Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between citrus and fruity fragrances?
The lines can sometimes get a little blurry when it comes to fragrance descriptors, but citrus and fruity scents are not the same. According to Christina Christie, senior perfumer at Givaudan, citrus notes bring “freshness, brightness, energy, and an uplifting quality to a fragrance.” Citrus scents include ingredients like bergamot, lemon, orange, or grapefruit; fruity fragrances would include ingredients like berries, peach, or pear.
Why do citrus scents typically fade faster than other fragrances?
As Christie explains, citrus notes tend to fade faster because they’re “primarily derived from natural materials and are composed of highly volatile molecules” that evaporate quickly. “Citrus ingredients are designed to create an immediate burst of freshness and impact rather than long-lasting performance,” she says.
How would you recommend making a citrus scent last longer?
To make a citrus fragrance last longer, Christie suggests layering with musks, woods, and floral notes for a longer-lasting foundation. And don’t underestimate the power of a fragrance-free lotion as a base to help lock in your scent.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best citrus perfumes, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from fragrance experts. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Now, take a behind-the-scenes look at some of our favorite celebs’ beauty appointments:
