Lemons in perfumes are often described as astringent, sour, sweet undertone, aromatic nuance, bright, cheerful, and vibrant. But the most prominent characteristic of a lemon’s scent is its sharp, tart quality. Alongside the tartness, a subtle sweetness adds complexity to the scent.
The lemon note is a citrus note typically found in summer fragrances. Extracted from the fruit’s rind through cold expression, its highly volatile nature means it’s one of the first notes to be perceived and then gently fades, making it a prominent top note.
I’ve been curious about lemon-scented perfumes. I’m not normally drawn to this note, but I found a few that I found quite lovely and wanted to share them with you.
For Her:
1. Armani Acqua Di Gioia EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Armani |
| Best for | Women |
| Fragrance Family | Floral Aromatic |
| Notes | Top: Amalfi Lemon and Mint Middle: Water Jasmine Base: Virginia Cedar, Brown Sugar, and French Labdanum |
| Release year | 2010 |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Loc Dong, Anne Flipo, and Dominique Ropion |
First off, I never noticed that the female version of this Armani perfume is Acqua Di Gioia with an a at the end. That’s a bit funny (for context, the male version is Acqua Di Gio).
I read the notes thinking that it would smell like a minted lemonade, but the mint note isn’t really present here. But I still like it a lot. It has a slightly reminiscent scent of a 90s perfume, with a particularly sweet drydown. It’s not my favorite on this list, but it is still a good option for a sweeter lemon scent.
2. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue EDT
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Dolce & Gabbana |
| Best for | Women |
| Fragrance Family | Floral Fruity |
| Notes | Top: Sicilian Lemon, Apple, Cedar, and Bellflower Middle: Bamboo, Jasmine, and White Rose Base: Cedar, Musk, and Amber |
| Release year | 2001 |
| Projection | Moderate – High |
| Perfumer | Olivier Cresp |
I included both the ‘for him & ‘for her’ versions of Light Blue in this list. I find the ‘for her’ version to smell like a nice cold glass of lemon water. The notes blend together beautifully, giving a smooth fragrance profile.
I do have an issue with this fragrance, though; it is not long-lasting. Otherwise, it’s an excellent summer scent, or even an everyday office perfume. Just keep in mind that you will need to reapply a couple of times throughout the day.
For Him:
1. Versace Eros Energy EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Versace |
| Best for | Men |
| Fragrance Family | Citrus Aromatic |
| Notes | Top: Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Blood Orange, Sicilian Bergamot, and Mandarin Orange Middle: Pink Pepper, White Amber, and Black Currant Base: Musk, Oakmoss, and Patchouli |
| Release year | 2024 |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Versace |
I’m pretty sure I have liked all the Eros flankers that I’ve tried so far, and Energy is no exception. The original Versace Eros is already citrusy as is, and I never imagined that there would be a version that is even more citrus-forward.
Eros Energy reminds me a bit of Aventus, but is heavier on the citrus notes, especially the lemon. Energy is an apt name for this scent, considering it is literally a citrus bomb. I like it even more than Aventus.
2. Dolce&Gabbana Light Blue Pour Homme EDT
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Dolce & Gabbana |
| Best for | Men |
| Fragrance Family | Citrus Aromatic |
| Notes | Top: Grapefruit, Bergamot, Sicilian Mandarin, and Juniper Middle: Pepper, Rosemary, and Brazilian Rosewood Base: Musk, Incense, and Oakmoss |
| Release year | 2007 |
| Projection | Moderate – High |
| Perfumer | Dolce & Gabbana |
The men’s Light Blue version is good, but it’s not as good as the women’s version. It’s a nice everyday summer scent, but it has missed the opportunity to be perfect.
What would have made this fragrance perfect? Ditching the pepper note. The pepper note really clings on there, making me not exactly love the dry down of this D&G fragrance. If you don’t mind that, then you would love this perfume.
Unisex:
1. Xerjoff Erba Pura EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Xerjoff |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Amber |
| Notes | Top: Sicilian Orange, Calabrian Bergamot, and Sicilian Lemon Middle: Fruits Base: White Musk, Madagascar Vanilla, and Amber |
| Release year | 2019 |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Christian Carbonnel and Laura Santander |
Alright, now it’s time to talk about my favorite on this list. I love Erba Pura so much that I’m planning on getting a full bottle to add to my collection soon.
As I said, I’m usually not drawn to lemony scents, but when I tried this on, I was taken aback by how much I loved it. This scent single-handedly inspired me to embark on a journey of discovering lemon-scented perfumes. The best way I can describe this perfume is that it smells like a Sicilian summer. It’s what I would reach for if I wanted to wear a “nice/fancy” summer scent.
2. Mancera Aoud Lemon Mint EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Mancera |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Woody Aromatic |
| Notes | Top: Lemon, Almond, Black Pepper, and Coriander Middle: Agarwood (Oud), Patchouli, Egyptian Jasmine, and Mint Base: Vanilla, Amber, White Musk, Leather, and Vetiver |
| Release year | 2016 |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Pierre Montale |
Another fragrance that ended up being one of my favorites is this amazing composition by Mancera. Now THIS smells like a glass of minted lemonade, but with a piece of agarwood (oud) dipped into it.
This is a smooth and interesting blend. But it’s definitely not a crowd-pleaser, so I would recommend that you DON’T blind buy this. It’s an amazing lemon scent, but it’s still oud-based. If you don’t like the note of oud, you won’t appreciate this perfume.
Find all these Lemon fragrances and more at V Perfumes, your favorite perfume shop in Dubai. Shop at the best prices in the UAE and Gulf region and don’t miss out on exclusive offers online and in-store.
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