by Alisa Roberts
Bergamot essential oilis subtle and uplifting, uniting one of the most enticing perfume aromas with the transformative potential of this plant’s powerful healing effects. The light green oil is pressed from the peels of the nearly ripe bitter oranges, with an scent like candy for grown-ups; the bright top note combines a fresh sweet-tart orange with slightly spicy balsamic undertones. A member of the botanical family Rutacae, the Bergamot tree (Citrus bergamia) grows up to 15 feet high and yields small round fruit that look much like miniature oranges. The Bergamot essential oil used in aromatherapy should not be confused with the familiar bergamot plant, also known as ‘bee balm’, an herb indigenous to North America.
Originating in tropical Asia, the Bergamot tree is now widely grown in Italy, as well as the Ivory Coast, Guinea, Morocco, and Corsica. Bergamot is named after the Italian city of Bergamo in Lombardy, where the essential oil was first sold for perfumery. The fruit is not edible as the pulp is too sour, resulting in the Bergamot tree being primarily cultivated for its essential oils. It is one of the most popular essential oils used in perfumery - approximately one third of men’s colognes contain Bergamot, and nearly one half of women’s perfumes. Bergamot imparts the characteristic flavor to Earl Grey tea, and is used as a flavoring agent in pastries, root-beer, chewing gum, and toothpastes.
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