Lemon in perfumery
ADELE FADILI
It's one of the most widely used raw materials in perfumery: lemon. Fresh, sparkling, zesty, a little "clean", sometimes a touch old-fashioned. At Versatile, we love taking a classic and making it bold. Here's the whole story.
What is lemon in perfumery?
Lemon (Citrus limon) is the fruit of the lemon tree. It belongs to the citrus family, along with orange, grapefruit, mandarin and bergamot.
Remember the Eau de Cologne in your grandparents' bathroom? Colognes contain lots of lemon, for its fresh, sparkling, invigorating effect.
And we love it in the kitchen too: limoncello, lemon meringue pie (even better reinvented as lemon-basil).
Lemon or lime?
In French perfumery, lime goes by the name limette. Its scent is sharper, sometimes with a mojito or cola vibe. It's the one in mojitos, caipirinhas and tequila slammers.
How is the scent of lemon extracted?
For most materials, distillation is used. But for citrus fruits, it's cold expression: the zest is pressed to recover the essence contained in the peel. Yes, it's the peel of citrus fruits that holds all the scents used in perfumery. All the details are in our article on extraction processes.
Lemon is grown in many countries: Argentina, Spain, Ivory Coast… and above all in our favorite country, Italy, especially Sicily.
But doesn't lemon fade fast?
Lemon is a top note: very volatile, it mainly shapes the first impression. But it can be worked so that it lasts much longer, with a high concentration and the right accords (wink wink, Versatile).
A few iconic lemon perfumes
- Eau d'Hadrien, Goutal
- Eau de Citron Noir, Hermès
- Fleurs de Citronnier, Serge Lutens
- Cologne Royale, Dior
- Pacific Lime, Atelier Cologne
Lemon at Versatile
At Versatile, lemon is something to savor. In Rital Date, our tribute to Italy, it meets limoncello, pesto, basil and a creamy pistachio: Italy in a bottle. In Presser le Citron, our Eau de Parfum, it turns solar, round and gourmand, with a touch of marshmallow. To try them, check out our Les Fruits Discovery Box and all our Discovery Boxes.
FAQ
Is lemon natural in perfumery?
Yes, it's one of the few fruits whose scent can be extracted naturally, by expressing the zest. It's often topped up with molecules like citral to make it last.
Can you wear a lemon perfume in the sun?
Careful: some citrus essences are photosensitizing. Read our tips in Perfume and sun.
