Scent Almanac
Yuzu
Citrus junos
Tart and aromatic, like a cross of grapefruit, mandarin and lime with a distinctive floral, slightly herbal-green lift.
- Made from
- Cold-pressed (or sometimes steam-distilled) from the peel of the yuzu fruit, mainly in Japan.
- Strength
- ●●●○○
- Cost
- Luxury
- Moods
- UpliftingRefreshingClean
- Seasons
- Winter, Spring
- Rooms
- Bathroom, Living room, Office
Cautions
- Oxidizes with age — old oil is more likely to sensitize; store cool and dark
- Caution around pets (especially cats and birds) — don't diffuse in their space
- Fades quickly — weak in cold-process soap or at hot throw
Oxidizes like other citrus oils; store cool and dark. Commonly treated as a cat hazard along with other citrus.
How it behaves
CandlesWorkable
Too costly to burn off at candle levels; most yuzu candles use a yuzu fragrance oil. As an EO it flashes off like other citrus.
Wax meltsWorkable
Reed diffuserGood
Room & linen sprayGreat
Electric (water) diffuserGreat
Cold-process soapWorkable
Fades like other citrus, which makes the high price hard to justify in cold process.
Melt-and-pour soapGood
Laundry & cleaningWorkable
Pairs well with
Hinoki
Base · Woody
Essential oil
Green Tea
Top · Green
Fragrance oil
Ginger
Middle · Spicy
Essential oil
White Tea
Top · Fresh & clean
Fragrance oil
Bergamot
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Cardamom
Middle · Spicy
Essential oil
Sandalwood
Base · Woody
Essential oil
Pink Pepper
Top · Spicy
Essential oil
Cucumber
Top · Green
Fragrance oil
Don't have it? Try Grapefruit, Bergamot, Mandarin.
A little lore
In Japan, whole yuzu fruits are floated in hot baths on the winter solstice, a custom called yuzu-yu.