Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
A bright, slightly floral citrus single oil cold-pressed from the peel, more nuanced than a typical orange or lemon.
How to use it
3–5 drops alone, or with lavender for a calm-yet-bright blend.
Dilute 1–3% in a carrier oil — a classic eau-de-cologne note.
Phototoxic — avoid UV 12–18h, or use a bergapten-free (FCF) oil.
Safety in detail
- Max dermal use
- 0.4% on skin (IFRA leave-on limit — the strictest of any citrus)
- Phototoxic
- Yes — avoid UV after topical use
- Strongly phototoxic: avoid UV / direct sun for 12–18 hours after any topical use, or choose a bergapten-free (FCF) oil.
- Always dilute in a carrier oil before skin contact.
- Keep out of reach of children.
Sources: Food and Cosmetics Toxicology (1980) · Food and Cosmetics Toxicology (1971)
Composition & chemistry
Aggregated from 4 GC-MS samples across 4 peer-reviewed open-access studies (2017–2024). Figures are the distribution across those samples — median with interquartile range — not a single reading.
- Monoterpene hydrocarbon 52.2%
- Oxygenated monoterpene 46%
- Unclassified 1.1%
- Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon 0.7%
- Aliphatic / small aromatic 0.1%
| Constituent | Median | Typical range | Max | Detected in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| limonene ↗ C10H16 | 23.6% | 14.3–35.5% | 51.3% | |
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| linalool ↗ C10H18O | 21.8% | 14.5–34.1% | 46.3% | |
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| linalyl acetate ↗ C12H20O2 | 17.7% | 16.9–19.5% | 21.3% | |
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| γ-terpinene ↗ C10H16 | 6.4% | 5.3–9.2% | 11.9% | |
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| β-pinene ↗ C10H16 | 5.3% | 3.6–6.6% | 6.8% | |
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| myrcene ↗ C10H16 | 1.2% | 1.2–3.1% | 5.0% | |
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| α-pinene ↗ C10H16 | 1.0% | 0.8–1.1% | 1.2% | |
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| sabinene ↗ C10H16 | 0.9% | 0.7–1.1% | 1.3% | |
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| neryl acetate ↗ C12H20O2 | 0.6% | 0.5–0.8% | 0.9% | |
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| terpinolene ↗ C10H16 | 0.3% | 0.3–0.4% | 0.4% | |
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+ 17 more compounds reported across the dataset.
4 peer-reviewed sources behind these figures
- Aziz MI, Hasan MM, Ullah R, Bari A, Khan MA, Hasnain SZU, Baloch R, Akram M, Obaid A, Ullah A, Abbas K, Amin A. (2024). Potential role of Citrus bergamia flower essential oil against oral pathogens. BMC complementary medicine and therapies.
- Saghir SAM, Alnaimat SM, Dmour SM, Al-Tarawni AH, Abdelnour SA, Ahmeda AF, Arisha AH, Hawwal MF, Alanzi AR, Mothana RA, Lindequist U. (2023). The ameliorative effect of bergamot oil nano-emulsion in stressed rabbit bucks: Influence on blood biochemical parameters, redox status, immunity indices, inflammation markers, semen quality, testicular changes and the expression of HSPs genes. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society.
- Cebi N, Erarslan A. (2023). Determination of the Antifungal, Antibacterial Activity and Volatile Compound Composition of Citrus bergamia Peel Essential Oil. Foods (Basel, Switzerland).
- Leggio A, Leotta V, Belsito EL, Di Gioia ML, Romio E, Santoro I, Taverna D, Sindona G, Liguori A. (2017). Aromatherapy: composition of the gaseous phase at equilibrium with liquid bergamot essential oil. Chemistry Central journal.
Every figure above traces to a named table in one of these open-access papers. How this was built →
- Limonene — the dominant citrus terpene; shown to have antioxidant activity in vitro Shah et al. (2018), Asian J. of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- Linalool — a floral alcohol that produced anxiolytic-like effects through odor exposure in mice Harada et al. (2018), Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
- Bergapten (5-MOP) — a furanocoumarin responsible for the oil's photosensitising effect on skin Food and Cosmetics Toxicology (1971)
That floral-citrus note is the defining flavor of Earl Grey tea.
What the research says
An honest read of the published research — what has actually been studied, at what stage. Not medical advice or a promise of results.
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Bergamot inhalation has been tested for anxiety and mood in small human studies — for example a randomized trial of medical-office anxiety in children. Findings are preliminary and not a substitute for medical care.
Hawkins et al. (2019), Holistic Nursing Practice -
A more recent randomized study looked at bergamot-and-grapefruit aromatherapy on anxiety and vital signs — a small, single-context trial, not broad clinical evidence.
Özer et al. (2025), BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies -
A 2015 pharmacology review compiled bergamot's chemistry and its largely preclinical (cell- and animal-model) research — useful context, but mostly not yet confirmed in humans.
Navarra et al. (2015), Frontiers in Pharmacology
Evidence & sources
Peer-reviewed research on Bergamot's chemistry and safety. These describe composition and documented effects — not health or treatment claims.
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Cold-pressed bergamot peel oil is dominated by limonene, linalyl acetate and linalool, with the balance shifting by origin, harvest and extraction method.
Navarra et al. (2015), Frontiers in Pharmacology -
Detailed gas-chromatography analyses of bergamot oil confirm monoterpene hydrocarbons (chiefly limonene) plus oxygenated compounds (linalool, linalyl acetate) as the principal fractions.
Dellacassa et al. (1997), Journal of Essential Oil Research -
The furanocoumarin bergapten (5-methoxypsoralen) present in the cold-pressed peel oil is the main agent behind bergamot's photosensitising effect on skin.
Food and Cosmetics Toxicology (1971) -
Controlled testing confirms bergamot oil is phototoxic on skin subsequently exposed to UV light — the basis for diluting it and avoiding sun after topical use.
Food and Cosmetics Toxicology (1980)
Standards & authenticity
- IFRA leave-on limit
- ≤ 0.4% on skin, due to phototoxicity
- Bergapten-free (FCF)
- Twice-rectified oil is bergapten-free and shows no phototoxic response
- Common adulteration
- Often cut with bitter-orange or terpene distillates, or reconstructed from synthetics — prefer GC-tested oil
Frequently asked questions
Is bergamot oil phototoxic?
Yes — cold-pressed bergamot is strongly phototoxic because of bergapten (5-MOP). If you use it diluted on skin, avoid UV and direct sun for 12–18 hours, or choose a bergapten-free (FCF) version. Food and Cosmetics Toxicology (1980)
What is bergapten-free (FCF) bergamot?
A twice-rectified bergamot oil with the bergapten removed. It shows no phototoxic response, which makes it the safer choice for leave-on skin products.
Is bergamot the scent in Earl Grey tea?
Yes. That bright, floral-citrus note is exactly what flavors Earl Grey tea.
What is bergamot oil mostly made of?
Chiefly limonene and linalyl acetate, with linalool, γ-terpinene and β-pinene — the exact balance varies by origin and harvest. Navarra et al. (2015), Frontiers in Pharmacology
Gallery
The Plant
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is a citrus tree grown almost exclusively along a narrow strip of the Calabrian coast in southern Italy, where the specific soil and microclimate are widely considered essential to the fruit’s characteristic oil — cultivation attempts elsewhere have generally produced a noticeably different result. The fruit is too bitter and sour to eat fresh; it exists almost entirely to be pressed for its peel oil.
Extraction & Aroma
The oil is cold-pressed from the peel, the same mechanical method used for most citrus oils, which preserves the bright top notes that steam distillation tends to lose. Compared to lemon or orange, bergamot’s aroma is more complex — citrusy but with a floral, almost tea-like nuance driven by its linalool and linalyl acetate content. That combination is the defining note in Earl Grey tea, which is flavored with bergamot oil or peel.
Traditional & Everyday Uses
In the diffuser: 3–5 drops alone for an uplifting, sophisticated aroma, or blended with lavender for a calming-yet-bright combination that balances citrus energy with floral softness.
On skin: bergamot has a history of use in perfumery going back centuries — it’s a foundational note in classic eau de cologne formulas — but its topical use requires more caution than most citrus oils.
Pairing
Beyond lavender, bergamot works well with ylang ylang for a warmer floral-citrus combination, or with frankincense for something more grounded and complex.
Safety Note
Bergamot is one of the more strongly phototoxic citrus oils due to its bergapten content. If used topically, dilute carefully and avoid sun or UV exposure on treated skin for at least 12–18 hours — see our allergy and safety guide before applying it ahead of daytime activities.
Sourcing Note
Some suppliers offer a “bergapten-free” (FCF) version with reduced phototoxicity; knowing which version is in the bottle matters, which is why we point to a documented, labeled source rather than a generic listing.
Found in these blends
Bergamot is one of the oils inside 20 Young Living blends.