Botanical name Citrus bergamia
Synonyms Rectified bergamot, furanocoumarin-free bergamot.
Botanical synonym Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia Risso & Poit.
Family Rutaceae
Source Fruit peel
Description / Color / Consistency A thin, light yellowish green to yellowish brown liquid.
Aromatic Summary / Note / Strength of Aroma The aroma is basically citrus, yet fruity and sweet with a warm spicy floral quality, and is reminiscent of Neroli, giving a middle note of medium strength.
Blends With Black Pepper, Clary Sage, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Jasmine, Mandarin, Nutmeg, Orange, Rosemary, SandalWood, Vetiver and Ylang-Ylang
Product Abstract
Bergamot scientific name is Citrus bergamia. Bergamot essential oil is light yellow-green in color. Its the most delicate of the citrus plants, requiring special climate and soil in order to thrive. its ability to uplift moods or give an energy boost and relieving stress and anxiety. Bergamot oil boasts of powerful antibacterial, analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, and soothing effects
The Bergamot tree can grow up to four meters high, with star-shaped flowers, and smooth leaves, bearing citrus fruit resembling a cross between an orange and a grapefruit but in a pear-shape. The fruit ripens from green to yellow. The name Bergamot is derived from the city Bergamo in Lombardy where the oil was first sold.
Harvesting
Citrus bergamot is commercially grown in southern Calabria, southern Italy. It is also grown in southern France and in Côte d'Ivoire for the essential oil and in Antalya in southern Turkey for its marmalade.The fruit is not generally grown for juice consumption.However, in Mauritius where it is grown on small-scale basis, it is largely used for juice consumption by the locals.
Common Usage
Caution
Bergamot oil must be protected from sunlight, because of bergaptene, one of its components becomes poisonous if exposed to sunlight. That is why the oil should always be stored in dark bottles and dark places. Exposure to sunlight should even be avoided after it is applied or rubbed onto the skin, at least until it gets absorbed into your skin.
Key constituents
(þ)-Limonene 27.4–52.0%
Linalyl acetate 17.1–40.4%
Linalool 1.7–10.6%
Sabinene 0.7–12.8%
g-Terpinene 5.0–12.4%
b-Pinene 5.4–10.0%
a-Pinene 0.6–4.2%
b-Myrcene 0.5–2.8%
Neryl acetate 0.2–1.1%
Non-volatile compounds
Bergamottin 0.62–2.65%
5-Geranyloxy-7-methoxycoumarin 0.08–0.68%
Citropten 0.02–0.36%
Bergapten 0.12–0.23%
Bergaptol 0–0.14%
5-Methoxy-7-geranoxycoumarin 0.05–0.16%
Psoralen 0–0.0024%