Jan 11, 2023 | 10 min Read

15 Best Citrus Perfumes of All Time

Opening the windows at the first sign of summer, stepping outside into glorious sunshine, gazing up at deep blue skies and a blazing rush of heat — if you had to describe citrus fragrance in more than smell form, that’s what it would represent.

A citrus smelling perfume is your passport to summer-scented happiness: bright, refreshing, and zesty. A secret weapon during those ever-so-slightly cooler months, these spring scents or winter warmers promise to enliven you even if the weather refuses to.

The best citrus women’s perfume doesn’t care about the storms outside. One spray and suddenly it’s sunglasses and sun-hats weather. Read on for some of our favorite citrus scent perfumes.

What is Citrus Perfume?

Citrus perfume is fresh, bright, and zesty. Characterized by notes like mandarin orange, lemon, bergamot, and lime, it’s usually worn in warmer months for its refreshing appeal. Citrus fragrances are typically light and refreshing, with compositions of oils extracted from their fruit peels.

Follow along for a list of the greatest citrus perfumes:

1. Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Bergamote Calabria

Aqua Allegoria Bergamote Calabria Perfume By Guerlain

Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria Bergamote Calabria may be a citrus fragrance, but it’s one that warms you from the inside like a hot mug of lemon and ginger tea, making it one of the best citrus perfumes for winter.

Invigorating and consistent, you’ll smell this perfume on your skin long after the final spray, in a comforting reminder as the hours pass by. Fresh, uplifting, and well blended, its warm spicy notes gracefully carry through summer evenings. 

Similar to: L’eau D’issey (Issey Miyake) Perfume by Issey Miyake, Shalimar by Guerlain, Alien by Thierry Mugler

2. DKNY Be Delicious

DKNY Be Delicious

DKNY’s Be Delicious smells good enough to eat. A crisp bite into a zingy apple, it’s pleasing in its uniqueness — a sensation no other bottle can provide. Bold and energetic, this isn’t purely a citrus fragrance, but rather a fresh, fruity blend stirred up with cucumber and grapefruit. 

A truly delicious cocktail both by name and nature, it’s charming and delightful, a smile in a bottle that you’ll run towards in the height of the summer months. It’s a bottle as mood-lifting as the first sunbeams of summer reflecting off your walls. The perfect addition to weekend brunches.

Similar to: Bright Crystal by Versace, Eternity by Calvin Klein, First Perfume by Van Cleef & Arpels

3. Clinique Happy

Happy Perfume by Clinique

Sharp and ever so slightly floral, Happy is a standout fragrance. Lily, magnolia, and musk ensure this perfume works for daytime wear season after season. It’s a weekday wonder that brightens up those early mornings.

Orange, blood grapefruit, and Indian mandarin burst onto the scene, hand-in-hand. Akin to being spontaneously thrown onto a bouncy castle, it has an innate ability to bring a smile to your face no matter how many times you wear it. 

Similar to: Jimmy Choo Perfume by Jimmy Choo, Euphoria by Calvin Klein, Pleasures Perfume by Estee Lauder

4. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Perfume for Women

Casual and sparkling, Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue is that thirst-quenching sip of lemonade served on a hot day. It’s understated yet effective, a timeless fragrance that seems to pair perfectly with a cool swimming pool. 

A signature spritz for hot weather, it’s the best kind of antidote for salty sun-kissed skin, with a gentle afterglow of citrus peel. Sicilian lemon, apple, and bamboo run around in constant circles to provide an endless breeze from every direction. This is among the best citrus perfumes when you need a quick escape.

Similar to: Burberry Brit Perfume by Burberry, Alien by Thierry Mugler, Cool Water Perfume by Davidoff

5. Annick Goutal Bois D’hadrien

Bois D'hadrien Perfume By Annick Goutal

Annick Goutal’s Bois D’hadrien is your refined, go-to cocktail. It’s citrus-based, but not in a way you’d expect. An underdog of the fragrance world, this unisex fragrance is just as woody as it is refreshing; a wander through tall grasses while peeling mysterious fruits. 

Reminiscent of the shade rather than basking in the sunlight, it’s warm and tranquil. Continue the walk to discover those magical spots of sun-baked leaves, filled with the scents of masterfully blended Mediterranean fruits and resinous incense.

Similar to: Vanderbilt Perfume by Gloria Vanderbilt, Maja Perfume by Myrurgia, Hanae Mori Perfume by Hanae Mori

6. Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin

Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Cologne

Pungent lime is the overarching note when you first breathe in Jo Malone’s Lime Basil & Mandarin. Classic and aromatic, it’s a fragrance that comes served with fresh white clothes and an air of unquestioned confidence. While it’s a citrus-first scent, it’s one that makes good use of aromatic notes, with basil and thyme liberally stirred into the mix. A more masculine scent than your typical citrus perfume, it’s confident and proud, nuanced and harmonious, and punchy and grounded. This fresh citrus perfume works best on spring mornings.

Similar to: Acqua di Gio cologne by Giorgio Armani, Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne by Jo Malone, Sauvage Cologne by Christian Dior

7. Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine Cologne

Orange Sanguine Cologne By Atelier Cologne

Atelier Cologne’s Orange Sanguine is sensual and oriental — like a glass of the freshest orange juice but with a hint of spice. Its brilliant blend of red orange, bitter orange, and South African geranium is a work of art in a bottle. It’s as realistic as squeezing a blood orange and as vibrant as the color itself. 

Like a walk through a Californian orange grove, you’ll breathe in this fragrance and feel the vines whispering against your wrists and feel the heat of the sunshine on your shoulders. One of the best citrus perfumes for an exotic getway.

Similar to: Higher Energy by Christian Dior, Azzaro Wanted by Azzaro, Cool Water by Davidoff 

8. Acqua Di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Arancia Di Capri

Blu Mediterraneo Arancia Di Capri Perfume By Acqua Di Parma

Acqua Di Parma’s Blu Mediterraneo Arancia Di Capri is a bottle of contrasts. That starts with the vibrant blue bottle against the distinctly orange smell that envelops you. The feeling continues right through to the juicy, encouraging blend of cardamom and caramel that subtly waits in the background for its time to shine.

One you’ll spray for a reminder of previous travels, this bottle opens up a million memories, so realistic it feels as if they’re playing directly in front of you. They say scent is the strongest memory sense, and Blu Mediterraneo Arancia Di Capri’s magical ability is the closest thing to a time machine. Wear when you’re counting down to your next vacation.

Similar to: Angel Perfume by Thierry Mugler, Lolita Lempicka Perfume by Lolita Lempicka, Spring Flower Perfume by Creed

9. Tom Ford Mandarino Di Amalfi Acqua Perfume

Tom Ford Mandarino Di Amalfi Acqua Perfume

Tom Ford’s Mandarino Di Amalfi Acqua Perfume is mouthwateringly zesty. A scent that promises a reassuring burst of zinginess for hours on end, this is a sharp citrus fragrance that leaves nothing to interpretation. 

Fresh and elegant while remaining green and ever so slightly herby, it’s like a bowl of freshly cut Mandarin orange, grapefruit, and bergamot with a sprinkling of mint on top.

Similar to: Jean Paul Gaultier Perfume by Jean Paul Gaultier, Tommy Girl Perfume by Tommy Hilfiger, Versace Signature Perfume by Versace

10. Hermès Eau d’Orange Verte

Eau D'orange Verte Perfume

Spritzing Hermès’ Eau d’Orange Verte is like stepping off the plane and gazing up at the deep blue sky. Happiness, freedom, and wanderlust combine in a bottle that grabs you by the hand and runs through sunsoaked courtyards with snaking vine leaves. 

This fun-filled scent is sweet yet bitter with a slight heaviness to keep you grounded. It’s energized and lengthy, suitable for date nights both new and familiar. Eau d’Orange Verte is among the best citrus perfumes for a fun night out with friends.

Similar to: Tresor Perfume by Lancome, Eau Des Merveilles Perfume by Hermes, L’air Du Temps Perfume by Nina Ricci

11. Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gioia

Acqua Di Gioia Perfume By Giorgio Armani

Clean and smooth, Giorgio Armani’s Acqua Di Gioia is a citrus fragrance for those who prefer understated scents. A perfect perfume for the working week, it’s natural and airy while remaining consistent throughout the day. 

An alternate angle to the traditional citrus scent, Acqua Di Gioia is quietly dignified. Spritz it, and you’ll get a feeling of certainty that commands the room without a single word. Minty freshness blends with intricate notes of Amalfi lemons, with gentle undercurrents of pink pepper, peony, and brown sugar.

Similar to: Euphoria by Calvin Klein, Narciso Rodriguez Perfume by Narciso Rodriguez, Tresor Perfume by Lancome

12. Bond No. 9 Little Italy

Little Italy Perfume By Bond No. 9

Little Italy is a younger citrus fragrance. It’ll remind you of a pink lemonade with its own colorful umbrella or cheerful cocktail cherry balanced perfectly on top. It’s unpretentious, a perfume that doesn’t hold back with its boldness, confident and unassuming in its character. 

Clementine and grapefruit come served with neroli and musk, resulting in a blend that you’ll crave in hot, humid weather. This bold Bond No. 9 fragrance is a summer evening scent that guarantees plenty of fun.

Similar to: Chinatown Perfume by Bond No. 9, Spring Flower Perfume by Creed, Angel Perfume by Thierry Mugler

13. Chantecaille Vetyver

Chantecaille Vetyver Perfume

Chantecaille Vetyver is at the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to the best citrus perfumes. A distinctly layered, intricate perfume, it’s blended with precision, in a way that dances on the skin. 

Confident and sexy, Vetyver is almost opulent in its variety, a perfume that’s impossible to soak up just once. You’ll breathe this one greedily, taking in each smooth-as-silk essence one by one. Nutmeg, citron, and pepper echo in the distance. Wear it during winter for a helping boost of warmth.

Similar to: Miss Boucheron Perfume by Boucheron, La Perla J’aime La Nuit Perfume by La Perla, Visa Perfume by Robert Piguet

14. Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh

Daisy Eau So Fresh Perfume By Marc Jacobs

Daisy Eau So Fresh is anticipation — the hours counted down until your next holiday or the cooling dab of sunscreen on your skin. It’s exhilarating, a pulse of raspberry and grapefruit running like electricity through your body. 

This perfume is bold and feminine, something that manages to be fresh, floral, and fruity without losing its citric undertone. Wear this as a wake up call before your next early morning flight, for an instant burst of exciting energy.

For a more extensive list of the best perfumes from the Daisy line, read on in the Best Marc Jacobs Perfumes of All Time guide.

Similar to: Viva la Juicy Perfume by Juicy Couture, Daisy Perfume by Marc Jacobs, Kenzo Flower Perfume by Kenzo

15. Maison Margiela Under The Lemon Tree

Replica Under the Lemon Tree Perfume by Maison Margiela

Under The Lemon Tree is a mix of hazy summer days and freshly cut grass. Citrus, green leaves, and woody twigs combine into the grown-up version of lunch breaks sat in the shade of the trees. 

But this isn’t a young perfume. Rather, it’s as refined and effervescent as an afternoon spent under the trees with a refreshing G&T in hand. Lime, petitgrain, and cardamom ensure this fragrance’s position as a unisex one.

For a more extensive list of our favorite fruity fragrances, read on in the Best Fruity Perfumes of All Time guide.

Similar to: Pink Sugar Perfume by Aquolina, Fantasy Midnight Perfume by Britney Spears, Amazing Grace Perfume by Philosophy

Best Citrus Fragrances – In Conclusion 

From sweet citrus and vanilla perfume right through to floral citrus jasmine perfume, there’s a world of zesty fragrances to enjoy here at FragranceX. The best citrus perfumes can give you a bright, refreshing feeling during cooler months, giving you a burst of energy and fun just when you need it most.

For more of the best perfume brands and scents, read on:

 

image of Georgie Darling

Georgie Darling is a freelance lifestyle and travel writer from London, England. Her work has been published in Grazia, HuffPost, YAHOO!, Culture Trip and Fodor’s amongst others. When she’s not writing, Georgie spends most of her time travelling to new countries and scuba diving. She's been an avid fragrance lover since a young age and considers Alaïa by Alaïa Paris to be her signature scent.

More Articles from this Author
image of Georgie Darling

Georgie Darling is a freelance lifestyle and travel writer from London, England. Her work has been published in Grazia, HuffPost, YAHOO!, Culture Trip and Fodor’s amongst others. When she’s not writing, Georgie spends most of her time travelling to new countries and scuba diving. She's been an avid fragrance lover since a young age and considers Alaïa by Alaïa Paris to be her signature scent.

More Articles from this Author

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