Citron Leaf

NaturalGREENS, HERBS & FOUGERESfresh · green · citrus

TopPyramid

3/5Strength

—Tenacity

3Origins

Specimen

Citrus medica

Definition

Bitter citrus green, leathery, with the pungent zest of the citron tree's foliage. Citron leaf smells like crushing a thick, dark-green Citrus medica leaf -- oilier and more bitter than lemon leaf.

Citrus medica leaf

Type: Ingredient
Olfactive family: Aromatic
Subfamily: Green notes
Cluster: Green leafy notes
Source: leaves and flowering tops
Chemical class: complex natural (essential oil)

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

3/5Strength

Medium

odour strength

Producing countries

India Israel Italy

Scent

Bitter-green, oily, with a pungent citrus-leaf character. Rougher and more vegetal than lemon leaf, more bitter than orange leaf, with thicker, oilier foliage character. The green is not grassy but leathery -- thick, subtropical leaves crushed between fingers. A citral brightness sits underneath the bitterness.

In PREMIEREPEAU

DISCOVERY SET7 × 2 ml →EXTRAIT DE PARFUMThe seven extraits →

Terroir & Transformation

The Full Story

Citron leaf refers to the foliage of Citrus medica, the original citrus fruit from which lemons, limes, and other citrus species are descended. The leaves are larger and thicker than lemon leaves, with a more pungent, bitter-green aroma. When crushed, they release a burst of limonene, citral, and green-leaf aldehydes -- similar to petitgrain but rougher and more bitter.

No commercial citron leaf oil is widely traded. The scent is reconstructed using petitgrain (as a base), with added bitter-citrus notes (bergapten-type furocoumarins, naringin-like bitterness), and a boost of green-leaf aldehydes for the crushed-leaf impression. The result is greener, more bitter, and more vegetal than standard lemon or orange leaf.

Functionally, citron leaf works as a bitter-green citrus modifier in the top-to-heart zone. It provides a more archaic, less clean citrus-green impression than standard petitgrain or verbena. The note works in Mediterranean, archaic-citrus, and green-herbal compositions.

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Related: Acronychia Pedunculata · Adoxal · Agave · Algae · Aloe Vera · Aromatic Notes · Asparagus · Avocado

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

No standardised citron leaf oil is commercially available. Citrus medica leaf extract can be produced by steam distillation but is not a standard trade item. The note is typically reconstructed from petitgrain and bitter-citrus modifiers.

Formula: Complex mixture — key component: limonene (C₁₀H₁₆)
CAS: N/A — no single CAS for Citrus medica leaf oil
Botanical: Citrus medica
Appearance: Pale yellow to amber liquid
Odour strength: Medium
Synonyms: Citrus medica leaf

IFRA status

See note

No IFRA Standard for the material itself (51st Amendment)

Physical properties

Specific gravity: 0.840–0.870 @ 25 °C (est)
Note: Citrus medica leaf oil. Fresh, green, herbaceous citrus character

In Perfumery

Citron leaf is a bitter-green citrus modifier in the top-to-heart zone. Rougher and more bitter than petitgrain or lemon leaf, with a leathery-vegetal green character. Reconstructed from petitgrain, bitter-citrus notes, and green-leaf aldehydes. Works in Mediterranean, archaic-citrus, and green-herbal compositions.

Role in the formula

01modifier

02lifting agent

03blender

04freshness

Available as

essential oil expressed oil