Bergamot~Fruity Yet Manly

Bergamot Plant & Fruit

Bergamot…. what an interesting name…you would never think this was a scent that would entice you to smell it let alone be one of the best scents for mixing perfume oils for men.  I recently found out what a great smell it has and how Bergamot is such a versatile essential oil.  As I have told you before or maybe I haven’t,  I have recently decided to try my hand at creating my own essential oil blends.  I was so very excited when the basic essential oils I ordered began to show up, then came the carrier oils I ordered~jojoba, almond, and avocado oil to be exact~ and finally came my pipettes and some of those little amber colored glass bottles.  I was ready, I can mix~no problem~enter the test subjects.  My poor son and husband, who better to create an expression of love for….or so I thought.  I had them pick the scents that they preferred and lined them up, ready to start using those cute little plastic pipettes that dispense the essential oil into my jars.  How hard can it be I thought to myself, a couple drops of this and a couple drops of that, then top it off with a whole bunch of carrier oil…simple, right?  Not so simple….I had no clue about top, middle, and base notes (aren’t those musical notes?) nor did I really understand scent combination.  I just found a recipe on line and went to town.   Needless to say, my husband’s first scent “earthbound” smelled more like “I have a cold and needed a buttload of Vic’s Vapor Rub”.   I then thought, well….maybe it needs to simmer a few days….yeah~no help there. 

Bergamot Essential Oil

Really, I thought….if ten drops is what is called for in the recipe….and I miscounted the drops by a few….okay really…more than a few…it would be better smelling, right?  Again, not very smart thinking there.   And yet I was still wondering why my husband kept telling me not to blow up the house by mixing this stuff together.  So now here I sit humbled and sharing this experience with you, the reader.  What does this have to do with Bergamot, you wish to know?  Bergamot and those “extra” drops of Rosemary were what was in my husband’s scent.  Alone, Bergamot is a delicious, fruity scent but when you add Rosemary….too much rosemary….all right, way too much Rosemary.  The scent changes a little…..OK…A LOT!   Enough of my trials and tribulations, let’s get down to the basics of Bergamot and its benefits through aromatherapy.

Citris Bergamiais the Latin name for Bergamot.  It has a nice, fresh and clean citrus scent with floral high notes.  It is an excellent blending of orange and lemon.  It is used frequently as the top note of many high end perfumes.  The parts of the plant used for oils are the leaves and the peel of the fruit.  Yes, this particular plant is a fruit bearing tree.  The tree can grow to fifteen feet in height with long green leaves and pretty white flowers.  The fruit is shaped similar to a pear but its rind is like an orange or lemon.  This tree requires a special climate and soil as it is considered very delicate in nature. There is much disagreement about where Bergamot originally hails from. Some experts believe that Bergamot is native to Asia but was brought to Spain and Italy with Christopher Columbus.  Another group of experts believe that…..Yes….wait for it…..Greece was its ancestral home.  And yet another group believe that it was found in the Canary Island.  So believe which ever group you wish….BUT…deep down inside, we all know it came from Greece:-)   It was named after the city of Bergamo in the Lombardy region of Italy.  The fruit is non-edible because it is so very sour and is used mainly to make essential oil from the rind.

Bergamot Tree with Fruit

Bergamot is associated with the Sun and the element of Fire.  Its magical influences promote peace, happiness and restful sleep.  It is associated with the astrological signs of Leo, Taurus, Sagittarius, and Cancer.  Bergamot is often confused with Bergamot Mint which is an herb and has a totally different scent than Citris Bergamia.  It is considered a scent that is uplifting to our soul and sports the nickname of “the Happy Scent”.  It blends well with other citrus scents as well as sandalwood, juniper, black pepper, Clary sage, and rosemary…yes, rosemary…but just a little.   Its primary therapeutic uses are as an analgesic, antiseptic, antidepressant, deodorant, digestive, and sedative.  It is often used to assist in a uninterrupted night of sleep and helps treat depression and anxiety.  It is considered a first choice holistic medicine for urinary-tract infections and cystitis.  Bergamot is exceptionally suited to oily skin or problematic acne skin and is used as an antiseptic in many skin care creams and lotions.  During the Middle Ages, it was used to combat evil spirits(we all know evil spirits hate happy people) and as a treatment for fevers.

Bergamot

The essential oil of Bergamot is actually emerald green in color and is easily paired with most other floral scents.  It is considered one of the most beautiful and harmonizing of all the essential oils.  Bergamot should be inhaled if you are searching for a peaceful nights rest or uplifts those with some minor depression.  It aids in the alleviation of stress and is useful in treating cold sores, herpes, eczema, and psoriasis.  The unripe fruits are…yup, more stuff about the Greeks….. are preserved in sugar as sweetmeats to be eaten by the spoonful when drinking coffee or as a dessert. 

Bergamot is considered a detoxifier and assists with the reduction of cellulite.  Its cooling and refreshing qualities seems to dispel anger and frustration, most likely by decreasing the action of the sympathetic nervous system.  For those of you who suffer with indigestion, dyspepsia, gas and colic, Bergamot helps alleviate these ailments.  Interestingly, it is very effective on chicken pox and shingles and was once used to heal sexually transmitted diseases.

Bergamot Fruit

Bergamot is very photosensitive so if you do utilize it, do not go out into the sun for long periods of time as it will turn your skin brown.  It also can be irritating to sensitive skin.  You can utilize Bergamot essential oil in lotions or carrier oils for massage, in the bath tub, as well as in an aromatherapy lamp.  It is also great when used in a diffuser or inhaler.  This posts recipe comes from the book “The Fragrant Veil”  by Elizabeth Millar.  For a nice, uplifting bath add two drops of Bergamot, Geranium, and Lavender.

I hope you have enjoyed this post on Bergamot, I know its been a while since I uploaded anything new, so the mood struck me and I started writing like a crazed woman. My next aromatherapy post will be on the correct usage and doses in which to use Rosemary Essential Oil.