New Perfume Review: Nest Fragrances Citrine + Lemon Tree Very Pretty Draw

Natalia Vodianova,  lemon

Natalia Vodianova

I don’t know about you, but orange blossom can be kind of moody and more than a little screechy on me; a bit of a Drama Queen, so to speak.  I much prefer her calmer, cooler sister lemon blossom. You get all of the beauty with less of the histrionics, and I think it’s just a little more chic, relying as it does on substance, rather than just sheer prettiness. So I was so delighted to see lemon blossom included on the list of notes for Citrine, the newest release by NEST Fragrances, which was released on March 21st.

LAURA_SLATKIN

Creative Director Laura Slatkin 

Cecile Hua and Claude Dir from MANE collaborated with Creative Director Laura Slatkin in the making of Citrine and I think maybe one, if not all, of them loves lemon blossom as much as I do, because it’s used beautifully in this fragrance; as a vibrant opening, and as a complement to the floral heart and woody base.

LEMON TREE   painting

Lemon Tree Painting Jose Escofet

Citrine opens with a very realistic lemon blossom, and reminds me of the many years I lived in Southern California, where almost every house we lived in had a lemon tree in the backyard, left over from a time when much of North Orange County was covered in citrus groves.

Karlie Kloss by Tim Walker

Karlie Kloss by Tim Walker

The ad copy for Citrine references sparkling citrus; I would also add invigorating and playful to the description, as well as a warning that it’s almost impossible not to smile at first sniff. The floral heart warms up after about 20 minutes on skin. I get more lotus flower than freesia, and it adds juiciness to the lemon blossom. This is enhanced by what must be the dew drop accord, because there’s a definite watery effect for another 10 minutes or so, that blends with the soft freesia. It’s subtle, but very pretty, and I am once again back in L.A., marveling at being surrounded by flowers in January. The heart is a great accompaniment to the lemon blossom, which remains prominent throughout the life of the fragrance.

Lemon fashion

Season’s Riches by Camilla Akrans for Harper’s Bazaar Sept 2011. Fashion Editor Brana Wolf. Model Bette Franke

The woods in the base are fairly dry, but somehow infused with this lemon blossom I’m so crazy about, like a wooden cutting board after cutting dozens of lemons for the garden party lemonade. This woodsy, citrusy goodness remains on the skin for hours; I could still smell it the next morning. Lasting power on me is well above average and sillage is also strong. (The sillage is also where I caught the most floral aspects) The radiance is powerful; just standing still filled up my entire kitchen with scent. My skin really amps up woods; if yours does, too, I’d be careful wearing this one to work, but it was not near as potent on my mother.

Hana Jirickova Blooms In 'Peach Blush' By Camilla Akrans For Vogue China March 2014

Hana Jirickova Blooms In ‘Peach Blush’ By Camilla Akrans For Vogue China March 2014

Sprayed from the bottle, it’s much more feminine, not because of the florals per se, but because the soft rendering of the notes comes across as rather dainty. Citrine a season-spanning fragrance; bright enough for brisk days and crisp enough to cut through summer’s humidity.

I think there’s also a chance this could span genders. When applied from the rollerball, very little floral notes came through; it was mainly juicy lemon blossom and woods, and it was pretty darned amazing on my husband, although he was uncomfortable with the amount of thrown it had.

nest fragrances perfume bottles

Of course you can’t talk about Nest perfume without mentioning the incredible, award-winning bottles with their original artwork inspired by Mary Delany. This is the first one I’ve seen in person (I live Beyond the Middle of Nowhere) and it did not disappoint. It is absolutely gorgeous, and I don’t see how I can possibly live without all of them. Dahlia and Vines and  Midnight Fleur  are especially calling my name, but everyone of them looks stunning and Citrine can stand proudly among them.

Notes: Lemon Blossom, Lotus Flower, Freesia, Dew Drop Accord, Precious Woods

DISCLOSURE  My review was based on a full bottle as well as a rollerball provided to me by the incredibly generous  NEST Fragrances

Tammy Schuster, Contributor

Art Direction: Michelyn Camen

Editor’s Note: Citrine will be sold exclusively at Sephora , Sephora.com and nestfragrances.com

CitrineEauDeParfumNESTFragrances_Spring2016cafleurebon

Nest FragrancesCitrine EDP  30 ml and 10 ml

 Thanks to Nest Fragrances we have a draw for two registered readers in the USA ONLY for a set of a 50 ml bottle and a 10 ml rollerball. To be eligible please leave a comment with what you enjoyed about Tammy’s review , why you would like to win and if you have a favorite Nest Fragrance. Draw closes April 4, 2016

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume

 

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26 comments

  • What more can i say – Juicyness, lemon blossom, freesia, woods…. sounds just perfect. I have been lusting after this one since i saw it first advertised…. got to have it….
    Thank you for the draw – I’m in the UK!

  • I love nest fragrances especially midnight fleur
    I like that the lemon blossoms are reminding Tammy of Califiornia and that bottle is as always beautiful
    Thank you

  • Oh this sounds wonderful. Just a couple of days ago we purchased a little meyer lemon tree to put outside in the summer and inside in the winter. It’s on our windowsill now and I can smell the flowers from my recliner. I was just thinking about how I needed to find a fragrance that captured their beauty! I’d love to try Citrine. I haven’t tried many Nest fragrances, so I don’t have a favorite yet! Thanks for the draw, I’m in the US.

  • Tammy’s description of Citrine was wonderful! I’m always afraid of Orange Blossom and this sounds like one I may be able to wear. The lemon blossom, freesia, and woods make it wearable to me. I am a HUGE fan of Nest Fine Fragrances and own: Midnight Fleur, Dahlia and Vines, Indigo, and Amazon Lily! They have longevity. I gave my mom Dahlia and Vines for Christmas as a surprise. I live in the US and thanks for the draw! 🙂

  • I have a few small Meyer lemon trees (in pots indoors at the moment, as it’s still too cold for them outside), and their perfume in bloom is sublime. Definitely craving spring scents at the moment. The review is lovely and is as happy and fresh in tone as the yellow of citrines and the fresh scent of lemon blossoms. Would love to try these, please enter me for the draw. U.S. Please and thank you!

  • I love scents that being back memories. One of a lemon tree in California is a great one! USA

  • If it’s lemony I want it. 🙂 I enjoyed the detailed description which had me imagining what this is going to smell like. US

  • I found this review wonderful long before I got to the part where I was asked to mention what I liked about it 🙂 I love her writing style. Her descriptors almost make me feel like I’m sniffing it myself. I do love orange blossom, but nothing beats smelling fresh lemon blossoms, so I hope the perfume catches their simple beauty! And I’d love to win so I get the opportunity to find out if it truly does. I’ve only ever tried Indigo, and loved it (and its bottle). That sweet figgy citrus brightens me up. I’m in the US 🙂

  • Diana Devlin says:

    I have always wanted to try NEST fragrances. I’m entranced when I watch the presentations of the line on QVC. This new scent sounds so fresh and uplifting. I absolutely adore lemon blossom in summery fragrances. It gives it a clean, soapy freshness.

    I live in the U.S.

  • I really enjoyed Tammy’s description of Citrine’s Lemon and Woods. With the season and gender-spanning nature of the fragrance, I suspect that I will enjoy Citrine as much as my half empty bottle of White Sandalwood.

  • Tammy said, “I think there’s also a chance this could span genders.” Which means I’ll give this a try. I didn’t understand the latter part of the sentence though, “…on my husband, although he was uncomfortable with the amount of thrown it had.” U.S.A.

  • I love her description…feminine and dainty, which I like especially when choosing a fragrance to wear to the office. And I agree 100% the bottles are such pretty artworks that one will keep the bottle even after the fragrance is gone. Would love to try this one. I am in the US. Thank you so much.

  • What a bright review!!
    I would love to smell some ‘woody citrusy goodness’.
    And, I would love to win so that I could display that amazing bottle.
    I don’t have a favorite NEST scent, yet.
    I live in the US. Thanks for the drawing.

  • I love anything by Laurie Slatkin. I was a huge fan of the Slatkin & Co. candles and have managed to still have a few from my candle hoarding habit! So I have been following the Nest line and I must say Citrine sounds like another winner!

    Tammy sums up the gorgeous lemon blossom so well: “I much prefer her calmer, cooler sister lemon blossom. You get all of the beauty with less of the histrionics, and I think it’s just a little more chic, relying as it does on substance, rather than just sheer prettiness.”

    I have always found lemon blossom to be subtle but gorgeous, in a more low-key way than orange blossom.

    My favorite Nest fragrance is Midnight Fleur, but I’m banking on Citrine becoming my favorite!

    I live in the USA and thank you for the draw!

  • pursejunkie says:

    I would have to say my favorite of the Nest products I’ve tried is Dahlia and Vines, though I haven’t bought it. I think this one might be more up my alley, with the lemon and dry wood. And I’d like to thank the reviewer for specifying that, since “precious woods” as a note is never very helpful.
    I’m in the U,S,

  • I love Tammy’s review of the fragrances. I would love to win these fragrances because I need a spring fragrance. My favorite nest fragrance is Paradise. I live in America.

  • I love the sound of sparkling lemon blossom, and the model shoots picked to illustrate were so pretty. I don’t think I own a lemon blossom fragrance and I would like to compare it to orange blossom, of which I have many. My favorite in the Nest line is Midnight Fleur. However in the former Nest line I LOVED their orange blossom, especially the shampoo and conditioner. I hoarded as many of those as I could. I wish they’d recreate it. I have a ton of orange blossom but that was something special. I’m in the USA. Thanks for the draw.

  • fazalcheema says:

    I have to admit I have come across more orange blossom perfumes than lemon blossom perfumes and I am intrigued because Tammy seems quite impressed with it. It also has woody notes that are relatively dry rather than sparking. My favorite Nest Fragrance is Indigo. I usually remember how I first came to know about a particular brand and that is true of Nest, too. I still remember how Oprah Winfrey raved about Nest Fragrances and Nest was so moved by the endorsement they ran a promotion honoring Oprah’s endorsement. Thanks a lot for the generous draw. I am in the US.

  • The bottles are really beautiful and I love looking at them. I bought a sampler set at Sephora and my favorite is Dahlia and Vines. It has a drydown that reminds me of one of my favorite teenage fragrances and that is Babe from Fabergé. I love the description of Citrine as being like slicing many lemons on a wood cutting board. Sounds great! I am in the U.S. Thank you.

  • Valentine Girl says:

    I love the idea of bright lemon blossoms & dry wood and the description of a wooden cutting board used for cutting dozens of lemons for garden party lemonade captures it perfectly. My favorite NEST fragrance is Verde, which was the Sephora exclusive released last year. I purchased the rollerball based off the review in Cafleurebon and loved it so much I went back and bought a full bottle. I can’t wait to try this one too. Thanks for the draw. USA resident.

  • Citrus can be beautiful but on me… it’s usually a toss up. I enjoyed her comparison of orange and lemon blossom. 😉 Spring is on its way and I have yet to find a suitable start to the season.. ( in regard to fragrance) I would love to have the opportunity to give this scent a try. Thanks for the draw. I live in TX, US.

  • Tammy’s memory of blossoming lemon trees in southern California backyards made me smile. I enjoy living where there are citrus trees nearby. I just returned home from an evening walk. The air is sweet with the fragrance of blossoms on a neighbor’s pomelo tree. I would love to win Citrine to experience my favorite fragrant trio – a citrus top, floral heart, and woody base. I’ve not yet tried a Nest Fragrance, but I will look for them next time I visit Sephora. I am in the US. Thank you for the draw.

  • girasole638 says:

    I’m not sure I’ve ever worn a perfume based on lemon blossom – thank you for making me aware of the distinction, Tammy! I’m actually trying to expand my citrus wardrobe in preparation for warmer weather and Citrine sounds like it would be a good candidate. My favorite Nest scent so far is Midnight Fleur, although I really want to try Passiflora and Indigo. Thank you for the opportunity (I’m in the US)!

  • girasole638 says:

    Oh, and the header picture of Natalia Vodianova is just gorgeous – and the color matches the design of the bottle exactly. So pretty – I’m ready for spring!

  • I enjoyed Tammy’s review and, while I love the fragrance of orange blossoms, I’m not sure that I’ve ever smelled the fragrance of lemon blossoms. Now I’m anxious to seek out a lemon tree! I adore Nest fragrances and have more than a dozen of their candles that I rotate in scenting my office. My favorite Nest Fragrance is Blue Garden.

  • Oh dear, I love lemon blossoms. A couple years ago I brought back a few trees from Florida and they blossom indoors continually and perfume the house so beautifully. It’s an absolutely enchanting aroma. Nest, amazing as always! Loved the review – I’ll have to check this one out!