Bergamot Oil User Guide: Uses, Benefits, Recipes, & FAQs

Bergamot oil is a popular essential oil with its uplifting and calming aroma and cleansing and purifying properties. It has several intriguing uses and benefits, backed by quite a few scientific studies.

In this user guide, you'll read all about bergamot oil, including scientific studies, health benefits, suggestions on how to use it, diffuser blend ideas, safety considerations, oils it blends well with, oils you can substitute bergamot with, and our readers' and members' FAQs.

Bergamot Oil User Guide Table Of Contents

What Is Bergamot Oil
- Bergamot constituents
How Bergamot Oil Is Made
Bergamot Oil Scientific Studies
Health Benefits of Bergamot Oil
Uses for Bergamot Oil
Culinary Uses & Recipes for Bergamot Vitality Oil
Bergamot Oil Safety Considerations
Bergamot Oil Substitutions & Alternatives
Which Essential Oils Blend Best With Bergamot
FAQs About Bergamot Oil
- Don't see your question about bergamot oil?
What Are Your Favorite Ways to Use Bergamot Oil?
More Articles Featuring Bergamot Oil

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What Is Bergamot Oil

Bergamot is a plant that produces small citrus fruits, and grows in Algeria, Argentina, Southeast Asia, Brazil, southern Italy, the Ivory Coast, Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkey.

Citrus bergamia, also known as bergamot, is a member of the Rutaceae family. This tree’s bergamot orange fruit is a cross between a lemon and an orange, giving the small, yellow, almost pear-shaped fruit.

Most people don't eat bergamot fruit because of their sour taste, although it is often used to flavor some foods, such as various baking dishes, marmalades, cocktails, and tea.

While bergamot has distinct culinary uses, the oil aroma offers a floral yet zesty and tart aroma that is popular for fragrant diffuser blends and perfumes. The oil also provides several well-loved health benefits.

Bergamot constituents

Limonene
Linalyl Acetate
Linalool
Sabinene
Gamma-Terpinene
Bergapten

How Bergamot Oil Is Made

Bergamot oil is made by cold pressing the bergamot orange peel when the fruit is nearly ripe. When pressed, the oils drip out of the rinds.

Bergamot Oil Scientific Studies

A pilot study showed diffusing bergamot oil in a mental treatment facility waiting room showed an increase in patients' emotional positivity (source)
This study shows positive results in aiding depressive moods in postpartum women by diffusing bergamot oil compared to a placebo (source)
Bergamot oil may help with serving as a natural anti-depressant (source)
A study found that bergamot oil may reduce blood pressure and could have positive benefits on mental health (source)
More studies show bergamot oil may help with alleviating anxiety symptoms (sources 1, 2)
A placebo study showed bergamot oil is effective in patients experiencing natural, low-cost sleep improvement. (source)
Acne Vulgaris reduced by using bergamot oil (source)
Bergamot oil could potentially help your body produce more collagen (source)
Bergamot oil shows serious potential to aid in pain management activities (sources 1, 2)
Study shows bergamot oil helps reduce the cortisol response to stress. (source)
Bergamot works as an antimicrobial-enhancing agent (source)
Study shows bergamot oil's promising results in inhibiting viruses (source)
The anti-inflammatory properties of bergamot oil showed promising results in assisting with asthma (source)
A 2015 study showed promising results with using bergamot oil to assist with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome (source)
This study from 2019 shows bergamot oil may help with hair growth (source)
Bergamot oil study shows its ability to aid in reducing the decay rate of strawberries (source)

Health Benefits of Bergamot Oil

Historically, bergamot fruit juice was used by the indigenous people of Italy to expel intestinal parasites and to reduce fevers. In Ayurvedic medicine, bergamot oil is known to soothe skin rashes and acne, sores, sore throats, obesity, flatulence, loss of appetite, compulsive behaviors, and dental needs.

Assists in maintaining healthy skin
May promote hair growth
Enhances your sleep quality
Helps your mind calm down
May assist with relieving stiff joints and occasional pain
Supports your body's natural immune response
Antioxidant properties may reduce oxidative stress
May support heart health
May assist with normalizing body weight

Uses for Bergamot Oil

Bergamot oil makes a great addition to most homemade natural products.

Reduce stress by diffusing bergamot oil in your classroom, office, car, or home.
Add a few drops to your favorite moisturizer or homemade toner to improve your skin health.
Mix a tablespoon of aloe vera gel with 5 drops of bergamot oil and half a cup of Epsom salt to use in the tub or a foot soak.
Add one to two drops to your DIY skin cleanser.
Mix a few drops of bergamot oil in your shampoo or homemade hair mask to help your hair grow.

Directions for using bergamot oil

** Keep in mind bergamot oil (being a cold-pressed oil) is sensitive to heat. If you use it in DIY recipes, allow your concoction to cool before adding the oil.

Aromatic use: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
Topical use: Dilute with a carrier oil, and apply topically to an area that will not see direct sunlight within 12-18 hours. Recommended to dilute 1 drop per ml of your favorite carrier oil.
Internal use: described below under “Uses & Recipes for Bergamot Vitality Oil”

A carrier oil can be any cold-pressed, seed-based oil (ideally organic and unrefined). This includes most cooking oil, like coconut oil, avocado oil, and olive oil. Personally, we LOVE using sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, and the V6 Carrier oil (made by Young Living). This is the best way to dilute your essential oils for topical use.

DIY bergamot diffuser blends

Lower Stress Diffuser Blend – 3 drops bergamot, 2 drops frankincense, 2 drops lavender
Mental Clarity Diffuser Blend – 3 drops bergamot, 2 drops juniper berry, 1 drop spearmint
Rejuvenated Diffuser Blend – 2 drops bergamot, 2 drops lavender, 1 drop lemon
Relax and Uplift Diffuser Blend – 3 drops each of patchouli and bergamot oil

For more diffuser blends and a list of essential oils that blend well with bergamot, check out our Master List of DIY Bergamot Diffuser Blends

Culinary Uses & Recipes for Bergamot Vitality Oil

Bergamot Vitality essential oil has an uplifting, bright, and refreshing flavor you can add to any dish, calling for citrus flavors.

Add a drop of bergamot vitality to your stir fry to give it an extra dimension
Spruce up your water with a squirt of Bergamot Vitality Drops
Add a drop or two of bergamot vitality to coconut or sesame oil to brush over seafood while grilling to add an extra citrus depth to your food.
Add 1-2 drops of bergamot vitality to a veggie capsule filled with olive or coconut oil as a dietary supplement to support your immune and digestive systems.
Replace each teaspoon of citrus zest with a drop of bergamot vitality to give your baked goods a fun flavor twist
Add a drop or two to a tsp of honey and infuse in your Earl Grey tea for a surprisingly uplifting flavor.

If you decide to ingest bergamot oil in a manner that isn't a flavoring agent, please check out our report on how to ingest essential oils safely first.

Bergamot Oil Safety Considerations

If you have a potassium deficiency, we strongly recommend not using this oil (especially ingesting). Bergamot is known to deplete potassium in the body.

Do NOT apply bergamot oil to your skin within 12-18 hours of that area seeing direct sunlight.

Bergamot oil is photosensitizing. If applied to the skin at certain concentrations and then exposed to ultraviolet light, it can cause a burning sensation on your skin.

To avoid any photosensitizing effects, bergamot should be diluted to no more than 0.4% when applying it on the skin. If using higher concentrations, avoid direct sunlight for 12-18 hours.

Another option is to use “bergapten-free” or “furocoumarin-free” bergamot oil, which is not phototoxic. Bergapten is also known as Furocoumarin.

This warning applies to “leave-on” applications such as oils, lotions, and balms. There has been no reported risk from products designed to rinse off, such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, and bath additives.

Bergamot Oil Substitutions & Alternatives

Bergamot oil has similar benefits to grapefruit and orange oils, and can easily be used interchangeably. The aroma differences between bergamot and grapefruit are easily the most similar compared to all other oils.

You can easily substitute your bergamot oil with orange, lemon, mandarin, Jade Lemon, and grapefruit oils.

Which Essential Oils Blend Best With Bergamot

Black Pepper
Blue Tansy
Cinnamon Bark
Clary Sage
Cypress
Eucalyptus
Frankincense
Geranium
Grapefruit
Jasmine
Juniper
Lemon
Mandarin
Nutmeg
Orange
Patchouli
Peppermint
Pink Pepper
Roman Chamomile
Rosemary
Sandalwood
Vetiver
Ylang Ylang

FAQs About Bergamot Oil

Is Bergamot Oil Safe To Ingest?

Yes, in very small amounts, IF you're using pure bergamot oil that isn't adulterated in any way (be sure you trust your supplier).

Is bergamot oil safe to use while pregnant?

Bergamot should be used very cautiously (if at all) while pregnant.

I don't recommend using bergamot without being under the care of an aromatherapist, herbalist, naturopath, or other natural-minded medical professional unless you're very well-versed in what you're doing. There are other oils you could use instead.

If you're using oils while pregnant, I highly recommend this reference guide. It contains some great advice for using essential oils while pregnant, plus some DIY Recipes you'll love too.

Is bergamot essential oil safe for kids or babies?

Please only use bergamot oil on or around children over 6. For children under 12, be sure to dilute more than normal before using topically.

While essential oils may be safe for kids to use, please do not have your child use an essential oil internally as a supplement without being under the direct guidance of a naturopathic doctor or qualified aromatherapist.

Also, keep in mind that bergamot oil is very concentrated. It is best to keep it out of the reach of children and stored in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.

Can you be allergic to bergamot oil?

Most bergamot oils are cold-pressed from the bergamot fruit rind, not distilled. If your bergamot oil is cold-pressed and you have a bergamot allergy, you could experience an allergic reaction.

However, there are a few reasons why you would experience an allergy-like reaction to essential oils that have been distilled. Usually, this is caused by not diluting the oil you're applying (or not diluting it enough). Please refer to our essential oils and allergies article for more in-depth information.

Is bergamot oil safe for dogs and cats?

Bergamot oil is not one we recommend for use on dogs or cats. Cats, in general, should avoid all citrus oils, including bergamot.

If you're using essential oils around your family pets, be sure to allow them to access out of the room and into a room where you're not diffusing. This way, they can escape when they feel they've had enough.

Please also consider picking up a reference guide specific to using essential oils with animals. There are also reference guides specific to Young Living's oils.

How often should you use bergamot oil?

Whether or not to use bergamot oil is also a personal question. This depends on what you're using it for and how experienced you are using it.

For beginners, I recommend only diffusing for 30 minutes at a time, then giving your body an hour break. If you diffuse too much, you could end up lightheaded.

Personally, I have a diffuser running most of the day intermittently (using the intermittent setting on our diffuser). Or I'll wear a piece of diffusing jewelry with 3 drops of oil on it throughout the day (those 3 drops usually last a few days). Check out our article about diffusing essential oils safely for more info.

Should you use bergamot oil if you're taking medication?

We have not yet found any specific documentation outlining medication contraindications with bergamot oil.

HOWEVER, some medications could make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Because bergamot also contains photosensitive properties, using these products together could increase the potential risk of sunburn, blistering, or rashes when your skin is exposed to sunlight. Best bet: don't allow your skin to receive direct sunlight anywhere you apply bergamot oil.

Bergamot could potentially lower your blood sugar levels. If you're taking diabetes medications and using bergamot oil topically or internally, you could cause your blood sugar levels to drop.

Bergamot oil is also known to aid in weight loss, which means it could potentially speed up your metabolism. If you're taking medication and using an essential oil that causes changes to your metabolism, you might run into problems with dosing being too high or low. Be sure to consult with your pharmacist or medical team to monitor your medication needs and changes.

Overall, whether you choose to use essential oils while taking medication is a very personal question to answer, and really depends on which medications you're taking, your individual circumstance, and should be a conversation to have with your health team. I have an entire article dedicated to known medication contraindications that I highly recommend you check out… in addition to having a lengthy conversation with your local aromatherapist, naturopath, or pharmacist.

Does bergamot oil make you tired?

While bergamot does help you relax and unwind, we have not noticed feeling sleepy just because of bergamot oil, nor have we found any studies showing positive effects on tiredness. Quite the opposite. Most studies we've read through have indicated that bergamot oil is NOT a contributing factor to tiredness.

If you've been stressed, anxious, or more active than normal, then you may feel sleepy diffusing bergamot oil, but not because of the oil itself.

However, reducing your body's natural stress response and anxious feelings has been reported in numerous studies to aid in improving the quality of your sleep.

Does bergamot oil repel mosquitos?

Bergamot’s aroma could potentially act as a natural insect repellent. According to research, bergamot oil has “low median protection” compared to other essential oils.

Meaning: bergamot oil is not as effective in repelling mosquitos (and other nuisance bugs). Because of this, “insect repellant” was not included in our list of benefits or studies.

That said, if you choose to use bergamot oil in your DIY bug-repelling sprays or lotions, it won't hurt… as long as you keep the skin you apply it out of the sun. You can apply the spray to your clothing instead.

What is bergamot's ORAC value?

Bergamot does not have an ORAC value.

The USDA discontinued ORAC value testing before having tested all foods. You can read more about it in our ORAC article.

Where do you purchase bergamot essential oil?

We purchase our bergamot oil from Young Living because they set a higher standard for essential oil production than what I've found throughout the rest of the industry.

Their farm-to-table type of approach and testing at every phase of their farming, distillation, and bottling processes has proven to me time and time again to be the closest thing out there to buying from your local farmer or DIYing the oil yourself, only better with their 25+ years of continual research and improvement. I also love their transparency and how they open their farms so you can see for yourself (or involve yourself in the process).

Disclaimer: Most authors at EssentialOils.Life are brand partners with Young Living and may make a small commission off your purchase through our links. This is how we support our families and afford the expenses of running this website. We thank you for your support and look forward to providing you with coaching and assistance on your oils journey.