Gilchrist says it best: “If you’re looking for something that’s fresh and citrusy without being overly sharp, this particular fragrance is quite easy to wear and very light.” Designed to capture the soul of the Mediterranean Sea, it was originally dreamed up as an homage to Charles Joseph Pagliano, an early 19th century explorer who left the charm of a small fishing village on the Amalfi coast behind to travel to England and marry his true love, Mary Floris. He permanently stayed in London, so this scent was intended to help him conjure memories of home. (It’s also unisex.)
Top notes feature bergamot, marine and mandarin while base notes are a combination of amber, spice, ambrette, woods and vanilla. Then, there are something Floris London refers to as the “heart notes,” (aka the notes that don’t disappear straight away but last a bit longer) which include green tea, orange blossom and ginger.
My Honest Review
I love to wear perfume, but I also am really careful about choosing a scent that doesn’t overpower. (My olfactory senses are sensitive, so I’m always mindful of that.) That’s why Bergamotto di Positano is perfect. It’s delicate and bright without being too floral.
In fact, the scent feels quite playful—exactly the kind of perfume you’d want to tuck in your bag for a vacation, but also something that’s easily wearable on a regular summer day. In my case, I wore it to the office a couple of times and got a compliment or two. It’s aromatic without being cloying or cologne-like. (I do think the amber notes mean you could wear it into early fall, as well.) I also love the fact that it’s unisex.
In my conversation with Gilchrist, I got a pro tip on the best way to apply it. “It depends on the strength of the fragrance and how much you want to be able to smell it,” she explains. She recommends spritzing it onto your wrists and onto the back of your neck. “If someone hugs you, they can smell it, but putting it on your wrists lets you control how often you smell it throughout your day.”
Bottom Line
This is a fragrance that beautifully combines English life with the breeziness of a European vacation—and with a royal flair, too. It quickly has become a staple in my personal perfume library and one I’ll continue to reach for season after season. No wonder Meghan (supposedly) loves it.