The beauty ABC: bergamot

The Italians are very proud of their plantations in the Province of Calabria not far from the town of Bergamo, in honour of which the fruit was named.  The fruit was previously known as "Bergamo orange". The Calabrian soil and climate give the bergamot its bright and rich aroma. It is also cultivated in smaller amounts in China, India, the Caucasus and along the coast of the Black Sea.

There are two legends linked to the use of the plant in cosmetology. Firstly there’s the hypothesis that the French began to use bergamot in perfumes to impart a ‘lively aroma’. Other sources state that the first eau de cologne was created in Italy with a base of essential oil of bergamot.

Bergamot is cultivated mostly for the production of essential oils from the peel, blossom, leaves and shoots of the young plant. This oil has many positive qualities. It is often used in massages and baths to relieve cramps. It is also useful for treating skin infections and greasy skin on the face or scalp. The oil of this super fruit helps normalise the function of sebaceous and sweat glands, reduces enlarged pores, cleanses the skin and combats pigment spots. Bergamot has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, so it can be used on the skin to treat insect stings. It is also added to hand and body creams, which help to regenerate and smooth the skin. 

 

Perfume makers use bergamot in perfumes and scents. The aroma of such perfumes can improve the mood, refresh and restore emotional balance. The fruit’s scent helps to dispel sad thoughts, enhance feelings of self-worth and joy and restore clarity to your thoughts. Experts on the effects of scents on emotions recommend using the aromas of bergamot, grapefruit and lavender oils before an important talk or exam. 

People who have difficulty getting up in the morning should use a soap or shower gel that contains the aroma of bergamot. This will lift their mood and energise them for the day. The super fruit also contains “bergapten”, which is responsible for hair growth, as well as the nutritional components of limone, linalson and linalyl acetate. Bergamot oil is used in many shampoos and balms. You can mix 1-2 drops of bergamot oil into your hair mask or comb it through the length of your hair. The oil protects hair from harmful environmental influences. 

Bergamot oil can also help you tan quicker and more evenly.