With all the fruity floral perfumes on the market, it can be challenging to pull out specific olfactory notes that draw you in time-and-time again. As a beauty editor, I’ve trained my nose to recognize several of the ones that I love whether they’re taking center stage or hiding behind a collection of other equally enchanting notes. While my love affair with lychee predates my time as a journalist, I’m constantly discovering new ways to wear it as new perfumes featuring the fruity note hit the market. There’s something about lychee that I find ridiculously chic, so its my top pick for elevating any look (Yes, it’s that easy).
Keep reading to learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the note from a perfumer who was behind on of this season’s best new lychee additions to my collection, then discover the 14 other fragrances I’ve been reaching for on repeat backed by five-star reviews. Who knows? You may find yourself just as obsessed with lychee scents as I’ve become over my four years on the job.
How is lychee used in perfumery?
Although you may have snacked on lychees on a hot summer day, or lazily sipped on a lychee martini during a night out, wearing perfumers with the luscious note is a unique experience. Perfumer Patrica Choux explains that the note is beautiful in perfumer because it brings an immediate sense of brightness and vitality. “It has a juicy, almost effervescent quality, but with more delicacy and transparency than many traditional fruit notes,” Choux says. She tells us that where many fruity notes in fragrances can feel very ‘direct’ or candied, lychee possesses a more refined character.
According to Choux, lychee has the ability to, “give a fragrance a radiant, joyful opening while still feeling airy, polished, and modern.” She adds that it most naturally finds itself in fruity florals (especially in juicy compositions that could benefit from its freshness, color, and uniquely luminous texture. “I also love it in rose fragrances, because lychee can make a floral heart feel more vivid, dewy, and alive rather than overly classic or formal,” continues Choux.
Which notes pair well with lychee?
When it comes to identifying notes that pair nicely with lychee, rose is at the top of Choux’s list. “There is something very seamless about that combianation because lychee already has a soft floral tonality within its juices, and rose gives it depth, elegance, and shape,” she explains. Choux also raises peony and other translucent florals as ideal for blending with lychee, as they preserve the feeling of freshness and fluidity. Additionally, the perfumer tells us lychee works well with other fruit notes, for building dimension. Watery or textured fruits work particularly well for this.
Choux also loves to use musk in her lychee-forward blends, because they allow the brightness of lychee to settle into something, “more intimate and skin-like.” In one of the newest lychee perfumes she worked on, Henry Rose’s Ripe Eau de Parfum ($120), she highlights its contrasts between the juicy opening, air floral heart, and soft, musky-wood base that was important to deliver the overall effect.
How was Henry Rose’s lychee scent created?
Henry Rose’s aforementioned newest fragrance, Ripe Eau de Parfum, was created by Choux. Through the development process, she was interested in, “capturing the suspended moment of summer when everything feels full of life.” Choux explains she wanted the scent to open with something immediate and luminous. “Lychee felt especially compelling because it brings a sense of juicy freshness without losing sophistication,” she continues. “The development process was really about finding the right balance between a vibrant opening and a softness the still felt polished and elegant.” The end result? A new perfume to add to my lineup that offers a mouthwatering and luminous take on lychee.
If you’re interested in taking a close look at the 15 most irresistible perfumer and beauty editor-approved lychee perfumes, you’ll want to keep scrolling. Below, find the best bright, sparkling, and modern takes on the classic fruity note.
See The Best Lychee Perfumes, Listed
How I Chose
As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To identify the 15 best lychee fragrances on the market from brands such as Henry Rose, Diptyque, and Parfums de Marly, I looked to perfumer insights and tapped into my knowledge as a beauty expert. I also considered several crucial factors, including sillage, fragrance complexity, and packaging. I’m aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of preferences, so I made sure to list out all the helpful details. Of course, customer reviews were also kept in mind when creating this list.
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We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we’d truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
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