Lemon Perfumes

Limonene and citral: the molecules in lemon

For perfumery, the oil of the lemon (Citrus limon) is taken from the peel – by cold pressing, without heat. Oils from Sicily and Argentina are particularly prized. The main constituent is limonene (C₁₀H₁₆), usually at more than 60 %. The characteristic sour lemon tone, however, comes from citral (C₁₀H₁₆O), a mixture of the two isomers geranial and neral that makes up only 2 to 5 % of the oil. Cold-pressed lemon oil also contains furocoumarins, which is why IFRA restricts it in products that stay on the skin.

In a fragrance, lemon is bright, zesty and slightly tart. It opens a composition and fades comparatively quickly. With bergamot and neroli it feels clear and classic, with ginger or pink pepper lively and spicy, with musk or cedarwood clean and longer-lasting.

In this selection, lemon sits in the fragrance pyramid – mostly in the top note.