The Virtues of Citrus

From Asia to the shores of the Mediterranean, they have been grown for centuries for their scent as much as for their fruit. Tradition lends them renewal, clarity and lift.

Lemon is the most universal. Its essence is cold-pressed from the peel. Its lively scent evokes clarity. In homes, its smell brings a sense of freshness and neatness.

Sweet orange, more sunlit, embodies warmth and conviviality. Its sweet scent accompanies moments of sharing. It is still given today as a symbol of abundance and generosity. The essential oil drawn from its peel has long been associated with serenity and rest.

Bergamot, more discreet yet just as precious, stands out for its elegant freshness. Grown mainly in Calabria, it has long scented teas and eaux de Cologne. Its scent balances brightness and roundness, and tradition associates it with calm and openness.

Grapefruit, finally, evokes raw vitality. Its bitter, sparkling notes accompany the moments when we seek a fresh start. It was born in Barbados in the eighteenth century, from a natural cross between pomelo and sweet orange. The pomelo, the largest of all citrus fruits, bears the Latin name Citrus maxima, like our Energy fragrance.

All citrus fruits share a common dimension: that of a sensory awakening. They are like flashes of light piercing the grey. Their sharp acidity awakens the palate as much as the sense of smell.

Traditions have long associated them with lift and joy. Sometimes it is enough to peel an orange for its scent to fill a room.

Citrus fruits recall the strength of simple things. A slice of lemon in cool water, the brightness of a freshly squeezed grapefruit: lift sometimes lies in a single gesture. All the light of a summer then fits inside a fruit.