How Bergamot Essential Oil Helps Ease Anxiety and Balance Mood, According to Science

Some scents speak in whispers. Bergamot, with its soft citrus brightness and barely-there floral finish, has long been one of them. Known in aromatherapy for its ability to lift spirits and quiet restlessness, bergamot essential oil now has scientific backing that supports what so many have felt instinctively: it helps us find our emotional centre.

In a 2015 review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, researchers examined a broad body of evidence linking essential oils—and their key constituents—to the treatment of mood disorders, including stress, anxiety, and depression. Among the essential oils studied, bergamot stood out for its ability to act on the nervous system in ways that gently ease psychological tension.

Bergamot contains natural compounds such as linalool, limonene, and linalyl acetate, which are known to influence brain chemistry—particularly the systems related to serotonin and GABA, two neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation and calm. In both human and animal studies, inhalation of bergamot oil has been shown to reduce anxiety-like behaviours and lower physiological markers of stress, such as cortisol levels and heart rate.

What makes bergamot so compelling is its subtlety. Unlike sedatives that dull or stimulants that jolt, bergamot seems to restore equilibrium, making it especially well-suited to modern emotional challenges like burnout, overthinking, or chronic low-level stress. In one study cited in the review, even 15 minutes of inhalation produced measurable improvements in mood and lowered stress hormones in healthy adults.

Whether used in moments of overwhelm, as part of a calming breathwork practice, or simply diffused in the background of a busy day, bergamot essential oil offers an elegant, natural approach to mental balance. It’s not about numbing emotion—it’s about helping us move through it with more ease, more presence, and a little more light.

Source: Frontiers in Pharmacology