What Makes a Great Citrus Perfume?
Citrus notes sit at the top of most fragrance pyramids. They're the first thing you smell when you spray, and they set the tone for everything that follows. The best citrus fragrances don't just blast you with lemon and disappear after twenty minutes. They pair those bright top notes with a solid foundation of woods, musks, or resins that carry the scent through the day.
Common citrus ingredients in perfumery include bergamot, lemon, grapefruit, mandarin, lime, and neroli (which comes from the bitter orange tree). Each brings a different character. Bergamot is sophisticated and slightly floral. Grapefruit is tart and punchy. Mandarin is softer, sweeter, and a little more rounded. When a perfumer blends these with complementary middle and base notes, you get a citrus scent that's both refreshing and long-wearing.
Every fragrance in this collection is an Eau de Parfum with 20-25% aromatic compounds, which means these aren't the kind of light citrus splashes that fade before you leave the house.