GUERLAIN
Bergamote Fantastico Extrait 11

2023

PERFUMER
Thierry Wasser
Delphine Jelk

Bergamot
Bergamot PETITGRAIN
Opoponax
Guaiac wood

Bergamot is one of my favorite scents, but I was wondering how well it would work in this line; high concentration, minimal composition. Turns out… I’m not sure how to feel about this one.

This doesn’t feel like a fragrance focused on 1 ingredient, as much as Tonka Sarrapia did. If anything it doesn’t really feel like bergamot all that much to me. At least, not the ‘Earl Grey tea’ type of bergamot.

I mean, you most definitely get bergamot from it, but to me, the opening is more citrussy in a mandarin direction than I expected. There’s a full-bodied experience, with the acidity, but also a greener rind and petitgrain-esque facet. That petitgrain from the bergamot seems to be the most prominent factor here and it’s not up my alley.

There’s sweetness. I forgot about the notes while I was wearing this, so I didn’t expect the ‘amber’ base. Yet, I found myself wondering, even minutes in, if there was vanilla added. That’s not to say that it’s overly sweet, but it made me think of a citrus ice cream for a moment. However, a bit later in the wear it seems to have vanished. Instead of become sweeter and more of an amber, I find it growing increasingly sharp green, almost bitter in that petitgrain and citrus rind direction.

It’s inherently hard to imagine a citrus scent at this price point being worth it and Bergamote Fantastico doesn’t do anything to change that for me. Performance seems good, but it doesn’t give me the soft, comforting feel of bergamot at all if I’m being honest.

This is a stellar citrussy, petitgrain-like fragrance that smells very natural. That being said, unless money is absolutely no object to you, it’s a very tough sell and for me, it didn’t meet my expectations even regardless of that.