Lemon is beloved for its many uses and applications, but we particularly love it for its refreshing and clean fragrance. If you enjoy this crisp, summery smell, you’re probably wondering which lemon perfumes are the best.
Lemon perfumes are versatile and most often best used in the summer. They bring a new and energetic feeling to your day and can perfectly complement spicy and floral fragrances.
And although most are not built to last very long, some lemon scents have advanced longevity that keeps that juicy and energetic scent on you for hours.
So, which lemon perfume should you use? Which one lasts the longest? Which one perfectly captures that exotic lemony smell? And how do you pick which perfume is the best choice for your lifestyle and personality?
We have scoured the perfume world to unearth the most lively and refreshing lemon perfumes that will answer all of your questions. Any one of the perfumes we’ve chosen would be a great addition to your collection.
Before we dive deep into our exciting list, let’s go over the exact smell and notes of lemon perfume.
Does Lemon Perfume Smell Good?
Lemon perfumes smell distinctively fresh, clean, and sharp. Like a traditional zesty and citrus smell, the fragrance will rejuvenate your senses, increase your alertness, and give you a jolt of energy.
Signature lemon scents will appeal to almost anyone and can be easily worn to work, a date, or a night out. They have a balanced appeal and are usually recommended to be worn in warm weather.
The best lemon perfume willincrease your appeal, make you happier, andboost your confidence.
Speaking of confidence, we’re entirely confident that lemon perfume is versatile enough to pair well with anyone at any time.
Check out our top 5 picks you should try in the summer of 2022 below.
1. 4711 Acqua Colonia Lemon and Ginger Eau de Cologne Spray
Introduced in 2010 for the house of 4711 by perfumer Alexandr Kalie, the Acqua Colonia Lemon & Ginger is a beloved lemon fragrance that’s sure to rejuvenate your senses and energy.
It has afresh and natural aroma that reflects the scent and sparkle of beautiful sunny days.
Its main notes of lemon and ginger complement each other brilliantly and give a reminiscent take on the freshness of sliced citrus fruits.
It is a unisex fragrance, and, although it’s best worn in summer, it can be used during spring and early fall. If you are looking for a scent you can wear anywhere, this is a good choice.
On the first spray, you get a sharp lemon opening and light ginger dry down. It doesn’t last long, but it certainly lasts long enough to make a good first impression.
The sweet spot here is the bright shot of fresh lemon that will appeal to anyone who is in love with natural lemon fragrances.
Pros
- Particularly bright with a fresh scent
- Sharp notes of fresh lemon and ginger dry down
- The price is relatively low
Cons
- Fleeting longevity and low sillage
2. Duru Lemon Cologne
Known for its scent that promotes cleanliness and freshness, the DURU Lemon Cologne is considered to be one of the best lemon perfumes.
All you need is a spritz on your elbow, wrist, or neckline to evoke the coolness and freshness of this hygienic cologne. As a cologne, it is not among the list of last longing lemon perfumes, but it brings a host of other features to the table.
Plus, it doesn’t even have to be used on the skin. It also works well for disinfection and hygienic cleaning. Hairstylists use it as an antiseptic treatment and to keep hot towels fresh and clean.
No matter how you use it, whether as a sanitizer, a body spray, an antiseptic cleaner, or as an air spray in your home, you will love the distinct fresh citrus scent it leaves.
The perfume is an excellent product and is perfect if you are looking for something you can use to keep clean while still smelling great.
Pros
- Fresh and clean lemon fragrance
- Affordable price
- Multipurpose lemon spray cologne
Cons
- Moderate sillage and longevity
3. C.O. Bigelow Lemon Eau de Parfum – No. 1999
Launched as a part of the C.O. Bigelow apothecary lineup in 2012, the Lemon N0. 1999 has a zesty and energetic lemon fragrance. It’s sweet, sharp, and bright like a cool sunny day.
With notes of lemon leaves, fresh lemon, and musk, you get a rich lemon scent that is further enriched by the slight hint of musk.
It has excellent sillage and will last longer than most lemon-based perfumes. It will also leave you smelling fresh and sweet. If you wear this out on a sunny day, you’ll definitely receive lots of compliments.
Make no mistake, this isn’t some harmful alcohol mixed with a bit of lemon essence. The formulation contains no harsh chemicals, like parabens, and it has a good percentage of pure lemon perfume essence.
This lemon fragrance is suitable for warm weather as well as winter and fall.
Pros
- Lovely and refreshing summer lemon scent
- Lasts long enough to make an impression
- Nice musk dry down
Cons
- Doesn’t last long enough to justify the Eau de Parfum specification
4. Fresh Sugar Lemon Eau De Parfum Spray
With rich citrus and sweet flavors, Fresh Sugar Lemon perfume will appeal most to hardcore fans of savory and fruity fragrances.
On the first spray, you get a sharp kick of lemon which leaves you feeling fresh and clean.
The combination of herbs then settles in quickly with a lasting sweet and woody dry down. You will love this if you love the smell of sweet lemon candy.
The perfume starts with top notes of lemon, yuzu, and mandarin orange, and sits perfectly with middle notes of ginger flower, litchi, and African orange flower. Its base notes of caramel, oakmoss, and sandalwood give it a rich dry down.
This can easily be your favorite lemon fragrance. Although its sweet lemon candy scent is not for everyone, it can be used by all genders. It’s sweet, lemony, a little bit light, and refreshing.
If this sounds like the type of smell you desire, then Fresh Sugar Lemon perfume is the right choice.
Pros
- Impressive longevity and sillage
- Sweet lemon candy fragrance
- Unisex fragrance
Cons
- Can be quite overwhelming
5. Demeter By Demeter Lemon Meringue Cologne Spray
The Lemon Meringue by Demeter Fragrance Library was launched in 2014 and quickly became a fan favorite lemon perfume.
Its main notes of vanilla and lemon are highlighted on a quick spray. The fragrances have a creamier lemon aroma that complements the undertones of vanilla. This creates a perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness between the vanilla and lemon. The perfume is more suited to women but can be used by anyone.
As a cologne, it doesn’t last as long as a dedicated perfume body spray, but its gentle and fresh fragrance is just enough to win you over.
After a quick spritz or two, you quickly catch the scent of freshly squeezed lemon. Then, the creamy meringue kicks in with slight undertones of vanilla. It’s perfect for summer but can also be worn anytime and everywhere.
The only issue we have with this perfume is the lightness and low sillage. To counteract these issues, you would have to reapply or add additional layers of another scent.
Pros
- The perfectly balanced fragrance you can wear anywhere
- Zesty lemon and a hint of vanilla
- Can be worn anytime
Cons
- Low and light sillage
How To Choose the Best Lemon Perfume
Citrus perfumes and by extension lemon perfumes are very endearing and have the advantage of being light enough to wear in any setting.
Citrus is a popular perfume ingredient, so there are plenty of options to choose from. We’ve listed some great choices to make the buying process easier. If you aren’t completely set on a fragrance just yet, below are some of the tips you should stick to in order to pick the best fragrance for you.
Notes in a Lemon Perfume
If you’ve read this guide all the way through, you’ve definitely seen us use the term “notes” several times. Fragrance sets in a perfume are usuallyseparated into different notes called the top, middle/heart, and base notes.
The collective notes a perfume has define its overall scent over time.
The notes come one after the other. The top note is the strongest and most immediate scent, and it is then followed by the middle and base notes.
After you spray perfume, the top notes will be completely gone within 5 to 15 minutes. The middle notes are gone in about two to four hours, and the bass notes last for about four to six hours. The bass notes are usually very rich and long-lasting.
When choosing a perfume, it’s important that you understand all the different notes it has.
Test the Scent
Lemon perfumes can be hit or miss, with some smelling more appropriate for a bathroom or tile floor and not for you.
It’s always a good idea to test the scent of any lemon perfume you are going to buy so you can judge it fairly.
A direct sniff of the bottle, a little spritz on your wrist, or a soft spray on a piece of fabric all work for testing the scent of perfumes.
Examine the separate notes carefully and how they complement each other. Make a habit of getting samples first before you purchase perfume, especially if the price is on the high side.
It’s possible that because so many places are focused on selling online, you won’t be able to get a perfume sample. In this case, you can use perfumereviews on Fragrantica to estimate what the perfumes smell like.
Take Note of the Type of Perfume
Perfumes are separated into different categories depending on how long they last.
Eau de Cologne: With 2 to 4 percent perfume dispersed in alcohol, Eau de cologne lasts for approximately two hours.
Eau de Toilette: This has 5 to 15 percent perfume dispersed in alcohol and lasts for approximately two to three hours.
Eau de Parfum: This type of perfume lasts for four to five hours. It’s usually more expensive than the first two and has 15 to 20 percent of perfume dissolved in alcohol.
Perfume: Plain perfume has the most powerful scent and can last for 24 hours after application. It’s the most expensive.
Conclusion
If you want a perfume that has a fresh scent and is juicy and appealing in the summertime, then lemon perfume is the perfect choice.
With our pick of the best lemon perfumes, you get perfectly balanced spicy, sweet, and floral notes blended expertly with citrus. This combination will leave you feeling rejuvenated and energetic.
Now you have a list of five excellent lemon perfumes to choose from, and you know how to choose the perfect perfume. All that’s left is for you to enjoy the natural and oddly satisfying lemon scent!
For more useful buying guides for perfumes from top brands like Gucci, Killian, Chanel, and Dolce and Gabbana, check out our otherguides and similar articles.