The 8 Best Bergamot Scents That Cosmo Editors Can't Stop Spritzing
The bright and zesty note is a favorite for a reason.
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As a beauty editor, my perfume stash actually takes up an entire wall in my bathroom—I’m not kidding. But instead of always reaching for bottles of bold vanillas or spicy notes, I actually prefer to keep my signature scent simple. Something that just smells like a better version of myself. And my favorite note to achieve that effect is bergamot.
Bergamot sits in the fresh scent family. It’s bright, zesty, and clean-smelling. While it’s often found in crisp, citrusy perfumes, not every fragrance featuring bergamot leans fruity, and it’s actually far more versatile than it gets credit for. Depending on what other notes it’s paired with, it can feel warm, floral, earthy, or even woody. Which is exactly why Cosmo editors rounded up the best perfumes with notes of bergamot, for that "your skin, but fresher" spritz.
No matter your scent preference, these are the best bergamot perfumes, according to fragrance-obsessed editors.
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One Cosmo editor says: "I wouldn't say I'm a huge citrus scent lover, but the bergamot in Window's Down adds a sparkling quality to an otherwise airy, fresh perfume. It's a go-to for spring and early summer. It smells like bringing home flowers and fresh fruit from the farmer's market and opening all the windows in your house to let the breeze in."—BETH GILLETTE BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Grapefruit, bergamot, jasmine, earl grey tea, musk |
One Cosmo editor says: "You know when you finally find the perfect (but slightly expensive) white T shirt and you’re like: “holy shit this is worth every dollar—I’ll wear this all the time and a million different ways?” That’s Retrospect. It’s indulgent, but good for everyday and the clean, skin-like scent easy to wear, whether you’re a perfume novice or full-on nose."—LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Bergamot, jasmine, pear, musk |
One Cosmo editor says: "Bergamote 22 smells like if you mixed a designer perfume with one of those all-natural cleaning sprays... but like, in the best way? It smells like my most productive Sunday: Clean kitchen, fresh sheets, podcast going in the background. The citrus notes are a bit sharper than a usual bright, bursting fruity note, but I actually love it—the vetiver addition makes it a bit spicier and smoother."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Bergamot, vetiver, grapefruit, orange blossom, vanilla, amber |
One Cosmo editor says: “At first spritz, it’s fresh and a little fruity without being cloying. Hours later, it settles into a warm, sensual vanilla with slight traces of floral. I’m pretty picky about vanilla perfumes (they can oftentimes veer too salty and skin-like for me), but here, the vanilla blends perfectly with the citruses and florals. I know some people may associate Chanel with older, powdery scents—like Chanel No. 5—but Mademoiselle feels ageless.”—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Orange, bergamot, jasmine, Turkish rose, patchouli, vanilla |
One Cosmo editor says: "I love Dedcool's unique scents, and Red Dakota is a bright and sophisticated take on your classic bergamot note. It's zesty, but doesn't have that overly clean scent thanks to notes of amber, woods, and gardenia that make it undeniably sexy and fresh."—JH
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Gardenia, amber, bergamot |
One Cosmo editor says: "This was my signature scent for a lot of the summer. Yes, it's citrusy, but it's also watery and aquatic and green—like stepping foot into a fresh cenote on a chic vacation."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Green mandarin, bergamot, orange blossom |
One Cosmo editor says: "If you wanna smell delectable, like someone could take a bite out of you, spritz on this new scent from Tom Ford. It's got notes of mandarin, bergamot, and pink pepper to create a scent that's the perfect balance of juicy, citrusy, and spicy."—JH
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Fig accord, bergamot, muscovado |
One Cosmo editor says: "Even though it’s a best-seller, the original Good Girl is way too much for me. But this Blush version? Much more wearable in my opinion. The warm, floral notes feel fresh and approachable and the stiletto-shaped bottle is absolutely iconic.”—LB
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Bergamot, almond, ylang ylang, peony, vanilla, tonka bean |
One Cosmo editor says: "Victoria Beckham’s Portofino 97 has easily become one of my favorite fragrances in my rotation because it’s bold, sexy, and the epitome of luxury. I’m particularly drawn to it because it feels expensive and androgynous. I’m always met with compliments when I wear it—it literally just happened to me last weekend while waiting in the bathroom line at a bar. "—SAM OLSON, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Key notes | Bergamot, black pepper, amber, geranium, vetiver |
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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