Bergamot Essential Oil (Organic)

Bergamot the oil has nothing to do with bergamot the herb. Monarda, the North American bee balm, borrowed the name for its similar scent. The oil comes from a citrus fruit, Citrus bergamia, and its aroma is the one known worldwide from Earl Grey tea.

01 · Origin

A small citrus tree of the rue family, Rutaceae. Its sour, inedible fruit is grown for its peel, chiefly in southern Italy, where the climate of the Calabrian coast suits it. This oil is cold-pressed from the peel of certified organic Italian fruit (DE-ÖKO-007).

02 · Chemistry

Limonene, linalyl acetate and linalool lead. That ester-alcohol pairing, more typical of lavender than of citrus, gives bergamot its floral softness. As an expressed oil it retains its furocoumarins, including bergapten, so it is kept for diffusion and wash-off use, or replaced by Bergamot Furocoumarin-Free (No. 1176) in leave-on skin formulas.

03 · In Practice

Fresh, sparkling citrus with delicate floral and herbaceous undertones. A bright top note in natural perfumery and the backbone of the classic cologne accord. Diffusion, natural perfumery and bath preparations. Blends with lavender, neroli, rose, frankincense, sandalwood, cedarwood, geranium and clary sage.

General information: For external use only. Dilute before applying to skin. Keep away from heat and sunlight. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.