Bergamot: The love child of Lemon and Lavender

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia):

A lot of people associate the aroma of Bergamot with Earl Grey tea. To me, Bergamot smells like the love child of Lemon and Lavender. It is both citrusy and herbal, with a hint of pepper. Imagine slicing a fresh lemon in half and then sprinkling dried lavender and fresh ground pepper on it, and that’s what it makes me think of. There is a bit of woodiness in there too, which comes from that Lavender-like note.

The light citrus notes uplift the spirit, while the herbal, green notes are calming and grounding. Bergamot is helpful for anxiety and insomnia. It is the oil of Self-Acceptance. Bergamot cleans out stagnant energy that causes low self-esteem and limiting beliefs. It helps encourage feelings of optimism and confidence in the self. 

                                        

Bergamot is a powerful anti-spasmodic, and can be very helpful for reducing coughing and stomach cramps. It is helpful in supporting digestion in general (which could be why Earl Grey tea is so popular). You never want to apply Bergamot neat to the skin, as it can be phototoxic. Always dilute it when using topically, and wear sunscreen or avoid being in the sun outdoors. It can be helpful for drying up pimples and balancing oily skin.

Bergamot is cold pressed from the rind of the fruit. (I like how the rind is bumpy, and when you cut it in half, it forms waves around the flesh inside.) In Italy it has been historically used to cool fevers and expel intestinal worms.


                                    


Bergamot is often used in perfumery for “eau de cologne” type fragrances. It is a top note, and blends well with other citrus oils as well as the herbal aromas like Lavender, Rosemary, and Clary Sage.