12 Best Bergamot Fragrances for Men in 2025
ShoppingFrom La Labo to Maison Francis Kurkdjian, these iconic scents will make you feel fine.By Adrian Clark and Tracy AchonwaFebruary 5, 2025Save this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.It's entirely possible to rank the best bergamot fragrances without knowing what bergamot actually is, but as with selecting an oud, vetiver or other fragrance note, it sure as hell can help. We here at GQ love bergamot for its intensely citrusy, Earl Grey tea overtones, as lovingly used by a great number of your favorite perfumers. Bergamot perfumes have even been said to be the finest from the citrus family. The bergamot essential oil is a boon for perfumers looking to create an uplifting and invigorating scent; one that pairs well with comparable aromas such as orange blossom and green tea, and that contrasts beautifully with spice and amber. But what is it, actually?The Best Bergamot Fragrances, at a Glance:The Best Woody Bergamot Cologne: Le Labo Bergamote 22 Eau de Parfum, $107The Best Citrus Bergamot Colonge: Laboratorio Olfattivo Bergamotto Eau de Cologne, $120The Best Amber Bergamot Colonge: Tom Ford Black Orchid Eau de Parfum, $160The Best Spicy Bergamot Colonge: Acqua Di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Bergamotto Di Calabria Eau de Toilette, $130The Best Floral Bergamot Colonge: Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Bergamote Calabria Eau de Toilette, $165The Best Fresh Bergamot Cologne: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Eau de Toilette, $150It might look more like a lime, but bergamot is in fact an inedible, bitter orange that's predominantly grown in Calabria. It first came into fashion in perfumery in the 16th century around the time of Louis XIV. The essence comes from the rind of the fruit—the same rind that gives Earl Grey tea its distinctive smell and flavour. This is pressed by hand into a sea sponge to collect the essence. Hermès perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena talks of his trip to the bergamot orchards in Messina in his book, The Diary of a Nose. He explains that production commonly runs from October to February, the season beginning with a floral aspect that gradually becomes fresher as the winter wears on."Bergamot is considered to be the finest of the citrus notes," says perfumer Roja Dove. "Whilst it is very fresh, it is much richer and more rounded, making it a highly prized ingredient." A key component in any cologne, bergamot is a common bedfellow with its relations: neroli and petitgrain. It is also the headline act in his scent, Risqué, and also in the latest offerings from Tom Ford and Ermenegildo Zegna, plus a host of modern classics. Below, you'll find our top picks for the best bergamot fragrances.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
It's entirely possible to rank the best bergamot fragrances without knowing what bergamot actually is, but as with selecting an oud, vetiver or other fragrance note, it sure as hell can help. We here at GQ love bergamot for its intensely citrusy, Earl Grey tea overtones, as lovingly used by a great number of your favorite perfumers. Bergamot perfumes have even been said to be the finest from the citrus family. The bergamot essential oil is a boon for perfumers looking to create an uplifting and invigorating scent; one that pairs well with comparable aromas such as orange blossom and green tea, and that contrasts beautifully with spice and amber. But what is it, actually?
The Best Bergamot Fragrances, at a Glance:
- The Best Woody Bergamot Cologne: Le Labo Bergamote 22 Eau de Parfum, $107
- The Best Citrus Bergamot Colonge: Laboratorio Olfattivo Bergamotto Eau de Cologne, $120
- The Best Amber Bergamot Colonge: Tom Ford Black Orchid Eau de Parfum, $160
- The Best Spicy Bergamot Colonge: Acqua Di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Bergamotto Di Calabria Eau de Toilette, $130
- The Best Floral Bergamot Colonge: Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Bergamote Calabria Eau de Toilette, $165
- The Best Fresh Bergamot Cologne: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Eau de Toilette, $150
It might look more like a lime, but bergamot is in fact an inedible, bitter orange that's predominantly grown in Calabria. It first came into fashion in perfumery in the 16th century around the time of Louis XIV. The essence comes from the rind of the fruit—the same rind that gives Earl Grey tea its distinctive smell and flavour. This is pressed by hand into a sea sponge to collect the essence. Hermès perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena talks of his trip to the bergamot orchards in Messina in his book, The Diary of a Nose. He explains that production commonly runs from October to February, the season beginning with a floral aspect that gradually becomes fresher as the winter wears on.
"Bergamot is considered to be the finest of the citrus notes," says perfumer Roja Dove. "Whilst it is very fresh, it is much richer and more rounded, making it a highly prized ingredient." A key component in any cologne, bergamot is a common bedfellow with its relations: neroli and petitgrain. It is also the headline act in his scent, Risqué, and also in the latest offerings from Tom Ford and Ermenegildo Zegna, plus a host of modern classics. Below, you'll find our top picks for the best bergamot fragrances.
Laboratorio Olfattivo Bergamotto
1/12Laboratorio Olfattivo
Bergamotto Parfum Cologne
- Fragrance Family: Citrus, warm spice
- Concentration: Parfum Cologne
- Motivation: Empowering
A top pick for parfum purists is Bergamotto. Launched in 2021 by niche Italian perfumery Laboratorio Olfattivo, it’s a true celebration of the lemon-orange hybrid after which it's named, and harvested in the fruit’s native region of Southern Italy, to boot. The zesty essence of bergamot leads the charge in this fragrance, which boasts a parfum cologne concentration that will add superior longevity to your scent. Bitter orange and a subtle cardamom heart add a warm spice, but thanks to its punchy citrus top notes, if it’s bergamot you’re after, it’s bergamot you’ll get here.
Acqua Di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Bergamotto Di Calabria
2/12Acqua di Parma
Acqua Di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Bergamotto Di Calabria
- Fragrance Family: Spicy citrus
- Concentration: Eau de Toilette
- Motivation: Expressive
Citrus-fresh, soft and light, this easy-to-wear eau de toilette has an almost sparkling effervescence. One of ADP’s Blu Mediterraneo pillar of fragrances, inspired by the olfactory scent of an iconic Italian region (Calabria, in this case), it has a dry down that is both woody and aromatic. A major dose of bergamot (Calabria is home to the best bergamot crops, just so you know), enhanced with the freshness of lemon is the scent’s opening gambit, followed by a kick of red ginger and cedarwood at its heart. Benzoin, vetiver, and musk make up its base notes.
Le Labo Bergamote 22
3/12Le Labo Bergamote 22
- Fragrance Family: Woody, amber citrus
- Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Motivation: Invigorating
Handmade and containing only the finest of raw materials, Bergamote 22 is Le Labo's sentimental love letter to the ingredient. The “22” pertains to the number of ingredients used in the formula and—as suggested by its development codename “Fire Cologne”—it has an invigorating kick from an abundance of bitter grapefruit, with floral petit grain, amber, musk and vetiver also present.
Tom Ford Black Orchid - Black Truffle & Bergamot
4/12Tom Ford Black Orchid - Black Truffle & Bergamot
- Fragrance Family: Amber, fruity
- Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Motivation: Powerful, opulence
For a rich and fruity scent with a bright bergamot top, opt for Tom Ford’s Black Orchid. This unisex chypre is the fragrance equivalent of power dressing–it’s an intoxicating, highly concentrated accord of over twenty notes that all carry serious stage presence. Amongst the citrus fruits and sandalwoods in the blend are luxurious extracts of black truffle, vetiver and gardenia, which combine to form a parfum with a projection that almost commands compliments. It’s not one for the faint-hearted, and so we recommend this for evening/nighttime wear.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis
5/12Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis
- Fragrance family: Fresh, fruity and woody
- Concentration: Eau de Toilette
- Motivation: Uplifting
While some bergamot-based scents tend to (understandably) swing towards the fruity side, Aqua Universalis’ oh-so-clever combination of ingredients simply uplift you to a higher plane. It is one of the most sophisticated, unimposing and delicate men's fragrances that just make you feel clean. Described by its maker Kurkdjian as “luminous,” floral notes of lily combine with musky tones from the woody base. A stellar appropriate-any-time-of-day elixir.
Experimental Perfume Club: Black Bergamot
6/12Experimental Perfume Club: Black Bergamot
- Fragrance Family: Fresh and woody
- Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Motivation: Sensual, uplifting
They say good things come in small packages and that’s especially true of Black Bergamot. Presented in a pocket-sized pouch that’s perfect for traveling, this fragrance is our winner for a burst of bergamot on the go. The fruit’s zingy aroma is unusually contrasted with the depth of sandalwood in this parfum, which may be small in size, but makes a lasting impression. It also layers seamlessly with the club’s other fragrances, which are designed for experimentation and allow you to architect your signature scent. Apply it to your pulse points post-gym or between meetings for a citrus trail that sparks interest.
Malin + Goetz Bergamot
7/12Malin + Goetz
Bergamot Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Family: Spicy citrus
- Concentration: Eau de parfum
- Motivation: Soothing
Best described as a citrus aromatic, Malin + Goetz's foray into bergamot has a sophisticated, sun-drenched serenity as well as an uncharacteristic softness for a bergamot-based elixir. Conjuring the warmth and elegance of a Tuscan landscape and with the complexity of a citrus orchard in bloom, this is a timeless and multifaceted aroma that opens with hints of fresh green mint, bell pepper, and grapefruit. Ginger, black pepper, cardamom and lily of the valley give it a spicy edge, finishing with a dry down of sophisticated woods. Effervescent and bright with a delicate twang of Earl Grey tea, it brings understated sensuality which develops on the skin.
Jo Malone London Oud & Bergamot
8/12Jo Malone London Oud & Bergamot
- Fragrance Family: Citrus, woody oud
- Concentration: Cologne
- Motivation: Mystery
Hypnotic, mysterious and smoky, Oud & Bergamot is one of the finest moments in JML’s highly concentrated collection of Cologne Intense formulas. Opening with crisp bergamot and orange and contrasting with the headiness of a rare oud wood or resin, it's irrevocably masculine and packs a serious punch—thus better suited to evening wear. It's formulated by celebrated perfumer Christine Nagel and presented in a black glass bottle (unique to the Cologne Intense line) and if you have a nose for identifying ingredients you might also detect the dash of cedar and lemon within.
Dior Homme Sport
9/12Homme Sport
- Fragrance Family: Citrus, clean and fresh
- Concentration: Eau de Toilette
- Motivation: Energizing, athletic, vibrant
Dior’s cult-favorite EDT was given a shiny new update in 2021, and it didn’t disappoint. The popular bottle retains the citrus opening that has kept it perennially fresh, but the addition of frankincense lends a newfound sensuality to the scent. Typically worn as a casual daytime fragrance, the distinctive spray was reformulated by Dior master perfumer Francois Demachy, who cited “carefree elegance” as his intention for the vibrant new composition. Elevate your aura with its lasting notes of lemon, Calabrian bergamot, lemon, pink pepper, elemi resin, wood and amber.
Louis Vuitton Afternoon Swim
10/12Louis Vuitton
Afternoon Swim Eau de Parfum
- Fragrance Family: Marine citrus
- Concentration: Cologne
- Motivation: Explosive, energizing
The most addictive of a triptych of fragrances inspired by the balmy West Coast of America, Afternoon Swim by Louis Vuitton is like a wave of wellbeing. With a mandate to prolong the feeling of summer, the unisex cologne/perfume is a celebration of zesty fruits and aromatic botanicals. Formulated by renowned perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud, it contains orange from Sicily, bergamot and mandarin as frontliners, and is highlighted with accents of ginger and ambergris.
Miller Harris Rêverie de Bergamote
11/12Miller Harris Rêverie de Bergamote
- Fragrance Family: Fresh citrus
- Concentration: Eau de Parfum
- Motivation: Uplifting, elegant, and intriguing
Rêverie De Bergamote elegantly showboats the full-bodied freshness of the bergamot fruit. A bright, soulful scent made for slow Sunday mornings, perfumer Emilie Bouge took inspiration from listening to music while she created this scent, aiming to capture the memory of a blissful period of reverie. The signature bergamot ingredient is initially supported by a blend of energetic tangerine, summer basil, orange, and artemisia. Lavender, rosemary, geranium and leather then kick in giving it some gravitas, before resting on a bed of sandalwood, patchouli, moss, and vetiver. The dry-down is particularly special, gently warming up on the skin as the fragrance develops. All housed in a joyful yellow bottle, it's a sunshine-filled and cheery antidote to dreary weather.
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Bergamote Calabria
12/12Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Bergamote Calabria
- Fragrance Family: Floral, green and fruity
- Concentration: Eau de Toilette
- Motivation: Brightening, fragrant
Launched in 1999, Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria collection is a poetic line inspired by the joys of nature and, more specifically, gardens (both imagined and real). A stalwart with the collection since launch, Bergamote Calabria really is a love letter to the golden fruit, exploring and championing its finest assets. The noble fruit is combined with majestic cardamom spice, pink peppercorn and ginger—which give it a sparkling quality that is almost fizzy—elevated with radiant notes of petitgrain, lemon, and overlapping hints of white musk. Vibrant and sunny, but with a masculine woody dry down, it captures the heart and soul of a Mediterranean orchard.
This article originally appeared in British GQ.
