Patrick’s Perfumes: the green gold in glass bottles otherwise known as Bergamot
4.7.2023
Translation: Elicia Payne
Perfumes are works of art, perfumers are artists and I’m a collector of their creations. Today, I’m homing in on Bergamot. La Labo, Creed and Orto Parisi have their own individual way of interpreting this citrus fruit in their fragrances.
What’s the ideal summer fragrance like? For many, it has to be fresh, light and citrusy. Sometimes with lemon or neroli, sometimes with tangerines and quite often with bergamot. Bred as a hybrid between the bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) and the citron (Citrus medica), Citrus bergamia has secured a permanent place in perfumery.
The fruit originated in the tropics of Asia and is believed to have reached the Canary Islands at some point, where it was discovered by Christopher Columbus and brought to Calabria. So legend tells it. In fact, around 90 per cent of the global production of this green gold still comes from southern Italy. Other cultivation areas are in Argentina, Brazil, Guinea and the Ivory Coast. However, these fruits don’t reach the same quality as the Calabrian bergamot.
Source: Shutterstock
The oil is found in the skin of the fruit and is obtained by mechanical cold pressing and centrifugation. To obtain one litre of oil, you need about 200 kilogrammes of the fruit. The harvest period is in winter from November to February. Due to its versatility, bergamot oil is well known in perfumery. It’s not too sweet, not too sour, not too bitter. No wonder there are so many different fragrances that play with this scent.
Le Labo «Bergamote 22»
From Le Labo comes Bergamote 22, one of the brand’s bestsellers. This doesn’t surprise me, because, in my opinion, those who love fresh and fruity scents definitely get their money’s worth here. Grapefruit, musk and vetiver play leading roles in addition to bergamot. It’s a nice summer fragrance that’s easy to wear, be it at the office or at drinks in the evening. I’ve also noticed the odd person at the gym wearing Bergamote 22. Even there, it makes a good impression.
Creed «Silver Mountain Water»
Everyone talks about Aventus or Green Irish Tweed. But with Silver Mountain Water, Creed has created a fragrance that really comes into its own in the summer. I’ve been wearing it almost every day, in fact. The base notes are mainly sandalwood and tea. However, what’s really stunning is how the first spray has black currant and bergamot notes. One might say that’s typical of Creed. But unlike with other fragrances of the house, the dry down of Silver Mountain Water is impressive. Even after hours of wearing it, I get the odd whiff.
Orto Parisi «Bergamask»
Alessandro Gualtieri is the nose behind Bergamask. The Italian perfumer is probably one of the most creative minds in the industry right now. In addition to Nasomatto, he runs a second brand, Orto Parisi. His fragrances are often challenging and miles apart from the mainstream.
And this one’s no different. For me personally, a little more mainstream wouldn’t hurt here. The name Bergamask refers to the bergamot and musk in the perfume. It's an odd fragrance – one that me and my environment aren’t (yet) used to. A splash is enough and the people around me go berserk for hours; that’s how intense and animalistic Bergamask is. But I’m hopeful that our noses will enjoy this scent one sunny day.
My name is Patrick. Bardelli, not Süskind like the author of the book «Perfume». Nevertheless, I’m also a great lover of perfumes and I regularly write about good and bad fragrances. Want to enjoy my literary odour? Follow my author profile. Or let’s say: follow your nose. And remember: all I’m doing here is giving my subjective opinion.*
Header image: Patrick Bardelli
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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