Yazhini ManimudiCitruses are some of the most fundamental notes we come across in perfumes, not to mention the most popular smell in other products from dish soaps to laundry detergents. They have a way of invoking a feeling of cleanliness and freshness. But we can’t reduce citruses to just that when they are so complex. Here are the most refreshing and unique citrus fragrances I have come across:
Lime
4711 Acqua Colonia Lime & Nutmeg
Key notes: Lime, Nutmeg
Unisex
4711 does citrus so well and it tracks because they made one of the oldest citrus fragrances that’s still in circulation. Lime & Nutmeg looks simple at first glance; it’s just lime and nutmeg after all. It avoids feeling like cleaning products, the way too many lime perfumes do and becomes something so soft and beautiful. It’s spicy, creamy, and somewhat soapy. My only complaint is that it doesn’t last long enough; it’s only an Eau de Cologne. But it’s so beautiful I won’t mind keeping it in my bag for reapplications every few hours.
Lemon & Bergamot
Chanel Cristalle Eau Verte
Key notes: Amalfi Lemon, Bergamot, Neroli, Magnolia
Feminine
Cristalle Eau Verte is fresh with light floral touches, elegant in true Chanel fashion. It’s lighthearted, calm, and a reminder of a simpler time that may or may not have existed. The jasmine is quite mild here when the jasmine-neroli combination is usually quite heavy in most perfumes. The iris adds a powdery facet that completes the fragrance. Airy, green, and heavenly, you can’t go wrong with wearing this every day.
Kumquat
Calvin Klein One Summer Daze
Key notes: Kumquat, Tea, Mint, Vetiver
Unisex
There’s nothing like having icy cold orange soda under the summer sun and that is what this perfume is. It’s modern and simple as part of the CK One line, but quite dependable. It’s sweet, a little tarty, and has that exciting sparkle that improves your mood. It doesn’t last long enough on the skin, but performs better on clothes.
Yuzu
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Forte Oud Yuzu
Key notes: Yuzu, Oud, Cedar, Neroli, Amber
Unisex
Oud is known for being strong and so is yuzu. Together, they somehow feel intensely fresh. There’s a bit of bitterness but also some sweetness that gives you the best of both worlds. Not everyone will enjoy this perfume. If you decide to wear it, you can be certain that you’ll smell the most unique in any room you walk into. If oud is usually not your cup of tea, try this Guerlain fragrance because it plays so differently.
Grapefruit & Orange
Hermès Eau de Pamplemousse Rose
Key notes: Grapefruit, Rose
Unisex
This one’s all grapefruit and rose with maybe some woody hints on the drydown. The role is quite realistic, gentle and soft. It’s refreshing to see what Hermès has done with grapefruit. Rather than the sharp, sometimes off-putting grapefruit, this fragrance has something that is quite natural and gentle. My complaint here as with so many other citrus fragrances is that it’s just too fleeting. It doesn’t last even an hour so it smells so divine. If you’re sensitive to fragrances but still want to wear something pleasant, this would do.
Lemongrass & Bergamot
Mind Games Vieri
Key notes: Lemongrass, Red Fruits, Incense, Tea, Peony
Unisex
This is easily the most interesting perfume in this list. We open with the lemons and its beautiful blend with the herbaceous lemongrass. There’s a bit of a zing from pink pepper, all of them bridging to the freshness of tea. The red frits accord isn’t too out there, just enough to make things interesting. There’s soft florals and some woody nuances but after everything it dries down to a calming skin scent. It’s a more mature fragrance, so I wouldn’t recommend it to younger people.
Lemon Verbena & Lemon
L’Occitane en Provence Verbena
Key notes: Lemon Verbena, Orange, Geranium, Rose
Unisex
This one’s a very lemony, herbal scent with a touch of green freshness thanks to the combination of lemon verbena and petitgrain. It feels so sunny and optimistic. So light it’s perfect for the summer heat just like a cold glass of lemonade in summer. This is perfect for when you need a quick refresher.
Clementine & Orange
Molton Brown Sunlit Clementine & Vetiver Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Clementine, Hazelnut, Vetiver, Suede
Unisex
Sunlit Clementine and Vetiver, as the bottle suggests, is a bright orange clementine on top of an earthy, woody base. I’d recommend that you not judge the fragrance at the first spritz- it begins kind of sharp but quickly shows you its fizzy clementine and vetiver. The wonderfully complex scent evolves to earthy, woody tone with a bit of fruity facets from the fig. It lasts quite long and is quite deep and comforting. Molton Brown also has a scented lotion of this fragrance to pair it with.
Yazhini Manimudi
