I once heard perfumer Thomas Fontaine say he considered orange blossom an American note. (Iris and galbanum were French, he said.) Right away, I thought of bars of soap, brides, and piles of white laundered towels. Is that what Americans are about — cleanliness and innocence? Maybe I should have asked, is that what orange blossom is about?

Orange blossom is a lot more expressive than its association with laundry detergent would have you believe. Here are five relatively easy-to-find¹ orange blossom-centered fragrances that explore a variety of non-Girl Scout takes on the note:

Serge Lutens Fleurs d’Oranger: Fleurs d’Oranger kicks off as bright and juicy as a grove of Florida Ambersweets in spring…

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