Black pepper is one of the most important products in the history of the global spice trade.

Black pepper oil is steam distilled from the dried, crushed, not quite ripe fruits of the pepper vine, Piper Nigrum. The plant originated in southern India and Indonesian islands and was cultivated more than 2,000 years ago. There are variations in flavor and aroma by origin with earthier scents in essential oils distilled from Indian peppercorns and more resinous scents from Madagascar. Rectified oils with reduced terpene levels are produced for perfumery to increase solubility in ethanol and stability.

Black pepper is used widely in perfumery. Arctander writes, “The oil gives interesting effects with eugenol and isoeugenol, e.g. in carnation and rose bases, in Oriental fragrances, or in modern, dry-aldehydic bases, ambres, etc. The effect in a rose base is particularly interesting. Although Phellandrene is one of the main constituents of the oil, it seems impossible to obtain a similar effect with pure phellandrene (isolated from other essential oils) or with substitutes for black pepper oil.” With restrictions on rose oil due to its methyl eugenol and eugenol content and separately restrictions on eugenol and isoeugenol, black pepper essential oil has become an even more important component of realistic rose and carnation bases.

Black Pepper Aromatic Properties and Chemical Composition

Citrus: In the typical analysis listed on TGSC, limonene accounts for almost one quarter of the total components of the essential oil. Limonene is a volatile compound, lasting 4 hours on paper. It provides a citrus, herbal, terpenic aroma found in high levels in citrus essential oils and in pine oil, among others.

Woody, Spicy: Sabinene, a monoterpene of medium strength and low substantivity, accounts for a great deal of the woody, spicy, peppery aroma. Alpha-terpinene, a tenth of the components in this analysis, extends the woody terpenic note into a citrus territory.

Herbal, Piney, Fresh, Resinous: Alpha- and beta-pinene account for almost one quarter of the oil, supporting the woody, spicy notes with the fresh green pine and herbal.