Description:
Fennel bitter originally indigenous to the Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Greece, and France. The major fennel bitter oil-producing countries are France, India, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Japan, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Russia. India exports raw seed spices, essential oil, and other fennel products to around 85 countries.

The essential oil of fennel is extracted from the distillation of the seeds.

The seed contains 1 to 3% volatile oil and the main component of the oil is the Anethol. The other major constituents are a-pinene, myrcene, fenchone, cymene,  camphene,  and methyl chavicol. It is the Anethol content that determines the sweetness and bitterness of the fennel.

Some constituents of the fennel bitter essential oil important application such as Fenchone is used as counterirritant; Trans-anethole is used for flavoring agent in perfumery, Limonene is used as the solvent, wetting and dispersing agent; in cosmetics, in soap, pharmaceutical aid (flavor); Methyl-chavicol or estragole is used in perfumeries and as flavor in foods and liquors; a-pinene, used in the manufacture of camphor, insecticides, solvents and perfume bases.

Odor profile:
Strong spicy aroma

Major Constituents:
Anethole, pinene, myrcene, fenchone, cymene, -pinene, camphene,  -terpinene, methyl chavicol or estragole, geranyl acetate, and P-anisaldehyde.

Application:
~ Fennel bitter oil is an antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, and stimulant.
~ Other therapeutic properties reported include antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, galactagogue, stomachic, toning, purifying, and stimulating.