Citrus fragrances

The citrus accord is made of oils from citrus peel — bergamot, lemon, grapefruit, mandarin and orange. It's the brightest and sharpest part of the perfume palette, so it almost always sits at the top of the pyramid: it's what you smell for the first five minutes after applying. Because citrus oils are volatile, they dissipate quickly, which is a common reason for disappointment after a blind buy — a fragrance that feels refreshing in the shop smells completely different half an hour later. Modern citrus fragrances solve this with ambroxan, musk or woody notes in the base, which hold the citrus longer.

Louis Vuitton Imagination: The purest citrus opening in our range — citron, Calabrian bergamot and Sicilian orange over tea and amber. Here citrus isn't the introduction but the main theme.
Xerjoff Erba Pura: Sicilian citrus with fruit and a vanilla base. It shows how citrus sounds when a sweet base holds it — still bright after a few hours.
Chanel Bleu De Chanel: Grapefruit and lemon over incense and cedar. A classic example of citrus that tips into a woody, smoky scent by evening.
Ex Nihilo Blue Talisman: Bergamot and mandarin with ginger and pear — citrus in a softer, fruity version, without the sharpness.
Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Man: Pineapple and bergamot over birch leather. The cheapest route to a citrus opening that lasts all day.
Electimuss Amber Bloom: Citrus is the first accord, with fruit and a salty note beneath. The summer direction of a brand that's otherwise dark.

Why does a citrus fragrance disappear so fast?

Citrus oils are among the most volatile perfume materials — with lemon-peel oil, the top dissipates within half an hour. What's left is the base. If it's the opening you love, look at what the fragrance has in its base: ambroxan, musk and cedar hold citrus longer than a purely citrus composition.

Are citrus fragrances only for summer?

They're most at home in summer, because in the heat they develop faster and don't become heavy. In winter they come across as thin, unless they sit over a spicy or woody base — then they're usable all year.

What's the difference between a citrus and a fresh accord?

The citrus accord is narrower: it's about citrus fruit. The fresh accord also covers aquatic, green and minty notes. Every citrus fragrance is fresh, but not every fresh fragrance is citrus.

Do citrus fragrances go off faster?

Yes, citrus oils oxidise faster than most other materials. Keep the bottle away from light and heat — the bathroom is the worst place in your home.