residues within the limits set by importing countries. The term “contaminant” refers to all the classes of substances that do not belong to the natural composition of the essential oil. A contaminant may be voluntary (if it is deliberately added, as it could be in the case of a preservative or stabilizer) or involuntary (if it is inadvertently added, as in the case of a pesticide).
