Updated 16 January 2024
Botanical characteristics
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Sapindales
- Family: Rutaceae
- Genus: Citrus
- Part used: Zest
- Country of origin: Italy
Precautions for use
Caution! Bergamot essential oil is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
No form of use should be avoided, but it is very photosensitising, so care must be taken when applying it to the skin: dilute well and do not expose it to the sun!
The best way to use it is undoubtedly through the sense of smell, as the aroma of bergamot essential oil is particularly pleasant.
Other precautions
Cutaneous use:
- Bergamot essential oil is irritant and dermocaustic when applied undiluted.
- Dilute to 20% in vegetable oil before use (20% essential oil in 80% vegetable oil). Do not expose to sunlight within 12 hours of application.
Diffusion:
- For pregnant women and babies it is possible to use this essential oil by atmospheric diffusion.
Contraindications:
- Be careful if you use bergamot essential oil for more than a few days as there is a risk of interference with your medication.
- Bergamot essential oil should not be used if you have gallstones. It can be nephrotoxic if taken in high doses and over a long period of time.
Allergenic components:
Bergamot essential oil contains high levels of allergenic biochemicals:
- limonene (34-52%)
- linalool (3-15%)
- geranial + neral (≤ 1%)
- geraniol (≤ 0.2%)
Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).
Authorised users
How to use
Risks of use
Properties
- Sedative, tranquilliser
- Antispasmodic
- Antiseptic, antibacterial
- Carminative
- Digestive
- Laxative
- Skin regenerating
Indications
- Greasy hair
- Colic, intestinal infection
- Dyspepsia
- Constipation
- Difficult digestion
- Colitis
- Loss of appetite
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Depression
- Sleep disturbance
- Insomnia
- Acne
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
Directions for use/usual dosage
- To calm the nervous system: as an unction, 1 drop on the inside of the wrists or on the solar plexus. Atmospheric diffusion: a few drops in an essential oil diffuser.
- Intestinal problems (flatulence, spastic colitis, indigestion, digestive cramps): as a compress, massage the abdomen with the EO diluted in a vegetable oil.
- Skin problems (eczema, vitiligo, psoriasis): as an unction, massage the affected area with EO diluted in vegetable oil.
- Skin and hair care: as an unction, dilute 1% in a vegetable oil, body lotion or cream, or a few drops in a dose of shampoo.
Cosmetic
- Thanks to its astringent and purifying properties, Bergamot EO can be used on combination or oily skin to help regulate sebum production and combat blemishes. In addition, 1 to 2 drops of bergamot diluted in a dose of shampoo can help combat greasy hair.
Cooking
- Bergamot EO can be used in sweet or savoury dishes to add an exotic, slightly lemony note to all kinds of dishes: fruit, fromage blanc or chocolate cakes and desserts, fish or seafood dishes, etc.
Interior use
- Bergamot EO is used for atmospheric diffusion to purify the air, eliminate unpleasant odours and combat anxiety. It provides a sense of calm and deep relaxation.
Find out more
- Bergamot EO is best used by inhalation and diffusion. It can also be applied to the skin, but this EO is photosensitising (risk of dark spots or burns on the skin after exposure to the sun) and can be dermocaustic if used undiluted.
- Bergamot EO can be used in combination with True Lavender EO to calm the nervous system. When applied to the skin, this aromatic synergy has a deeply relaxing effect and is beneficial for certain forms of depression. A few drops can also be placed on a handkerchief next to your pillow to help you sleep and banish dark thoughts.
- Both calming and invigorating, Bergamot EO is used in the treatment of many dermatological conditions (eczema, itching, wounds, acne), but should be applied to the skin with care due to its photosensitising properties. It is also known to stimulate the stomach and to be effective against digestive disorders and intestinal parasites. Pouring a few drops of bergamot EO into a cup of hot water can help with flatulence or colic.