Piper nigrum L. · Family: Piperaceae · Steam-Distilled from Dried Unripe Berries
A 100% pure black pepper essential oil, steam-distilled from the dried unripe berries of Piper nigrum L. A colourless to bluish-green mobile liquid carrying the full aromatic top of the peppercorn — without its pungency — to FCC analytical parameters with GC identity. Natural flavouring status in the US and EU. CoA-backed supply from India for flavour houses, fragrance compounders, aromatherapy and personal-care brands.
Export Grade
Piper nigrum · Steam-DistilledThe aromatic soul of the world's most traded spice — volatiles without pungency
Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) has been the engine of the spice trade for over two millennia, and its berry carries two entirely different commercial identities. The pungency — the bite — comes from piperine, a non-volatile alkaloid. The aroma — the fresh, warm, woody-spicy top note that defines pepper to the nose — comes from a volatile terpene fraction. Steam distillation separates the two: the volatiles carry over with the steam, and the piperine stays behind.
Black Pepper Oil is therefore the aroma of pepper, isolated. It is a colourless to bluish-green mobile liquid with a characteristic black pepper aroma and a relatively mild taste — a fact that surprises first-time buyers and is precisely the point. Flavour and fragrance formulators use it to add authentic pepper character without heat; where heat is wanted, the companion material is the oleoresin, not the oil.
The oil is dominated by β-caryophyllene — a sesquiterpene with a warm, dry, woody-spicy profile — supported by monoterpenes including limonene, α- and β-pinene, sabinene and δ-3-carene. SV Botanica supplies the oil against FCC analytical parameters — optical rotation, refractive index and specific gravity — with identity confirmed by GC, so every drum is defined by measurable physical chemistry rather than by aroma opinion.
We supply flavour houses, fragrance and perfumery compounders, aromatherapy brands, personal-care manufacturers and food processors, with a batch-specific Technical Data Sheet and Certificate of Analysis on every shipment.
The volatile terpenes that define steam-distilled pepper
The signature sesquiterpene of black pepper oil — warm, dry, woody-spicy. Typically the single largest constituent and the backbone of the oil's character.
A bright citrus-fresh monoterpene that lifts the top of the aroma profile and contributes the oil's fresh opening note.
Piney, resinous monoterpenes that give the oil its crisp, green freshness and contribute to its characteristic GC fingerprint.
A peppery, woody monoterpene closely tied to the 'true pepper' character that separates genuine oil from reconstructed blends.
A sweet, resinous monoterpene whose presence and proportion are useful authenticity markers on the chromatogram.
Balsamic, rounding volatiles that complete the natural profile — nature's proportions are hard to counterfeit convincingly.
Why formulators specify steam-distilled black pepper oil — the functional role of the volatile fraction
Steam distillation carries over the aromatic terpenes and leaves the pungent piperine behind. The result is true-to-spice pepper character that can be dosed for aroma without pushing heat into the finished product.
Optical rotation (−1° to −23°), refractive index (1.479–1.488) and specific gravity (0.8640–0.8840) to FCC, with identity by GC — a specification built on measurable constants, not on subjective aroma assessment.
Classified as a natural flavouring under 21 CFR 101-22 in the United States and EC Regulation 1334/2008 in the EU, with FEMA number 2845 — a clean, well-trodden regulatory path for food and beverage use.
In massage, balm and personal-care formats the oil contributes the warm, stimulating sensory character associated with pepper — a mainstay of sports-massage and winter-wellness positioning.
A low-viscosity mobile liquid that blends readily into fragrance concentrates, flavour systems, carrier oils and emulsions — no melting, milling or pre-dispersion step required.
Every batch is released against the same FCC window and GC identity, so a perfumer's accord or a flavourist's seasoning rebuilt six months apart smells like the same material.
These are functional and physico-chemical properties of the actives; SV Botanica does not make medical or therapeutic claims for this ingredient.
One berry, three commercial formats — the oil, the oleoresin and the piperine extract serve different jobs
| Grade | Standardisation | Form | Best For | Solubility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Pepper Oil Essential Oil | 100% volatile fraction · steam-distilled · FCC parameters | Colourless to bluish-green mobile liquid | Flavour top-notes, fine fragrance, aromatherapy & massage, personal care | Oil-soluble / insoluble in water |
| Black Pepper Oleoresin Oleoresin | Piperine and volatile oil declared per batch | Dark green viscous liquid | Seasonings, savoury processing, heat + aroma in one dose | Oil-dispersible |
| Black Pepper Extract 95% Piperine | Piperine NLT 95% (HPLC) | Off-white to cream crystalline powder | Nutraceutical bioavailability enhancement, supplement formats | Practically insoluble in water |
This page specifies the steam-distilled essential oil. The oleoresin and the 95% piperine extract are separate SV Botanica products with their own specifications — see Related Products below. Custom packaging and buyer-specific documentation can be quoted against order volume; every batch is released against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis.
Full product specification for Black Pepper Oil. Values are specification limits, not batch results; a batch-specific CoA is issued per shipment.
| Parameter | Specification / Limit | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical Source | Piper nigrum L. | — |
| Plant Family | Piperaceae | — |
| Part Used | Dried unripe berries | — |
| Preparation | Steam distillation | — |
| Country of Origin | India / Sri Lanka | — |
| CAS Number | 8006-82-4 | — |
| FEMA Number | 2845 | — |
| Appearance | Colourless to bluish-green mobile liquid* | Organoleptic |
| Aroma | Characteristic black pepper aroma | Organoleptic |
| Taste | Relatively mild, characteristic of black pepper | Organoleptic |
| Optical Rotation (at 25°C) | −1.0° to −23.0° | FCC |
| Refractive Index (at 25°C) | 1.479 – 1.488 | FCC |
| Specific Gravity (at 25°C) | 0.8640 – 0.8840 | FCC |
| Identity | Conforms to characteristic terpene profile | By GC |
| Flavouring Status (USA) | Natural flavouring — 21 CFR 101-22 | USFDA |
| Flavouring Status (EU) | Natural flavouring — EC Regulation 1334/2008 | EFSA |
| GMO Status | Non-GMO — does not contain GMO | Declaration |
| Halal | Certified | Declaration |
| Kosher | Certified | Declaration |
| Packaging — Aluminium Bottles | 1 kg, 2 kg, 5 kg | — |
| Packaging — HM/HDPE Drums | 20 kg, 200 kg | — |
| Shelf Life | 24 months under specified storage conditions | — |
| Storage | Store in full, tightly closed containers in a cool, dry place, protected from light | — |
*The product is of herbal origin; slight colour variation may occur due to geographical and seasonal variation in the raw material. A current Technical Data Sheet, Certificate of Analysis and MSDS are issued with every batch. Halal and Kosher certificates and non-GMO declarations are available on request.
From peppercorn to distillate — authenticated, measured, documented
Raw Material & Distillation: The oil is steam-distilled from the dried unripe berries of Piper nigrum L. sourced from India and Sri Lanka — the historic heartland of pepper cultivation. Steam distillation uses no extraction solvents: only the volatile fraction crosses into the condensate, which is why the oil carries the aroma of pepper without its pungent piperine.
Testing & Release: Every batch is verified against FCC analytical parameters — optical rotation at 25°C between −1.0° and −23.0°, refractive index 1.479–1.488 and specific gravity 0.8640–0.8840 — with identity confirmed by GC against the characteristic black pepper terpene profile. Because essential-oil adulteration is an economic reality, the physical constants and the chromatogram together form the release decision: a cut or reconstructed oil struggles to satisfy both at once.
Documentation: Every shipment is supplied against a batch-specific Technical Data Sheet and Certificate of Analysis with an MSDS. The oil holds natural flavouring status under 21 CFR 101-22 (US) and EC 1334/2008 (EU), is non-GMO, and is Halal and Kosher certified. Export documentation is provided on request — see our guides on buying black pepper oil and essential-oil authenticity.
What backs every batch of Black Pepper essential oil
Key information for global product registration and labelling
Black pepper oil holds natural flavouring status under 21 CFR 101-22 in the United States and EC Regulation 1334/2008 in the European Union, with FEMA number 2845 and CAS 8006-82-4. It is used at flavouring levels in savoury, snack, sauce and beverage systems. Buyers remain responsible for compliance with the flavouring regulations of their own market and for usage levels appropriate to their application. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Piper nigrum seed oil is an established perfumery and cosmetic ingredient used in fine fragrance, personal care and aromatherapy formats. As with any essential oil, it should be used diluted and within the buyer's finished-product safety assessment, with fragrance-industry (IFRA) guidance applied where relevant to the finished format. SV Botanica supplies the specification, CoA and MSDS to support that dossier.
Supplied from India by SV Botanica — FSSAI Central Licence holder and an APEDA-registered exporter. Pepper from India and Sri Lanka sits at the origin of the global trade, giving direct access to the raw material base. The oil is Halal and Kosher certified and ships against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with export documentation available on request.
Deep-dive articles on black pepper oil for flavourists, perfumers, and sourcing teams
How to specify a steam-distilled pepper oil, what the CoA must show, and the traps in the essential-oil trade.
Technicalβ-Caryophyllene, the monoterpene supporting cast, and how FCC constants plus a chromatogram define the oil.
QualityCutting, reconstruction and cross-species substitution — and the physical-chemistry tests that expose them.
ApplicationsWhere pepper oil performs — savoury flavour top-notes, spicy perfumery accords, and warming personal care.
ProcurementA scored checklist for qualifying a black pepper oil supplier before you commit to a bulk order.
Format GuideThree products from one berry — which format fits flavour, heat, or bioavailability, and how to buy each.
Frequently sourced alongside Black Pepper Oil across flavour, fragrance & nutraceutical programmes
Technical and commercial questions answered by our ingredients team
Steam-distilled, FCC-verified, fully documented supply of Piper nigrum essential oil from the origin of the pepper trade. Samples available for qualified buyers.
Supplied as a bulk ingredient for further manufacture. Buyers are responsible for compliance with the regulations of their destination market. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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