find your scent: what does bergamot smell like?

Citrus scents provide a zesty, fresh kick to any fragrance. They’re juicy and vibrant, and they perfectly capture the feeling of sunshine in a bottle. We can't get enough. 

One of the citrus scents we love is bergamot. You've heard of lemons, limes, and grapefruits, but you might not be quite as familiar with this citrus fruit. 

We’re giving you all the details on everything you could ever need to know about bergamot. Plus, we have some amazing fragrances you can try if you want to find a new citrusy scent. 

what is bergamot? 

Bergamot is a type of orange, but it’s different from what you find in the produce section. Bergamot oranges, or citrus bergamia, originated in Southeast Asia but are primarily grown in Reggio di Calabria, Italy, and throughout the Mediterranean. 

The Bergamot fruit looks more like a lime or a lemon than a traditional orange. It also has a distinct scent and flavor. Bergamot tastes like a cross between a lime and a bitter orange. If you've ever had Earl Grey tea, you've tried bergamot. The main ingredient in the tea is bergamot oil, which is extracted from the rind. 

Bergamot oil has many different uses and benefits. One of the benefits of bergamot oil is its ability to help ease stress — bergamot essential oil is commonly used in aromatherapy to promote relaxation, and one study found that participants who inhaled bergamot oil mixed with water vapor experienced fewer feelings of anxiety and fatigue. Given that bergamot can help you relax and unwind after a long day, you’ll also often find bergamot candles and diffusers. 

In other words, bergamot could be the perfect choice if you’re hoping to welcome some more chill vibes into your life.

how is bergamot oil made?

Now that you know a little bit about what bergamot is, you might be wondering how it gets from the tree into some of our favorite fragrances. There are a few different ways to make bergamot oil, but they all start with the most unsuspecting part of any citrus fruit: the rind. 

Traditionally, bergamot oil was made by hand. People had to soak the bergamot rinds in water and then press the rind after it had soaked. While it was being pressed, the oil from the rind would separate from the water. 

Nowadays, there’s a way to produce bergamot oil that requires less elbow grease. In a process called cold pressing, the bergamot rind is pressed in a machine to extract the oil using centrifugal force. 

If you’re looking to see this extraction process in person, you’ll likely need to pack your bags and head to Calabria, where 80% of the bergamot oil in the world is made. Calabria is in southern Italy, and the sunny, warm climate makes it the ideal place to grow citrus plants.

Once the bergamot oil is made, you can find it in pretty much everything from skincare products to beverages. That said, it’s probably most beloved in the world of perfumery, where it adds a fresh, bright top note to different fragrances. 

what is limonene?

At first whiff, it’s easy to confuse bergamot with the smell of orange — and we totally get that. 

It’s citrusy and zesty, so it’s easy to connect it with other more common citrus smells. However, it didn’t get its nickname as the “Prince of Citrus” arbitrarily. 

Bergamot is a slightly more complex citrus fragrance thanks to its many layers. At first, it has the refreshing, classic citrus smell that we associate with oranges. From there, it becomes slightly spicy and floral. It’s also a bit sweet, making it less harsh than lemon or lime (we’ll take a closer, more in-depth look at the smell of bergamot in the next section).

All that said, the complexity of the smell of bergamot is largely due to the compound limonene. Found in the rinds of many citrus fruits, limonene is what makes the aroma of bergamot so distinctive. Since bergamot has the highest concentration of limonene, it’s often considered one of the most fragrant citrus fruits. 

Limonene is part of a group of compounds known as terpenes. In nature, citrus peels have different terpenes because they emit distinct smells and deter predators who may otherwise eat the fruit. Regarding health benefits, limonene may possess anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, and antioxidant properties. 

When it comes to bergamot specifically, limonene accentuates the citrus smells while also drawing out the more floral notes. This gives bergamot a smooth, well-rounded fragrance and distinguishes it from other citrus smells. 

what does bergamot smell like?

Bergamont is an uplifting scent that’s sophisticated and complex, and there are different layers to its scent profile. 

For some, bergamot can be a pretty potent smell that isn't always ideal on its own. However, it can play well with other scents like cedarwood, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, musk, neroli, and orange blossom. 

Bergamot's complexity and versatility keeps perfumers coming back for more, so let's go over what the smell of bergamot is actually like. 

lime-like

Some might describe the scent of bergamot as a cross between an orange and a lime — the fruit has a subtle hint of the tartness you get from limes, but it isn't downright bitter. 

sweet 

Balancing out the sourness is the subtle, sweet smell of an orange. Bergamont isn't quite sweet enough to eat like an orange, but it is sweet enough to round out some of the lime-y tartness. 

sunny

There’s something about fruity and citrusy scents that says “sunshine.” The smell of bergamot is a true citrus fragrance, so it can welcome sunny, happy feelings. It also has a slightly floral scent that gives you all the warm, summer vibes. 

what scents pair well with bergamot?

You may know what to pair with your new jeans, but mixing fragrances can seem more complicated. However, it's easy to find scents that layer perfectly with bergamot. 

The use of bergamot in perfumes adds an invigorating depth to them. Consider which scents you already love but want to elevate — we have a few suggestions for you to pair with bergamot. 

tonka bean

The smell of tonka bean is sweet, nutty, spicy, and woody, with elements of tobacco. The smell is complex, but it has a similar sweetness to vanilla. The citrus notes of bergamot can help liven up the earthy, deeper scents in tonka bean. 

amber

Amber is a sweet, powdery scent, and bergamot can lighten up an amber scent and give it a zestier finish. Amber smells warm and resinous, and it’s sometimes even referred to as leathery. You’ll commonly find amber paired with vanilla or spices, but when it blends with bergamot, the result is a beautiful bright yet rich scent experience. 

spices

Spicy scents pair well with bergamot, which has its own spicy notes. Think of saffron and ginger combined with the citrus elements in bergamot — this combo can make for a rich, complex scent experience. 

patchouli

Patchouli is a rich scent that smells musky, earthy, and woody. Patchouli also has sweet-herbaceous notes that bergamot complements well. Combining bergamot and patchouli can bring you a fresh yet deep fragrance experience. 

what are some bergamot fragrances to try?

At Snif, all of our fragrances are made without parabens, preservatives, phthalates, or synthetic dyes, letting you make the most of bergamot with a little extra peace of mind. Here are some of our go-to bergamot favorites.

golden ticket

Who doesn't want a Golden Ticket to a mystical getaway? The scent may not physically transport you, but it's the next best thing. The scent combines the zestiness of bergamot with golden maté, black tea, and green tea. You'll also notice a musky amber finish when you spritz on the fragrance. 

sweet ash

Sweet Ash is a down-to-earth fragrance you'll find yourself reaching for over and over again. The scent is sweet with vanilla and tonka mixed with bergamot, juniper, fir balsam, white moss, and cedarwood. 

strawberry moon

Strawberry Moon is like warm weather in a bottle. The scent will remind you of sitting poolside in a tropical location. The scent of bergamot combines with the floral notes of jasmine paired with leather, pink pepper, iris, saffron, vetiver, and amber woods.

make bergamot your new best friend 

We love new friends here, and you won't regret adding bergamot to your roster. The citrusy scent just adds that little something extra that makes a fragrance go from good to great. Snif has a variety of fragrances featuring bergamot. They all offer different scent notes while including this beloved Italian fruit. 

Sources:

Citrus Bergamia - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

Bergamot Oil Uses and Benefits | Healthline

Effects of bergamot ( Citrus bergamia (Risso) Wright & Arn.) | Pub Med

Aromatherapy Information | Mount Sinai