Note family

Citrus notes

Citrus notes are the spark: bergamot (bitter, classy), lemon and mandarin (bright and direct), grapefruit (sharp with a bitter edge). They open a perfume and rarely survive the first hour.

What they layer with

Citrus is a booster, not a core: it lifts woods, cools ambers, and gives gourmands a clean edge so they never feel heavy. A woody core with a citrus booster is the single most useful day stack.

What to be careful with

Citrus over citrus mostly wastes perfume: the second spray fades with the first. Sharp citrus over a very sweet gourmand can read like dish soap on the wrong skin.

Keep reading

• The pairing guide for this family: Woody and citrus layering guide.
• Occasions where it shines: fragrance for summer and the office.
• What "notes" mean on a bottle.