5 Best Citrus Perfumes in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Citrus scents are famed for their natural fragrance and sweet aroma. 

Over the years, many perfume companies have combined citrus notes in their perfume profile to devastating effect. 

With the numerous amount of citrus colognes out there, it can be quite challenging to choose from the lot. 

To save you the hassle, here’s a list of the best citrusy fragrances on the market, including their features and note combinations.

At A Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Citrus Perfumes

If you’re in a hurry, you can jump straight into our top picks (these are the citrus perfumes that most people buy).

• CK IN2U for Her
• Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae Forte
• Sunflowers by Elizabeth Arden

Top 5 Best Citrus Perfumes – Our Reviews:

1. CK IN2U for Her by Calvin Klein

Launched in 2007, CK IN2U is a superb citrus perfume from Calvin Klein designed by Carlos Benaim, Loc Dong, and Bruno Jovanovic.

It is a perfume made for the younger generation and inspired by the free spirit and fun-filled life of young people. 

CK IN2U begins with top notes of red currant leaves, bergamot, and pink grapefruit before revealing middle notes that consist of white cactus and sugar orchid. 

After a while, you should smell base notes of vanilla, red cedar, and amber. 

A single spray of this eau de toilette produces about 4 to 6 hours of solid performance while its moderate sillage is good enough to get you smelling young and sweet all day long. 

This CK fragrance is perfect for those summer days when you’re out to enjoy some sunshine at the beach. 

2. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae Forte

After the successful release of the first version in 2013, Aqua Vitae Forte released a new, more citrusy version in 2017 dominated by oranges and lemon. 

Maison Francis did his magic on this one as the pure floral merges with hot spices to create a sparkling bright note combo. 

It’s reminiscent of a lime, basil, mandarin cologne, but way better.

Aqua Vitae Forte begins with top notes of Ceylon cinnamon, Sichuan pink pepper, lemon, and Sicilian mandarin. 

It immediately peels off to heart notes of Madagascar ylang-ylang and orange blossom. 

After a while, you should smell base notes of vetiver and sandalwood. 

If you love longevity beasts, then you’re certainly going to enjoy wearing this Maison Francis fragrance. 

As you would expect from a summer eau de toilette, its projection is moderate although that does not stop its range from making you the cynosure of all eyes as you step into the room.

3. Sunflowers by Elizabeth Arden

Sunflowers eau de toilette was launched by the house of  Elizabeth Arden in 1993, and it has since been a popular perfume with jasmine for classy and elegant women. If you like perfumes with jasmine or a lime, basil, mandarin cologne, this is something you’ll appreciate.

Often compared with some Jo Malone creations, this scent’s warm, fresh, and subtle fragrance notes of lemon and oranges smell like an inviting summer perfect for women of all ages.

Designed by David Apel, Sunflowers eau de toilette opens with top notes of sweet peach, bergamot, lemon, orange blossom, rosewood, lemon, and mandarin. 

Its middle notes consist of iris root, osmanthus, rose, pure jasmine, and cyclamen. 

After some time, it dries down to base notes of moss, sandalwood, cedar, amber, and musk. 

Sunflowers eau de toilette is perfect in the warmth of summer and can also work well during spring. 

It produces about 4 to 6 hours of impressive performance while its moderate sillage gives you enough juice to smell incredible all day long. 

Whether you’re going to work or a rewarding day at the gym, Sunflowers eau de toilette is all you need to smell gorgeous. 

4. Touch of Pink by Lacoste

As the name suggests, Touch of Pink eau de parfum is geared towards younger women below 25 years of age. 

Joyous, feminine, and energetic, Touch of Pink was created in 2004 with ace perfumer, Domitille Michalon, behind the design. 

If you like perfumes with patchouli, you’ll surely appreciate this eau de toilette.

It begins with top notes of peach, coriander leaf, cardamom, and blood orange before immediately introducing heart notes of spicy coriander, jasmine, and, unexpectedly, carrot. 

After a while, it settles down to base notes of sandalwood, musk, and vanilla. 

If you’re looking for an extremely sweet fragrance to give your beauty the X-factor, there aren’t many on the market that can provide the kind of quality Touch of Pink eau de parfum brings to the table. 

It’s a playful and exciting scent that will please the nose of any citrus perfume lover. 

While it’s not a longevity beast, you are sure to enjoy between 6 to 8 hours of strong performance from this Lacoste fragrance for women. 

5. Happy by Clinique

When Happy eau de parfum by Clinique was created in 1998, few eau de parfum on the market could compete with its popularity. 

To date, it is still heralded as one of the most iconic colognes of the late 90s, competing with scents from name brands like Jo Malone, Tom Ford, and Dolce & Gabbana.

Created by Rodrigo Flores-Roux and Jean-Claude Delville, Happy by Clinique begins with top notes of morning orchid, lily, rose, and freesia before moving to heart notes of bergamot, fresh apple, and plum. 

It dries down to base notes of amber and musk after a short while.

Clean and fresh, Happy eau de parfum by Clinique was inspired by free-spirited women who find their happiness despite the challenges and obstacles on their way. 

Happy is predominantly a best perfume smell ideally worn during the day. 

Whether you’re going to work or spending a fun day at the beach, no one can resist your charm if you’re smelling like Happy.  

Conclusion

If you’re a big fan of citrus fragrances, then you’ll no doubt be delighted by the fragrance options on this list. 

Some of them bring in the freshness of lemon while for other perfumes, jasmine and oranges are the main drawing factors.

There are also many other citrusy options from Tom Ford and Jo Malone that almost made it into the list.

Dolce & Gabbana Italian Zest eau de parfum, for example, can easily be your choice, as well as any mandarin cologne with lime-basil notes.