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10 citrus perfumes that will boost your mood all year round and last all day, starting from £10
Orange you glad we've got citrus scents?
Full disclosure: I don't really believe in limiting fragrances to one or two seasons. Yes, I have to admit that, when the weather gets warmer, I find myself reaching less for gourmand perfumes and indulging in more citrus perfumes but they still work year-round especially paired with different notes.
Citrus perfumes are known for being bright and zesty, but they don't all smell the same. The best part about finding the right citrus scent, though? One spritz and you'll feel like you just teleported to orange groves or a garden full of lemon trees. And is there anything better for the spring and summer months? I think not. But no matter which perfume trend you're into right now, whether you prefer a light and sweet scent or a woody floral, I can guarantee there's a citrus perfume that's right for you. To help you find your perfect scent, I tested and reviewed countless citrus perfumes, got the recs of my fellow Cosmopolitan editors, and read tester reviews to bring you a definitive list of the very, very best citrus perfumes.
Our top picks for the best citrus perfumes:
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Pro tip: I've found that citrus scents tend not to be the most long-lasting perfumes, so I like to prep my skin with Vaseline to give the perfume something to grab onto. Trust me, this easy trick will keep you smelling that zest all day long.
Chanel COCO MADEMOISELLE Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml
Cosmo US's Assistant Shopping Editor Hannah Oh declared Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle her favourite fragrance, noting that it's her "special occasion perfume."
The scent combines citrus and floral notes for a fresh, but powdery scent.
Notes: Orange, rose, jasmine, iris
Glowing Customer Review: "This is the best smelling perfume I have ever owned," writes a tester. "The scent lasts all day. I will save up to buy this again when it runs out. A little goes a long way though. I just need a spray on my neck and wrists and I'm smelling great all day long."
As a whole, citrus fruits are known for their zest, not their sweetness. And the same could be said about citrus perfumes. This scent from Pacifica adds some sugary notes to a blood orange perfume by incorporating notes of strawberry and raspberry. The result is a semi-sweet scent that's easy to wear no matter the occasion.
Notes: Blood orange, mandarin orange, orange, strawberry, raspberry
Glowing Customer Review: "After about 15 minutes, the strawberry becomes more mild, and it holds at a sweet, juicy orange smell with deep, musky undertones. It fades pleasantly, always holding onto the orange smell even as it becomes more mature and less bright and sweet. I'd say it lasts 6 hours on me before becoming muted."
Tangerines are the best citrus fruit, IMO, which is probably why I'm obsessed with Tangerine Boy from Phlur. I don't know how they did it, but this perfume is tangerine juice and zest in a bottle. Need I really say more?
Top notes: Lemon, ginger, black pepper
Heart notes: Apple, tangerine, jasmine petal
Base notes: Amber, moss
Glowing Customer Review: "So juicy and fresh, with enough musk to keep it smelling like an adult should be wearing it. A great everyday, inoffensive scent that works in every season."
This scent is a little bit creamy, a bit sweet and a lot of citrus thanks to the punchy mandarin at the top. As it settles though, the notes of vanilla and tonka with amber and musk mix for a beautifully warm scent that works fore very season.
Top Notes: orange flower, cassis, mandarin
Heart Notes: tuberose, jasmine, rose, ylang ylang & tonka bean
Base Notes: vanilla, amber & creamy sandalwood
Glowing customer review: "Love love LOVE this!!! Smells amazing, lasts well, nice bottle, fantastic price! LOVE!"
This fragrance features a blend of different citrus notes—lemon, grapefruit, mandarin—but, as the name suggests, grapefruit is the dominating scent. It's about as close as you can get to a pure grapefruit scent without squeezing actual grapefruit juice directly onto your pulse points, and it's perfect for hot summer days when you need something light and clean.
Top notes: Grapefruit, Italian lemon, mandarin
Heart notes: Bergamot, transparent jasmine, lotus flower
Base notes: Rhubarb, peach, musk
Glowing Customer Review: "A truly authentic grapefruit fragrance. Smells like you've just halved a perfectly ripened grapefruit and you're sipping fresh seltzer while looking out at the beautifully coloured landscape of the ocean side resort that you will call home for the next few days."
Le Labo Fleur d'Oranger 27 Eau de Parfum
This Le Labo scent is more subtle than my other fragrances from the brand, but it's every bit as good. The perfume features notes of lemon and petigrain, adding a bit of zest and sharpness to the sweet orange scent.
Notes: Orange blossom, petigrain, bergamot, lemon
My Review: I love how fresh this perfume smells without being too sweet or overpowering, so it won't leave you smelling like a glass of orange juice. (Not that there's anything wrong with that if it's your vibe!) I only wish it was a little more long-lasting.
Every millennial knows at least one person who wore Clinique Happy in the early aughts. The fresh scent was the perfect first perfume because it's fruity without being too sweet and flowery without being too powdery.
In other words, it's the perfect middle ground.
Notes: Ruby red grapefruit, bergamot, Hawaiian wedding flower, spring mimosa
Glowing Customer Review: "This is a fresh smelling floral that I layer with other body care products. It smells amazing with any lotion or body cream that I pair it with. I have received many compliments on how good I smell while wearing this fragrance. I highly recommend it."
Many citrus perfumes lean more light and fresh, but Solar Power by Phlur is definitely more of a musky, sexy scent. Notes of mandarin, bergamot, and orange flower give it a decidedly citrus scent, but base notes of driftwood, solar musk, and sea salt immediately give it a woodsy depth. I like wearing it on days when I want a little citrus kick, but don't want to smell like I just got out of the shower.
Top notes: Italian red mandarin, bergamot, jasmine absolute
Heart notes: Neroli, orange flower
Base notes: Driftwood, solar musk, sea salt
Glowing Customer Review: "I love this scent. I use it when I want to smell fresh and clean. It's so addicting, it lasts all day and I'll catch a wiff of it and just want more. Best scent I have smelled from Phlur so far."
There's something about this fresh, lemony scent that makes you feel like you're on vacation. Blu Mediterraneo Fico di Amalfi has fig nectar and fig wood notes to add depth to top notes of Italian lemon, so it doesn't smell like straight up lemonade. Instead, this scent develops into a woody, herby delight.
Top notes: Italian lemon, Italian bergamot, grapefruit
Heart notes: Fig nectar, pink pepper, jasmine petals
Base notes: Fig wood, cedarwood, benzoin
Glowing Customer Review: Hearst's Associate Director of Sales and Cosmo contributor Dana Parra loves this scent, saying, "I bought this soon after traveling to the Amalfi Coast last summer, and it literally brings me back to my mornings in Praiano Italy, walking around the charming neighbourhoods where you would literally catch whiffs of home grown lemon groves."
If this bottle of perfume looks like candy to you, that's because it basically is. Astrology writer Erika W. Smith calls this fruity floral scent "unapologetically girly." The scent combines notes of bitter orange with freesia, which Erika says "feels like walking into a humid butterfly garden, which is a vibe I need every once in a while."
Top notes: Bitter orange, pear juice accord, bergamot
Heart notes: Purple freesia, pomarose, mohanial
Base notes: Iso e super, cedarwood, abrofix, belambre, sylkolide
Glowing Customer Review: "I personally LOVE this scent! Goes on fruity floral, dries down woodsy floral. I can't compare it to any other fragrance, which I love."
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Olivia Truffaut-Wong is an editor at Cosmopolitan US with over 10 years of experience writing about culture and beauty. She is a makeup lover who can be found writing about everything from the best sandalwood perfumes to UV nail lamps. She loves trying out new fragrances and is currently dabbling in layering different perfumes to find her signature scent.
Olivia Truffaut-Wong is an editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers beauty, entertainment, and lifestyle. She loves finding and testing the best skincare products to recommend, like the best tinted sunscreens, and is always researching the best cat accessories for her fur baby. She has over 10 years of experience as an entertainment and culture writer and editor, and her work has been featured in The Cut, Refinery29, Teen Vogue, Polygon, Bustle, and more.
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