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7.2 / 10 35 Ratings
A perfume by Le Labo for women and men, released in 2020. The scent is citrusy-fresh. It is being marketed by Estēe Lauder Companies.
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Main accords

Citrus
Fresh
Floral
Green
Synthetic

Fragrance Notes

MuskMusk CedarwoodCedarwood GingerGinger LemonLemon JasmineJasmine
Ratings
Scent
7.235 Ratings
Longevity
6.627 Ratings
Sillage
6.227 Ratings
Bottle
7.333 Ratings
Value for money
4.122 Ratings
Submitted by Parfusaar · last update on 10/14/2025.
Source-backed & verified
Interesting Facts
This scent is exclusively available in Seoul.
The fragrance is part of the City Exclusive Collection collection.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Limette 37 by Le Labo
Limette 37

Reviews

3 in-depth fragrance descriptions
Landshark321

758 Reviews
Landshark321
Landshark321
1  
Nice citrus blend but overpriced
In the month before the City Exclusives month, I’m finally sampling last year’s Le Labo City Exclusive release, Citron 28 (Seoul). Right from the start, it’s an easy winner and quite pleasant, a fresh, semi-bitter/spicy citrus-dominant blend with very realistic green qualities to it. The listed notes are lemon, ginger, jasmine, musk, and cedar. I’m not sure why there’s a slight bitter sharpness to it, but my best guess is that that’s the citrus ingredients pivoting toward the citron fruit itself, a more bitter, less edible citrus fruit that’s one of the original non-hybrid citruses. The woody/musky side is there, too, but mainly in the background, with the lemon/citron/ginger/jasmine aspect being most prominent. It’s a classic case of “what’s not to like?”—an easy-to-wear citrus that certainly fits the current summer weather in the northern hemisphere.

The pricing for the Le Labo City Exclusives has always been pretty high, and has increased steadily but not horribly in recent years, now $485/319/134 for 100/50/15ml, so while it’s a nice fragrance overall, it hardly merits the cost, especially when contrasted with some of the richer and more complex offerings from the City Exclusives subline (i.e. Poivre 23 London and Benjoin 19 Moscow, priced at $290 for 50ml in 2016). In fairness, Le Labo’s creations are generally good or great, but I’d certainly recommend sampling Citron 28 because it’s a good fragrance. It’s a great time to order a sample pack of City Exclusives from Luckyscent (in the US) or the Le Labo site as bottles are only sold in the month of September. I look forward to trying latest City Exclusive release, this year’s Cedrat 37 (Berlin).

7 out of 10
0 Comments
Patrick259

7 Reviews
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Patrick259
Patrick259
Top Review 14  
In Seoul it rains a lot
I have never really understood the praises for bergamot, just as I cannot comprehend the criticism of Citron 28 now. For me, Citron 28 is the better Bergamot 22.

With the first spray, the citrus note makes itself known immediately. One might think it is more bergamot, but it quickly reveals itself as a strong lemon note.

However, this soon takes a back seat and makes way for a noble jasmine note. At this point, cedarwood and musk can be detected, albeit very subtly. Meanwhile, somewhere in between, there is a barely noticeable sharpness, but also a slight sweetness from the ginger note.

This structure remains intact over the next few hours, while lemon and jasmine gradually weaken and the cedarwood comes more to the forefront. Occasionally, it has a slightly soapy character. In my case, the scent remains distinctly perceptible for about seven hours, after which it becomes really just a skin scent until it completely dissolves on the skin. Over these seven hours, the scent actually projects quite decently, considering how fine and delicate this composition really is.

For in indoor spaces, it comes into its own very well, and it actually fits Seoul quite nicely. I had heard that some complained that Citron 28 with its lemon does not do justice to the rain in Seoul, nor to the character of the city. However, I believe it does.

Life in a million-person city like Seoul can be very tough. In the morning on the subway, at noon at work, and in the evening at a café or at home. Outside, it is gray, either overcast or raining again. The smog over the city and the air pollution do not make it particularly attractive to do anything outside, and green spaces are rare. People dress very delicately, yet simply and almost conforming, to attract attention but not to stand out, as status is everything in South Korea.

And this is exactly where Citron 28 hits the mark. On the subway, it is well noticeable, it turns heads, but does not disturb the other passengers. At work, it exudes status without coming across as authoritarian to colleagues. In the café, it appears elegant but does not overpower the conversation. On rainy days, it is perfect for staying cozy at home. In a gray environment, Citron 28 refreshes with its aura. And should it ever turn into a beautiful, cloudless sunny day in the park, it fits into that scenario as well. As a small homage to the previous comment "green-yellow..." applies very accurately to the scent.

What I do have to criticize a bit is that Citron 28 is very sensitive to temperatures. Both the daytime temperature and one's own body temperature can greatly influence its longevity and scent development. This in itself would not be a problem, but I have experienced that the scent can sometimes veer into a strongly bitter/sour direction. Some reported a rotting smell. Anyone who has had a floral scent that unfortunately went off can imagine it somewhat similarly.

Furthermore, I find that the perfume fits much more with the Asian aesthetic than with our Western world. A delicate South Korean woman or a young South Korean man would suit Citron 28's character better than Caucasians.

Nevertheless, a very beautiful scent.

P.S. The prices of the City Exclusives at €10 for 1.2ml, €112 for 15ml, €277 for 50ml, €415 for 100ml, and €1480 for 500ml are, in my opinion, absolutely unrealistic. Anyone who orders online from Le Labo for several thousand euros still has to pay the €15 shipping and should not expect free samples. Also, exchanges are strictly rejected by Le Labo. However, anyone who loves a City Exclusive and knows what they are getting into will definitely be happy with it!
Updated on 09/27/2020
3 Comments
Rajudaph

39 Reviews
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Rajudaph
Rajudaph
Top Review 8  
Green-yellow...
Phew, I have fallen in love again!

Once a year, in September, Le Labo sells the fragrances that are only available in special cities. Typically, the city-specific scents are only available in the city from which they are inspired. Citron 28, for example, in Seoul and Vanille 44 in Paris. Both fragrances are on my wish list. The brand has a strict "No online sales. No phone orders. No exceptions," except for the month of September, which is fortunately just two weeks away.
Citron is an exceptionally mature fresh scent and really fragrant with powerful lemons: green-yellow! At first, Citron reminds me of TF Venetian Bergamot. However, the ginger makes me experience Citron 28 as fresher and more innocent than TF.

This clean feeling lasts about an hour.

I have the scent sensation of white laundry on the drying line in the garden. Musk and cedarwood round off the fragrance beautifully with a woody touch.

For me, the longevity is five hours, then I need to reapply.

In September, Citron is mine :)
3 Comments

Statements

6 short views on the fragrance
9 months ago
4
Milky musks, unsweet green jasmine, lemon water. Tea-like but dense, creamy. A green floral musk? A mellow citrus? All of the above. Yes.
0 Comments
1 year ago
3
One of my favorite jasmine scent, that is mostly what I'm getting from it which is funny considering its name and what it supposed to be
0 Comments
2
As if I dive into a pile of lemon tree blossoms. Gorgeous, realistic, cheerful and ungodly expensive citrus perfume.
0 Comments
2
This one reminds me of a refined (less screechy) version of Limette 37 San Francisco. Citrusy, musks, jasmine and the ginger adds balance.
0 Comments
1
Smells great but absolutely boring and not worth so much. Gotta say Le Labo really is good at this citron + white flower thing.
0 Comments
Most upscale lemon of all time. It smells like a very wealthy family house. Refined to the max.
0 Comments
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