How does this litsea cubeba oil smell — aroma profile and character?
This litsea cubeba oil opens with an intensely fresh, clean lemon-citrus top note driven by citral — bright, fruity-floral and slightly aldehydic. A grassy-green body with a hint of spicy-pepper freshness develops underneath, and the drydown is a clean, sweet lemon with no heavy peel or soapy by-notes. The overall character is purer and more intense than real lemon fruit — often described as 「more lemon than lemon」.
Aroma Profile
| Note | Description |
|---|---|
| Top | Intense fresh lemon-citrus, bright fruity-floral citral, clean and lively |
| Heart | Grassy-green berry body, light spicy-pepper freshness (from the berry), floral lift |
| Base | Clean sweet-lemon drydown, fresh, no peel bitterness |
| Character | Pure, intense, citral-forward, natural, energising |
| Tenacity | Strong and long-lasting on the blotter; vivid in blends |
- The aroma is essentially natural citral (Geranial + Neral, typically 68-80%): this is why the berry oil smells «more lemony» than lemon peel oil, which is D-limonene-based
- Unlike lemongrass oil (a grass distillate, herbaceous-lemon), May Chang has a fruity berry depth with no hay-like grass note
- Blends beautifully with lavender, sweet orange, bergamot, petitgrain and ylang-ylang, and lifts woody bases such as vetiver, cedarwood and patchouli
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This article was published on 2026-09-07, and last updated on 2026-09-07. The article will be continuously updated.
