The Best Citrus Perfumes, Tested and Loved By Cosmo's Perfume-Obsessed Editors
From sweet vanilla to warm amber notes, the best citrus perfumes are versatile as heck.
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One thing about me: I’m not following any seasonal rules about which perfume notes to wear and when. I’ll spritz fruity florals in the dead of winter, and reach for spicy cinnamon scents in the middle of summer. And that definitely goes for citrus perfumes, too—I love a bright, zesty fragrance no matter the time of year. And actually, I prefer a citrus fragrance on the freezing cold days when I need a mood-booster to cure my seasonal depression.
While typical citrus notes include orange, grapefruit, and lemon, so many formulas also layer them beautifully to create complex blends that work in any fragrance family. So, we spritzed every citrusy bottle in our vanities, the beauty closet, and pretty much all of Sephora (which is a lot) to find the very best ones.
From pure orange scents to spicy fruity blends, keep reading for all the best citrus perfumes for any season.
One Cosmo editor says: “This scent reminds me of eating fruit on the beach—it’s sweet but not overwhelmingly so and it feels really bright and energizing on the nose. It also lasts a shockingly long time. Perfume doesn’t usually take to my skin very well, so I was impressed that I could smell this hours after the initial spritz.” —VERONICA LOPEZ, SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS EDITOR
- Key notes: Rangpur Mandarin, Pink Pineapple, Orange Flower
- Scent type: Eau de Parfum
One Cosmo editor says: "I've loved this scent for years now, but it still remains one of the best citrus perfumes I've smelled. It's undeniably orange, but there are these tiny hints of warm amber that round it out and make it smell like perfume, not a surface cleaner."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
- Key notes: Tangerine, Lemon, Amber
- Scent type: Eau de Parfum
One Cosmo editor says: "At first spritz, you get fresh brightness from citrusy grapefruit and zesty orange with a touch of bergamot. Then notes of jasmine, lychee, white musk, and vanilla enter and give the fragrance a sweeter and skin-like finish. If you like a bright perfume that smells fresh and a little like your skin but sweeter, you’ll love Coco Mademoiselle."—JH
- Key notes: Orange, Patchouli, Turkish Rose
- Scent type: Eau de Parfum
One Cosmo editor says: "I feel like citrus scents are perfect for mists since they're light, airy, and fresh. This spray smells like a sweet creamsicle without being overpowering—it's the perfect balance of zesty and bright. And it's made with thermal water to hydrate while it lingers on your hair and skin."—JH
- Key notes: Orange Blossom, Creamy Neroli, Lush Greens
- Scent type: Mist
One Cosmo editor says: “This fragrance is the perfect blend of sweet and citrus. I love that the white floral notes aren't too overpowering apropos of its coupling with warm layers of vanilla and orange blossom. If someone bottled up a bright sunrise and made it into a perfume, the result would be a few spritzes of this long-lasting scent.”—JH
- Key Notes: Orange Blossom, White Florals, Salty Vanilla
- Scent type: Eau de Parfum
One Cosmo editor says: "If gourmand and citrus had a baby, it'd be this perfume. It's a yummy lemon dessert (makes sense with a name like "Lemon Puff"), with notes of vanilla and meringue that give it a hyper-sweet coating. I don't typically love citrus, but this one is totally my vibe."—BG
- Key notes: Lemon Heart, Meringue Accord, Vanilla Bean
- Scent type: Eau de Parfum
One Cosmo editor says: "Even in the colder months, I don’t want to give up my fresh and fruity perfumes. By/Rosie’s Remi scent is the perfect way to take a bright mandarin-forward perfume and give it an autumnal twist. The warmth of white amber and the spice of cardamom ground it just enough to make it seasonally ambiguous. It lasts all day, and even lingers on my clothes long after I’ve sprayed it." —JH
- Key notes: Bright Mandarin, Fresh Cardamom, White Amber
- Scent type: Eau de Parfum
One Cosmo editor says: "Let’s be real: the original Light Blue is iconic for a reason. That crisp lemon-meets-green-apple top note combo? Chef’s kiss. But the relaunch turns the volume way up while still honoring the fresh DNA we all know and love. This time around, the formula incorporates a musky, woodsy base that lingers for a bright and rich scent."—JULEE WILSON, BEAUTY EDITOR AT LARGE
- Key notes: Sicilian Lemon, Apple, Cedarwood
- Scent type: Eau de Toilette
One Cosmo editor says: "If anyone tries to tell you that citrus perfumes aren't fall and winter appropriate, douse yourself in this and see if they change their mind. This scent is so lovely in the winter (oranges are in season then, after all). It's light and bright, but also offers a tang of sandalwood and amber for a smooth finish. It's like sipping hot tea with an orange slice by a fireplace."—BG
- Key notes: Sweet Orange, Bitter Orange, Sandalwood
- Scent type: Cologne
One Cosmo editor says: "This was my signature scent for a lot of the summer. Yes, it's citrusy, but it's also watery and aquatic and green—like stepping foot into a fresh cenote on vacation."—BG
- Key notes: Green Mandarin, Bergamot, Orange Blossom
- Scent type: Parfum de Peau
Why trust Cosmo?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan where she writes about everything from body mist launches to fragrance trends. For this story, she, along with team Cosmo, sourced dozens perfumes with citrus notes, and spritzed and wore them all to narrow them down to the best 10 scents.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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