FLEUR DE CITRONNIER by Fragonard

The seasonal release from any perfume company is often looked forward to with a greater anticipation than their main ranges, because the excitement of discovering the latest treat, and also knowing that it’s a limited edition, turns the act of wearing fragrance into something even more special. Summer and Spring launches were historically dominated by Bronze Goddess from Estée Lauder and the Aqua Allegoria collection from Guerlain, but all of that was challenged in 2010 when Fragonard began its own seasonal scent range. This year sees Fleur de Citronnier take centre stage, and the result is an uplifting delight.

Fragonard is one of three famous perfumeries based in Grasse, the others being Molinard and Galimard, and continues to be the “must see” destination for any visitors to the town. Once thought of as a “tourist perfumer”, they skilfully managed to reposition themselves in the ever-burgeoning fragrance market and now easily compete on a level playing field with the likes of Guerlain and Dior. Probably best known for their unrivalled Belle de Nuit perfume that launched in 1946, the company is still family run today and continues to work with some of the finest perfumers in the industry.

The Flower of the Year series was launched by Fragonard back in 2010 as a way of offering a collection of fragrances at an easily affordable price point. Under the watchful eyes of the three sisters, quality was never compromised and the series became a firm favourite with their customers around the world. Mimosa was chosen as the first flower in the limited edition range and was followed by Fleur d'Oranger, Violette, Muguet, Pois des Senteurs, Jasmine, Iris, Pivoine, Verveine, Lavender, Magnolia, Fleur de la Passion, Eglantine, Narcisse, and last year’s Lilas. However, 2025 sees Fleur de Citronnier welcomed to the fragrant family.

Orange blossom is an ingredient, as well as a perfume, that is well known to fragrance fans, but the lemon blossom is a bit of an unknown quantity. Because the flowers are traditionally left to mature, and so produce the lemon fruit, the lemon blossom isn’t used widely in fragrance. So, when perfumer Karine Dubreuil-Sereni was tasked with translating its scent into the new Flower of the Year, she knew that she had the opportunity to be both fanciful and factual in its creation. Already a favourite perfumer with Fragonard’s fans around the world, what would she deliver in her latest scented assignment?

The perfume opens with a vibrant sherbety-citrus explosion thanks to a bold combination of lemon, grapefruit, lime and orange. This wonderfully uplifting opening puts you in mind of sparkling sunshine and warm breezes. A green note then comes through from a glorious petitgrain, and is closely followed by a hint of jasmine petals to help signify the star player in the scent. The immediate vibrancy of the fragrance stays solid throughout the development of the perfume, before a dry cedarwood and amber-imbued musk adds a contented quality to the scent that gives a real feeling of joyfulness. Fleur de Citronnier is currently a limited edition, so make sure to stock up on the perfect summer scent for 2025.

Fleur de Citronnier is available from the Fragonard website at fragonard.com priced at €22 for 50ml, and is also available as a soap and a diffuser. [Sample provided by Fragonard]