Fragrance note category

Citrus Fragrance Notes

Citrus fragrance notes usually smell bright, fresh and zesty, but they do not all smell the same. Lemon and lime can feel sharper, orange and mandarin tend to be softer and sweeter, grapefruit can have more bitterness, and bergamot often has green and lightly floral sides. This category lets each citrus note be explored on its own rather than treating citrus as one single smell.

Bergamot, lemon, grapefruit and mandarin with citrus peel on a pale citron yellow background

The Citrus category brings together individual fragrance notes linked to citrus fruits and citrus plant materials. It includes bergamot, lemon, lime, grapefruit, mandarin, orange, clementine, yuzu, petitgrain and a broader citrus note. Many citrus perfume materials come from the aromatic peel of the fruit, while petitgrain is traditionally made from the leaves and twigs of the bitter orange tree.

Citrus Notes in Perfume

Explore each note to understand its smell, character and role in a fragrance.

Fresh bergamot oranges with glossy green leaves
Fragrance note

Bergamot

Bergamot in perfume smells fresh, bright and citrusy, with a soft floral character and a slightly bitter green edge. It is less sharp than lemon and often feels...

Explore Bergamot
Sliced lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime and bergamot with green leaves on a pale sky-blue background
Fragrance note

Citrus

Citrus in perfume usually smells bright, fresh and zesty, with juicy, bitter, green and peel-like sides. The term does not describe one fruit because lemon, bergamot, orange, mandarin,...

Explore Citrus
Fresh clementines, one peeled and one sliced, with green leaves on a pale blue-grey background
Fragrance note

Clementine

Clementine in perfume usually smells sweet, juicy and zesty, with bright citrus peel, soft green freshness and a lightly floral character. It is generally rounder and less sharply...

Explore Clementine
Pink grapefruit halves, curled peel and green leaves on a light lavender-grey background
Fragrance note

Grapefruit

Grapefruit in perfume usually smells fresh, tart and juicy, with a slightly bitter peel character and a clean, sparkling edge. It may also have green, dry or lightly...

Explore Grapefruit
Fresh lemons, curled lemon peel and green leaves on a pale lilac-grey background
Fragrance note

Lemon

Lemon in perfume usually smells bright, fresh and sharply citrusy, with a clean, zesty character that often suggests freshly cut peel. It may also have green, lightly floral...

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Fresh green limes with glossy leaves and a white citrus flower on a pale blue-grey background
Fragrance note

Lime

Lime in perfume usually smells sharp, zesty and green, with juicy, bitter, sparkling and slightly herbal sides. It is often brighter and more sour than orange or mandarin,...

Explore Lime
Fresh mandarins, curled peel and glossy green leaves on a light pale mint background
Fragrance note

Mandarin

Mandarin in perfume usually smells sweet, juicy and zesty, with soft fruity, floral and slightly green sides. It is generally rounder and less sharp than lemon, making it...

Explore Mandarin
Fresh sweet oranges, a sliced orange and curled peel with glossy green leaves on a pale blue-grey background
Fragrance note

Orange

Orange in perfume usually smells juicy, sweet and zesty, with the fresh character of newly peeled fruit. It is softer and sweeter than lemon, while usually feeling less...

Explore Orange
Bitter orange twigs with green leaves, unripe fruit and white blossoms on an apricot-grey background
Fragrance note

Petitgrain

Petitgrain in perfume usually smells green, citrusy and aromatic, with leafy, woody, floral and slightly bitter sides. It is less juicy than orange peel and greener than neroli....

Explore Petitgrain
Yellow yuzu fruits with textured peel, green leaves and a white citrus flower on a pale blush-grey background
Fragrance note

Yuzu

Yuzu in perfume usually smells bright, tart and aromatic, with lemon, grapefruit, mandarin, green and lightly floral sides. It is sharper and more fragrant than a simple sweet...

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Bitter Orange fragrance note at Luxaro Perfumes shown with textured orange fruits, glossy green leaves and small white citrus blossoms
Fragrance note

Bitter Orange

Bitter orange smells tart, fresh and citrusy, with a greener and drier character than a sweet orange note. It often has a mildly bitter, pith-like quality with soft...

Explore Bitter Orange

Luxaro Perfumes Featuring Citrus Notes

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