Citrus

Citrus is the most universally appealing of all fragrance families: bright, clean, and immediately uplifting. The accord draws on bergamot, lemon, grapefruit, orange, mandarin, and lime to create scents that open with an effervescent energy matched by no other note family. Virtually every fragrance ever made has at least a whisper of citrus in its top notes.

Bergamot, the signature citrus of eau de cologne, is floral-citrus with a tea-like crispness. Lemon and grapefruit are sharper and more energetic. Mandarin and orange lean sweeter and juicier. Together these notes define the classic fresh aesthetic that has dominated the fragrance market since the 1990s.

Fans of citrus accords will love aquatic, fresh, green, and aromatic families for that same sense of clean, airy brightness. A citrus fragrance is an almost universally safe choice for warm weather, casual settings, and office wear.