Fragrance note guide

What Does Bergamot Smell Like in Perfume?

Bergamot in perfume smells fresh, bright and citrusy, with a soft floral character and a slightly bitter green edge. It is less sharp than lemon and often feels smoother and more rounded than other citrus notes. Perfumers commonly use bergamot near the opening of a fragrance because it creates a clean, lively first impression.

Fresh bergamot oranges with glossy green leaves

What Does Bergamot Smell Like?

Bergamot has the brightness of citrus peel, but it can also smell lightly herbal, green and floral. Some versions feel crisp and sparkling, while others have a softer tea like quality. Its slight bitterness helps stop fresh perfumes from becoming too sugary, and its floral side allows it to blend smoothly into the heart of the fragrance.

Where Does Bergamot Come From?

Bergamot oil comes from the peel of the bergamot orange, known botanically as Citrus bergamia. Much of the bergamot used in perfumery is grown in Calabria in southern Italy. The essential oil is usually collected by pressing the fruit peel, followed by further processing when needed to refine the material.

How Bergamot Is Usually Described

  • Fresh
  • Zesty
  • Green
  • Floral
  • Lightly bitter

How Is Bergamot Used in Perfume?

Bergamot is usually used as a top note. It works particularly well with other citrus fruits, lavender, herbs, flowers, woods and amber notes. It is common in cologne style perfumes, fresh fragrances, chypres and aromatic scents, where it adds brightness without overwhelming the rest of the composition.

Notes Commonly Paired With Bergamot

White jasmine flowers and green leaves against a soft blue green background
Fragrance note

Jasmine

Jasmine in perfume usually smells rich, sweet and floral. It can also seem creamy, green, fruity or slightly spicy, depending on the type of jasmine and the other...

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Golden labdanum and benzoin resins used in amber perfume accords
Fragrance note

Amber

Amber in perfume usually smells warm, sweet and resinous, with soft vanilla, balsamic, powdery or slightly smoky sides. It is not normally taken from fossilised amber. In perfumery,...

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Mineral stones, sea salt, driftwood and amber-grey material representing a vegan ambergris accord
Fragrance note

Ambergris

Ambergris in perfume usually smells warm, mineral and ambery, with marine, musky, woody and sometimes tobacco-like sides. Modern ambergris accords can feel clean and velvety or dry, salty...

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Fresh green and red apples, one sliced in half, with leaves on a light sky grey background
Fragrance note

Apple

Apple in perfume usually smells crisp, juicy and fresh, with green, sweet and slightly tart sides. Green apple accords tend to feel sharper and more energetic, while red...

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Fresh bay laurel leaves and dark berries on a dusty pink-grey background
Fragrance note

Bay Leaf

Bay leaf in perfume usually smells green, herbal and spicy, with eucalyptus-like, woody and slightly medicinal sides. It is drier and more aromatic than many soft leafy notes....

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Ripe blackcurrants with green leaves and unopened buds on a pale sage background
Fragrance note

Blackcurrant

Blackcurrant in perfume usually smells dark, tart and juicy, with green, leafy and slightly sharp sides. It can suggest ripe berries, crushed leaves or a rich fruit syrup,...

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Green cardamom pods, opened pods and dark seeds on a light pale peach background
Fragrance note

Cardamom

Cardamom in perfume usually smells fresh, green and spicy, with citrusy, aromatic, woody and slightly cooling sides. It is lighter and fresher than many warm spices, so it...

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Cedarwood pieces with wood shavings and fresh cedar foliage
Fragrance note

Cedarwood

Cedarwood in perfume usually smells dry, warm and woody, with resinous, slightly smoky or pencil like sides. Some cedarwood notes feel smooth and creamy, while others are sharper...

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Fresh clary sage with textured green leaves and pale lilac flowers on a warm grey-blue background
Fragrance note

Clary Sage

Clary sage in perfume usually smells herbal, aromatic and floral, with lavender-like, hay, tea, amber and softly tobacco-like sides. It is smoother and warmer than ordinary culinary sage....

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Coriander plant with white flowers, green leaves and dried seeds on a pale peach background
Fragrance note

Coriander

Coriander in perfume usually smells aromatic, spicy and lightly citrusy, with floral, peppery, woody and softly sweet sides. The perfume material normally associated with this character comes from...

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Green cypress twigs with small cones on a pale rose-grey background
Fragrance note

Cypress Leaf

Cypress leaf in perfume usually smells green, aromatic and woody, with pine-like, peppery and resinous sides. It feels drier and more structured than a soft leafy note. Some...

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Pale elemi resin pieces and a leafy elemi branch on a dusty blue background
Fragrance note

Elemi

Elemi in perfume usually smells fresh, resinous and peppery, with bright citrus, aromatic wood and incense-like sides. It is lighter and more sparkling than many dark balsamic resins....

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Rose geranium with textured green leaves and small pale pink flowers on an apricot-grey background
Fragrance note

Geranium

Geranium in perfume usually smells rosy, green and aromatic, with minty, leafy, herbal and lightly fruity sides. It resembles rose but generally feels sharper, fresher and more strongly...

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Fresh ginger roots, one sliced, with green leaves on a pale lavender-blue background
Fragrance note

Ginger

Ginger in perfume usually smells fresh, spicy and zesty, with lemon-like, woody, earthy and slightly peppery sides. It feels lively and sparkling rather than simply hot. Fresh ginger...

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Crushed leaves, snapped green stems, cut grass and a violet leaf representing green notes in perfumery
Fragrance note

Green Notes

Green notes in perfume usually smell like crushed leaves, cut grass, snapped stems and fresh plant sap. They can be crisp, watery, bitter, herbal or slightly metallic. Green...

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Pale blue and purple hyacinth flowers with green leaves on a warm peach-grey background
Fragrance note

Hyacinth

Hyacinth in perfume usually smells fresh, green and floral, with watery, earthy, slightly spicy and dewy sides. It has more leafy sharpness than many soft spring flowers. Some...

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Juniper branch with blue-green berries and needles on a pale blush-grey background
Fragrance note

Juniper

Juniper in perfume usually smells fresh, aromatic and coniferous, with gin-like, spicy, green and woody sides. It can feel crisp and sparkling near the start, before becoming drier...

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Fresh lavender flower spikes and grey-green leaves on a light warm stone background
Fragrance note

Lavender

Lavender in perfume usually smells fresh, aromatic and softly floral, with herbal, clean, slightly sweet and sometimes powdery sides. Some lavender notes feel light, airy and calming, while...

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White lily-of-the-valley flowers with broad green leaves on a light misty aqua background
Fragrance note

Lily-of-the-Valley

Lily-of-the-valley in perfume usually smells fresh, clean and green, with watery, dewy and softly sweet floral sides. It can suggest small white spring flowers, cool air and fresh...

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Ripe pink lychees, one peeled open, with green leaves on a pale mint-grey background
Fragrance note

Lychee

Lychee in perfume usually smells juicy, floral and tropical, with rosy, watery, sweet and slightly tart sides. It can suggest translucent white fruit, rosewater and fresh tropical juice....

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Ivory magnolia flower and bud with deep green leaves on a pale pistachio-grey background
Fragrance note

Magnolia

Magnolia in perfume usually smells fresh, floral and softly creamy, with green, fruity, citrus-like and lightly spicy sides. It is often more transparent than tuberose and less indolic...

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Wet coastal leaves, mineral stones, water droplets and seaweed representing marine notes in perfume
Fragrance note

Marine Notes

Marine notes in perfume usually smell fresh, watery and airy, with salty, ozonic, mineral and sea-breeze sides. They are constructed accords rather than liquid extracted directly from seawater....

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Fresh peppermint and spearmint leaves with green stems on a light warm grey background
Fragrance note

Mint

Mint in perfume usually smells cool, fresh and green, with herbal, sweet and sometimes camphor-like sides. Peppermint can feel sharp and icy, while spearmint is often softer, greener...

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Fresh green forest moss on damp bark with woodland leaves on a pale stone-grey background
Fragrance note

Moss

Moss in perfume usually smells earthy, damp and green, with forest-floor, woody, resinous and slightly smoky sides. It is a broad description rather than one precise material. A...

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Ambrette seed pods and white flowers representing soft musk notes
Fragrance note

Musk

Musk in perfume can smell soft, warm, clean and slightly powdery, often with a smooth quality that is compared with fresh skin or clean fabric. Some musk notes...

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Whole nutmeg seeds, an open nutmeg fruit with red mace and green leaves on a pale mint-grey background
Fragrance note

Nutmeg

Nutmeg in perfume usually smells warm, dry and gently spicy, with woody, aromatic, sweet and slightly earthy sides. It is generally softer and rounder than black pepper and...

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Natural oakmoss lichen on weathered oak branches against a light warm-grey background
Fragrance note

Oakmoss

Oakmoss in perfume usually smells earthy, green and woody, with damp, mossy, slightly salty, leathery or forest like sides. It can create the impression of shaded woodland, wet...

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White bitter orange blossoms, glossy green leaves and flower buds on a pale peach background
Fragrance note

Orange Blossom

Orange blossom in perfume usually smells rich, white floral and softly sweet, with citrusy, honeyed, green and slightly creamy sides. It can feel bright and fresh in one...

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Fresh green patchouli leaves and natural stems
Fragrance note

Patchouli

Patchouli in perfume usually smells earthy, woody and deep, with herbal, slightly sweet and sometimes camphor like sides. It can feel dark and damp in one fragrance but...

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Fresh green pears, one sliced in half, with glossy leaves on a light dusty pink background
Fragrance note

Pear

Pear in perfume usually smells juicy, fresh and softly sweet, with crisp green, watery and sometimes slightly floral sides. Some pear notes feel like a firm green pear,...

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Black peppercorns on a green pepper vine with fresh leaves on a pale peach background
Fragrance note

Pepper

Pepper in perfume usually smells dry, fresh and spicy, with aromatic, citrus-like and woody sides. It can create a lively tingling sensation without necessarily smelling hot like food....

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Fresh pineapple partly sliced with green leaves on a soft aqua background
Fragrance note

Pineapple

Pineapple in perfume usually smells juicy, sweet and tropical, with tart, green and lightly creamy sides. Some pineapple accords are bright and freshly cut, while others feel riper,...

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Fresh pink rhubarb stalks with green leaves on a pale yellow-grey background
Fragrance note

Rhubarb

Rhubarb in perfume usually smells tart, green and sharply fruity, with watery, vegetal and slightly sour sides. It can suggest freshly cut pink stalks rather than a sweet...

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Fresh pink and cream roses with green leaves
Fragrance note

Rose

Rose in perfume usually smells floral, fresh and softly sweet, but it can also have green, fruity, honeyed or spicy sides. Some rose notes feel light and dewy,...

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Fresh rosemary stems with green leaves and pale blue flowers on a powder rose background
Fragrance note

Rosemary

Rosemary in perfume usually smells fresh, herbal and aromatic, with camphoraceous, minty, pine-like and lightly woody sides. It has a clean and stimulating character that can feel cool,...

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Common sage with textured grey-green leaves and purple flowers on a pale blue-grey background
Fragrance note

Sage

Sage in perfume usually smells dry, herbal and aromatic, with camphoraceous, eucalyptus-like, earthy and lightly woody sides. It is generally sharper and more medicinal than clary sage, which...

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Pale sandalwood pieces with smooth wood shavings and green leaves
Fragrance note

Sandalwood

Sandalwood in perfume usually smells warm, creamy and softly woody. It can also have milky, balsamic, powdery or lightly spicy sides. Unlike sharper woods, sandalwood often feels smooth...

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Salt crystals, coastal leaves and mineral stones representing sea salt in perfume
Fragrance note

Sea Salt

Sea salt in perfume usually smells mineral, airy and marine, with clean, salty, watery and sun-warmed skin sides. Salt crystals themselves do not provide the full smell associated...

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Sichuan pepper husks and red berries with green leaves on a pale peach-blue background
Fragrance note

Sichuan Pepper

Sichuan pepper in perfume usually smells citrusy, spicy and fresh, with metallic, floral, green and tingling sides. It is not closely related to black pepper and has a...

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Natural vanilla pods with a vanilla orchid flower and green leaves
Fragrance note

Vanilla

Vanilla in perfume usually smells sweet, warm and creamy. It can also have soft woody, powdery or spicy sides, depending on the material used and the notes around...

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Washed vetiver roots and fresh green vetiver grass on a light dusty blue background
Fragrance note

Vetiver

Vetiver in perfume usually smells earthy, woody and dry, with smoky, green, grassy or slightly bitter sides. Some vetiver notes feel dark, rooty and rugged, while others are...

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Fresh violet leaves with water droplets and a small purple flower on a pale apricot-blue background
Fragrance note

Violet Leaf

Violet leaf in perfume usually smells green, watery and cool, with metallic, leafy, cucumber-like and earthy sides. It is very different from the sweet powdery smell associated with...

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Luxaro Perfumes With Bergamot as a Top Note

These fragrances introduce Bergamot near the opening of the scent.

Related Fragrance Notes

Sliced lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime and bergamot with green leaves on a pale sky-blue background
Fragrance note

Citrus

Citrus in perfume usually smells bright, fresh and zesty, with juicy, bitter, green and peel-like sides. The term does not describe one fruit because lemon, bergamot, orange, mandarin,...

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Fresh clementines, one peeled and one sliced, with green leaves on a pale blue-grey background
Fragrance note

Clementine

Clementine in perfume usually smells sweet, juicy and zesty, with bright citrus peel, soft green freshness and a lightly floral character. It is generally rounder and less sharply...

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Pink grapefruit halves, curled peel and green leaves on a light lavender-grey background
Fragrance note

Grapefruit

Grapefruit in perfume usually smells fresh, tart and juicy, with a slightly bitter peel character and a clean, sparkling edge. It may also have green, dry or lightly...

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Fresh lemons, curled lemon peel and green leaves on a pale lilac-grey background
Fragrance note

Lemon

Lemon in perfume usually smells bright, fresh and sharply citrusy, with a clean, zesty character that often suggests freshly cut peel. It may also have green, lightly floral...

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Fresh green limes with glossy leaves and a white citrus flower on a pale blue-grey background
Fragrance note

Lime

Lime in perfume usually smells sharp, zesty and green, with juicy, bitter, sparkling and slightly herbal sides. It is often brighter and more sour than orange or mandarin,...

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Fresh mandarins, curled peel and glossy green leaves on a light pale mint background
Fragrance note

Mandarin

Mandarin in perfume usually smells sweet, juicy and zesty, with soft fruity, floral and slightly green sides. It is generally rounder and less sharp than lemon, making it...

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White bitter orange blossoms, unopened buds and glossy green leaves on a pale yellow-grey background
Fragrance note

Neroli

Neroli in perfume usually smells fresh, floral and green, with citrusy, slightly bitter and softly sweet sides. It has the scent of white orange flowers but generally feels...

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Fresh sweet oranges, a sliced orange and curled peel with glossy green leaves on a pale blue-grey background
Fragrance note

Orange

Orange in perfume usually smells juicy, sweet and zesty, with the fresh character of newly peeled fruit. It is softer and sweeter than lemon, while usually feeling less...

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Bitter orange twigs with green leaves, unripe fruit and white blossoms on an apricot-grey background
Fragrance note

Petitgrain

Petitgrain in perfume usually smells green, citrusy and aromatic, with leafy, woody, floral and slightly bitter sides. It is less juicy than orange peel and greener than neroli....

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Yellow yuzu fruits with textured peel, green leaves and a white citrus flower on a pale blush-grey background
Fragrance note

Yuzu

Yuzu in perfume usually smells bright, tart and aromatic, with lemon, grapefruit, mandarin, green and lightly floral sides. It is sharper and more fragrant than a simple sweet...

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Accords and Fragrance Families Connected to Bergamot

Bergamot, lemon and grapefruit with citrus peel, leaves and a white blossom representing a citrus accord in perfume
Fragrance accord

Citrus

A citrus accord normally smells bright, fresh and zesty, but it can range from sharp and tart to soft and lightly sweet. Lemon and lime tend to bring...

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Lemon, mint, violet leaves, green apple and water droplets representing a fresh accord in perfume
Fragrance accord

Fresh

A fresh accord usually smells bright, clean and light, but there is no single fresh smell. Citrus can make it zesty, mint can add a cooling quality, green...

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Bergamot, grapefruit, mint, green leaves, sea salt and mineral stones representing the Fresh & Bright fragrance family
Fragrance family

Fresh & Bright

Fresh & Bright fragrances generally smell crisp, open and energising rather than dense or heavy. Bergamot, lemon and grapefruit can provide sparkling citrus freshness, while mint and green...

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