What it is
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Peel Oil is the essential oil obtained from the peel of the bergamot orange, a citrus fruit. It is prized for its fresh, bright citrus-floral scent and is used almost entirely as a natural fragrance ingredient. Like other citrus peel oils, it is a complex mixture of volatile terpenes and other aromatic compounds.
Safety & warnings
Bergamot peel oil contains fragrance allergens such as limonene and linalool, which can cause allergic contact dermatitis in sensitized individuals. Untreated (non-bergapten-reduced) bergamot oil contains furocoumarins such as bergapten that are phototoxic and can cause exaggerated reactions on sun-exposed skin, which is a particular concern in a daytime product; bergapten-free or furocoumarin-reduced grades are often used to mitigate this. Use levels are generally kept low, and patch testing is reasonable for fragrance-sensitive skin.
Origin & sourcing
Natural, plant-derived. It is typically produced by cold expression of the peel of the bergamot fruit (Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia).
History
Bergamot oil has long been a staple of European perfumery, notably as a defining note in classic eau de cologne, and it carried into broader cosmetic use as a fragrance material.
Questions everyone asks
Why is bergamot oil in a sunscreen?
It is added as a natural fragrance to give the product a fresh citrus scent.
Is bergamot oil a concern for sun-exposed skin?
Untreated bergamot oil contains phototoxic furocoumarins, so reduced-bergapten or furocoumarin-free grades are preferred, and fragrance-sensitive users should be mindful.