Citrus · Natural material · Top notes
Lemon
Lemon is the citrus Citrus × limon, and its fragrant oil comes from the peel. It smells sour, fresh and clean, like freshly grated lemon zest. In perfume, lemon almost always sits in the top notes, so it is strong at first and then fades to make room for the heart notes.
· Written by the FRAG team
What does lemon smell like?
Lemon smells sharp, sour and bright, like zest grated or squeezed over a cup of tea. There is a light green side and a clean feeling that people often link with soap or freshly dried laundry.
On skin, lemon is one of the notes that evaporate quickly. After a few minutes the sharpness settles, and what remains is a softer freshness next to flowers, herbs or musk.
Where does lemon oil come from?
Lemon is a hybrid citrus with the scientific name Citrus × limon. World production of lemons and limes is led by India and Mexico, followed by China and Argentina. On note lists you may also see Italian lemon or Sicilian lemon, which simply point to lemons from Italy, especially Sicily.
Lemon oil comes from the peel. A machine breaks the oil cells in the rind, water sprays flush the oil out, and a centrifuge separates the oil from the water. The process uses no heat, so the oil keeps the fresh smell of lemon peel.
What lemon does in a perfume
Lemon sits in the top notes to open a perfume brightly. It is often combined with bergamot and lime for a fuller citrus opening, and with mint, rosemary or ginger for an aromatic feel. In floral and gourmand perfumes, lemon is used to balance the sweetness.
Because lemon evaporates quickly, it rarely lasts to the end. Musk or woods in the base notes are what carry its clean feeling further. Lemon with musk leaves a soft, clean trail, while lemon with woods leaves a drier one.
When to wear a lemon perfume
A lemon perfume suits mornings, daytime, hot weather and outdoor activities. It is light, so it works well at the office or on campus. In humid Indonesian weather, a small second spray at midday brings the lemon back.
