Bergamot is a fresh citrus scent which is commonly used as a top note in both men’s and women’s perfumes. Technically, bergamot belongs to the orange family, although its green coloured skin has been inherited from its close relative the lime.
Sometimes Bergamot can be confused with lemon however, they do not smell the same; Lemons are tangy and acidic, while bergamot is lighter with a more citrusy and sometimes spicy tone. Lemons are typically used in cooking and baking , while bergamot is more commonly used to make essential oils and perfumes (Bergamot is also the main ingredient in Early Gray tea!).
The freshness of Bergamot means that it isn’t particularly a masculine or feminine scent; it’s also commonly used in unisex and gender-neutral fragrances. This article outlines the best fragrances which have Bergamot as a main note.
Table of Contents
- Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Bergamote Calabria
- Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Bergamotto di Calabria
- Le Labo Bergamote 22
- Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Cologne Forte
- Floris Bergamotto di Positano
- Versace Versense Pour Femme & Pour Homme
- Versace Man Eau Fraiche
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Bergamote Calabria
Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria range is a gorgeous collection of fresh, natural scents. Their Bergamote Calabria Eau De Toilette brings out the sharp, zesty scent of bergamot by adding a hint of ginger. It’s a super refreshing fragrance which is also unisex and universal; great for humid summer days.
Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Bergamotto di Calabria
Acqua di Parma is a high end Italian fragrance brand who make lots of fresh scents and accompanying body products.
Their Blu Mediterraneo range is inspired by the scents of the Mediterranean Sea. Bergamotto di Calabria evokes the scent of the ripe bergamot growing on the coast. It’s a gorgeous slightly sweet and slightly sharp citrus scent which is my personal favourite bergamot fragrance.
Le Labo Bergamote 22
Le Labo Bergamote 22 is a slightly green citrus fragrance which leans slightly more towards the more masculine side of the fragrance spectrum; though it could be worn by anyone. Along with fresh bergamot, a vetiver note combines with the citrus to create depth and strength. I think Le Labo Bergamote 22 is one of the stronger bergamot fragrances; the vetiver helps the scent linger.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Cologne Forte
For a sophisticated Bergamot scent, the exclusive Maison Francis Kurkdjian brand recently created their Aqua Universalis Cologne Forte which comes in a gorgeous silvery bottle.
This light fragrance has a musk note in it’s heart which settles the bergamot top note to create a smooth and creamy citrus fragrance.
Aqua Universalis Cologne Forte is not a strong fragrance and it’s quite expensive, so I’d recommend trying out its lasting power before purchasing.
Floris Bergamotto di Positano
Floris is a classic British fragrance brand who have created fragrances for royalty for hundreds of years. Their Floris Bergamotto di Positano is a complex bergamot scent which brings out the sweetness of bergamot with a vanilla and amber base.
It has an orange blossom heart note (the flower of the bitter orange tree) which helps with the lasting power of Floris Bergamotto di Positano.
Versace Versense Pour Femme & Pour Homme
Versace Versense for both men and women is an aromatic Bergamot fragrance which reminds me of the scent of an expensive spa!
Although both fragrances have bergamot as their main note they also have a variety of other scents in their formula. Clary sage and cedar in Versace Versense for men creates gentle warmth while fig and orange add a fruitiness to Versace Versense for women.
Versace Man Eau Fraiche
As the clear blue bottle indicates Versace Man Eau Fraiche is a light and refreshing fragrance for men. Bergamot is the dominant note which is slightly sharp at first but settles to become very soft. There are hints of aromatic notes underneath the bergamot as well as an unusual starfruit fragrance note, but primarily this is a citrus fragrance ideal for hot weather.
