Bergamot essential oil has antibacterial, deodorizing, refreshing, soothing, and uplifting properties which make it excellent for body skincare preparations, for ensuring healthy and vital skin. Bergamot essential oil has a fresh, citrus and slightly spicy aroma and is powerfully refreshing, uplifting and invigorating and helps maintain a balanced mood. Dr Nicholas Monardes who wrote a book about the plants of America in 1569, named the plant Bergamot because the scent of its leaves resembled the Italian Bergamot Orange, Citrus Bergamia from which an essential oil is made.
FCF at the end of Bergamot indicates that the furocoumarins (namely bergaptene) have been removed by steam distillation. Bergaptene free Bergamot (FCF) reduces the susceptibility to photosensitizing and is the preferred bergamot for safe use in massage blends and in perfumes.
Bergamot essential oil FCF originates from Sicily and is extracted by cold expression of the fruit peel. Bergamot essential oil is a member of the Rutaceae family and is also known as citrus aurantium subsp and bergamia. Bergamot essential oil blends well with geranium, jasmine, clary sage, chamomile (roman), cypress, grapefruit, lime, lemon, lavender and orange.
Bergamot FCF is a safer alternative to traditional bergamot essential oil which has been identified as phototoxic due to its furocoumarins (notably bergapten) content.