Lemon Myrtle

About Lemon Myrtle

Lemon myrtle is a fragrance note associated with the leaves of Backhousia citriodora, a tree native to Australia and a member of the myrtle family. Its leaf oil is obtained by steam distillation and has a vivid lemon-like aroma. This botanical source and plant part distinguish it from lemon oil obtained from citrus peel.

Scent Profile

The impression is bright and sharply lemony, with lime-like freshness, a little rounded sweetness and a leafy background. Citral is a major constituent of the essential oil and an important contributor to that clear lemon character. The green detail gives the note a crisp outline beyond the sweet-and-tart impression of fruit juice. Its strength within a perfume depends on the formula and its neighbouring materials.

Use in Perfumery

Beside bergamot or orange, lemon myrtle can add leafy substance to citrus brightness. It provides a fresh accent in herbal and woody compositions, and a contrast between light and warmth beside resins such as frankincense. Softer flowers and fruits can also gain definition from its lemon-like outline. These roles describe blending possibilities rather than a fixed position or performance shared by every perfume.

Name and Botanical Identity

Despite its common name, lemon myrtle belongs to a different genus from Mediterranean myrtle, Myrtus communis. In fragrance language the name may refer to the botanical material or to an accord expressing its lemon-scented foliage.