Lemon’s zingy, zesty, sunshine-bright enthusiasm brings a happy, energetic feel to a fragrance. It’s an ideal note for summer wear, especially in the most humid weather. It’s also one of the freshest and most invigorating opening notes in a scent, and it pairs well with light floral and softly spiced fragrances. Lemon makes a fantastic office or workout scent, with it’s brisk acidity and puckery power. It is wearable day or night, but makes its best impression in fresh, light, effervescent perfumes meant for refreshing your senses.

Bergamot’s sheer, dry, citrusy feel is one of the most popular perfume notes, especially in mens’ cologne. It’s a Mediterranean fruit grown mainly in Calabria, Italy, and its aroma and taste is slightly between grapefruit and orange. Bergamot is a year-round pleasure to wear, and will blend well with any other note, making bergamot fragrances versatile and a sophisticated option for citrus fragrance fans.

Cedar or cedarwood is one of the oldest ingredients used in the perfumery, with its balsamic, woody aroma providing a key facet in many popular scents. Native to the Mediterranean and the Himalayas, cedarwood has been revered for its mystical and magical properties by many cultures throughout history. The Cherokee tribe believed that the human spirit was hidden in the core of cedarwood, while Tibetans used cedarwood oil in their spiritual ceremonies, and ancient Romans used the tree trunks for ship construction. In perfumery, cedarwood is primarily used as a base note, anchoring the top and middle notes of a composition. Cedarwood combines extremely well with floral and citrus notes, lending warmth, while the fragrances in which cedar is blended with musk and amber have a green and clean aroma with a retro/vintage vibe.

An excellent link between heart notes and base notes, the woody, balsamic facets of guaiac wood add depth with an air of smoky, leathery intrigue. Less dry than cedarwood and harder than sandalwood, guaiac wood is sweet and stable with rose-like facets.