LEMON BALM

Lemon balm, also called melissa, smells lemony and green, with the character of aromatic leaves rather than just citrus peel. A tart-smelling freshness can sit alongside a soft sweetness; natural oils may also suggest faint mint and honey. This balance can give a perfume a leafy citrus accent, bridging a bright fruit theme and a more herbal impression without turning the whole fragrance into a mint scent.

The plant is Melissa officinalis, a perennial herb in the mint family with lemon-scented leaves. Its natural essential oil can be obtained by steam distilling those leaves. It is a different botanical material from lemon peel oil, even though both can convey citrus freshness. Perfumers can emphasise the herbal or sweeter facets through the surrounding blend, and a listed lemon balm note does not by itself confirm the presence of this particular oil.