What does Kiwi smell like?
Kiwi smells of juicy green fruit with a tartness that tingles on the tongue. It has a watery side, close to cucumber or unripe melon. A hint of sweetness recalls strawberry or redcurrant. It lacks the roundness of peach and the bitterness of grapefruit. In a perfume it brightens the opening for a few minutes, then fades. It sets the scene more than it stays.
Origin and production
The kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) comes from China, where it was known as Chinese gooseberry. New Zealand growers renamed it kiwifruit in the late 1950s for export. The fruit yields no essential oil. In perfume the note is an accord built from fruity esters and green notes that supply the tartness and watery feel.
How perfumers use it
Kiwi sits in the top. Dolce & Gabbana L'Impératrice (2009) pairs it with watermelon and pink cyclamen for a sugar-free fruit cocktail effect. Britney Spears Fantasy (2005) does the opposite and opens a white chocolate and cupcake gourmand with it: its tartness keeps the syrup in check. CK One Summer (2004) combines it with citrus and cactus. Azzaro Wanted Girl Tonic (2020) pairs it with ginger.
How to wear it
Kiwi is a summer note. The perfumes that use it are often light, so top up during the day. The sweeter Fantasy also works in winter.