1/3 oz

Citrus aurantium ssp. bergamia

Certified Organic

Fruit, Expressed, Italy

Bergamot is used to treat several skin maladies including eczema and blemishes. It helps scar tissue form. It is also good as an insect repellant. Bergamot is an excellent essential oil for nervous system disorders such as anxiety, frustration and insomnia. It is used to flavor tobacco, and sometimes used as a fixative in scents. It can also be applied topically as an antiseptic. Bergamot oil should always be diluted before use and should be used sparingly on people with sensitive skin.

This is our organic version of Bergamot, an oil of many uses that is cooling and refreshing. Ours has green, leafy, and slightly bitter notes and a touch of floral undertone; it is a pleasantly fresh and uplifting example of what Bergamot oil should be with its juicy, sweet and well-rounded aroma. It is a welcome and indispensable component of even the most basic essential oil palette.

Bergamot oil has a wide spectrum of applications in addition to being greatly valued for its calming and balancing properties – its fresh, sweet, citrus aroma is very pleasing and especially uplifting to the spirit. Renowned aromatherapist Patricia Davis states that “In helping with mental and psychological states, Bergamot is almost the most valuable oil at the aromatherapist’s disposal.”1 For more information on Bergamot’s aromatherapeutic attributes, please see:

A member of the citrus family originating either in Northern Italy or the Canary Islands,2 the Bergamot tree produces small, somewhat bitter pear-shaped fruits from which the oil is expressed.  It is one of the most commonly used essential oils in perfumes, especially Eau de Cologne types; it is also used to flavor Earl Grey tea.3

Our Bergamot – Organic is photo-sensitizing; we recommend that it be highly diluted when applied to the skin, or that one of our Bergamot FCF essential oils be used instead. FCF (furanocoumarin-free) is an acronym that indicates the chemical constituent(s) responsible for extreme sensitization of the skin to sunlight has been removed4; in the case of Bergamot oil, the specific furanocoumarin is bergapten.5

Aromatic Profile: Green, leafy with the mouth-watering aroma of citrus peel, a slightly bitter note, and a touch of floral undertone.

Appearance: Greenish- yellow, clear, transparent, mobile liquid.

Use: Aromatherapy / Natural perfumery (adds a rich top note to natural perfumes).

Blending Suggestions: Dilute and add drop by drop to your blends until the desired effect is achieved.

Blends Well With: Cedarwood, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Coriander, Cypress Leaf, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Jasmine, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon and other citrus oils, Marjoram, Melissa, Myrtle, Neroli, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Violet Leaf. We also recommend blending the different types of Bergamot oils we carry to create a unique, complex Bergamot accord.

Safety Considerations: Photosensitizing. For application to areas of skin exposed to sunshine, IFRA recommends that bergamot oil be limited to a maximum of 0.4% in the final product, except for wash-off products; otherwise has GRAS status (Generally Recognized as Safe).6

1 Davis, Patricia. Aromatherapy: An A-Z, 1988, pp. 51-2.

2 Sellar, Wanda. The Directory of Essential Oils, 1992, p. 16.

3 Green, Mindy. Natural Perfumes – Simple Aromatherapy Recipes, 1999, p. 33.

4 Bowles, E. Joy. The Chemistry of Aromatherapeutic Oils, 3rd ed., 2003, pp. 108-9.

5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergapten

6 Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed., 2014, p. 212.

7 Essential Oils – A Handbook for Aromatherapy Practice, by Jennifer Peace Rhind, 2012, p. 286.

8 Aromatherapy – An A – Z, by Patricia Davis, 1988, pp. 51-3.

9 Aromatherapeutic Blending – Essential Oils in Synergy, by Jennifer Peace Rhind, 2016, pp. 193-4.

10 The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, by Julia Lawless, 2013, pp. 48-9.

The FDA has not evaluated the statements on this website. No claims are made by Holistic Pathways as to the medicinal value of any products from Holistic Pathways. The information presented here is for educating our customers about the traditional uses of essential oils and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. You are responsible for understanding the safe application of these products. If you have any questions, please call or email us for further information.