Fragrance Note
Bergamot
Used in 4213+ fragrances on FragranVerse
What it smells like
Bergamot is a burst of bitter citrus rind. Sharper than orange, cleaner than grapefruit. Immediately softened by a floral-aromatic transparency that recalls freshly brewed Earl Grey before the steam disperses. This small, yellow-green citrus fruit (Citrus bergamia) is cultivated almost exclusively on the Ionian coast of Calabria, southern Italy, where 1,500 to 2,000 hectares of groves yield roughly 100 metric tons of essential oil per year. The inedible fruit is cold-pressed to obtain the oil, with a yield between 0.3% and 0.5% of fruit weight.
How it's used in perfumery
Bergamot is the universal top note. The opening gambit of European perfumery. It provides lift: the initial brightness that draws attention before the heart and base assert themselves. It appears across nearly every fragrance family, dominating Eau de Cologne formulas, sharpening fougère openings, and carrying brightness over chypre bases. Bergamot FCF (bergaptene-free) is the industry standard for skin-safe formulation.
Fun fact
In 1709, Giovanni Maria Farina wrote to his brother from Cologne: "I have found a scent that reminds me of an Italian spring morning, of mountain narcissus and orange blossoms after the rain," describing the original Eau de Cologne built on bergamot oil.
Perfumes with Bergamot(80 of 4213)
Middle East
(12)Designer
(28)
Niche
(40)