Sarah Horowitz Parfums Citrus Blossom (Sarah Horowitz-Thran)~ New Perfume Review + From the Banq de Parfum Draw

Vintage Poster Picking Oranges

"Coming from the East Coast, I had never encountered the scent of citrus blossoms on the breeze.  Moving to LA, I encountered a scent I imagine heaven must smell like – the scent of white flowers in the air; lemon and orange blossoms sweetly intoxicating me…" – Sarah Horowitz-Thran

Sarah Horowitz-Thran via SHP©

Sarah Horowitz Parfums Citrus Blossom, the Spring 2018 offering from The Sarah Horowitz Banq de Parfum, is a glorious ode to the scent of citrus blossoms wafting in the warm California air.  Each season of the year, perfumer Sarah Horowitz-Thran offers a special, hand crafted limited edition fragrance to her most loyal and dedicated clients.  These perfumes, including the latest Sarah Horowitz Parfums Citrus Blossom, are "ready to wear" for three months and then removed from the website and put into the vault, accessible only as Custom Fragrance orders – if you know what to search for, that is. (Hint – you can find names and reviews of several retired Banq de Parfum fragrances here on ÇaFleureBon.) In 2005, when ÇaFleureBon Editor in Chief Michelyn Camen began writing about fragrance, Sarah Horowitz-Thran was one of her first interviews! Today we are excited to offer a draw for Citrus Blossom – before this latest perfume goes into the vault on June 1, 2018.       

Bach Tower via @fineartamerica

My initial encounter with  Sarah Horowitz Parfums Citrus Blossom Eau de Parfum was an extremely moving experience. Earlier this year, a dear perfumista friend of mine, knowing that I had been sick, thoughtfully sent me a set of Sarah Horowitz Parfums samples, including the Banq de Parfum 2018 spring selection, Citrus Blossom.  Upon opening the vial I was immediately transported to another time and place…to the orange groves of Central Florida near Lake Wales, some 60 years ago.  Not only was I intoxicated by the scent of the groves but could also hear the sound of the carillons ringing from the nearby Bok Singing Tower and feel the bright pink colors of the spring blooming azaleas in the Tower Gardens, one of the greatest works of renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. In those long ago days, my parents would often pack our large family into the station wagon and take extensive road trips, leaving home on the beaches of the east coast of Florida to explore the groves, gardens and fresh water springs of the interior.  Sarah Horowitz Parfums Citrus Blossom is as close as I have ever come to reliving scented childhood memories of those early days in the Florida orange groves.

Via Flickr apped by MC

Sarah Horowitz Parfums Citrus Blossom opens with refreshing, cool and very delicate lemon, lifted and buoyed by sweet, airy, and slightly tart yuzu.This initial breath, my olfactory memory of orange groves at dawn, develops over a period of ten to fifteen minutes as hints of creamy almond infuse the perfume with a suggestion of warmth and morning sunshine. In thirty minutes the citrus groves and the entire semi-tropical garden awaken as Citrus Blossom unfolds discretely into an abundance of white flowers, bright neroli, honeyed orange blossom and a touch of gardenia. There is also a very slight impression of an aquatic note, suggesting fresh water springs, fountains and the humid breath of Monstera and philodendron. I linger among the gardens and groves for several hours, the scent close to my skin. At last, Citrus Blossom condenses like a refreshing afternoon rain, colored with sweet lemon blossom, finally coming to rest on a clean bed of watery musk.Notes:  Lemon, Japanese yuzu, almond, orange blossom, neroli, gardenia and an aquatic spring musk accord.

Disclaimer:  I would like to thank my dear friend (who shall remain anonymous) for the samples of Sarah Horowitz Banq de Parfum Citrus Blossom.  My opinions are my own.

Gail Gross – Senior editor

Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

Thanks to the generosity of Sarah Horowitz Parfums we have a draw for one 30 ml bottle of Citrus Blossom Eau de Parfum, available for one registered reader in the US only. (Be sure to register or your comment will not count.) To be eligible, please let us know what appeals to you about Gail’s review. You can also tell us about your favorite fragrance created by Sarah Horowitz-Thran or your favorite citrus note in perfumery. Draw closes 5/20/2018

We announce the winners only on our website. So like Cafleurebon and use our Site feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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25 comments

  • Rae Lynn says:

    Nothing can compare to the scent of citrus blossoms on the night air. To be “transported to another time and place” “upon opening the vial” must have been a wonderful experience for Gail. I love all citrus scents. I find them uplifting. I would love to win a bottle of this magical sounding fragrance.

  • Amy Leonhardt says:

    I too have great memories of citrus blossoms (growing up in central California among farms and orchards). This sounds lovely.

  • INYA says:

    Citrus and lemon blossoms exude a fragrance like no other flower. Absolutely intoxicating. I’m in the USA, thanks for the opportunity to sniff.

  • Lori Laws says:

    Citrus and lemon blossoms are notes I specifically yearn for in warm weather! They just uplift my spirit and awaken me. Yes, they can definitely transport you to another time and place for sure. Both of my grandmothers wore different fragrances with a citrus note and it harkens me back to my childhood summers with them. I am a huge fan of Coconut Milk and Perfect Veil as well as a few others. I would love to win this and add to my collection. I live in the US and thanks for the draw! 🙂

  • Carol Webb says:

    Gail speaking about being transported years back to orange groves and hearing the carillons… I love how perfume can take you back to a place and time you remember. And all it takes is a whiff. I would love to win this! I love just about any citrus/citrus flower scent, and it would be perfect for this time of year.
    Thank you for the very generous draw! I’m in the US.

  • James2473 says:

    Very nice article, Gail! I really enjoyed hearing how the smell transported your mind back to your childhood! It’s always nice when a scent provoked such vivid memories! It’s hard to pick a favorite citrus, since I’m a fan of pretty much all of them, but bergamot would be my choice if I could only pick one.

  • kwick says:

    This part of Gail’s review drew me in most: ‘…the entire semi-tropical garden awakens as Citrus Blossom unfolds discretely into an abundance of white flowers, bright neroli, honeyed orange blossom and a touch of gardenia.’ I love scents that transport me to another place, and Citrus Blossom sounds like a beautiful example of this. I find both orange blossom and bergamot to be intoxicating. Thank you for the chance – I’m located in the US.

  • NiceVULady says:

    ” Upon opening the vial I was immediately transported to another time and place…to the orange groves of Central Florida near Lake Wales, some 60 years ago. ” I remember this smell as we went to visit my grandmother when I was a child. Lovely review. I have no favorites from this house. Thanks for the draw. I’m in the USA

  • Richard potter says:

    Sounds heavenly. I hope that someday I get to experience an orange grove in full bloom. Thanks. USA

  • doveskylark says:

    I really liked reading about Gail’s memory of station wagon road tripping to the interior orange groves in Florida. I’ve never heard of Lake Wales. I can imagine the heavenly smell.
    I love the yuzu notes in perfume. I used to put yuzu in my hot bath water when I lived in Japan.
    I live in the USA.

  • roxhas1cat says:

    The photo of the orange grove took me back to my teen years picking oranges in southern California for a service project with my church. Good memories. I also grew up with an orange tree in the backyard, no other oranges have ever tasted as good since I now live in the pacific northwest. I don’t have experience with this line, but I’d love to win this. I had a beloved orange fragrance from L’occitane years ago and of course it was discontinued. I’ve never found a replacement. USA. Thanks for bringing back the memories!

  • audesko1 says:

    I have never tried any scents by Sarah Horowitz and would love to. Orange blossoms are a part of heaven scent! I live in the US. Thank you for the chance to win.

  • Dosva says:

    I have never tested any Sarah Horowitz’s perfume, abd find this perfume very interesting and beautiful.
    This article is georgeus, especially I enjoyed the connection between the memories of childhood and creation new perfume.
    US

  • Andie Paige says:

    Never have I ever experienced the fragrant air of a grove of oranges. Must put on bucket list! I am, however, drawn to fresh, clean, citrus scents. They just work in the Texas heat. My favorite so far has been Clementine California by Atelier. Relatively new to fragrance world, so I still have a lot of exploring to do! I have yet to experience anything by Sarah Horowitz.

  • Vahagn says:

    This perfume sounds very refreshing, nice- cool and very delicate lemon, bright yuzu, than neroli, orange blossom and gardenia. This comination counld not be not beautiful. it is just for summer time!!!
    US

  • Diana D says:

    I love fragrances with neroli and orange blossom in them. I haven’t tried anything from this perfume house. But my favorite citrus/fresh fragrance is Malibu Lemon Blossom by Pacifica.
    I live in the US.

  • newyork318 says:

    The quote included at the top of the review is interesting to me, as I am from the East Coast and have never smelled real citrus blossoms. Despite that, orange blossom as a note is always a favorite. US.

  • Zibbyz says:

    I’m always on the hunt for an orange blossom scent, so I would love to try this! I haven’t smelled any of her scents, but now I want to try Veil and Coconut Milk! in the US! thank you!

  • Just Add Light says:

    Huge fan of basically anything to do with the orange plant – the fruit or the blossom. But yuzu is definitely up there too. Add to that an almond note and my nose hairs are tingling! What a stroke of inspiration! And no, I’m not Spiderman. Anymore. That was my old job. lol North Carolina.

  • mark says:

    wow! this sounds so fresh, like a morning walk at the farmers market where all the fruit stands are. would love to wear this in the upcoming summer days. U.S.A.

  • RoseMacaroon says:

    Im so enjoying my imagined version of Gail’so memory. It’s kind of amazing how accurately it corresponds to the scent — or maybe that’s just my mind blending the two that makes it all seem like a cohesive experience. But really, shouldn’t all orange groves have gardenias, almond trees and fountains inside them? It sounds like possibly the most beautiful orange blossom centered perfume ever and I would love a chance to try it. Thank you so much for the draw! I’m in the US.

  • jeremyn87 says:

    This sounds really awesome. I love citrus and citrus-flower notes, especially as the weather heats up. I’ll often drink and splash myself with orange blossom water for an uplifting and refreshing feeling.
    I havent tried any frags from Sarah Horowitz Thran. I’m not sure what my fav citrus note it. Lime or yuzu might be that. Though a bitter orange, juicy grapefruit, or mouth puckeringly tart lemon are contenders too.
    I’m in the US

  • Cynthia says:

    I have smelled this citrus scent in real life, on the tree, and it is one of the most uplifting scents ever. I’m a big fan of Sara’s scents. I am in the USA

  • StaceyW says:

    I’ve been craving citrus fragrances these past few weeks as temps approach the 90’s where I live and this one sounds delightful. I loved hearing about Gail’s childhood memories from FL of the smell of the citrus groves. Thank you for the generous draw as I’ve not been able to try any of her scents. I am in the U.S.

  • Gail says:

    Thank you everyone for taking the time to comment and enter the draw. Stay tuned for the announcement of the lucky winner!