Bergamot Essential Oil

Latin (Botanical) Name: Citrus Bergamia

Plant Family: Rutaceae

Common Extraction Method:  Cold pressed or steam distilled (less often)

Typically Used Plant Part: Peel

Color:  Green / Gold

Aromatic Characteristic:   Bergamot essential oil smells citrus and has a beautifully complex aroma with underlying floral and bitter characteristics.

 

Bergamot is the most delicate of all citrus plants that need a special climate and soil to thrive. The earliest roots of the bergamot tree can be traced back to Southeast Asia. It is now cultivated in many parts of the world, but gained its importance and name in the town of Bergamo in southern Italy. It has been used in the Middle East for hundreds of years as a flavoring and perfume, and as an ingredient in moisturizers and cosmetics.

Bergamot, a lemon-colored orange-shaped citrus fruit, is known for its calming scent, spicy taste and wide range of uses. Bergamot oil is an essential oil obtained by cold pressing the rough, green skin of the fruit.

It is frequently used in massage therapy, as it helps to calm and rejuvenate the skin and relax stiff muscles. It is used in various perfumes, creams, lotions, soaps and skin care products for its relaxing benefits and scent.

      KEY COMPONENTS / ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

• Limonen
• Linalil asetat
• Linalol
• Gamma-terpinene
• Beta-pinene

 

      BENEFITS

• It helps positive mood:

           Bergamot oil helps reduce stress when inhaled with water vapor [1].

           Aromatherapy using bergamot oil helps to signal the brain to release dopamine and serotonin and relieve depression, anxiety and other mood disorders [2].

  

• It helps heal skin problems:

           It helps to reduce acne via helping reduce the growth rate of the sebaceous gland, inhibit the accumulation of triglycerides and the release of inflammatory cytokines in the sebaceous gland [3].

           It helps soothe daily skin irritations. [3]

           It helps reduce the appearance of blemishes. [3]

 

• It shows antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and pain neuroprotective characteristics:

          Studies have shown that bergamot oil has potential products that can be used as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and pain neuroprotective agents. [4]

 

 

      WARNINGS

• IT IS AN ESSENTIAL OIL, DIRECT APPLICATION MAY CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION. Always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before applying topically. You can do a patch test before using the oil if you want to make sure it doesn't irritate your skin.
• FOR EXTERNAL USE, NON-DRINKABLE.
• Avoid contact with eyes, in case of contact rinse with plenty of water.
• Do not use the product if you have a known allergy to any of its ingredients.
• It is recommended that children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people using medication should consult their doctor before using bergamot oil.

 

   

      ACADEMIC STUDIES

[1] Watanabe E., Kuchta K., Kimura M., Rauwald H.W., Kamei T., Imanishi J. (2015)  Effects of Bergamot (Citrus bergamia (Risso) Wright & Arn.) Essential Oil Aromatherapy on Mood States, Parasympathetic Nervous System Activity, and Salivary Cortisol Levels in 41 Healthy Females. Forsch Komplementme; 22:43-49

[2] Xiao Nan Lv, Zhu Jun Liu, Huan Jing Zhang, Chi Meng Tzeng. (2013) Aromatherapy and the Central Nerve System (CNS): Therapeutic Mechanism and its Associated Genes. Current Drug Targets, Volume 14 , Issue 8

[3] Peng Sun, Liang Zhao, Nanhai Zhang, Chengtao Wang, Wei Wu, Arshad Mehmood, Liebing Zhang, Baoping Ji, and Feng Zhou. (2020) Essential Oil and Juice from Bergamot and Sweet Orange Improve Acne Vulgaris Caused by Excessive Androgen Secretion. Mediators of Inflammation 2020(6)

[4] Forlota, Pevetb P. (2011) Bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau) essential oil: Biological properties, cosmetic and medical use. A review. The Journal of Essential Oil Research Vol. 24, No. 2, April 2012, 195–201.