Citruses

Citruses are the bright, zesty notes that burst open at the very top of a fragrance. They come from the peels of fruits like lemon, bergamot, orange, grapefruit, and mandarin.

When you spray a perfume and get that immediate rush of freshness, that is almost always citrus at work. These notes are incredibly popular in perfumery because they create an uplifting, energetic first impression.

Citrus oils are extracted by cold-pressing the fruit peel, which captures all those sparkling, tangy aromatic compounds. The downside of citrus notes is that they evaporate quickly, usually within the first thirty minutes.

This is why perfumers always pair them with longer-lasting ingredients underneath. Different citrus fruits bring different moods.

Lemon is sharp and clean, bergamot is sophisticated and slightly bitter, orange is sweet and sunny, and grapefruit is tart and modern. Citrus notes are the foundation of entire fragrance families like eau de cologne, which dates back centuries.

They work perfectly in hot weather and are a staple in fresh, sporty, and professional fragrances.