Bergamot

Description

Bergamot essential oil is one of the most widely-used ingredients in modern perfumery. So what does it even smell like, and why is it so beloved? The tree that bears the bergamot orange originated in Southeast Asia, but today, it’s mainly grown in the Calabria region of Southern Italy. More than 80 percent of all the world’s bergamot oranges are found here, but the fruit is also cultivated in the South of France and on the Ivory Coast. Fun fact: Bergamot is named after the city of Bergamo in Lombardy, Italy, where the oil was first sold. Bergamot essential oil is cold-pressed from the peel of the bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia), a small, round citrus fruit. When ripe, the fruit is yellow and is said to taste like a cross between an orange and a grapefruit.

With a citrus-like fragrance and a distinctive spicy-floral quality, bergamot essential oil has quite a unique smell. Imagine wandering through a golden-lit citrus grove in southern Italy; perhaps that gives a sense of what makes bergamot such an evocative scent. Bergamot is a dreamy scent, for sure. Whether you dab a drop of the essential oil onto your wrist or spritz on a bergamot-infused perfume, the fragrance is luxurious, fresh, and sweet all at once. Not to mention, it might transport you to Southern Italy, no plane ticket needed. Talking about traveling, another benefit of the bergamot essential oil is that it is extremely useful in treating travel sickness.

The essential oil extracted from bergamot fruit peel is especially valued by the perfume manufacturers owing to its aptitude to blend easily with a wide range of aromas to prepare a variety of scents that balance each other. According to a rough estimate, bergamot essential oil is an important ingredient in about a third of all perfumes meant for men, while it is enclosed in approximately half the perfumes for women. In fact, bergamot was an element of the first Eau de Cologne that was created in Germany in the 17th century. It may be noted here that the celebrated ‘Eau de toilette’ perfume was first developed by scooping out the pulp of bergamot fruit and compressing its peel into sponges.

The essential oil extracted from the peel of bergamot fruit is delicate and inspiring. The aroma of this oil is among the most exciting scents that have a great potential to heal different medical conditions. The aroma of this essential oil has a greenish-yellow hue and has an aroma that is fresh, sweetish-tart and citrus-like having a somewhat zesty balsamic tinge.

General properties

• antiseptic
• antiviral
• antispasmodic
• anticancer
• anti-inflammatory
• analgesic
• sedative
• cooling
• relaxing
• uplifting

Blends well with

• eucalyptus
• geranium
• juniper
• jasmine
• lavender
• lemon
• patchouli
• chamomile
• ylang ylang

General uses

• asthma
• sore throat
• cystitis
• anxiety
• grief
• herpes
• ulcers
• urinary infections
• thrush
• psoriasis
• oily and open pores
• acne
• anorexia
• boils and carbuncles
• eczema
• flatulence
• gall bladder
• indigestion
• vaginal itching
• loss of appetite

Precaution

Although bergamot essential oil is useful therapeutically, it is important to exercise caution while using this valuable herbal product. Always remember, this oil should never be used in high concentrations on the skin, as it may cause irritation. In fact, it needs to be blended with any harmonizing carrier oil to lower its concentration to three per cent or less before it is applied topically to the affected skin areas. Furthermore, never expose the areas where the oil has been applied to sunlight for around 72 hours since it may result in excessive pigmentation of the skin and other defects.