This is the time of year when citrus perfumes get to take center stage. The best kind of citrus fragrances are versatile and varied, ranging from pure lemony spritzes to complex blends that draw in spicy, sweet, or earthy elements to play with. Any way you slice it, there's just something about this playful scent family that instantly reminds me of vacation!
I'm not alone in my affinity for the mood-lifting scent: "A lot of people gravitate toward citrus scents due to their ability to stimulate the release of endorphins, aka feel-good chemicals in the body," cosmetic chemist, perfumer, and certified nose Vince Spinnato, CEO of Turnkey Beauty, tells Who What Wear. "Citrus is often used in aromatherapy for its mood-boosting benefits." It has an energizing effect that simultaneously smells fresh and clean, instantly transporting you to a warmer, sunnier climate.
Until I book a flight or take a long drive to my destinations of choice, I'll be spending my days embarking on citrus scent adventures that transport me to the farthest reaches of the Earth. So come away with me on a pretend world tour! Ahead, check out the 16 best citrus perfumes to play out the most epic imaginary vacation from the comfort of your own home.
Best Citrus Perfumes for an Imaginary Vacation
- Escape to Monaco: Chanel N°5 L'Eau
- Escape to Miami: Versace Yellow Diamond
- Escape to Capri: Skylar Capri Summer Eau de Parfum
- Escape to Tokyo: Diptyque Oyédo Eau de Toilette
- Escape to Malibu: Maison Margiela Replica Beach Walk Eau de Toilette
- Escape to Windsor: Nest New York Citrine
- Escape to Ubud: DedCool Fragrance 05 Spring
- Escape to Sardinia: Tom Ford Costa Azzurra
- Escape to Positano: D.S. & Durga Italian Citrus
- Escape to Morocco: Boy Smells Flor de La Virgen
- Escape to Maui: Byredo Sundazed
- Escape to Melbourne: St. Rose Grand Larceny
- Escape to Sedona: Le Labo Bergamote 22
- Escape to Paris: Maison Louis Marie No.09 Vallée de Farney
- Escape to Mexico City: Korres Morning Mimosa Eau de Toilette
- Escape to Joshua Tree: Malin+Goetz Cannabis Perfume Oil
Chanel N°5 L'Eau
Escape to: Monaco
Lemon, mandarin, and orange might not sound like notes typically found in Chanel's fragrance library, but this new-world take on the ubiquitous Chanel N°5 is meant to surprise you a little.
Versace Yellow Diamond
Escape to: Miami
This vibrant scent is the kind you wear on a warm night with that dress that hugs your curves in all the right places. At first, the top notes of citron, pear sorbet, and bergamot take center stage, but it's not long before the accent of neroli and lingering notes of ambery woods, palo santo, and musk come into play.
Skylar Capri Summer
Escape to: Capri
This clean fragrance is like summer in a bottle. Its notes of bergamot, neroli, grapefruit, and blood orange envelop the senses with a sweet and zesty vigor.
Diptyque Oyédo
Escape to: Tokyo
With just one spritz, the scent sends you on an olfactory experience akin to skipping through a sprawling citrus grove. It's a fresh and fruity experience, bringing in grapefruit, green mandarin, Florida orange, Italian lemon, tamarind, and clementine.
Maison Margiela Replica Beach Walk
Escape to: Malibu
Bergamot, pink pepper, and lemon mixed with soft florals, coconut milk, and woody goodness? Yeah, it's good. Close your eyes and drift, friends.
Nest New York Citrine
Escape to: Windsor
This softer take on a crisp citrus scent is just divine. It combines soft lotus flower and freesia with sparkling citrus notes and hints of precious woods.
DedCool Fragrance 05 Spring
Escape to: Ubud
It doesn't get much cooler than this chic, clean fragrance. It's spicy, zesty, sweet, and woody all at once, with star anise, bergamot, and cedar. And don't let the name fool you—you'll love wearing this one all year (especially during summer).
Tom Ford Costa Azzurra
Escape to: Sardinia
I bought this decadent scent as a gift for my fiancé, but I routinely steal spritzes of it for myself. Its citrus element is subtle. Its notes of juniper, herbs, green notes, oak, and warm woods can read fresher or even spicier, but there's no denying the crisp, lemony zing.
D.S. & Durga Italian Citrus
Escape to: Positano
After you get past the initial musk first emitted from this bottle, a brawny blend of lemon, chinotto, and blood orange emerges to create a perfectly bitter citrus situation.
Boy Smells Flor de La Virgen
Escape to: Morocco
This tangy scent will just about make your mouth water. Smelling it is just like taking a bite of juicy pink pomelo.
Byredo Sundazed
Escape to: Maui
This complex scent combines all the best summertime fare: mandarin, lemon, neroli, jasmine sambac, cotton candy, and musk. It truly smells how a warm day spent sipping sweet cocktails feels.
St. Rose Grand Larceny
Escape to: Melbourne
I love a small-batch, clean fragrance line. This intoxicating mixture of rose, bergamot, clary sage, lemon, sandalwood, and vetiver makes for an uplifting scent story that's both sweet and spicy.
Le Labo Bergamote 22
Escape to: Sedona
This straight-up citrus spritz is so crisp and spicy. It has bergamot (obviously), grapefruit, petitgrain, orange blossom, cedarwood, vetiver, and musk.
Maison Louis Marie No.09 Vallée de Farney
Escape to: Paris
A true botanical experience, this luxe oil immediately imparts grapefruit, cedarwood, and patchouli for a juicy, herbaceous scent.
Korres Morning Mimosa Eau de Toilette
Escape to: Mexico City
Unlike some of the strikingly clean and fresh scents presented on this list, this sweet scent is decidedly more airy.
Malin+Goetz Cannabis Perfume Oil
Escape to: Joshua Tree
I'll just come out and say it: The smell of this peppery, citrus fragrance might inspire you to listen to Grateful Dead. It's smoky, spicy, herbaceous, and completely bluntastic.
What Should You Look for in a Citrus Perfume?
Citruses are commonly found in top notes, as they don't typically last as long as other heady scents. "Citruses are inherently volatile in their chemical makeup, meaning that they dissipate relatively quickly," says Spinnato.
To ensure your citrus perfume has longevity, he recommends opting for a more concentrated roll-on oil or layering them with other complementary scents. He considers woods, florals, vanillas, and musks "safe notes" that work well in most layering situations. Of course, you could also layer two citrus fragrances on top of one another.
Who Do Citrus Perfumes Suit Best?
Citrus notes are commonly used in men's and women's fragrances, though Spinnato has found that women, generally, gravitate more toward fruity notes such as lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange, and tangerine. As we mentioned up top, citrus plays nice with plenty of other scents, so it can add a touch of freshness to any fragrance, easily elevating more earthy, woody blends. In short, citrus is the ultimate fragrance crowd pleaser.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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