Do they have essential oils on the Starship Enterprise?

I say yes.

My first experience with Bergamot oil was from watching Star Trek: Next Generation. I am a big fan of Jean-Luc Picard and he always ordered “Tea – Earl Grey – Hot.” Want proof?  Here’s a YouTube video clip.  ????

What makes Earl Grey special is the addition of Bergamot essential oil.  I barely even knew what essential oils were when I started drinking the tea, but I loved the flavor and surely Jean-Luc has excellent taste in tea!

What is Bergamot essential oil?

Bergamot essential oil comes from the fruit of the bitter orange tree. It’s cold-pressed from the rind.

One of my all-time favorite oils, it is citrusy and fruity, but also a little more subtle and floral.

Here is a cool video on how doTERRA sources their Bergamot.

What does Bergamot do?

Think of Bergamot primarily as a calmer, but not necessarily in a sleepy way.  It can be used day or night.

It’s helpful both when you feel agitated or in a funk. This makes it a primary oil for stress of all kinds.

Here’s a cool study done with doTERRA’s Bergamot oil.(2) They tested using it in the waiting room of a mental health facility and had waiting guests fill out a questionnaire about positive and negative thoughts during the waiting period. No surprise to me, there was an increase in positive affect when Bergamot was used.

Cautions

Bergamot is one of the most photosensitive oils, so even though it is a skin purifying oil, I would NOT recommend using it on areas of the skin exposed to the sun. If you do, avoid sunlight or UV rays on that area for at least 12 hours after applying product.

If doTERRA is using Bergamot in a skin-care blend at heavy dilution, you may see the designation FCF. This stands for furocoumarin-free which means it has been processed to remove the sun-sensitive components so this version is safe to use topically.

Bergamot blends well with the following oils:

• Any citrus oil – lemon, grapefruit, etc
• Black Pepper
• Clary Sage
• Cypress
• Eucalyptus
• Lavender
• Patchouli
• Ylang Ylang

My favorite ways to use Bergamot:

In the Diffuser
Diffuse, diffuse, diffuse!!  I love Bergamot in the diffuser and have countless diffuser blends.  Here is a lovely one to start off with for bedtime…

Sleepy Bergamot Diffuser Blend:

3 drops Bergamot
2 drops Cedarwood

Aromatic Un-stressor
Another favorite use for doTERRA’s Bergamot essential oil is before or during stressful situations.

Rub one drop on your heart space which is the center of your chest on the sternum (make sure it’s in a spot hidden by clothing if you are in the sun). Inhale deeply.

Or, put a drop on a lava rock or felt pad in an essential oil necklace like these:   Lava Rock Necklace  or Felt Pad Necklace.

Room Air Freshener
Please, please, please get yourself away from the store-bought air fresheners. They are full of chemicals that are adding to our toxic load and triggering allergic or asthmatic reactions. The manufacturers aren’t required to disclose all of the ingredients which is scary to me.(1)

It’s so easy to make your own. You can use any glass or PET plastic spray bottle, but I especially like the mist bottle from doTERRA.

Simply add Bergamot essential oil and distilled water to the bottle.  Shake, then spray the air.

The number of drops will vary depending on the size of your spray bottle – may be as few as 5 drops or up to 30 in the large mist bottles.

Important:  when using distilled water in homemade products, change it every 2 months.  Because we are not using preservatives and additives, the water can eventually start growing bacteria if you let it sit for too long.

How to Order

Get Bergamot and supplies at retail.

Get Bergamot and supplies at 25% off with your wholesale membership.  (Your savings on this order will cover your cost of your first year’s membership).

Reference Articles:
(1)Fragrance and work-related asthma

(2) Research study on doTERRA’s Bergamot diffused in a mental health clinic waiting room. 

doTERRA’s Spotlight on Bergamot