This year’s flower of choice from Fragonard is the lemon blossom. It may not quite reach the heights of last year’s Lilas, but it’s still an enjoyable, inexpensive novelty. I sampled Fleur de Citronnier in cool weather, but I’m sure it would hit the mark on a hot summer’s day.
The opening medley of citrus notes, led by lemon, creates the impression of icy lemonade. Karine Dubreuil-Sereni keeps the sharpness of the lemon in check by teaming it with grapefruit, lime, orange, and twiggy leafy petitgrain. It recalls the thirst-quenching chill of Dior Homme Cologne.
Eventually, a crisp green apple enters the fray, bringing in a slight sourness. At this point, I’m reminded of the effortless Mediterranean sparkle of Light Blue for Women. The brand lists a jasmine note, but like the D&G, the floral facets feel muted in comparison to the fruit notes. Indeed, the jasmine note is barely perceptible to my nose. It’s certainly not indolic in any way. After 2-3 hours, the perfume settles on a bed of white musk and a well-judged dose of amberwood notes. Nothing is piercing or unsettling, and some other more expensive brands would do well to take note of this more light-handed approach.
The best part of these yearly floral showcases is the price. They’re always very affordable. Fleur de Citronnier retails for AUD 59, and on the Fragonard website, they’re selling it for Euro 22 for 50ml. For that price, you’d be lucky to get a 2ml sample of the latest Roja Dove magic concoction potion elixir intense. They also come with a range of ancillary products, including soaps and diffusers.
Note: The first image is from Fragonard, and all the other photos are my own. I purchased the sample of Fleur de Citronnier.
Here’s a link to my review of last year’s flower, Lilas. Fragonard -Flower of the Year 2024 – Lilas.
Here are some more photos of the lemon blossoms in my garden.
