What does Lemon smell like?
Lemon smells like freshly squeezed zest, tangy and slightly bitter, with a green facet and a sense of cleanliness. Depending on the extraction, it can be juicier and fruitier or drier and more aldehydic. Highly volatile, it lights up the first minutes of a perfume and then fades; perfumers often extend it with other lemony materials such as citral or verbena.
Origin and production
Lemon, Citrus limon, is grown in Sicily, Spain, Argentina and California. Its oil is mainly obtained by cold-pressing the peel, which preserves its freshness. A distilled version also exists, lower in furocoumarins, photosensitising compounds whose use is regulated. Lemon has featured in eau de Cologne since the early eighteenth century and remains a pillar of fresh fragrances. Few materials say freshness so directly.
How perfumers use it
Almost always in the top, lemon gives a perfume its initial momentum. It pairs with bergamot, rosemary, lavender, neroli and marine notes. Dior uses it to open Eau Sauvage, Calvin Klein places it at the top of CK One, and Chanel pairs it with grapefruit in Bleu de Chanel. It even appears in the top of Shalimar, where it brightens a vanilla base.
How to wear it
Perfect for spring and summer, lemon suits anyone looking for a fresh, clean and effortless fragrance.
