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 - 3 to 5 drops, on its own or lifted with a floral.
- Add it to a carrier oil at no more than 0.4% (about 2 drops per 30 ml) 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. Citrus oils are also on the lists of oils harmful to cats, so diffuse them only where pets can leave the room.
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.