The 13 Best Citrus Perfumes Have Me Dreaming of Beach-Side Margaritas

My first and most influential scent memory is my mom rubbing a clementine peel on my wrists and encouraging me to breathe in the best— and notably natural —citrus fragrance. It was more sensorially fulfilling than taking a bite of the flesh ever could be. Alas, a real fruit peel isn't a long-lasting scent, and probably won't land on your list of best perfumes—but you can come close with the best citrus perfumes on the market.

Citrus has long been utilized in perfumery; historical records indicate that it held a prominent place in ancient civilizations, such as Egypt and Mesopotamia. During the Renaissance, citrus oils and extracts gained even greater popularity, and their use continued to be widespread. And here's a fun fact, courtesy of Raguenes: released in the early 1700s, the original Roger Gallet Eau de Cologne by Farina belongs to the citrus family. "Emblematic of well-being and freshness, it was originally a personal hygiene product used on the body," he shares.

Whether you're an orange fanatic like me, or prefer zesty hits of lime, lemon, or bergamot, citrus perfumes are known for their ability to perk up the senses. "The scent of citrus is a blend of bright, uplifting, and refreshing notes. Whether it is the crisp, facet of lemon, the sweetness of oranges, or the tangy notes of grapefruits, they are refreshing, invigorating, and convey a sense of cleanliness," shares dsm-firmenich perfumer Erwan Raguenes. "For me, citrus notes also have the power to evoke positivity and create a vibrant atmosphere."

Carlos Huber, a fragrance developer and founder of Arquiste, compares citrus notes to your favorite crisp cotton shirt or linen pants. Like a great-fitting white T-shirt, "they work with everything," he says. Fragrance expert Eudora Nwasike notes that they can either energize and focus their wearer or transport the mind's eye to a sunny day at the beach.

Ahead, some of the fragrance industry's most brilliant noses and editors break down everything you need to know about the best citrus perfumes. Here, I dig into different notes, the history of citrus in perfumery, and (of course) the best citrus perfumes to pick up for yourself.

The Best Citrus Perfumes

• The Best Citrus Perfume Overall: Parfums de Marly Perseus Eau de Parfum
• The Best Lemon Citrus Perfume: Maison Margiela Wholesale Luxury' Under the Lemon Trees Eau De Toilette With Citrus Musk
• The Best Everyday Citrus Perfume: Dolce Gabbana Light Blue
• The Best Classic Citrus Perfume: Chanel Chance Eau Fraîche Eau de Parfum Spray
• The Best Nostalgic Citrus Perfume: Clinique Happy Eau De Parfum Spray

What Should I Look For In a Citrus Perfume?

• Notes
  • The citrus family includes notes like lemon, lime, orange, bergamot, grapefruit, tangerine, and clementine. "My favorite citrus notes are neroli, orange blossom, and citron. Fresh green neroli and soft, honey-like orange blossoms are perhaps my bread and butter in perfume," says Huber. "Citron is also amazing because it’s a less familiar, yet very tart and refreshing note that brings a lot of green and has a lot of depth." The crisp, floral bergamot, meanwhile, adds an almost "water-like" quality to the fragrance with its volume, light, and energy.
• Wear
  • Nwasike says that citrus notes are naturally volatile, meaning they don't last long on the skin. "Hence the reason perfumers use them as a top note in fragrance," she adds. "Their fresh, invigorating scent captures your attention to prepare you for an exciting olfactory experience."
• Layering
  • Citrus layers well with a number of other fragrance families, including floral notes, woody notes like cedarwood, vetiver, oud, and sandalwood. "Woody notes add depth and tenacity to volatile citrus notes, while the citrus notes cool intense woody notes to create a beautiful contrast," shares Nwasike. Floral notes like jasmine and tuberose, and fruity notes like peach, mango, berry, and apple also go great together. "It's almost like you are drinking a chilled glass of juice," Nwasike adds.

What Are the Most Popular Citrus Notes?

Contrary to what you'll find in a typical fruit bowl, there's more to citrus than lemons, limes, grapefruits, and oranges. "The citrus fragrance family is broad and consists of citrus fruits, flowers, and trees," says Nwasike. While all share a common freshness, these different notes offer perfumers a wide and engaging palette in their artistry. Here's a look at some of the most popular citrus notes, with information courtesy of the fragrance expert.

• Bergamot: Grown in southern Italy, the perfumer's favorite bergamot fruit has a rich scent that is at once fresh, floral, and spicy. According to Nwasike, it's also popular in aromatherapy because of its calming and relaxing effects.
• Lemon: Sharp and acidic, lemon notes have a clean, energizing impact when included in fragrances.
• Grapefruit: Nwasike calls bold, juicy grapefruit the most bitter citrus note, adding that it's very volatile. Thus, it must be paired with other, more calming elements so that the resulting perfume isn't overpowering.
• Neroli: Neroli oil is produced by the bitter orange tree blossom. It has a sweet, spicy, and herbaceous fragrance profile.
• Mandarin: Sweeter than the humble orange, Nwasike says mandarin is "a mood booster that evokes the essence of sunshine."
• Petitgrain: Another product of the bitter orange tree, this time extracted from its leaves and green twigs, the herbaceous and slightly floral petitgrain is similar to neroli and can have an aromatic or green scent depending on its pairing.

What Are Citrus Perfumes?

Now that you're well aware of the notes that typically make up the formulas, you may still be wondering: What exactly constitutes a citrus perfume? "Typically, these formulations showcase those bright, juicy notes from lemons, oranges, and their cousins," co-founder of Noteworthy Scents, Ashley Boyce, says. "They're the kind of perfumes that instantly perk you up—it's a similar feeling to splashing cold water on your face or biting into a fresh orange."

Citrus perfumes aren't the most long-lasting. In fact, Boyce refers to them as "flighty," meaning that they disappear rather quickly. That being said, traditional citrus notes tend to be paired with others to increase longevity. "I always check how the citrus is balanced," Boyce says. "Is it cut with something green? Warmed up with vanilla? Deepened with woods? These combinations keep a citrus fragrance from smelling like you just cleaned your kitchen and then disappearing immediately after."

How Do I Layer Citrus Perfumes?

As Huber mentioned, citrus notes are the well-fitting white T-shirts of the fragrance world. They go with just about anything. "They can complement floral scents, creating a fresh and uplifting combination," adds Raguenes. "Citrus also harmonizes with aromatic notes like basil or mint, adding a dynamic and invigorating touch."

Woody and spicy elements, such as cedar and ginger, also pair well with citrus, creating a well-balanced and sophisticated scent when layered.

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Meet the Experts

Erwan Raguenes

Perfumer Erwan Raguenes is a graduate of the Grasse Institute of Perfumery and University of Montpellier.

Carlos Huber

Carlos Huber first pursued the study of architecture and historic preservation at universities in Mexico City, Paris and New York City. Turning to his longtime love of perfumery, Huber studied fragrance development and collaborated with internationally recognized nose Rodrigo Flores-Roux to recapture the olfactive notes of historical moments. After conducting extensive academic research, Huber developed ARQUISTE Parfumeur.

Eudora Nwasike

Eudora is a fragrance specialist by the Fragrance Foundation UK, published journalist, and magazine contributor promoting and demystifying the art of fragrance across various audiences.

Ashley Boyce

In 2021, Ashley Boyce co-founded Noteworthy, a fragrance discovery company that stands at the forefront of innovation. Noteworthy leverages cutting-edge AI, data science, and proprietary technology to redefine the consumer experience through personalized scent recommendations.