Bergamotto Di Calabria

This is a study on pink pepper and how it's cleverly deployed here to create a totally unique bergamot scent for purists. This smells vintage, even though it's a modern fragrance. The perfumer has managed to extend that acidic "sting" of real real bergamot all the way from the opening almost to the end of the fragrance. It smells almost like vinegar, and it's sharp as if it's slightly fermented. I've tried a ton of bergamot focused niche fragrances, and this stands out as one of the best in my collection. I have about 25ml left from my 100ml bottle, which I bought for really cheap (40 bucks) on eBay in July of 2024. I'm thinking about buying 2 more 100ml bottles because this is a staple in my bergamot collection.

Sampling Perris Monte Carlo Bergamotto di Calabria (from the Italy collection), the tartest of the three entries I’ve tried from this house, albeit with some restraint, like Cedro di Diamante, of which it is reminiscent in its citrus dominance (bergamot, to Cedro’s lemon), with pepper, woods, iris, and musk. BDC is also laden with orange blossom, orange flower, petitgrain, and jasmine, so there’s a hearty floral component to it that is maybe not so present in Cedro, which lands in slightly sweeter territory. Bergamotto is more to the floral side, with the bergamot less dominant in it than lemon in Cedro. Overall, it’s well rounded, an easily likable fresh scent for the warmer weather, especially.

Bergamotto di Calabria is a skin scent, but one that is well balanced, textured, with some depth. I had to press my nose against my wrist in order to detect it. I had also initially suspected my juice had turned due to the vinegary smell. I've experienced turned juice manifested as vinegary at times, rather than the common nail polish like smell. But as I read reviews, it appears that facet is probably a manifestation of the peppery bergamot. It's backbone is the common neroli/orange blossom/pettigrain combination, but the other notes texture the composition. But nothing stands out, not even the vetiver. It's all nuanced and well blended.

goes for the woody angle and it showcases, after 30 minutes or so, a bergamot-vetiver accord with refreshing, zesty, slightly soapy bergamot, refined, transparent vetiver and cool petitgrain, some pepperiness keeping things on the dry side, a tiny hint of iris bridging the citrus and the vetiver. Perhaps not the most exciting perfume in the world but well-blended and quality shines through. I enjoy wearing it for myself and it's perfect for those slightly cooler, cloudier days that bookend summer where you yearn for the sense of calm and space that vetiver can bring.

Reminds me a lot of one of my all-time favorites, Creed Virgin Island Water. They do have some notes in common, and that probably tells you what notes shine through best in this scent. Lots of zesty and juicy citrus, with a gorgeous jasmine heart, and a musky base. This is, of course, not as tropical and doesn't have the coconut, but if you were to add some coconut and light rum to this, I bet it would be very close to VIW. An ever-so-slightly-leaning-masculine scent, but as close to unisex as it can get from there. Clean and vibrant, while still being warm.