Bergamot essential oil is the most sophisticated of the citruses. If lemon is a bright morning, bergamot is late afternoon light – still fresh, but warmer and more complex. It is the scent that gives Earl Grey tea its character.

What bergamot smells like

Sparkling citrus on top, with a soft floral and faintly spicy heart underneath. It is less sharp than lemon and rounder than orange – clean, elegant and a little bittersweet. This balance is why perfumers reach for it so often.

Simple ways to use it

• Diffuse it for a fresh but refined scent – 4 to 6 drops, on its own or lifted with a floral.
• Add it to a carrier oil (about 2%) for a bright body oil.
• Blend it as the top note in a homemade room spray.

One important note: bergamot can make skin more sensitive to sunlight. If you use it on the body, keep that skin out of direct sun for a day, or use it only in things you wash off or diffuse. Patch test and keep it away from the eyes as always.

What bergamot pairs with

• With lavender for a classic fresh, calm blend.
• With neroli for a bright, elegant citrus-floral.
• With cedarwood to ground its brightness with warm wood.

Bergamot is a brilliant first note for almost any blend. See it and the rest of the range in the collection, or read more on the blog.