In short: bergamot smells like a cross between lemon and orange, with a slightly bitter, floral, tea-like edge. If you have had Earl Grey tea, you know it already.
What bergamot smells like
Bergamot is the most refined of the citrus notes. It is fresh and sparkling like lemon, but softer and less sour, with a hint of lavender-like floral and a light bitterness from the peel. It feels clean and elegant rather than juicy.
Where it comes from
Bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia) is a small, green-to-yellow citrus that is too sour to eat. Almost all of the world's bergamot is grown along a narrow strip of coast in Calabria, at the toe of Italy's boot. The oil is pressed from the peel, not the juice.
Natural bergamot oil contains a compound that makes skin sensitive to sunlight, so perfumers usually use a version with it removed. Our candles use fragrance oils built around the bergamot note.
How it is used
Bergamot is a top note: it is what you smell first, and it fades fastest. It appears in a huge share of perfumes, from classic colognes to the chypre family, where it sits above labdanum and oakmoss. It is also what flavors Earl Grey tea.
What it pairs with
- Lavender and neroli, for a classic cologne
- Cedarwood and vetiver, for a clean, woody blend
- Oakmoss and patchouli, for a chypre
- Jasmine and orange blossom, for a bright floral
Our candles with bergamot
- Zeus: bergamot over cedar and oakmoss.
- Orange Blossom: bergamot, neroli and jasmine on sandalwood.
- Viridian: bergamot, orange and lemon over moss, oak and sage.
- Wild Honeysuckle: bergamot brightening honeysuckle and jasmine.
Common questions
Is bergamot the same as the herb called bee balm? No. Bee balm (Monarda) is sometimes called wild bergamot because its leaves smell a little similar, but it is an unrelated plant.
Why does bergamot fade so quickly in a candle? Citrus molecules are light and evaporate first. That is why bergamot is usually paired with longer-lasting woods and resins.
Explore more notes in our Fragrance Notes A to Z, or browse our Fresh & Clean candles.