Mancera citrus: four faces of lemon

Mancera is a Paris house known for bold, memorable scents, and its citrus fragrances prove that a fresh perfume doesn't have to vanish within an hour. We carry four, and although they all open with lemon, each one heads its own way. Writing about citrus in November may seem odd, but a fresh scent is a lifesaver in an overheated office, at the gym, or on days when heavy, sweet perfumes are simply too much.

Sicily: fruit juice in the sun

Mancera Sicily is the most cheerful of the four. Citrus and fruity notes on white musk give it a juicy, almost sweet character, like a glass of freshly squeezed juice on a terrace. It's not complicated and doesn't try to be serious, which is exactly why it's so easy to wear: at the beach, in town, during the day. If you want one fresh scent that nearly everyone likes, start here.

Lemon Line: clean as a white shirt

Mancera Lemon Line is lemon without the sugar. Lemon and bergamot up top, a touch of lavender, then soft white musk that lingers on skin like freshly washed laundry. It smells clean, neat and professional, which makes it great for work and for days when you want to smell “freshly showered” rather than perfumed.

Fabulous Yuzu: citrus with a warm heart

Yuzu is a Japanese citrus, somewhere between lemon and mandarin, aromatic and slightly floral. Mancera Fabulous Yuzu pairs it with lemon and mandarin, then does something unexpected: it adds a pinch of cinnamon, mimosa and jasmine, and settles into warm vanilla and sandalwood. The result is a citrus that doesn't fade away but slowly turns into something soft and warm. Of the four, this one works best in winter too.

Aoud Lemon Mint: iced lemonade

Mancera Aoud Lemon Mint is the coolest: lemon and mint, like lemonade with lots of ice, on white musk. Don't let the oud in the name scare you; here it's just a faint woody trace that gives the freshness a little depth and keeps it on your skin longer. We wrote about getting to know oud in What is oud, and how to try it without fear.

A fresh perfume isn't a weaker perfume; it just speaks more quietly, in a different language.

Which one to choose

Fruity and cheerful: Sicily. Clean and office-ready: Lemon Line. Citrus that turns into vanilla: Fabulous Yuzu. Cool and refreshing for the heat: Aoud Lemon Mint.

Citrus scents are best compared on skin, because the differences only show after the first half hour, once the lemon settles and reveals what's underneath. Get three 5 ml decants and the site automatically takes 10% off; wear each for a day or two and see which one stays with you longest.