Vitamin C Note in Perfumery | Première Peau

Tart, metallic, with a sharp citric-acid character. Less round than orange, more clinical than lemon. A pharmaceutical quality distinguishes it from natural citrus — the smell of the supplement rather than the fruit. Slightly effervescent, with a mineral-metallic undertone from iron and zinc interactions.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid, C6H8O6) as a fragrance note refers to the specific tart-metallic smell associated with ascorbic acid tablets, effervescent vitamin drinks, and concentrated citrus supplements. Pure ascorbic acid itself is nearly odorless; the 'vitamin C smell' comes from its interaction with metal ions and its oxidation products.

The olfactory impression is sharp, acidic, and faintly metallic — more pharmaceutical than fruity. When vitamin C tablets dissolve in water, the effervescence releases small volatile molecules that create the characteristic tangy-medicinal scent. It is the smell of the pharmacy, not the orange grove.

In perfumery, this note appears in conceptual and clean-citrus compositions. It represents the intersection of citrus freshness and pharmaceutical sterility — a hyper-clean version of natural citrus.