Known as the “prince of citrus,” bergamot is a sunny and pleasant citrus scent featured in many perfumes and luxury candles. Its aroma is refreshing and rounded, sweet yet complex and deep, similar to lime but with floral, herbal, and resinous undertones. If you’ve never experienced bergamot before, we can’t wait to introduce you to this captivating scent.
What Exactly is Bergamot?
Bergamot is an aromatic citrus fruit primarily cultivated in the southern Italian province of Reggio Calabria. Its full name is the bergamot orange, or citrus bergamia, but it’s actually a hybrid between lemon and bitter orange. The fruit resembles a small, lumpy pear with a yellow or green rind and a prominent nub at one end. While too bitter and acidic to eat, bergamot is prized for the essential oil contained in its peel, which is renowned for its incredible fragrance.
Bergamot is perhaps best known as the key ingredient in Earl Grey tea, which is made from black tea infused with bergamot oil. This essential oil gives Earl Grey its unique aroma and flavor.
What Does Bergamot Smell Like?
Bergamot is a popular citrus note in perfumes and colognes, known for being zesty, refreshing, sparkling, and crisp. Citrus notes add freshness and vibrancy to fragrances, evoking feelings of nature, spring, summer, juiciness, exuberance, and joy. Bergamot, in particular, has an intriguing and compelling aroma that is:
- Citric
- Lightly floral
- Sharp and zesty
- Refreshingly sweet and sunny
- Subtly spicy and resinous
- Strongly associated with Earl Grey tea
To get a sense of bergamot’s aroma, sniff a bag of Earl Grey tea—it’s deliciously citric and floral scent comes from bergamot. Unlike other citruses, bergamot’s smell is sophisticated and complex. It’s often described as halfway between lemon and orange, with a blend of lime’s sourness and orange’s sweetness, but more mellow and rounded. It has a dry and floral quality that makes it smell fresh and clean without being overpowering.
If you’re seeking a luxurious, fresh, and exciting scent, look for fragrances that prominently feature bergamot, like our “Home” Luxury Candle.
Where Does Its Scent Come From?
The distinctive scent of bergamot comes from the essential oil extracted from the rinds of the bergamot orange. It takes approximately 100 fruits to yield just 3 ounces of oil, contributing to its high cost. The primary chemical compounds responsible for bergamot’s aroma are limonene (37.2%), linalyl acetate (30.1%), and linalool (8.8%).
Limonene, an aromatic compound, is responsible for the citrusy aroma most associated with lemons. It’s sharp, sweet, sour, and slightly bitter. Linalyl acetate contributes a fruity smell that is floral, sweet, and citric with a hint of mint, while linalool offers a lavender-like scent that is floral, light, and fresh.
Aromatherapy Benefits of Bergamot
In aromatherapy, bergamot’s soothing aroma helps reduce tension and relieve anxiety due to the positive effects of its chemical components on dopamine and other stress-relieving neurotransmitters. Research shows that bergamot essential oil can also be effective for relieving pain and improving mental health. Experts note that this uplifting citrus scent “lightens a heavy heart, lifts stagnation, and encourages confidence.”
The aroma of bergamot soothes the nerves, reduces tension and anxiety, and may positively influence depression. Many aromatherapists find that bergamot has an enlivening effect on the mood. Our Uplifting essential oil blend is perfect for those times when your energy needs a little boost.
Our Favorite Bergamot Candles
At Sweet U Candles, we offer a variety of luxurious candles featuring the captivating scent of bergamot. Explore our collection and bring the refreshing and complex aroma of bergamot into your home with our carefully crafted candles.
Discover more about our bergamot-infused candles and find your new favorite fragrance at [Sweet U Candles](https://www.sweetucandles.com).
