Bergamask

Bergamask is a strange one, and I like it for that. It opens with a loud, sharp bergamot that feels almost sour at first, then the musk takes over. It stays citrusy and bright, with a raw, slightly animalic edge, so it never turns into a generic cologne. Many people call it a spring or summer scent, but it works best for me in mid-to-low temperatures. In cooler air the citrus stays crisp, the musk sits closer to the skin, and nothing gets overwhelming. In heat I find it much louder. Projection and longevity are strong, so a few sprays are plenty. It’s polarising, but if you like citrus with some character, it’s well worth trying. Best for: cool days, spring and autumn. Not for: hot weather, or anyone who wants a quiet, clean citrus.

A beautiful fresh citrus scent. Very pleasant fragrance.

At the beginning very fresh, extremely citrusy and slightly bitter, between tart bergamot and toilet cleaner. Then a disruptive note: sweat and train station toilet. Unpleasant on the first test, significantly less noticeable on the second. After the top note, things settle down. The scent becomes rounder, loses its zesty sharpness, and gains a distinct musk base. In addition, there is a metallic note of copper / brass / nosebleed, but always alongside the citrus. To me, this is a bright, yellow-orange, almost luminous scent. It also reminds me of that wild, sour, slightly unpleasant aroma of pure sea buckthorn juice. And in my mouth, I get the taste of Nimm 2 candies. The fragrance is definitely not complex; it hardly changes – you have to like that. It grabbed me immediately and made me addicted. And it lifts my mood. I think thematically it fits best in spring or summer, but as a contrast and mood booster probably also in the dark autumn or winter. The performance: brutal. On the first test, the scent survived two showers. On my sweater, it lasted until the wash and rubbed off onto my arm again every time I put it on. Even after the second wash, I feel like I can still faintly smell the scent in the fabric. One downside: I can't wear or test any other fragrances for days as long as I can still smell this one. The sillage is similarly uncompromising: Barely sprayed, my wife called out from two rooms away asking what smelled like that. Her verdict, however, was significantly less enthusiastic. I hope it's just a matter of getting used to it for her. Conclusion: Not a complex masterpiece, very linear, and definitely a fragrance that you should test before buying and that you also need to be able to endure in your nose for several days. I'm addicted to it and considering getting a bottle, even though the 2 ml sample should still last quite a while.