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Recs for a lemon perfume that doesn’t give off ‘cleaning spray’ vibes?

137 replies

Mollysocks · 26/06/2025 09:38

I am after a lemon perfume that actually smells of lemons and not toilet/bathroom cleaner.

Ones I’ve tried that to me have the cleaner smell are:

Eros Pour Femme Versace
Under The Lemon Tree Maison Martin Margiela
Yellow Diamond Versace

Does anyone have any recommendations? Thank you 🤗

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
Squirrelsnut · 26/06/2025 23:16

Not a perfume but Bronnley's lemon soap is the most lemony thing I've ever smelled. My mouth literally waters.

crazyaccountant · 26/06/2025 23:32

Diptyque Oyedo - very rarely see it mentioned but it’s my ultimate lemon/citrus fragrance for summer and often get compliments when I wear it!

ArielManto43 · 26/06/2025 23:37

RomanFruit · 26/06/2025 21:55

@ArielManto43 Looks like it's back for a limited period! https://www.zara.com/uk/en/sweet-pastry-in-paris-edp-100ml--3-4-fl--oz--p20130038.html?v1=463550091&v2=2419833 Am going to see if I can find it in a store to sniff...

Wow - fancy that! Honestly, I do not know how Zara can put out a perfume like that for just £17.99. Hats off to them! (And thanks for the heads up ... appreciated!).

The4teddybears · 26/06/2025 23:38

4711 remix, sparkling island. (in the blue packaging ) is beautiful fresh lemon based perfume.
Perfect for summer

Recs for a lemon perfume that doesn’t give off ‘cleaning spray’ vibes?
Recs for a lemon perfume that doesn’t give off ‘cleaning spray’ vibes?
StartupRepair · 26/06/2025 23:41

I'm a bit obsessed with Penhaligon Blenheim Bouquet. A very expensive male cologne - Churchill used to wear it!

HolidayHattie · 27/06/2025 00:00

imokithink · 26/06/2025 14:43

Penhaligon's Quercus is lovely 🍋

On me, that faded to a toilet cleaner note.

On the other hand, Penhaligon's Luna smells of sherbet lemons and roses on me.

Handownduggies · 27/06/2025 00:12

How do you find out a out all these perfumes? I live in a big city with access to department stores and beauty stores and I find looking for perfume so overwhelming. I get a few spray cards and then it's too much! Even with these stores I don't think I could hold of at least half of these.

IDontHateRainbows · 27/06/2025 00:33

Beautifulcreatures2 · 26/06/2025 22:14

Is there any way to get samples of these perfumes? I have tried a few and don’t like them much so before committing would like to try.

There's loads of sample services online. I recommend perfumista, tiny fragrances or scented samples

ArielManto43 · 27/06/2025 09:27

Handownduggies · 27/06/2025 00:12

How do you find out a out all these perfumes? I live in a big city with access to department stores and beauty stores and I find looking for perfume so overwhelming. I get a few spray cards and then it's too much! Even with these stores I don't think I could hold of at least half of these.

Being interested in fragrance is a bit like falling down a rabbit hole ... Once you start exploring and googling, you find out there are far more fragrances out there than you will ever be able to try. It's a bit addictive, to be honest!

For a start, look At The Perfume Society's website. They have an online shop that sells boxes of samples, often themed, that you can buy for £20-£30. It's always a treat to get one delivered through the post. And if you sign up for a year's membership you'll get discounts on anything you buy.

Also, look up perfume reviews on YouTube ...it's a great way to waste half an hour, and some of the regular contributors are very well informed and entertaining.

Lastly, Fragrantica is the best online resource for anything at all to do with perfume. If there's one single website I would point you to, it's that one. Loads of different sections to browse, including reviews of just about every perfume in existence. It's more of an online encyclopedia than a website.

If you are desperate to try a fragrance, eBay will often have little 1 or 2 ml samples you can buy for a few quid. Better than risking the gamble of blind buying a full bottle, only to find you don't completely love it. A lot of the big perfume houses do discovery sample set, but they can often be quite expensive. Penhaligon's do two free samples, I think, but you pay about £5 postage. Worth looking into that kind of thing, as well. You don't need a lot of money to try out a few samples here and there, but a lot of the more interesting perfumes won't be found on the high street ... You'll definitely need to go looking for them.

twilightcafe · 27/06/2025 09:59

ClearHoldBuild · 26/06/2025 16:07

I’ve got this in the purse spray which I rarely wear and was going to see if you wanted it @Mollysocks but unless I've got it wrong they’re selling it for £1
www.thefragranceshop.co.uk/mary-greenwell/lemon/eau-de-parfum-purse-spray/p/29639

Sold out online, sadly.

notjaneausten · 27/06/2025 10:01

O de Lancôme.

StrawberryWasp · 27/06/2025 10:16

Bergamot Calabria by Guerlain.

It's part of their aqua allegory range.
It's gorgeous. I'm always trying new citrus scents but always come back to this.

catsmother · 27/06/2025 12:37

I love perfume and citrus scents in particular so was excited to come across this thread. As I'm late I see that many of my favourites have already been mentioned (Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Bergamot, Dior Escale a Portofino, Chanel Cristalle, Jo Loves White Rose and Lemon Leaves, O de Lancome ...). However, I don't think these have been mentioned??

Laboratory Perfumes - Gorse - despite the name this immediately strikes me as extremely lemony

Sana Jardin - Berber Blonde - love love love this. It has orange blossom in too but the overall impression, to my nose anyway, is lemon. So fresh, and 'clean' with no chemical hint. Similarly their Venus of Verbena might also be worth a try? Sana Jardin do a great discovery set BTW.

Goutal - Eau D'Hadrien. Tip: sometimes to be found (like other 'niche' brands, much reduced on TK Maxx site)

JP313 · 27/06/2025 14:05

I'd like one too

YB1985 · 27/06/2025 14:11

Try this one. its not lemon lemon...but more fresh citrus. its beautiful
L'Occitane verbana

uk.loccitane.com/verbena-eau-de-toilette-15ET100VB23.html

Floofyflo · 27/06/2025 14:19

You need Lancome Ô de Eau de Toilette spray. It's so lemony it will make your mouth water.. £49.60 from John Lewis. So its very reasonable.

Recs for a lemon perfume that doesn’t give off ‘cleaning spray’ vibes?
Ratracerunner · 27/06/2025 14:23

Mollysocks · 26/06/2025 09:38

I am after a lemon perfume that actually smells of lemons and not toilet/bathroom cleaner.

Ones I’ve tried that to me have the cleaner smell are:

Eros Pour Femme Versace
Under The Lemon Tree Maison Martin Margiela
Yellow Diamond Versace

Does anyone have any recommendations? Thank you 🤗

L'Occitane do beautiful citrus scents. My favourite is Verveine which is lemon with a touch of orange.Verbena is also lovely

Witchling · 27/06/2025 14:27

I have a bottle of Atelier Cologne, in Orange Sanguine, its like wearing orange zest

I know you said lemon, but this is seriously good

https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Atelier-Cologne/Orange-Sanguine-9420.html

Witchling · 27/06/2025 14:27

they do a lemon one as well

https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Atelier-Cologne/Lemon-Island-64197.html

Y2ker · 27/06/2025 14:28

TeachMeSomething · 26/06/2025 09:49

Years ago, I used to use CK One - which I remember as being quite citrussy.

Truth?

fluffiphlox · 27/06/2025 14:31

D&G Light Blu and its special editions
Ô de Lancôme
Clarins Eau Dynamisante

BrennieGirl · 27/06/2025 14:32

Ratracerunner · 27/06/2025 14:23

L'Occitane do beautiful citrus scents. My favourite is Verveine which is lemon with a touch of orange.Verbena is also lovely

Was coming on to say the same about the L’Occitaine ones. The verbena one smells like lemon sherbet to me.

Lairymary · 27/06/2025 14:38

D&G Light Blue was lemony if I remember correctly.

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