Clean Cut: Inspired by Bergamote 22 by Le Labo

Clean Cut is Larcin's interpretation of Bergamote 22, the Le Labo cult classic that turned a simple citrus into one of the most beloved fresh fragrances in niche perfumery. It follows the same sparkling structure: bergamot, grapefruit and petitgrain in the opening, orange blossom and vetiver through the heart, and musk, cedar, amber and vanilla in the base. This guide covers the house, the fragrance's story, its polished character and how Clean Cut compares.

Le Labo: Perfume as Craft

Le Labo opened its first lab-like boutique in New York in 2006, built on a simple manifesto: fragrances named only for their dominant note and ingredient count, hand-blended and labelled in store, presented in deliberately plain apothecary bottles. That anti-marketing approach became one of the most successful marketing stories in modern perfumery, producing global icons like Santal 33 and turning the brand, now part of Estee Lauder, into shorthand for understated cool.

The Story of Bergamote 22

Bergamote 22 was part of Le Labo's founding 2006 collection, composed by perfumer Daphne Bugey around twenty-two ingredients supporting one hero: bergamot, the fragrant citrus that gives Earl Grey tea its character. Its working code name during development was Fire Cologne, a nod to the ambition of making a citrus with genuine warmth and staying power. Nearly two decades on it remains one of the house's most popular fragrances, prized as the rare bergamot scent that doesn't vanish in an hour.

What Does Bergamote 22 Smell Like?

The opening is dazzling: juicy bergamot and bitter grapefruit torn open together, so bright it practically sparkles, with green petitgrain adding a fresh snap of citrus leaves. The heart softens into sweet orange blossom over dry, grassy vetiver, an elegant white-floral turn that keeps the fragrance interesting well past the citrus rush. The base is the fire in the cologne: warm amber, soft musk, cedar and a kiss of vanilla that give the freshness an unexpectedly sensual, long-wearing foundation. The whole composition reads clean, sunny and quietly expensive, a modern classic cologne with its vintage dust blown off.

The Longevity and Projection of Bergamote 22

For a citrus-led fragrance, Bergamote 22 wears respectably, projecting brightly through the first hour before settling into a soft, musky-woody skin scent that carries into the afternoon. Like all citruses it rewards a generous application and an occasional refresh, and its ambery base lingers longer than the style usually allows.

The Positioning of Bergamote 22

Bergamote 22 retails around $362 for a 50ml bottle in Australia, a striking figure for a citrus. The hand-labelled bottle, the lab-coat ritual and the Le Labo aura account for a healthy share of it: this is a house that made minimalism the ultimate luxury flex, and priced it accordingly.

Clean Cut: A Faithful Bergamote 22 Alternative

Clean Cut squeezes the same fruit. Bergamot, grapefruit and petitgrain open bright and bitter-sweet, orange blossom and vetiver polish the heart, and musk, cedar, amber and vanilla give the drydown its warm, lasting glow. The character survives intact: luminous citrus with a grown-up finish, freshness that doesn't quit at lunchtime. If Bergamote 22 is your clean-and-put-together signature, Clean Cut delivers it without the boutique ceremony or the boutique bill.

When to Wear Clean Cut

Clean Cut is a daytime essential: spring and summer especially, the office year-round, brunches, travel and any moment that calls for crisp and composed. It is completely unisex and impossible to overdress or underdress with. A sample size is available on this page if you would like to test the sparkle on skin first.