Tom Ford Venetian Bergamot

Tom Ford Venetian Bergamot is the latest release in the Tom Ford Private Blend collection.  My first thought when I saw the name was  – how in the world do you make a perfume around a note that traditionally is a note for the open of a perfume or a staple for a cologne?

Tom Ford Venetian Bergamot

Okay, I was intrigued, thinking it would be good, but maybe not that interesting.  I deliberately didn’t read the background on this, thinking it took Venice as its inspiration. Venice is a magical city. I’ve been there once, and there is no city like it in the world, and that includes that little restaurant we found in a back street that served the best Italian food I have had.  Ever.  In my whole life.  It’s been two years since I ate there, and I still think about it from time to time.

Sorry, that was a memorable meal rabbit hole.

Bergamot is typically used as an opening note or in colognes.  Short-lived, bright and sunny, and bergmot appears in better than half of the perfumes made.  It is a perfume workhouse, much like the base notes of musk, sandalwood and vanilla.

What else goes in it then to retain the bergamot, but make it last and be much more interesting.  Notes of Bergamot, black pepper, pink pepper, ginger, ylang ylang, gardenia, cedar, pepperwood, magnolia, sandalwood, tonka bean, amber, cashmeran go in.  That makes this an interesting perfume. Tom Ford Venetian Bergamot opens with the casual bergamot brightness you expect, surrounded with some fleshy magnolia and gardenia, sprinkled with pepper. It feels plush and bright at the same time.  Elements of cologne with a gorgeous woody floral base.

It is an interesting tightrope it walks, trying not to veer too far from the bergamot it is named for, but keeping enough other things going on so you don’t lose interest.  I wound up liking this a lot.  It goes on joyous and immediately deepens into more than a cologne.  Tom Ford Venetian Bergamot walks the line of unisex really well – a little floral, a little cologne, a lot of woods and pepper, smoothed over with tonka.  Easy to wear, it would work well in the office or for a night out on the town.

Tom Ford Venetian Bergamot takes a perfume note workhorse and turns it into a perfume that is a workhorse as well – unisex, day, night, softly sexy.  And, bergamot, congratulations, you now have your own perfume, you are a grown up note now!

What does Tom Ford Venetian Bergamot have to do with Venice?  I’m thinking that makes it unique like Venice.  Both are sophisticated, having things that aren’t singularly unique.  The whole makes it unique.  And, like Venice, it is a beauty.

Hey, have we heard that Tom Ford Amber Absolute is back for a short period? Yeah. That’s the one my son reviewed as “like putting a beehive on your head.”

Is there any other pure bergamot-centric fragrances out there that you can think of?  BTW, I did read all the suggestions about what to do with PFG once a month posts, and we will keep doing that. Summer is slow for everyone fragrance-wise. I know I get less interested in perfume, as do the other PP writers, and I think all of you are waiting  for summer to pass so we can get to the great fall new releases and pull out our beloved vanilla and vetivers and orientals.

Any new releases this fall you’re looking forward to? I haven’t even been paying attention yet, except to those Annick Goutal oud things that come out in the next month or so.  I’ll give away four samples of Tom Ford Venetian Bergamot to commenters drawn at random.

Yes, I’m working on that Big White Floral post. I hope it doesn’t kill me first.

  • Sunday H says:

    PS in the future, it is going to be so exciting to try Pierre Bourdon’s new line of fragrances. Sous le Magnolia sounds especially terrific.

  • Sunday H says:

    I also was intrigued when I saw that TF had done a bergamot starring fragrance. I am really looking forward to trying it. I would love to be included in the drawing -thank you for your offer!

  • Ashley A says:

    I’d love to try the new Tom Ford. A lot of his stuff is hit or miss for me, but I absolutely love Fleur de Chine and Shanghai Lily. As for the fall, I’m not sure exactly when they’re being released, but I’m looking forward to the & Other Stories Fleur de Mimosa and Tauer’s new Sotto La Luna Tuberose!

  • Audrey says:

    I’d love to try the new Tom ford fragrance. You can’t get better than Venice, it’s magical and delicious! I am now working through the unreleased samples from Tigerlily, lovely!

  • Heidi says:

    There was a Bergamot body spray that The Body Shoppe put out years ago (like, mid- to late-’90s) that I really loved — used to douse myself in it! I’d love to try the Tom Ford.

  • odonata9 says:

    This sounds great. Never been to Venice and don’t own any Tom Fords. The bottles are lovely, but I feel like the juice is not close to being worth what they charge. Would love to try this one!

  • Pixel says:

    Amber Absolute is like putting a beehive on your head. Love it! Guess I like beehive-head, my FB arrived a couple of days ago, mmmm.

    Venice is fabulous, we had wonderful wonderful meals there too. La Bitta was our favorite restaurant. “No fish” says the sign out front… divine gnocchi, wonderful beef…. drooling on my keyboard…..

    New fall releases… want to try the new Tauerville, and Armani Prive Ambre Eccentrico… and Aftelier Bergamoss, once the weather gets cool enough that I think a sample wouldn’t melt in my mailbox.

  • tiffanie says:

    I have a hand-made bergamot candle given to me a few years ago. It still smells fabulous. I’m a believer that fragrance without citrus is a like a day without chocolate. Not wasted exactly, but probably could have been better. 🙂

    New releases that Spring to mind, or Fall out of my memory, depending on your hemisphere, are Bruno Fazzolari Seyrig, MFK Acqua Vitae Forte, and Miu Miu. Don’t know if any of these are out yet, but they rang enough bells for me that I’ll be looking to sample them in the coming months as the weather cools down here in the southwest US.

  • Winterlude says:

    Mmmm, I tried a tiny bit of Violet Blonde and Shanghai Lily and I loved them both!
    I really want to like the new Tauerville. From the notes I feel that I would/should like them all, but I have yet to try one that doesn’t give me a raging headache within 10 minutes.

  • maggiecat says:

    You’ve made this sound like something I need to try. I have not yet found “my” Tom Ford perfume – I want to like them, but they’re too much, too dense, too “what’s UP with this dry down?” for me so far. I admire their craft, but haven’t found the right fit. Maybe this will be it…hope springs, and all that.

  • Neyon says:

    This fragrance does sound really lovely, but personally I feel that Tom Ford perfumes have too many notes that makes it end up smelling like ‘nothing’ in particular. I want to love Tom Ford perfumes; I feel like they’re supposed to be precious, they come in such gorgeous bottles but they few that I have smelled I found disappointing.

  • Dina C. says:

    Bergamot sounds really good to me. I love it in many fragrances, so the idea of a scent where it doesn’t disappear is neat. Venice sounds amazing. Love your descriptions. I’ve been to Rome as a kid, but nowhere else in Italy. Maybe someday. 🙂

  • Sapphire says:

    This sounds pretty nice. I am a fan of Shanghai Lily, which I own. Also like White Suede and Santal Blush. Came pretty close once upon a time to buying Amber Absolute. Thanks for the drawing.

  • furriner says:

    The Different Company Bergamote/Divine Bergamote…….. ? Just off the top of my head….. Even here, is it anything more than a top note? I haven’t worn it in a bit.

  • Bastet says:

    I don’t like all TF fragrances, but they are usually at least interesting to try and there are some that I really love (esp. Shanghai Lily, Fleur de Chine, and a few of the more affordable non-exclusives like Sahara Noir and Violet Blonde).

    As for upcoming releases, I won and enjoy both Rose and Vanilla Flash and so am curious about the new Tauerville.

  • Neva says:

    I love the bergamot note in perfume as well as in tea. It’s sunny but fleeting so I’d really like to know how it feels when it stays around for a while.
    I’m looking forward to the new Bulgari release – Goldea.

  • Maya says:

    DNEM. I was given a sample of Venetian Bergamot. I was surprised at how much I like it. It’s sunshine and light, cheery; definitely warm weather. It’s not FBW for me though.

  • flowergirlbee! says:

    i like the idea of bergamot with all those white florals and a bit of tonka.i would love to try this.looking forward to your BWF post .

  • Venice! We are organising to go back again this winter. Just the name of this frag is enough to send me to the store. DNEM, just wanted to say how excited I am by this one.
    Portia xx

  • Patti says:

    Violet Blonde is my favorite fragrance excepting for some vintage loves. I lived near Venice for almost four years back in the 80’s so the new Tom Ford fragrance is one I must try. Thanks for the great descriptive blog.

  • Ellen says:

    I would love to try it. Bergamot is such an interesting note and to have a fragrance to itself is even more interesting. Lovely review. Venice is truly a city of dreams and the food is terrific.