Bergamot is a citrus fruit that is widely used in perfumery for its fresh, sweet, and fruity scent with a slightly spicy and floral undertone. The bergamot oil is extracted from the rind of the fruit through cold pressing or steam distillation. It is commonly grown in the Calabria region of Italy, and the oil is a key ingredient in many classic and modern perfumes.
In perfumery, bergamot is often used as a top note due to its refreshing and light character. It blends well with other citrus oils, floral oils, and spices. Bergamot oil is highly volatile and can evaporate quickly, so it is typically used in high concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 5% in perfume formulations to achieve the desired effect.
The use of bergamot in perfumery can be traced back to the 18th century when the first Eau de Cologne was created. The iconic fragrance, 4711, which is still popular today, features a prominent bergamot note. Bergamot is also a key ingredient in many other classic fragrances, including Chanel No. 5, Guerlain Shalimar, and Dior Eau Sauvage, as well as modern fragrances such as Acqua di Parma Bergamotto di Calabria and Jo Malone Earl Grey & Cucumber.
Chanel No. 5: This classic perfume contains bergamot as one of its top notes, along with other floral and citrus notes.
Acqua di Parma Colonia: This is a classic Italian perfume that features bergamot as one of its main notes, along with other citrus notes.
Jo Malone Earl Grey and Cucumber: This fragrance features bergamot as one of its top notes, along with cucumber and other floral notes.
Dior Eau Sauvage: This men's fragrance features bergamot as one of its top notes, along with other citrus notes and spices.
Tom Ford Neroli Portofino: This fragrance is inspired by the Italian Riviera and features bergamot as one of its top notes, along with neroli and other citrus notes.