Citrus Batikanga

Love at first sniff. What an unusual, well done, refreshing, invigorating smell. Don’t know anything like this. I went to a Crivelli counter to try and buy one of two other scents I was considering based on notes. After experiencing the whole line in person and purchasing a sample set to explore, Citrus Batikanga was a winner from the first try all the way through multiple tests that followed. Citrus + spicy red pepper works so incredibly well with cardamom as a bridge that gives warmth in the early stages. Something slightly soapy about it, but not in an iris/neroli kind of way. Just clean and solar. Too bad I do not pick up any rhubarb. It does change over time, but not a shape shifter. Citruses mellow out, the cardamom remains and plays well with a drop of myrrh and vetiver. Those also give this scent depth in the mid and late stages of wearing. Something quite unusual for a citrus dominant fragrance. Vetiver is also not a dirty kind, just green and quite elegant actually. I sense some musks in the background. Maybe that is what gives me the sense of cleanliness. This does lean masculine. But I am very seriously considering a full bottle. That hot pepper and cardamom won me over big time. A little talked about masterpiece.

Cold, refreshing, and quietly playful, resting on a base that reminds me of Absinthe Boréale, but with a brighter, more dramatic twist up top. It’s vibrant without ever turning sharp, perfectly balanced, and incredibly easy to wear. Unique and tasteful, it carries an icy edge that playfully dances with just the right amount of chili pepper, never overpowering and just enough to spark interest. One of the best summer perfumes in my rotation, and just as fitting for the softer days of spring. An aromatic, fresh spicy composition that feels refined yet effortless. Give it a proper try on clean skin and let it bloom. It grows warmer, deeper, and more intriguing with time.

I love this fragrance! To me it smells like I am staying at a five star hotel, and this is how the scented lotion in in the toiletry kit smells like. It smells clean, warm, slightly spicy, and very well balanced. I'm not usually into citrus forward scents, they can be screechy at times. Not this, this is smoooooth. Smells like straight up luxury to me. The warmth in it also makes it suitable year round, in my opinion. It doesn't scream "summer" to me. Very unisex, I'm a woman and I adore it, and I think it would smell just as good on a man.

My favorite citrus of all time. Thank you Maison Crivelli for making a unique citrus in a sea of so many same old samo's. It also has amazing longevity and projection for a citrus perfume. It is a beautiful, fresh, and energizing with a spicy twist. I love the hot pepper scent mixed with the lemon it really works. It almost gives a fresh ginger effect but different and I completely get the hot pepper from initial spary to dry down. This perfume is completely unisex and smells so natural, clean, and like amazing quality.

Love love! Not as beloved by my "here! Smell me!" testers, but a "knocks it out of the park" favorite for me. Delightfully unexpected. Warm and spicy but simultaniously refreshing. Has that element of unusual that I adore, while still remaining approachable, in my eyes. I want this so bad, I'm mad that I'm out of my sample and luckyscent doesn't carry it anymore because now I can't sniff it while saving for a full bottle. 9.5/10 half point deducted for my unimpressed sniff testers

I love this -- I feel like I smell Citron in here - it's giving me the same fresh, mossy, just-got-out-of-the-shower citrus vibes I know and love in Jo Malone Grapefruit, but the citrus is a little more rounded, a little warmer (not stronger, just a different citrus). Zesty, spicy, fresh, clean kick with some warmth -- easily rising to the top for me in their discovery kit (which, btw is out of this world and a synesthete's dream).

wow wow wow?! at arms length, it's very palatable and maybe even flirting with aquatic. all the while, cardamom is a peppery vessel for the freshness of cut stalks and peeled rinds. nose to skin - the fenugreek feels savory and starchy, like fluffed biryani? the vetiver acts as a bridge when the savoriness dries down to a soft and sweet, resinous skank. i'm obsessed.

I really enjoy this one. It’s a completely different take on citrus - and leans fairly heavily to the masculine side. I don’t think it smells like food, personally. It’s a spicy citrus, as many have said - and it really shines after the opening fades. Really enjoy this one. Side note - chat gpt recommended this fragrance for me and I must stay, it nailed it.

Maison Crivelli is for my a new perfume house that I fell in love with. Citrus Batikanga is an exotic citrus fragrance that set itself apart from all other citrus fragrances on the market. It starts a little sharp, but the dry down is softer, more subtle spicy. Definitely a must-try!

Great citrus spicy fragance....very unique. Love it in the heat...perfomance is ok for a citrus fragrance....well done!

Love at first sniff! What an amazing scent, reminds me of my mum and I’ll cherish this forever. Thank you Bertrand!

I'd say as with majority of my experiences with a plethora of fragrances from Maison Crivelli, this is yet another well made suberb release. Opens up with a dry but tart Citrus note with a Spicy kick to it, that effortlessly blends into the main part of the dry down, which is characterised by the aforementioned slightly dry and tart citrus which becomes smoother going into the mid and dry down, and a warmly spiced pimento/chilli note, behind both of these notes is a soft Rhubarb and Vetiver, that both act as a counterbalance, yet also an amplifier to accentuate both the smooth, and refreshing feeling of the citrus, as well as the kick and pleasant sharpness from the Chili. It stays more or less like this throughout the whole wearing and I don't particularly get many Resinous notes on my skin even in thr far dry down as listed but it is fine notheless. In terms of wearability, due to it being a citrus (as in the namesake lmao) forward fragrance, it most definitely is most at home in summer and spring, but I can see a usecase for autumn, I'd say either genders could wear this, but something about it (maybe the way the aromatics and spiced are handelded?) Makes this feel like it leans a fair bit masculine in my opinion. In terms of occasions to wear it, it could easily pass as both and formal occasion fragrance, part of me also thinks this could be an excellent office fragrance, it's not too complex to understand foe the layman, and on top of that it's not (on my skin) the most projecting fragrance of its class, speaking of that, on my skin I get a medium projection roughly but it fluctuates between soft and medium quite a lot. In terms of longevity I get around 5-6 hours. Final Verdict is a 7.2/10

Citrus Batikanga is an intriguing, unusual scent. It is an original take on an aromatic-citrus scent profile. It is not the most wearable, and certainly doesn't have mass appeal, but it is an impressive piece of olfactory art that succeeds in breathing new life into a tired scent trope. CB opens with tart bergamot, followed closely by freshly-chopped chilli pepper, damp yet spicy. It is punchy and aromatic, almost mouth-watering up top, with peppery green cardamom firmly bringing it to Indian dish territory early on. It still manages to be airy and bright, with aromatic freshness throughout. As it develops, I get some fresh yet slightly bitter rhubarb, and the vetiver makes its presence felt, dry and woody with a slightly astringent quality. As it develops, the musky amber base comes to the fore, smooth and slightly sweet, melding nicely with the woody vetiver and grounding the spicy-fruity accord nicely. It is surprisingly cohesive, but does remind me of curry, perhaps due to the emergence of the fenugreek note at the drydown stage. It fades to a musky, woody scent, spicy and aromatic until final fade. Sillage and longevity are moderate, and it is masculine-leaning in my opinion - best worn in spring/summer. An unusual spicy citrus with a curry component, CB shouldn't work but it does - it is a creative risk that pays off. An unexpected gourmand of sorts. 3.5/5.

I find many of the Crivellis wispy, oddly balanced, more like tentative experiments in perfumery than high-priced luxury products. This one and Iris Malikhân were redemptive in their starting lineup. Here Duchaufour comes to the rescue with a well-composed piece, present on the skin though low-projecting. Not a masterpiece, but at least a master at work. The opening is strong on the nose-tickling chili pepper note. It's exactly the same note in L'Homme Ideal L'Intense. Those flankers can be unobtainium so I know that's not the most useful point of comparison - I was just surprised to smell that unusual accord again. In the heart the spice calms down and it's more of a creamy, earthy vetiver and lightly citrus blend. True to the Crivelli MO, it just barely touches on the citrus of its namesake, and simmers away to a skin scent all too soon, but the drydown at least lasts a good long time. If it matters to you, I’d say the opening is more masculine and the drydown more femme. In all, quite lovely and a very solid "like".

At first whiff, it's a blend of sumac, pepper, and a tangy, citrusy allure. Delving into the note list, the mix of chili pepper and rhubarb seems to create this effect. The top notes offer a refreshing Bergamot touch, while cardamom brings in spice rather than warmth. It's an intriguing scent, one that provokes contemplation. I imagine wearing this with lightly colored outfits—perhaps a clean white blouse or even clean gym wear after a workout. It's the kind of fragrance that makes you yearn to release your hair from a ponytail and let its scent waft through and around you. The earthy undertones create a divergence between fresh, green, aromatic notes and sweet, woody earthiness. This fragrance feels suitable for a first date—light, approachable, yet undoubtedly captivating. Overall, 7/10

Opens with a juicy hit of citrus. I also keep thinking of a delicious spicy margarita with a salted rim. Sparkly and invigorating, refreshingly wet/aquatic. Deliciously savoury. Bay leaf, and cardamom with a quite grassy, vetiver base. The vetiver keeps the top from being too sharp. A nice clean fragrance that could be interpreted as a touch detergent-like in the dry-down by some. Makes me want to relax by a pool and wear gorgeous jewellery. Or sunbathe on a boat in the mediterranean wearing expensive linen. Definitely unisex, but traditionally speaking, leans more masculine. Pretty good projection here too. VERDICT: Very cool, in both senses of the word.

Wow! My sniffer is spot on!!! Fenugreek! Sorry for blowing my own trumpet, but I'm like a cold reading psychic, when I hit, I have to brag about it. Immediately the top notes of this perfume are extremely muted. It's a grower not a shower, and this bergamot/lime smell has no really typical citrus tropes, it's not lend sharpness or sweetness by it's surrounds. That's a good thing for me, makes it a different prospect from your average citrus. I think it has an aspect of lime pickle (the Indian condiment) it's a flat bergamot impression like a dhm or bergamal. but again I like it, it's different.

This really exemplifies the "fresh spicy" label to me. It's a nice citrus, and the combination with spices gives it an expensive, unusual, slightly masculine flair. On my skin, I really get the bergamot, cardamom, and chili pepper more than anything else. I live in a climate that's hot year-round and this is perfect for that: it's warm but without ever becoming too heavy or cloying because the citrus lends it that sharpness. It softens over time but remains pretty linear throughout its 6-7 hour wear, and was fairly intimate on me.

Beautiful unisex cologne-like fragrance. Not a bright citrus as you may expect from the name, but pleasantly spicy, fresh and aromatic. Dominant vetiver in the dry down. Absolutely love it for when I want a fresh fragrance with a masculine hint. It loses a star for longevity, lasted about 3-4 hours after which barely the faintest fragrance remained. Full bottle worthy but only at a great price. EDIT - dry down smells like a sweaty male with cheap cologne on.

Omg, yum. This is both possibly the most unique citrus I’ve ever smelled and also the most unusual kind of gourmand—spicy, savory and warm. I understand why the consensus is that this leans masculine but this reads pretty unisex to me. Such a cool, special warm weather fragrance and another winner from Maison Crivelli.

The opening smelled like cat pee to my nose but instantly changed to a beautiful powdery scent. Would like to test further.

not a bright citrus. ehh. light spiciness that is pretty unique.

Unusual and inspired spicy citrus combo. Leans masculine.

Get big Fleur D'Oranger notes, with some green too.

Grrrrr. Two samples into my rather pricy sampler set, and Maison Crivelli continues to be ... a bit exasperating. Promises SO MUCH. Spiky spicy non-conformist citrus from my personal nose idol M Duchaufour? I was rooting to be razzle-dazzled by zingy, zestful success. I was foiled. It fizzled. It doesn't get there. But hints oh-so-frustratingly at far greater things. It's just sooooooooo quiet. Now Crivelli seems to be all about airy transparency, and St Bertrand of Duchaufour is a master of letting light and air into scents which still linger, so fair enough. But with a maximum life of 2h and a maximum diameter of - what, about 5cm? - from skin, you are getting a very VERY limited result for the money. That is one very tiny bubble of happiness to live in! Agonisingly, I get clear signals of the theme - dry, brown-tinged, powdery-warm-spicy citrus with gorgeous quirk, a funky tropical-modernist take on an old song - but turned down to no more than a whisper, at any distance, for any amount of time. Some of that might be merciful restraint. Fenugreek spells FOE to me in almost any scent, it's such a fetid sweaty bully, but here, wisely limiting it to absolutely trace levels means I can sense it's there without hating it. So that's one minor miracle amid the disillusion. Rhubarb seems to have failed to show up at all for the audition, at least in my sample. Yeah, nice myrrh - though like everything else in here except that damn fenugreek, I want MORE of it. Chili and cardamom are briefly perceptible and nice enough but really just phoning it in. All have been done more dramatically in other fragrances. Batikanga is definitely original, certainly unisex and so unbelievably soft & understated that you could safely wear it anywhere. The warmer, spicier layer underneath may cling to skin for up to 3h on you but you'll only know that by sniffing yourself really deeply, up close ... which I regularly do in public without shame, though it's kind of embarrassing. But honestly - what's the point of this? So: reminded me strongly of Berdoues Scorza de Sicilia in being an excellent dry-spicy-citrus-with-a-twist that still failed. Scorza made me feel like throwing my toys out of the pram in a failed-fragrance-quest tantrum. This one has the same effect, only more mutedly - and I do respect M Duchaufour sincerely - so the verdict this time will have to be: no, I'm not angry, dear scent sensei ... just disappointed!

Citrus Batikanga opens spicy and citrus. I’d put spice first and citrus second in intensity. Upon opening, I’m reminded of grooming products my dad would use. It leans masculine. When the opening dies down and the mid comes out, it smells more dry and fresh spicy. Once the base emerges, I get the myrrh. It’s definitely blended in with other notes and helps to smooth and round the fragrance but I can pinpoint it because it smells similar to the myrrh in Jo Malone Myrrh and Tonka. These two may be a good layering combo for a summer-to-fall transitional scent. I wore this all during a trip to DC, Charlottesville, and Charlotte in the summer. It didn’t fully stand up to the heat but was pleasant enough while I could smell it on myself.

A bright opening with a kick of spicy. The first thing my mind goes to is really good Indian curry. The citrus evens this out so it doesn't smell only like a curry chicken dish. I get bits of vetiver and cardamon once the citrus starts to leave. It's a nice smell and pleasant for the summer daytime. The biggest worry for me is people smelling this won't think it's a fragrance. They'll think you just ate lunch and it's a little too close to an actual food smell to appreciate the perfume.

I was so excited about the notes listed, but nothing special or exciting is happening here. Very generic and boring in actual experience. The pimento pepper note is both strong and a detractor. No rhubarb, indistinct and synthetic citrus. Just so far from what it could have been.

First few minut is citrus, after that it reminds me of painful experience with red hot chili peppers and later it settles into dried orange.

I wanted to love this fragrance—truly. After spending months exploring scents with the help of ChatGPT, which has come to understand my personal style, preferences, and overall vibe, Citrus Batikanga kept coming up as a strong recommendation. And for good reason—my track record with blind buys has been surprisingly successful, and this one had all the right elements on paper. On a scent strip, I get it. The citrus is zesty, vibrant, and slightly spicy. There’s something intriguingly different about it—unique without trying too hard. But the moment it hits my skin, the story changes completely. What I hoped would be an exotic citrus burst quickly morphed into something that smelled exactly like Thai food on me. That sharp lemongrass and spice combo clung in a way that felt more culinary than olfactory. I think this is one of those fragrances that proves two things: 1. Fragrance is deeply subjective, and 2. Skin chemistry matters—a lot. What might smell like a zesty, spicy citrus dream on one person can become a satay stir-fry on another. I’ve read others describe it as vibrant and adventurous, and I believe them. I just wish my skin told that same story. If you’re someone who can sample before buying, definitely do that here. If not, know this one might be a gamble—one that unfortunately didn’t work out for me.

What a nice performance in Duchaufour's words... What a dissapointment, that my impression is just a few sad notes. I'd like to respect this fragrance. The composition seems to be fresh, zesty, delicately bitter and spicy. But the result for me is just citrus, which smells vegetable. On my skin turns masculine and cheap. Maybe not compatible with my personal chemistry... Pleasant projection, moderate longevity. It could be interesting to wear it all seasones. I belive it has a potential to change the developing in different temperatures.

I tried the entire eau de parfum collection by Maison Crivelli, and while I enjoyed the journey, none of them truly captured my heart. Citrus Batikanga evokes two things for me: the zoo near the big cat enclosures, with its distinctly animalic scents, despite the lemon trying to lighten it; and the overcrowded subway, where I often find myself stuck in the unpleasant armpit zone due to my small stature. This fragrance gives off a sweaty and macerated vibe, albeit with a touch of sophistication. It's not for me, clearly.

Ak! By the gods, this smells like manly, spicey, lemon pledge. If there was an ultra/ intense version. Pow! That's what I get the moment this is sprayed. It takes you by senses without mercy. Easy pass. The worst citrus scent I've smelled so far.

I found this boring which is a shock because I have never found one of Bertrand’s scents boring. I gave it a couple wears. It just wasn’t good on me.

On paper it was really nice - freshly sqeezed lemon and lime. But on my skin it was nothing but mosquito spray. Had to wash it off.

This starts out super citrus-y in a nice way, but settles into a really basic vetiver men-centric scent that smells a bit too loud.

It disappeared extremely quickly.

Very generic masculine perfume

Wanna smell like thai food? Go ahead. Someone in the office was hungry, end of story.

A refreshing departure from your typical citrus fragrance. This is such an unusual take on citrus - f something that doesn’t smell like every other bergamot-heavy fragrance out there. With so many brands basically copying each other these days (and perfumers selling the same stuff to different houses), it’s nice to find something genuinely different. Duchafour often times is hit or miss for me. Trayee is absolutely incredible - probably his biggest masterpiece - but some of his other stuff just doesn’t click with me. This one definitely works though. The opening bergamot-pomelo combo is really well done, bright and sparkling without being sharp, even invigorating. Then it settles into something much deeper and more resinous. The projection and longevity are both solid - it stays noticeable without being overwhelming or cloying. Everyone talks about the chili pepper but honestly I’m not getting much of that. What I do smell are these interesting spices, definitely some fenugreek and what might be cumin. Really adds character to the composition. This is my only Maison Crivelli so far but it’s got me curious about what else they’re doing. Definitely worth trying if you want something different in the citrus category.

🌶️Market in Mumbai 🍊 I squeeze through the colorful stalls at a market in Mumbai. A vendor stirs cardamom with fenugreek in a sack – the aroma spreads through the air, warm and spicy. Nearby lies fresh pomelo, sour and juicy, and at the next stall, someone is slicing rhubarb - its sharp scent stings the nostrils. The air is filled with chili - it burns, but pleasantly - blending with the bergamot from the tea the stall owner is drinking. Underfoot, dust and wet earth after the monsoon smell of vetiver - earthy, deep, like after a storm. Everything blends into one composition - sharp, sour, spicy. A shame it’s so fleeting. @the.scent.files

Yet another unisex fragrance getting downgraded by leagues of females, because it smells masculine. Please stop making "unisex" fragrances, and please label them appropriately as male or female. Downgrading a fragrance because it smells like its meant more for "men" is not a reason to report low stars on a fragrances scent profile at face value when its googled. I dont blame women for downgrading something that isnt perfectly unisex. This is the industry being fearful yet claiming to support fearlessness. yeah now theres a bunch of 3 star "unisex" frags just flying out of the factory all the time.

Great fragrance. Female wearer here. I have struggled with the spicy opening but I love the dry down. Also I love to overspray but this would kill me with a savory spicy chokehold. So I'm Layering this one. So far I'm testing this plus Zara Vetiver Pamplemousse; this plus Versace Crystal Noir; this plus Jo Malone Myrrh and Tonka; and this plus Lys Sølaberg. I'll report back how it goes. I may put it with BR540 or Bal d'Afrique. We'll see how we go but it is a great tool to spice up something you're a bit bored of.

Lots of things happening here. Citrus, spicy, a little herbal, subtly masculine but sweet...but if I step back and feel it as a whole, to me this is a little underwhelming. I was expecting more zing from citrus and a little more spice from the red pepper - this is more of a slightly herbal, subtly spicy subtly citrussy sweet mix. Anyone have Brooklyn from Gallivant to swap for this sample? (And many other samples UK - check my custom shelf for what I have, lets do a bundle swap!)

Came here to make sure I wasn't crazy and sure enough the last review backs me up - this smells JUST LIKE an expired citrus perfume in the opening. That tell-tale smell you have when the citrus top notes burn off of something over time. I thought my sample had somehow gone bad at lightning speed or something. Horrific opening. Dries down to the promised spiced citrus and becomes nice enough but it is not at all worth getting through the way it smells when you spray it on.

Love many fragrances from this house. This one is distinctive and perhaps worthy of a purchase if you love citrus and want something unique. There is a pleasant pungency to the citrus opening. The dominant notes after an hour are a clean woody Vetiver with cumin and cardamom. Performance is fantastic, 10+ hours with good projection. Only requires a spray or two so decent value. Wouldn’t be a bad choice for a more character driven warm weather signature scent.

This is a dry and warm spiciness with a huge bitter citrus opening. Its zesty and tart which can make people compare it to cleaning product, however the dry warmth under it doesnt just make this a summer scent only. Fans of strong citrus will really like the warm herbal undertones in the dry down and the versatility it creates. After the opening the citrus and dry spice mix really well, but this is still undoubtably a citrus forward fragrance. 7.6/10

For someone who doesn't like citrus, Citrus Batikanga is nice enough. My issue with citrus notes is that I associate them with sporty, blue men's colognes. This citrus is softened and mediated in equal parts with all the spices. It actually smells really savory and edible—like a spice blend you'd find at Trader Joe's to sprinkle over fish. That sounds terrible, I know. But it's just a very culinary scent.

Fresh citrus tea scent like Opening with some spiciness. Quite soothing to smell but nothing too impressive. Abit old school smelling. Dna caters for more matured ladies n guys. One thing to note is the citrus at the opening does reminds me of a turned old citrus opening that's oxdised alot and has this old turned citrus smell, not that strong but bits of it

Fresh citrus opening that leans bitter but not overtly so, mixed with light spices, on a bed of mild vetiver. Not truly spicy or savoury, just a pleasant light citrus. I would recommend Mr. Vetiver from Une Nuit Nomade for anyone interested in a proper pepper freshie. Source: 1.5ml Official Sample, from official website Date of Purchase: 23rd of April, 2025