Lemon is, along with orange oil, one of the most significant and most used citruses in the perfume industry. Its fresh, light scent that is reminiscent of the sea, summer, and joy is the reason why it is an unmissable part of most summer Eau de colognes and Eau de toilette ever since the perfume industry started. The perfume oil is gained by the expression of the skin of fresh fruits from the Citrus Limonum tree. After the juice and the pulp of the lemon are squeezed, precious lemon oil is extracted from the skin. This oil is used in the perfume and food industry, as well as medicine, aromatherapy, and many other areas.
The origin of the lemon is Far East, Burma, northeast India, and southern parts of China. It came to Europe numerous times in ancient Roman times, with Arabs across northern Africa and Spain around the first millennium AD, as well as during the time of crusaders. The first mass growth of lemon began in the XV century. Legend has it that Christopher Columbus brought seeds of lemon and orange during his second trip to America, thus creating what are now the biggest plantations of this Hesperides’ fruit in the world. California is the biggest producer of virgin lemon oil in the world, followed by Cyprus. Large quantities are being produced in Italy, Spain, Brazil, Tunis, China, Australia, and South Africa. One of the best quality lemon oils comes from Guinea where it is handmade but its quantities cannot compare with other producers.
Lemon in perfumes mixes well with other citruses as well as aromatic herbs like lavender. Compositions with balsamic notes (elemi, labdanum), floral notes (neroli, petitgrain) are very interesting and inspiring. If you want to make a highly evaporative lemon note lasting, you have to mix it with coumarin, vanilla, oakmoss. It is often combined with aliphatic aldehydes that serve as lmn oil modifications.
Perfumes known for its lemon scent are:
- Acqua di Parma Acque Nobile and Colonia,
- Armani Acqua di Gio and Acqua di Gioia,
- Creed Acqua Fiorentina,
- Guerlain Lmn Fresca i Eau de Guerlain,
- Victoria’s Secret Lmn Escape,
- D&G Light Blue,
- Chanel Allure Homme Edition Blanche and Sport,
- Dior Eau Sauvage,
- Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien,
- CK One,
- Versace Man Eau Fraiche.
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I like nothing more than a freshly squeezed lemons on Sunday morning during hot summer days, but rarely fragrances elevate lemon note to a high perfumery degree of making, except maybe Guerlain with few of Aqua Allegorias. Nice and informative article btw, tnx!
Acqua viva Profumum Roma et l’Eau d’Hadrien d’Annick Goutal sont les meilleurs parfums travaillés autour du citron selon moi.