Bergamot: though you won’t often find it in a typical fruit bowl, this distinctive citrus is a cornerstone in perfumery. Associated with the refined elegance of southern Italy, bergamot fragrance offers a transformative experience—evoking the sparkling freshness of a sunlit grove along the Calabrian coast. Air Aroma’s Illuminate is a citrusy bergamot fragrance oil, and Sencha and Verdure fragrance oils feature this vibrant note. It also plays a key role in signature fragrances for luxury brands like HUBLOT, [solidcore], Intercontinental, and Mercedes-Benz. With its delicate balance of freshness and complexity, bergamot oil is an incredibly versatile and uplifting note.
The Bergamot Fruit
Bergamot is a citrus fruit roughly the size of an orange and with a vibrant color between green and yellow. This small citrus has raised controversy amongst botanists about its genesis; some arguing that bergamot is a natural hybrid resulting from a cross between a bitter orange and lemon. According to others, it is simply a subspecies of the bitter orange. The plant likely originates from Southeast Asia and was introduced to the Mediterranean and North Africa via trade along the Silk Road. Now, the fruit is grown predominantly in the Calabria region of southern Italy where the soil and microclimate are ideal for its cultivation. Over 90% of the world’s supply is now exported from Italy. Unlike other more common citrus fruits, bergamot is grown not for eating but for its fragrant peel. This peel produces an essential oil prized in perfumery and aromatherapy.
What Does Bergamot Smell Like?
The cold-pressed oil from the rind contains a medley of aromatic compounds—like linalyl and limonene—that lend bergamot its signature scent: fresh, floral, gently spicy, and faintly bitter. True bergamot oil can only be obtained through labor-intensive cultivation and careful, hand-picked harvesting, often making it one of the more exclusive citrus oils in the fragrance world.
How to Make Bergamot Oil
Cultivators harvest bergamot fruit in early winter, between November and February, and typically extract its essential oil through cold pressing. This process involves mechanically puncturing the rind and then using centrifugal force to separate the essential oil. This heat-free extraction method preserves the delicate aromatic compounds of the fruit. As the fruit is delicate and the yield is relatively low, pure bergamot oil is both precious and potent.
Its unique chemical profile gives it a dual character—bright and zesty on one hand, but soft and rounded on the other—which allows it to bridge both floral and woody compositions. These qualities make bergamot not only a key top note in many perfumes but also a subtle harmonizer within complex scent blends.
Historical & Cultural Uses of Bergamot for Aromatherapy
Bergamot has a long and rich history of use, both for its scent and medicinal properties. In traditional Italian folk medicine, healers used bergamot oil as a natural remedy for fevers, inflammation, and infections. Its soothing, mood-enhancing properties were also historically employed in teas and tonics. Most famously, bergamot is foundational in the creation of Earl Grey tea, where bergamot rind is blended with black tea to lend its unmistakable flavor.
In aromatherapy, users continually celebrate bergamot for its ability to uplift the mood and reduce stress. Its bright, clean scent has been found to ease anxiety and promote a sense of well-being. Skin care formulations also use it as a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent.
Today, bergamot remains a cornerstone in perfumery. Perfumers often use the note to add radiance to blends and enhance both floral and green compositions. Its crisp character can create a sense of elegance and ease, making it a favorite for both personal wear and ambient scenting.
Air Aroma’s Illuminate Fragrance
Bright, Optimistic, Citrus, Aquatic
Bergamot, Blood Orange, Grapefruit, Verbena, Marine Air, Asian Pear, Lily of the Valley, Neroli, Moss, Cedarwood
Luminous through a gradient sky, the central spark of a soft glow. Radiant and deep, gracefully descending through wide expanse. The ember that doesn’t die, illuminating all that is. Felt as truth, a tangible light, the sinking sun as simultaneously permanent and fleeting.
With its fresh, uplifting profile, Illuminate is a popular choice for luxury hospitality, wellness spaces, and retail environments. Used in hotels like The Langham New York, Fifth Avenue and The Beverly Wilshire, Illuminate offers a sunny, welcoming atmosphere that enhances any space.
Bergamot is a timeless choice for those drawn to the clean, effervescent energy of citrus. Discover the light-filled beauty of bergamot in Air Aroma’s Illuminate, Sencha, and Verdure fragrances. Or, create your own custom scent inspired by the luminous freshness of bergamot.
