If you’re a fan of Earl Grey tea, you’re already enjoying the distinctive taste of bergamot, which is used to flavor it.It’s currently grown in many parts of the world, but achieved its prominence and name in the town of Bergamo in southern Italy.Add two to five drops of Bergamot essential oil to products such as body wash, shampoo, and facial scrubs.This may make bergamot oil an effective spot treatment for acne in people who do not have sensitive skin.You can also mix one to two drops with a tablespoon of carrier oil and massage it into your scalp as an overnight treatment.Touted for its antibacterial properties, tea tree oil may fight acne and soothe skin inflammation.Touted for its antibacterial properties, tea tree oil may fight acne and soothe skin inflammation.These include: Stress reduction A small 2015 study done on women in Japan found that inhaled bergamot oil mixed with water vapor reduced feelings of anxiety and fatigue.Similarly, a 2013 article published in the journal Current Drug Targets reported that aromatherapy with bergamot (among other essential oils) can relieve depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders by signaling the brain to release dopamine and serotonin.Fights food poisoning Linalool, a compound found in bergamot, may sometimes be effective at destroying types of bacteria responsible for food-borne illnesses.A 2006 study examined bergamot’s effectiveness at destroying several strains of bacterium on chicken skin and cabbage leaves.A 2016 study tested the effect of different types of bergamot essential oil against strains of Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria that causes listeriosis infection.Given the variability, researchers concluded that bergamot essential oil’s effectiveness against bacteria in foods should be estimated.Lowers cholesterol A 2016 review of human and animal studies indicated that flavonoids found in bergamot can help reduce lipid levels, although it indicated that the exact mechanism driving this result is unclear.A 2017 review of studies analyzed the effects of multiple essential oil compounds on the pain response and other conditions in humans and animals.It found that both linalool and carvacrol had analgesic, anticonvulsant, and anti-inflammatory capabilities when used in a variety of methods that included applying it on the skin.Be aware that using essential oils in a diffuser can have a negative effect on children, pets, or pregnant women