I'm Repeatedly Told I Smell Good—This Is the "Unsexy" Fragrance I Swear By Come Summer

As a beauty editor who writes about fragrance regularly, I’m very lucky to have a pretty extensive perfume collection. While I have a personal preference for creamy vanilla scents and lightweight, airy fragrances, a quick browse through my ever-growing collection reveals a diverse mix of different fragrance families, from crisp green options to watery aquatic perfumes, and even a few more unusual fragrance notes, like sweet banana scents.

Another of the more unusual fragrance notes nestled in my collection? Citronella—a fragrant, grassy, slightly zesty note, often used in conjunction with lemongrass, which is often found in the best citrus perfumes, as well as more niche fragrance combinations, too.

Yet, while both citronella and lemongrass are undoubtedly deliciously unique when it comes to their scent, there’s actually another reason why I keep them in my summer perfume collection. Many scent experts believe that both notes work to keep bugs and insects at bay, and so, I regularly opt for fragrances containing them on hot sunny days or when packing my favourite holiday perfumes .

Does Citronella Keep Insects Away?

While I’ve sworn by citronella scents for their insect-repelling properties for years, I thought it would be useful to check in with an expert to find out if citronella actually works when it comes to deterring insects.

"A number of essential oils have been found to be effective in deterring insects in the summer months," Jo Kellett, expert aromatherapist for Tisserand Aromatherapy, explains. "The reason for this is a chemical compound, citral, which most flying insects find repellent. Essential oils high in citral include lemongrass, may chang, lemon tea-tree and citronella.”

Of course, there are some things to note. Although citronella perfumes are thought to be a gentle bug deterrent, they're not a replacement for heavy-duty bug sprays. "It’s also worth saying that applying citronella essential oil directly to the skin definitely isn’t recommended, as it can cause skin irritation," says Jacob Grainger, perfumer & co-founder of Nosu. "[Also,] the commonly named 'citronella plant' (actually a type of scented geranium) smells similar but isn’t particularly effective at repelling insects, though it’s often planted in gardens to attempt to do so." Therefore, it's worth examining your fragrance closely to determine which notes it contains.

The Best Citronella Perfumes

If you thought the above would mean citronella perfumes would err on the more practical side, think again. As unsexy as they sound, when done right, citronella scents can smell incredible. To prove it, I’ve rounded up a few of my favourites.

• Best overall citronella perfume: Diptyque Citronelle and Geranium Summer Body Spray (£50)
• Best long-lasting citronella perfume: Lush Love Perfume (£85)
• Best creamy citronella perfume: CRA-YON Continental Eau de Parfum (£75)
• Best travel-friendly citronella perfume: Commune Seymour Solid Perfume (£85)
• Best affordable citronella perfume: Neal's Yard Citronella Formula (£14)

Diptqyque Citronelle and Geranium Summer Body Spray

Lush Love Perfume

CRA-YON Continental Eau de Parfum

Commune Seymour Solid Perfume

Neal's Yard Citronella Formula