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Short answer: Bergamot oil is a bright, citrus-scented essential oil from the peel of the bergamot orange, Citrus bergamia. It is used in small amounts in hair oils and balms for fragrance. Research on hair and scalp use is limited, and because pressed bergamot oil can make skin more sensitive to sunlight, it is used diluted.
Bergamot is best known as the flavouring in Earl Grey tea, but its peel oil is also widely used in perfume and cosmetics. It is the fourth scent in our organic hair oil range, alongside lavender, tea tree and unscented. This guide covers what bergamot oil is, how it smells and is used, what to know about sun, and what the research does not show.
Key takeaways
- Bergamot oil comes from the peel of Citrus bergamia, a citrus fruit grown mainly in Calabria, in southern Italy.
- It smells bright and citrusy, with a slightly herbal, less sweet finish than orange or lemon.
- In a hair oil, bergamot is there for scent. The carrier oils do the conditioning.
- Pressed bergamot oil can make skin more sensitive to sunlight, so it is used diluted, and sun on skin that has the oil on it deserves care.
- Research on bergamot oil and hair is limited, and no oil grows hair by itself.
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Organic Hair Oil | Bergamot
Our hair oil made with certified organic ingredients, with a bright, grown-up bergamot citrus scent instead of lavender or tea tree: light, non-greasy and quick to absorb, it conditions dry hair and tames frizz.
Shop Now →What is bergamot oil?
Bergamot oil is the essential oil of the bergamot orange, Citrus bergamia, a citrus fruit often described as a hybrid of bitter orange and lemon. The fruit is grown mainly in Calabria, in southern Italy, and the oil is taken from its peel by pressing or distillation.
The oil is widely used in perfume, cosmetics and food, and it flavours Earl Grey tea. Like other citrus peel oils, it naturally contains furocoumarins such as bergapten. These compounds are why bergamot needs more care in the sun than most scents, as covered below.
| Topic | Bergamot oil at a glance |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Citrus bergamia (bergamot orange) |
| Made from | The fruit peel, by pressing or distillation |
| Grown mainly in | Calabria, in southern Italy |
| Scent | Bright citrus, slightly herbal, less sweet than orange or lemon |
| Sun note | Pressed bergamot oil can make skin more sensitive to sunlight |
| In our range | Organic Hair Oil | Bergamot and Organic Hair Balm | Bergamot |
What does bergamot smell like in a hair oil?
Bright and citrus-forward, with a slightly herbal, less sweet finish than orange or lemon. It is closer to the citrus note in Earl Grey tea than to a typical fruity fragrance, which is why it reads as fresh and a little more grown-up.
The product page for our Organic Hair Oil | Bergamot describes a fresh citrus scent that is clean without being loud. As with lavender and tea tree, the feel of the oil comes from its carrier oils: bergamot essential oil is thin and volatile, so it adds scent rather than body.
If you like a citrus note, bergamot is the one to try. Prefer something softer? Look at lavender. Something sharper? Tea tree. No scent at all? Our Organic Hair Oil | Classic is fragrance-free.
How is bergamot oil used in hair and scalp care?
Mainly for its scent. Bergamot turns up in hair oils, balms, shampoos and colognes. In a hair oil it is a small part of the blend, and the carrier oils do the conditioning.
Our product page describes the bergamot hair oil as light, non-greasy and quickly absorbed, and says the finished oil conditions dry or damaged hair, tames frizz and adds a low-key shine. Those effects come from the blend as a whole, mostly the carrier oils, rather than from the bergamot itself.
The Organic Hair Balm | Bergamot is the styling companion: a shea butter and beeswax balm with a light hold and a natural finish. Warm a small amount between your palms and work it through the hair, on its own or after the oil.
Is bergamot oil safe to use on the scalp?
It is meant to be used diluted, in a finished product, and it needs more care in the sun than most scents. Cleveland Clinic lists bergamot among the essential oils that can make skin sensitive to the sun and advises avoiding direct sunlight after use.
A 2018 review of citrus essential oils in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences explains why. It says distilled citrus oils are not phototoxic, while pressed (expressed) oils carry a low to moderate risk because of their furocoumarins. Pressed bergamot oil in particular has caused sun-related skin reactions in tests, including in people in natural sunlight. The review found no hazards for furocoumarin-free bergamot oil and recommends diluting citrus oils in a carrier oil before skin use.
- Never apply bergamot essential oil undiluted.
- If your scalp or hairline will be in strong sun, choose another scent that day, or keep the oil to the mid-lengths and ends and off the scalp, and cover up or wear sunscreen as usual.
- Patch-test a new product on your inner forearm before it goes on your scalp.
What does the research on bergamot oil show?
Most of it is about inhaling the scent, not putting it on hair. A systematic review of human studies of bergamot oil, published in Phytotherapy Research, found only a handful of small studies of limited quality, mostly on aromatherapy and stress, and said firm conclusions cannot be drawn.
We are not aware of studies showing that bergamot oil changes how hair grows, so enjoy it for what it is, a fresh scent, and regard any effect on hair as unknown.
No oil grows hair by itself. For sudden hair loss, patchy loss, or a scalp that is red, sore or stays itchy, see a doctor or dermatologist.
What else is in Knightsmen's bergamot hair oil?
Organic Hair Oil | Bergamot is blended on a base of coconut, avocado, sweet almond and castor oils with vitamin E, plus black cumin seed oil, rosemary extract and rosemary oil. The full list is on the product page. Bergamot is there for the scent, and the rest of the blend does the conditioning.
Rosemary is a classic hair-care ingredient and is in every scent of this oil. Our guide to rosemary oil and hair care goes into more detail.
All four of our hair oils share the same base, so you can choose by scent. The Hair Oil Discovery Set has bergamot, lavender, tea tree and unscented in 5 ml bottles. They are COSMOS-certified organic and handcrafted in small batches in Toronto, with no mineral oil, parabens or synthetic fragrance.
How do I use bergamot hair oil?
- Patch-test first: apply a small amount to your inner forearm twice a day for four to five days, as the American Academy of Dermatology suggests for new skin-care products.
- Wash and towel-dry your hair, so the scalp is clean and free of existing product or excess oil.
- Warm a few drops between your palms.
- Massage into the scalp with your fingertips, working from roots to ends, then comb or style as usual.
Use it daily or every other day. If your hair is fine and goes limp easily, use fewer drops and keep it to the mid-lengths and ends, away from the scalp. On days your scalp will be in strong sun, choose another scent, as noted above. Browse the full organic hair oil collection for other scents.
Frequently asked questions
Does bergamot oil help hair grow?
Bergamot oil has not been shown, on its own, to change how hair grows. It is in a hair oil for its fresh scent, and the research on bergamot is mostly about inhaling the aroma. No oil grows hair by itself. For sudden or patchy hair loss, see a doctor or dermatologist.
Is bergamot oil safe to use directly on the scalp?
Bergamot essential oil should not go on skin undiluted, partly because pressed bergamot oil can make skin more sensitive to sunlight. A finished, diluted hair oil is the normal way to use it. Patch-test first, take care with strong sun where the oil has been applied, and ask your doctor if you are unsure.
What does bergamot hair oil smell like?
Bright and citrus-forward, with a slightly herbal, less sweet finish than orange or lemon oil. It is closer to the citrus note in Earl Grey tea than to a typical fruity fragrance, so it reads as fresh and a little more grown-up. Our product page calls it clean without being loud.
How often should I use bergamot hair oil?
Daily or every other day, on clean, towel-dried hair, is what our product page suggests. A few drops is enough: using more will not do more and can leave hair greasy. On days you will be in strong sun, choose another scent.
Can I switch between bergamot and Knightsmen's other hair oil scents?
Yes. All four of our hair oils share the same base, so switching scents changes the fragrance, not the base. Some people like a fresher scent in the morning and a softer one in the evening. The Hair Oil Discovery Set is the easiest way to try all four.
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Related guides
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic: 11 essential oils, their benefits and how to use them
- American Academy of Dermatology: skin-care tips, including how to test a new product
- COSMOS-standard: COSMOS certification
- Dosoky NS, Setzer WN. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2018;19(7):1966 (review of citrus essential oils, including bergamot safety).
- Mannucci C, et al. Phytotherapy Research 2017;31(1):27-39 (systematic review of human studies of bergamot).
- Navarra M, et al. Frontiers in Pharmacology 2015;6:36 (review of bergamot essential oil).
Knightsmen Grooming products are cosmetics. This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you have a skin or scalp condition, or sudden changes in your hair, see a doctor or dermatologist.
