This tree is native to South East Asia but was introduced to Europe and
Italy and is also found in the Ivory Coast, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.
The name is derived from the city Bergamo in Lombardy, Italy, where the oil
was first sold.
A delicate, small tree about 4-5-meters (16 ft) high, with smooth oval
leaves. The plant flowers twice a year-in the spring and at the end of
summer. The bergamot orange is a fruit, small and roughly pear shaped. The
fruit, produced in Italy, is a cross between the pear lemon and the seville
orange or grape fruit. The fruit is sour and its aromatic peel is used to
produce an essential oil that is used in Earl grey tea, perfumes and in
aromatheraphy to treat depression. It is also used as a digestive aid.
Appearance :Liquid
Aroma: It is a fruity citrus oil of spicy-floral
freshness.
Color : Greenish/yellow
Chemical constituents:
Bergamot oil has various chemical compounds that include terpinolene,
myrcene, methulacetophenone, carotenoids and triterpenoids.
Bergamot essential oil Therapeutic Effects:
The therapeutic effects are to balance the mind and regenerate. Bergamot
oil helps to eliminate emotional confusion and increase ones sense of humor
and well-being. Bergamot will also allay the pain of shingles and ease
chicken pox in small children. Bergamot oil can be used in the treatment of
depression, stress, tension, fear, hysteria, infection (all types including
skin), anorexia, psoriasis, eczema and general convalescence.
Aromatherapy uses :
The aromatherapic properties of bergamot oil include analgesic,
antidepressant, antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-spasmodic, stomachic,
calmative, cicatrisant, deodorant, digestive, febrifuge, effective insect
repellent properties. A very delicate, highly volatile oils like bergamot
and lavender are considered top note oil. It is mostly used in blending
aromatherapy oils used for massaging.
Candle making & incence :
It is used in candle making by refining paraffin wax which is specially
blended with rich scent and longer burning time. Candles of different types
like jar candles, floating candles, votive candles, pillar candles are made
with fragrance of bergamot essence.
Flavor and Fragrance :
The essential oils are extracted by pressing on the outer part of the fresh
peel. The well known extract of bergamot oil, used in cologne and Earl Grey
tea.
Bergamot has also been used for many years in Italy to treat fevers and in
China to treat coughs and colds. In France, mandarin oil is used to treat
indigestion and hiccups in children. Another method used is steam
distillation of freshly picked flowers, which produces the orange blossom
water. They have been used for centuries as folk remedies and are now used
as fragrances in soaps, detergents, cosmetics, perfumes, and
pharmaceuticals. Other uses for the oils include aromatherapy, skin care,
and as an aid to circulation and digestion. Bergamot also plays a major role
as a raw material for other products. The fresh fruit is processed into
juice, concentrates, canned, or refrigerated segments. Other products
include marmalades, cattle feed made from the skins, essential oils, pectin
and other chemicals. Oranges account for about 65% of all citrus production,
15% goes to mandarins, 10% to lemons and limes and 10% to grapefruit.
