Pomelo is a citrus note from Citrus maxima, the largest citrus fruit and one of the original ancestral species behind grapefruit and orange. In perfume it smells like a softer, sweeter, less bitter grapefruit, with a gentle, watery freshness.

What does Pomelo smell like?

Pomelo smells mild and juicy, with a tangy but not sharp zest and a delicate floral sweetness. It lacks the strong sulphurous punch of grapefruit, and it can feel airy and slightly green. Perfumers typically build the note using grapefruit, mandarin and lemon materials with watery and fruity molecules, since pomelo oil is scarce; the result is a gentle, clean citrus that sits between grapefruit and mandarin.

Where Pomelo comes from

The pomelo is native to South-East Asia and has been cultivated in southern China for more than 2,000 years. It is now grown widely across Asia, and in Israel and the United States. Pomelo peel oil is produced only in small quantities.

• Also known as: Pummelo, shaddock
• Fragrance family: Citrus
• Type: Natural and synthetic (often an accord)
• Main origins: China, South-East Asia, Israel
• How it's obtained: Small-scale cold expression of the peel; usually recreated with other citrus materials
• Key aroma molecules: Limonene, nootkatone

Pomelo in perfume history

The pomelo reached the Caribbean in the 17th century, where the English name shaddock is said to come from a ship's captain who brought it to Barbados. Crossed with sweet orange there, it gave rise to grapefruit. In East Asia the fruit carries symbolic meaning, particularly around Lunar New Year. Its use as a named perfume note is recent and largely a 21st-century phenomenon.

Pomelo in modern perfumery

Pomelo appears in fresh, Asian-inspired and minimalist fragrances, and in niche perfumes seeking an unusual citrus. It is often chosen for its softness, offering a grapefruit-like effect that is less sharp and more universally pleasant.

How Pomelo wears and what it pairs with

Pomelo is a top note that fades within 30 minutes. It pairs with green tea, bamboo, lotus, ginger, mint, grapefruit, white musk and light woods.

Safety and regulation

Limonene, present in any citrus oil used in the accord, is an EU-declarable allergen. Expressed citrus oils can contain phototoxic furocoumarins that IFRA restricts.