Caviar Bergamot

How it Smells

Zara's Caviar Bergamot launches with a blast of artificial grapefruit – think concentrated juice box rather than freshly squeezed. The pink pepper tries to add a needed sharpness, but ends up smelling like generic men's shower gel. As it settles, a dusty incense emerges, vaguely reminiscent of church candles left to burn too long. There's a whisper of tobacco, akin to old cigarette ash, not the rich aroma of aged leaves. The base attempts oud, but instead delivers a synthetic wood accord with a plasticky drydown, lacking the complexity of the genuine article. It diverges quite significantly from I by Widian, missing its smoother transitions and nuanced depth.

Bottom Line

If Caviar Bergamot were a movie character, it would be a knock-off superhero – all costume and no actual power.

Projection Power

On my skin, Caviar Bergamot lasts about four hours. Projection is initially strong – a solid arm's length – but it quickly retreats to a skin scent after the first hour. I wore it during a chilly, rainy afternoon while running errands. It didn't evolve; it just faded.