Nº03 Caviar Bergamot Zara 2022

Caviar Bergamot. In my stupidity, I immediately associated this perfume with something similar to caviar. The eggs, or roe, of sturgeon, are called caviar. Preserved with salt, we usually eat caviar as an appetizer. Russia and Iran produce the truest caviar from fish taken from the Caspian and Black seas. The best grade, beluga, is prepared from large black or grey eggs; fresh beluga caviar is relatively scarce and thus expensive. Lesser degrees are from smaller, denser eggs. In the U.S., the roe of salmon, whitefish, lumpfish, and paddlefish is sometimes sold under the name caviar. Wait, is that the only definition of caviar? I mean, processed salted roe of large fish such as sturgeon? Luckily enough, other meanings seem more appropriate for a fragrance, such as something considered too delicate or lofty for mass appreciation or something considered the best of its kind. That fits perfectly with Caviar Bergamot.

The Jo Malone creation is a citric and aromatic fragrance created around three unique facets: sparkling citruses, delicate flowers, and salty musks. Initially, when sprinkled on the paper strip or skin, it can look like a classic citrus cologne, which is the main reason I passed it on the first try. But in reality, evolution gradually reveals some very interesting and pleasant bevels. The citrus cocktail features Primofiore lemon. In the province of Siracusa, they cultivate the fruit of Primofiore lemon that ripens between October and March. The high quality of its essential oils range is among the best in the world. About the cologne, if you know Versace pour Homme Eau de Toilette and Dior Homme Cologne (2013), you will find many common points. By this, I do not mean that Caviar Bergamot is a clone of those, but that the perfumes belong to the same family, with many similar traits and similar vibes. Caviar Bergamot appears as a hybrid of the other two. By the way, Caviar Bergamot is part of the Ocean Collection, along with "Zara Ocean Nº1 - Salty Ocean Bouquet | Zara" and "Zara Ocean Nº4 - Saffron Orange Flowers | Zara".

Caviar Bergamot, which I would have called Caviar Lemon for the strong dominance of this citrus, reveals itself with a boost of citrus. A clean and citric quality that it’s like drinking freshly squeezed lemon, grapefruit, and bergamot juice. To my nose, the three citrus fruits are slightly unbalanced, and the fragrant lemon prevails over the others, followed by the sweet and sour tones of grapefruit and just a touch of bergamot. Oddly, this citric accord lasts long, and the citrus notes continue in the heart. The lemon is very prominent upon that initial blast and remains for the duration of the perfume. So, just be prepared for that. The initial scent is relatively strong, but not in the wrong way.

Caviar Bergamot starts strong and mellows out as time passes. The spiciness of ginger announces the entrance of the heart. This juicy, spicy root pairs with lemon juice while keeping the heart chord fresh. Besides a flowery and indolic aspect because of the presence of white jasmine flowers, I perceive dusty and powdery facets as if there were also the root of the iris. The heart is sunny and warm, with reflections reminiscent of gin-tonic and bergamot martini.

After the initial hour, the amber and musk notes emerge more and balance the fragrance. It still has that bright, citrusy behavior, but I get more intense undertones of floral notes and musky herb-based spice. At times, it can feel quite powdery and slightly soapy. The amber is akin to ambergris, more salty that sweet.

As I wrote above, Caviar Bergamot starts excellent for me. The sillage is damn loud upon application. As the cologne stabilizes, it becomes a more moderate fragrance overall. It’s not very long-lasting, half a day on my skin, but it’s usually adequate for everyday purposes. Plus, considering this is a spring and summer citrus fragrance, that time frame isn’t wrong. Seasonally, this hits me like a summer scent. I suppose you could wear it at any time of the year, but it always felt out of place to me. In cold winter temperatures, I prefer amber and resinous scents. However, if you live in a humid climate, Caviar Bergamot is a fragrance option that excels in those conditions. You can wear it to work, to the gym, or informally, and it works very well. You could wear it casually for a hassle-free evening or go to a fancy dinner with friends. Capturing complements, people seem to appreciate the aroma. It’s light, and it’s breezy, but not aqua-breezy.
I like Caviar Bergamot; it is simply the cologne for me. It doesn’t blow my socks off, nothing disruptive, but it smells good clean, and fresh. It is genderless and fits perfectly with a man, even if ZARA exhibits it in the women’s department. Besides, no tobacco or deep woody notes make this particularly masculine. Ultimately, it gives you a pretty simple, clean citrus smell and is almost universally pleasant. There are aspects that I like, the dominance of the Primofiore lemon. In particular, the opening act, where it is brighter and semi-aquatic citrus, and the amber and slightly salty finish.

I base the review on a 90ml bottle I have owned since July 2022.

-Elysium

ZARA and Jo Malone: usually a collaboration that works. However, the name of this creation initially put me off; as did its placement in the Ocean range. Oceans, salts, algae - generally not ingredients that appeal to me. I would confidently advise: don't let that bother you at all.

Nº03 Caviar Bergamot starts off vibrant and invigorating, with a hint of lemon zest and slightly bitter grapefruit. It's delightful how you are greeted by this. And then, quite quickly, my - entirely positively intended - association with cleansing soap comes to the forefront. Clean, rather classic, bright, and always with a lemony backbone.

I mentally sit in an older house with the morning sun streaming in, in a basement laundry room that I have cleaned as my first task of the day with a cleansing soap solution. While drinking warm lemon water. What a refreshing and simultaneously homely feeling.

The homely feeling for me is the base of musk. Amber perhaps in the sense that you feel a bit of warmth, but never without the lemon and definitely not resinous. It doesn’t lose its character; the cleansing soap solution has simply dried up by now, and the sun has warmed the facade of the basement walls.

I was able to detect it consistently for over 6 hours. The sillage is moderate, yes, but perhaps that suits this scent quite well. Malone has created something here that has occupied my thoughts - right from the moment of arrival…

Immediately after the first spray, a very zesty and fresh lemon and bergamot combo is noticeable, reminiscent of lemonade on a hot summer day. The grapefruit and ginger remain in the background but add a bit of sharpness. Those who prefer softer and slightly sweet citrus fruits, like in Afternoon Swim or "Light Blue pour Homme Eau Intense | Dolce & Gabbana," may be disappointed by the opening. Speaking of comparisons, I would associate the two mentioned fragrances (especially the opening) more with an elegant man in white polo swim trunks relaxing by the pool or beach, while I see Nº03 Caviar Bergamot as the young sporty brother zooming by on his racing bike with quick sunglasses.

However, the bright lemon opening quickly becomes milder, and after about 30 minutes, I increasingly perceive the jasmine and the amber & musk combo in the background. The scent evokes for me the association of freshly washed white laundry hanging in the light wind by the beach or pool. Probably due to the jasmine, which I find very interesting throughout the entire combination.

The scent is noticeable a few meters away in the first minutes and then quickly becomes intimate. I find this a bit unfortunate, as I can imagine that some might perceive the opening as somewhat sharp, and I especially find the described dry down the most beautiful.