Radiant Bergamot (2016)
by Ferrari

I like this. In fact I prefer it over Ferrari's more heralded, Bright Neroli (which is also a good one). Radiant Bergamot isn't incredibly complex but it smells really nice. It's a bit of a refreshing, cooling fragrance as it features a green, grassy minty quality that balances the sharper citrus/bergamot aspect. It's not a bitter scent, despite the cooling geranium, as you could probably describe it as a "sweet" green smell; sweet in an herbal, aromatic way, brought on by a gentle nutmeg note (there's no sweetness in the way of vanilla or tonka or anything like that). Radiant Bergamot is an example of when the juice's color (a lush, vibrant mint-green) matches its smell. For the first half hour the green, minty quality is most apparent and then the bergamot starts to stand out more and become more dominant as the scent develops. Overall, it's not too complicated and mostly linear. Radiant Bergamto gradually fades away, not going through any particular transition or change in the base. Performance is about average. To really get this one to shine I need about 6 to 8 solid sprays, and then I get good projection and about 6 hours of longevity. In conclusion, this is a good low-cost summer option for someone looking for something fresh and pleasant that also smells quite a bit different than what's currently on the mainstream market. It has a casual, relaxed appeal. I give it a thumbs up and a final rating of 8 out of 10.

Side note: I actually enjoy this a lot more than other more expensive and well-known bergamot scents such as Le Labo's Bergamot 22 and Atelier Bergamot Soleil. The reason why is that these scents have a sort of bitter, sour edge that doesn't really smell that nice to me. I don't find them refreshing or cooling, or even particularly cheerful, which is what I'm looking for in a summer citrus. Here, it's treated differently, more aromatically sweet and supported by mint, which makes it feel both cooler and happier.