Bergamot, essential oil

Latin Name: Citrus aurantium
Origin: Italy
Edible: Yes


Produced int the area around Bergamo, in northern Italy (hence its name), bergamot is a type of bitter orange with greenish-yellow skin.  Its pulp is too sour to eat, so the fruit is produced solely for the extraction of the essential oil from the peel.  It is not possible to grow bergamot trees from seed.  Young shoots are grafted onto rootstock of other species, such as bitter orange or lemon, to propagate new trees.  Bergamot oil was an ingredient in the earliest formula of "eau de Cologne", in the 18th century.  This oil has a delightful aroma: fresh and young with strong citrus notes, and a sweetness as it evaporates.

Bergamot is phototoxic: avoid massaging it into your skin if you are going out into strong sunlight

This oil is non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing, so safe for all skin types

For more information on how to use essential oils please read our article: Aromatherapy Basics for Using Pure Essential Oils