Electro Limonade: A fizzy citrus cocktail
Electro Limonade saw the light of day in the summer of 2020. The expression “to see the light of day” is not insignificant, since it was created during lockdown. A fragrance born of the hope of sharing a drink with friends on a terrace at sunset. A hymn to new-found joy and light, bursting with freshness and electro good vibes.
The quarantine caused by the pandemic was emotionally difficult. A period tinged with loneliness, marked by the desire to enjoy the sunny days and loved ones. It was out of this lack that Electro Limonade was born. Pierre Guguen asked perfumer Nathalie Feisthauer to concoct a “feel good” fragrance. A scent that embodies the pleasure of the first cocktail with friends, on a terrace or on the beach, after a period of confinement.
A moment of happiness and euphoria that Nathalie Feisthauer has translated into a citrus and herbaceous score with mineral nuances. She chiseled a citrus-rich “lemonade accord” with a twist of pennyroyal mint, to dress it in a biting freshness.
An opportunity to take a closer look at citrus, the olfactory register known in perfumery as “hesperidic”. The term gets its name from Greek mythology. According to one legend, the nymphs were responsible for watching over the garden of heaven. But a god, Heracles, managed to steal a golden apple with the power of immortality. Because the apple was none other than an orange, citrus fruits were given this poetic name.
The citrus family includes oranges, lemons, bergamots, tangerines, grapefruits, clementines, petitgrain, limes and yuzu. Their peel is used to obtain an essential oil, by cold expression of the zest. This method is unique to citrus fruit, and involves crushing the zest against metal-tipped utensils. Citrus fruits are considered top notes, for their volatile scent: very intense at first, but quickly fading. They can be found in eaux de Cologne as well as in the top notes of heady perfumes, to contrast with woody, amber or gourmand accords.
Among these citrus notes, Nathalie Feisthauer has chosen bergamot, clementine and lemon to infuse the fragrance with freshness. Bergamot comes to us from Italy, where the town of Calabria in Sicily is a major producer. A cross between the lemon and the bigarade, this citrus fruit resembles a yellow orange. Although its flesh is inedible, the essential oil extracted from its peel offers a refined freshness, much used in perfumery, but also for Earl Grey tea. It is often referred to as the “fine flower of citrus” for its bitter, fruity, floral and lavender complexity. The term “bergamot” is said to derive from the Turkish “beg-armûdi” meaning “lord's pear”. Bergamot is also said to take its name from the city of Bergamo, where it was originally cultivated.
It's not known whether lemon originated in southern China or India, but it was introduced to the Mediterranean region during the Arab invasions of the 10th century. Lemon essential oil is acidic, fusing and tonic. Today, it is grown mainly in Argentina, Spain, the USA and Italy.
The term “clementine” comes from Frère Clément, a white father from Algeria, who wanted to create a seedless tangerine. The clementine is the fruit of a cross between the tangerine and the orange. Its scent is very similar to that of the tangerine, though juicier. Very sparkling, clementine essential oil marries well with fruity nuances, like the rhubarb note Nathalie Feisthauer used for Électro Limonade, a green touch that stretches the fragrance's aromatic facet with a bright, luminous stroke.
This citrus cocktail, twisted with green and mineral notes, blossoms on a woody, musky bed. A joyful, thirst-quenching fragrance to savor all summer long, without moderation.
Article written by Sophie Normand for l'Orchestre Parfum