Bergamask by Orto Parisi

Paying for a potent citrus scent is a gamble: it smells like disinfectant and that kills it for me, even though it lasts a long time.

It’s a very heavy animal musk with tons of cedar. The longevity is exaggerated and can start to become annoying. I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re just getting into niche perfumes.

I was really eager to try it; a citrus niche with good longevity according to everyone, but in the end it reminds me of an older person. Completely ruled out for me.

I usually lower my expectations so I don’t get disappointed, like with restaurants or movies. But with Bergamask, I let myself go. I thought it would be a disaster for the season, but when summer and mosquitoes arrived, I bought the perfume. Two sprays and it was already a masterpiece, better than imagined. The problem: an hour later it was gone. I looked online and it was the cursed batch 01245. Orto Parisi said there was no reformulation and told me to get lost. I swallowed the disappointment, but since it smells great, I use four sprays in the morning and at night. People chase me down the street asking what I’m wearing. It’ll last me through summer, and I’ll buy it again checking the batch number.

I’m obsessed with it, even though I’m not a citrus person. It’s creamy and makes me drool. I feel elegant and versatile for cold or heat, all ages, and all genders. It lasts forever and isn’t expensive for a niche scent. Highly recommended; I think no one could dislike it.

Okay, first time with a heavy-hitter Orto Parisi and I’ll say it: what a relief! I highly recommend trying a sample first because every nose is different. The opening is a sharp, well-acidic citrus blast that will remind you of a lemon dishwashing liquid or furniture cleaner; luckily, this intensity doesn’t last. Once it dries down, it’s buzzing with a soapy, musky citrus scent that sticks around for at least an hour. That musk gives it a strange, non-fruity, soft soapiness. After two hours, the projection is enough to be smelled across half the city, and that initial force mellows out, maintaining the trail without losing much intensity. The scent doesn’t change; it remains that sharp, musky lemon. In the final phase, which I’m not lying about, it lasts over 10 hours, and I detect a slight floral touch—bergamot? lavender? Who knows. When, how, and for whom: spring, summer, and autumn when it’s still warm. Ideal with a sharp, light suit or a straight-leg shirt and pants; the elegance this fragrance demands. Daytime events or late afternoon, but always outdoors so you don’t suffocate the person next to you with lemons. For men over 30, no debate. I’d say unisex, though sometimes I see it as more masculine, but it would be crazy on a lady. Warning, this is going to hurt many people: I wish Costa Azzurra Parfum could reach this level of lemon. In short: for those special occasions where you’re dressed to the nines and want everyone to know you’re dressed to the nines.

Great, like almost everything Orto Parisi does. Citrusy with a touch of the 80s, elegant, long-lasting, and very Italian.

Bergamask is a different kind of bergamot, that’s the word. There are a thousand perfumes that open with bergamot, which is why some call it ‘the least crazy of Gualtieri’, maybe or maybe not. It opens with a mature bergamot, very juicy, an unusual citrus that oozes quality. The evolution is a whole other world and it’s true. I’ve worn it on three different, non-consecutive days and I have different sensations each time, but all good ones. Maybe it evolves with the weather, temperature, or your mood? I don’t know, but it’s captivating. The citrus of Alessandro Gualtieri, no more no less. In short words: the citrus of Alessandro Gualtieri. Ideal occasion: spring, summer, date, or event. Alternative: Tom Ford Noir EDT for that dark citrus. Blind buy? Absolutely.

Bergamask: A fragrance that either captivates or repels you. Orto Parisi Bergamask is not just any fragrance. It’s an explosion of bergamot, but not in the way you expect. It’s a reinterpreted bergamot, dark and mysterious. What makes it special? It either captivates or repels: it leaves no one indifferent. It’s a fragrance that transports you to a world of sensations, but not always a pleasant journey. It evolves with you: it’s not linear, changing throughout the day revealing different layers. Sometimes it’s citrusy and fresh, other times woody and deep. First-rate ingredients: Alessandro Gualtieri, the creator, doesn’t hold back. Calabrian bergamot mixes with incense, patchouli, and leather, creating an intense and complex olfactory experience. Who is it for? Those looking for something different: if you get bored with commercial fragrances and want something that intrigues and surprises you, Bergamask is for you. For lovers of citrus with a dark touch: if you like them with mystery and sensuality, you’ll love it. Who is it not for? Those looking for something light and fresh: if you prefer classic and discreet scents, this isn’t your best option. For those with a sensitive nose: it’s intense and can be overwhelming. In summary: Bergamask is unique, special, and controversial. It either captivates or repels, but it leaves no one indifferent. If you’re looking for something different and are willing to take a risk, try it. Remember that perception is personal. What I love, you might find horrible. Try it before buying. Where to buy? On the official website or specialty stores. Price: around 150€ for 50 ml. P.S.: Don’t let reviews carry you away, try it and decide for yourself.

I don’t get it, it’s peculiar. I had somewhat high expectations that it absolutely doesn’t meet; after 15 minutes I don’t even feel its aroma anymore, I really don’t understand it.

Bergamask: for some, bergamot and musk. But that would only be a typical dance hall mask referenced by the perfume and a play on words. Here the main dancer is sandalwood. With Gualtieri’s perfumes, suggestion always plays an important role. Marketing predisposes people to smell accords that aren’t even present in this gentleman’s perfumes many times. Here the musk has little to say… It’s a citrus fragrance built around several molecules replicating sandalwood, especially Javanol. This Javanol, used here in a tremendous overdose, makes the perfume last a lifetime and have huge sillage and projection. Sometimes I don’t know if Gualtieri is a genius for taming certain components in immense quantities, or simply a lucky guy. Either way, he achieves in Bergamask a citrus fragrance that maintains its character with bergamot and mandarin notes throughout the life of the perfume, hinting perhaps at a slight reminiscence of bergamot flower. Use this perfume with moderation on the trigger, because it fills a room and can overwhelm somewhat sensitive noses if over-applied; you’ll leave a very rich and perceptible trail for others, which believe me, many times they will let you know. For me, without a doubt, one of the best perfumes by this perfumer. Greetings.

@carcanuelo and how is the perfume?

On my skin, the citrus note lasts about two hours before turning into a creamy scent with a potent musk that smells like human skin, clean sweat, and animal. The longevity and projection are insane—14 hours; it projects over two meters at first and then stays around 1.5 meters. Even when it’s faded, it still gets compliments and presence. My favorite, beating Megamare. It’s polarizing, so test before buying.

I’m a huge fan of citrus, fruity, and aquatic scents; living in Panama with that infernal heat and humidity, this is where they really shine. I bought Bergamask blindly out of curiosity and was surprised: I expected an invasive nuclear bomb, but it disappointed me a bit. It’s strong and has projection, yes, but not at the level others claim. I wear it all day without issues, and my girlfriends and friends love it. It smells like lemons that have fallen and dried—a linear, masculine aroma that isn’t too refined. Longevity is brutal, over 10 hours. In short, test before buying because this isn’t a monster that destroys your sense of smell; in my collection, it’s more normal than things like Eau de Cyan or Vertus CHAOS. If you’re looking for something equally or more potent but more pleasant, I recommend HATKORA WOOD by Ajmal; it’s delicious and worth it. I have the 2019 batch, and it’s top.

I bought Bergamask by Orto Parisi blindly at Megamare and it was a mistake; the dry-down notes didn’t convince me, so I gifted it to my brother. To learn the lesson, I looked for a 2ml decant. They say it’s a powerful and long-lasting citrus, and at first, for the first 30 seconds, it does smell like ripe bergamot and lemon, which I liked a bit. But after 15 minutes, the scent shifts to mothballs or mosquito repellent. My wife and I monitored it, and after 10 minutes, it got stuck in that mothball smell. At 7 hours, it was still smelling strong with no evolution. My wife had a runny nose, so I washed my arm with soap and water; despite 10 washes, the smell persisted. In conclusion, it’s not a citrus: the first few minutes are very ripe fruits, then it’s a potent chemical musk that projects and lasts, but smells like mothballs. I didn’t like it, and thank God I didn’t buy the bottle. At 40+, that mothball smell isn’t attractive. I’d only use it in cold weather, max 2 sprays. Scent: 1/10. It’s vital to try it several times before buying, because if you don’t like it, nothing fixes it. If you do, it’s a gem. Longevity: 10/10, lasts 24h or more. Sillage and projection: 10/10. Versatility: 1/10. Value for money: 5/10. Final score: 6.16/10.