Citrus bergamia Crude fruit peel, first cold-pressed, from Italy.

Certified Organics: This Organic Oil is NOP Certified. The National Organic Program develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labelling standards for organic agricultural products. The QAI also accredits the certifying agents (foreign and domestic) who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards.

Aroma: Fresh, orange/lemon/citrusy, slightly floral, warm and spicy, bergamot is the most intriguing of the citrus scents and is reminiscent of Neroli and Lavender oil.

History: The name Bergamot is derived from the city Bergamo in Lombardy where the oil was first sold. This tree is native to South East Asia but was introduced to Europe, and particularly Italy, and is also found in the Ivory Coast, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.

Colour: Green/Golden

Consistency: Thin

Perfumery Note: Top

Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium

Common Uses: Bergamot essential oil can be used in the treatment of depression, stress, tension, fear, hysteria, infection (all types including skin), anorexia, psoriasis, eczema and general convalescence.

Possible Uses: Acne, abscesses, anxiety, boils, cold sores, cystitis, depression, halitosis, itching, loss of appetite, oily skin, psoriasis, stress. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 56-67.] This oil is a brilliant anti-depressant! - TTF

Main Constituents:
Limonene: 35-48%
Linalyl acetate: 22-36%

Constituents: a-pinene, B-pinene, myrcene, limonene, a-bergaptene, B-bisabolene, linalool, linalyl acetate, nerol, neryl acetate, geraniol, geraniol acetate, a-terpineol. [B. Lawrence, "Bergamot Oil," Perfumer & Flavorist, October/November 1982, 43, cited in Salvatore Battaglia, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy (Australia: The Perfect Potion, 1997), 145.]

alpha-PINENE 1,18
alpha-THUYENE 0,34
CAMPHENE 0,03
beta-PINENE 6,84
SABINENE 1,11
beta-MYRCENE 1,14
alpha-PHELLANDRENE 0,05
psi-LIMONENE 0,01
alpha-TERPINENE 0,13
LIMONENE 41,15
1,8-CINEOLE 0,26 12 beta-PHELLANDRENE
cis-beta-OCIMENE 0,03
gamma-TERPINENE 7,12
trans-beta-OCIMENE 0,16
p-CYMENE 0,26
TERPINOLENE 0,33
OCTANAL 0,02
LINALOOL cis-OXIDE 0,02
trans-THUYANOL 0,02
LINALOOL trans-OXIDE 0,02
OCTYL ACETATE 0,06
E-SOLANONE 0,04
LINALOOL 10,83
LINALYL ACETATE 25,74
BERGAMOTENE ISOMER 0,02
NONYLE ACETATE 0,02
alpha-cis-BERGAMOTENE 0,26
beta-CARYOPHYLLENE 0,30
TERPINENE-4-OL 0,04
HOTRIENOL 0,01
AROMATIC COMPOUND 0,02
alpha-HUMULENE 0,02
CITRONELLYL ACETATE 0,01
E-beta-FARNESENE 0,04
NERAL 0,16
alpha-TERPINEOL 0,14
TERPENYL ACETATE 0,10
GERMACRENE D 0,03
NERYL ACETATE 0,34
beta-BISABOLENE 0,38
GERANIAL 0,25
GERANYL ACETATE 0,32
NEROL 0,08
GERANIOL 0,02
NEROLIDOL 0,02
alpha-BISABOLOL 0,02
DIMETHYL METHYLPENTENYL NORBORNANOL 0,02
beta-NOOTKATONE 0,05
SESQUITERPENOL 0,05
MYRISTIC ACID 0,02
cis-5-HYDROXYMENTHA-1,8-DIEN-2-ONE 0,07
HEPTACOSANE 0,03
CITRONELLIC ESTER 0,02
AROMATIC ESTER 0,05
LIMETTIN 0,12
BERGAPTEN 0,10

Cautions: Bergamot oil can cause severe burns when used on sensitive skin that has been exposed to sunlight due to the high bergaptene content.

Safety Information: Phototoxic. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 121.] Do not use if the area of application will be exposed to sunlight for 24 hours due to its phototoxicity.

Jacopo Werther, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons