Best Citrus Colognes – 11 of the Most Interesting Freshies

I just want a fragrance that slaps me in the face with bright and realistic citrus accords.

Sometimes I get sick of the dense, sweet colognes. If it’s not summer, I want to be reminded of it with perfumes. If it is summer, then I want the scent to fit the vibe.

My guess is that you’ve faced this dilemma too. So, I created this review of the best citrus colognes for men. It will describe how they smell and perform.

These scents are not only reminiscent of summer but also have mass-appealing qualities.

Let’s get started if you want to discover 11 remarkable fresh scents.

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#11 – Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense

Now, this is impressive. Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense is one of the best fragrances for men. Yet, on this list, it ranks near last place. This isn’t a stab at this perfume but a sign of quality for all fragrances below.

Light Blue Eau Intense is a flanker of the original. Some minor tweaks have been made. But for the most part, it is just a stronger version.

Equal parts grapefruit and mandarin orange lead the opening. Neither jumps out at me, as they are both well-blended and work together to create a bright citric accord.

The grapefruit does a degree of coolness that comes off as very refreshing.

In the background are a fresh juniper nuance and salty aquatic undertone. Both are very fresh. The aquatic accord never comes off as oceanic. Heading into the mid, juniper gets more prominent, bringing musk with it.

Both carry into the dry down, and two things occur. Musk stays in the background adding to warm and deep amber wood. This pair sits underneath a trio of lingering grapefruit, juniper, and aquatic accords.

The rest of the wear is fresh atop a deeper warm base.

This is the fragrance you wear when you plan to be at the beach all day. It is exclusively a warm-weather fragrance. There are no Light Blue Intense dupes besides the original.

#10 – Guerlain Homme EDP

Maybe you like mojitos, perhaps you don’t, but have you ever thought about putting one in a fragrance?

Homme EDP is a simple scent but an interesting blend of notes. The opening is led by a minty blast with a lime twist and a dose of rum. To an extent, this is a mojito-like aroma.

All top notes blend to project the mojito-like accord. It comes across as refreshing.

Within a few minutes, the booziness is lightened by a vetiver and woody base. The fragrance turns fresh and aromatic at this point, but interestingly enough, the vetiver accord adds an earthy tinge.

This duo will remain for the rest of the wear, adding depth and warmth but not overpowering the unique top accord.

The further the scent develops, the greener it gets and the less boozy it gets. The dry-down makes room for sweet florals and more dominant woods and vetiver.

The rest of the wear is green and woody with fresh and earthy accents.

The performance is slightly below average but is suitable for all occasions. It struggles in the fall and is not a wintertime cologne. Yet it will be a show-stopper in the summer.

#9 – Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo – Fico di Amalfi

One of the most popular from the Blu Mediterraneo line. This is because of its unique use of fig.

This fragrance is straightforward, only consisting of a few notes. The opening is a blast of various citruses. None really overpower the others. It comes across as bright, zesty, and zingy to my nose.

In the background, I smell glimpses of mild spice from mint. Yet, it is all about the fresh and clean citruses at first.

Fico di Amalfi lacks a heart and transitions right into the dry down. The citruses have receded. A strong fig note has taken its position, bringing creamy cedar.

The fig has a fruity nature but never comes across as overwhelmingly sweet. The cedar background helps soothe it.

The rest of the wear is just this duo with citric nuances.

The performance is slightly below average. It’s what you’d expect from your typical citrus cologne. This is exclusively summer wear. You can pull it off in the spring if it’s warm enough.

#8 – Acqua di Parma Colonia Eau De Cologne

Did you know that century-old colognes still exist? They’re still good too. Acqua di Parma Colonia EDC was released in 1916 to scent men’s handkerchiefs. In the 50s, it became popular after being used by many celebrities.

The opening is a blast of vividly authentic lemon and orange. It is mature and sophisticated. It feels like something a 1920s gentleman with a fedora hat on would wear.

It soon develops into a semi-woody note enhanced by fresh herbal aromatics.

After a while, the top notes still linger with the addition of soft floral notes. They are clean and subtle, making the fragrance unisex but still on the masculine side.

Into the dry down, it is a woody and earthy base with a soapy nature. It emphasizes cleanliness and has an almost aftershave-type feel.

The performance is slightly below average. It lasts up to 6 hours even in the high heat, projecting moderately during those times.

#7 – Hermes Concentrate D’Orange Verte EDT

Cheers to a simple citrus aromatic fragrance, only defined by a handful of notes. I was looking forward to writing about this cologne because, through my research, I found that this masterpiece doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves.

With this review, we’re going to change that. Or not; maybe you want it to be your signature summer fragrance?

Concentrate D’Orange Verte EDT opens with authentic orange, cut grass, and a bright lime note. The lime is tart and intense, but it is energizing. If you’ve ever picked fresh citruses, this is the same aroma that consumes you.

As the citruses lose strength, mosses, woods, and greens appear front and center. They mainly amplify the greenness from the grass accord but add a woody depth.

The dry down is simple but adds a nice dynamic to the lovely citrus.

The performance could be better. Yet, creating a long-lasting fragrance with a heavy emphasis on natural citrus isn’t easy. This is best for casual situations and exclusively summertime wear.

#6 – Missoni Wave

For the price, you can’t beat Missoni Wave. It almost made it into the “$” range (under $40). On this list, it is the most aquatic-themed but also has one of the better woody dry down’s

From the beginning, Missoni Wave is all about the citruses that rest on an aquatic base. The opening is equal parts fresh citruses and smooth and creamy mandarin. I

t still has a citric nature but takes citruses in a different direction.

In the background are a slightly green tinge and a prominent aquatic sea salty note. When combined with the citruses, the opening has a juicy, invigorating smell.

Drying down, Missoni Wave only gets more satisfying. It never turns sweet, allowing it to be an excellent summertime cologne. A woody tone is more prevalent in the base.

It mixes with the aquatic background and creates a fresh aquatic woody aroma.

At this point, the citruses have faded, and it has become more of a fresh and woody cologne.

The longevity and projection are average. It lasts most of the day and projects a decent scent bubble around you. If you are looking for a Missoni Wave alternative.

Chanel Allure Homme Sport and Versace Pour Homme are both excellent choices.

#5 – Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme

Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme happens when a 90s sport fragrance is updated. All around an outstanding fragrance, a true steady eddy in my book.

Right off the bat, it is all about freshness. Mint and sage are the most prominent providing a cool, green quality. Citruses are listed in the scent profile. Yet, they aren’t prevalent during the wear.

After a few minutes, the opening picks up a heavier green tone of Cypress and some peppery touches.

When Cypress makes its first appearance, sage fades away. The prominent duo is then mint and Cypress. Both maintain a fresh nature.

At this point, musk and tonka bean emerge. They wash over the freshness and give an aromatic sweetness.

Tonka bean begins to take over in the dry down, bringing musk. The remaining nuances of pepper and woody accords linger in the background.

The rest of the wear is smooth and semi-sweet with spicy and woody accents.

Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme is an all-season and occasion wear. Its scent profile is light enough for a summer gym session but complex enough for winter wear.

As for the uniqueness, some may say, “oh, it’s just another freshie.” This is true, but it is a unique and very well-done freshie.

#4 – Xerjoff Nio

Let’s imagine that you can purchase any fragrance. However, the only requirement is to be the perfect summer scent. Which men’s cologne do you choose?

My vote is Xerjoff Nio. It is an ultra-high-quality take on freshness. Bound to turn heads during the warmer months.

The opening is ultra-fresh and vibrant, with equal parts green and citrus notes. It is a unique smell as the intensity of the bergamot grabs attention and jumps off the skin. The green notes then temper it, creating a balanced blend.

The mid fully develops after about an hour of wear. The green notes have slightly weakened, while the citrus notes have stayed consistent.

A slightly sweet and fruity jasmine note adds white floral nuances. This trio still emphasizes freshness. Yet, at this point, it is more charming than vibrant.

Over time these florals become warmer and creamier. The top notes fade into the background. Giving way to a woody cedar note. It adds a bit of depth and emphasizes the creaminess of jasmine.

The rest of the wear is a delicate combination of warm cedar and jasmine. While green and citrus nuances linger in the background.

This is undoubtedly a simple and linear scent. Yet, a classy and sophisticated one. This is an expensive scent for limited versatility, but it is always worth a sample.

#3 – Frapin L’Humaniste

Talk about one of the more unique scents to you on this list. Frapin L’Humaniste is the best niche citrus fragrance created by a lesser-known house.

In their fragrantica database, Frapin only has 16 perfumes for men.

The opening is a big blast of lemon and sparkling juniper. It is supposed to have a “gin & tonic” nature. Yet, I don’t pick up on gin for the entire wear.

For a while, the lemon comes across as fresh, zingy, and slightly sweet until giving way to oak moss greens. The sparkling quality has faded, but traces of lemon have lasted.

As the dry down develops, it transitions into a smooth, woody base. When mixed with the lingering greens, it isn’t intense but does have depth.

This is a fragrance with mediocre performance and one that is overspray safe. Its biggest downfall is less-than-average longevity and intimate projection.

You could drench yourself in Frapin L’humaniste and still not offend anyone.

#2 – Terre d’Hermes Parfum

It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to understand why this is the best citrus cologne. It’s bold and ready to satisfy. Yeah, I know that is vague.

Yet, here it is for anyone who wants a fantastic citrus fragrance for a more affordable price.

Orange starts off with a bang, followed by prominent grapefruit. The orange is bold, and the citruses are bitter. It can be overwhelming if you aren’t expecting the blast, but it dries down quickly.

Into the mid is a unique note of flint. It provides a slightly earthy/Stoney vibe. Calming down the abrasive citrus and preparing you for the sensual woody base.

This blend creates a bright, earthy aroma. Citruses still linger in the base, harnessing the strength of the strong moss and woody notes.

Amplifying the brightness is ginger, which adds spice and some warmth. Creating an outstanding woody citrus cologne.

Terre d’Hermes Parfum has excellent performance. It is a unique special occasion fragrance that works best for all seasons.

With 2 -3 sprays on my skin, it lasts over 8 hours and projects an arm’s length for a few of those.

#1 – Louis Vuitton Imagination

Suppose you have a problem with citrus fragrances. You love their smell, but they only last a few hours on your skin, even in the heat. Louis Vuitton Imagination might be your saving grace. I will get into performance in more detail later, but how does it smell?

The opening is an equal mix of citron and orange. Both are citruses that come across as very zesty and sharp. Now it’s never sour, but it does pack a punch the first few minutes.

As the scent progresses, it has all the typical qualities of a luxury citrus fragrance. Clean, airy, luxurious, etc… but most importantly, it’s very well blended.

Quickly the citron becomes the strongest of the duo and rests on a light bed of ambroxan. They progress into a prominent black tea and neroli mix with warm spice nuances.

Overall, this addition will come across as green and clean florals. If you are unfamiliar with neroli, it’s a great note to amplify citrus, and that’s precisely what it does here.

All these notes mix and mingle. Eventually, they settle for an ultra-pleasing citrus soapy smell. It is a simple scent, but the way in which it developed was beautiful.

The performance here is outstanding, especially for a citrus cologne. It will last an entire workday on the skin, and the projection is average for most of the wear.

However, one thing I particularly like is that in the first 1-1.5 hours, the projection is really good.

There is a scent trail multiple feet long behind me. It is a warm weather wear, but it is not exclusively for summer. It will perform exceptionally well in spring and the warm part of fall.

FAQ’S

What are Citrus Fragrance Notes?

Orange, Lemon, Bergamot, Grapefruit, and Mandarin. Anything that grows in a tropical climate is going to be used for a citrus fragrance.

What is the Best Lemon Cologne?

Frapin L’Humaniste is the best lemon cologne. It is not only bold, but it is realistic.

What are Lemon Cologne Uses?

Lemon colognes are very bold, invigorating, and fresh. They work best in casual situations during the warmer months.

Conclusion

Citrus colognes are ones to invigorate the senses. They scream for summer and are easy to wear. Many of these colognes are hyper-realistic. Providing you with the best wearing experience possible.

Yet, not all great things come without downfalls. Most of these scents are exclusively summer wear and have average performance. It isn’t easy to make light citruses last on the skin.

What is your favorite citrus cologne?

Do you love these citrus fragrances? Well, don’t just limit yourself to them. Discover the top summer fragrances for men here.

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