Fortunately, when bergamot oil is administered by inhalation, as in aromatherapy, it is has rarely been associated with phototoxicity,[1] although there has been one case report of blistering when aerosolized aromatherapy in a moist sauna environment was followed by a tanning bed session.[2] Phototoxicity can be completely avoided by using bergapten-free bergamot oil (BEO-BF) or furanocoumarin-free bergamot oil (BEO-FCF or Bergamot FCF), which can be produced by vacuum distillation or by removal of the bergapten and/or furanocoumarins from the cold-pressed oil.[3] Vacuum-distilled bergamot oil is bergapten-free.[4]
Have there been phototoxic reactions to bergamot oil aromatherapy?
Written by:
Fact-checked
by:
•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Bergamot oil used in aromatherapy has rarely been associated with phototoxic reactions, but one exception involved aerosolized use in a sauna followed by tanning. To completely avoid phototoxicity, bergamot oil can be used in its bergapten-free or furanocoumarin-free forms, which can be produced through specific distillation processes.