Little White Lies was established in 2005 as a bi-monthly print magazine committed to championing great movies and the talented people who make them. Combining cutting-edge design, illustration and journalism, we’ve been described as being “at the vanguard of the independent publishing movement.” Our reviews feature a unique tripartite ranking system that captures the different aspects of the movie-going experience. We believe in Truth & Movies.
Little White Lies was established in 2005 as a bi-monthly print magazine committed to championing great movies and the talented people who make them. Combining cutting-edge design, illustration and journalism, we’ve been described as being “at the vanguard of the independent publishing movement.” Our reviews feature a unique tripartite ranking system that captures the different aspects of the movie-going experience. We believe in Truth & Movies.
The Refreshing Appeal of Citrus Perfumes
There’s a certain unmistakable brightness to citrus perfumes. Crisp, clean, and invigorating, they have the power to instantly lift your mood and awaken the senses. Whether it’s the zest of lemon, the tang of grapefruit, or the sweetness of mandarin, citrus notes are often associated with energy, freshness, and a carefree spirit. In the world of fragrance, citrus perfumes occupy a unique space; timeless, genderless, and versatile, making them a staple in both personal collections and professional fragrance lines.
Citrus scents are often the first impression in many perfumes. Known for their high volatility, citrus notes tend to appear prominently in the top of a fragrance composition, meaning they are the first smells that greet the nose. Though fleeting, their impact is immediate. This initial burst of freshness can set the tone for the entire fragrance experience, offering a lively introduction that gradually softens as middle and base notes emerge. Some citrus-focused perfumes are designed to highlight these top notes throughout the life of the fragrance, celebrating their sharp, clean character from start to finish.
The most common citrus ingredients in perfumery include lemon, lime, bergamot, orange, grapefruit, and mandarin. Each of these has its own distinct personality. Lemon is bright and sharp, often used to signal purity and clarity. Lime adds a slightly more bitter edge and an energizing punch. Bergamot, a citrus fruit primarily grown in southern Italy, is prized for its aromatic complexity; a blend of tartness, floral nuance, and gentle spice. Orange and mandarin bring sweetness and warmth, while grapefruit lends a mouthwatering tartness that feels both modern and refreshing.
Historically, citrus has played an essential role in fragrance development. The earliest examples of citrus-based perfumes can be traced back to the 18th century with formulations that combined citrus oils with aromatic herbs and light floral waters. These early colognes were loved for their cooling properties and became popular as daily refreshers long before the heavier perfumes of later centuries emerged. Over time, advances in extraction techniques allowed perfumers to capture more refined versions of citrus oils, making these bright and clean notes even more desirable in modern compositions. One of the biggest appeals of citrus perfumes is their incredible versatility. They can be worn year-round but truly shine in warmer months when the weather calls for something light, airy, and energising. In summer, a citrus fragrance offers a cooling effect, almost like a breeze in a bottle. In colder seasons, it can provide a welcome burst of sunshine, cutting through the heaviness of winter with a sense of optimism. Citrus also works well in layering, blending easily with florals, woods, herbs, spices, and aquatic notes, giving perfumers a wide palette to create balanced and complex scents.
Citrus perfumes also tend to feel clean and approachable, making them ideal for a wide variety of settings. They are perfect for daytime wear, office environments, and casual outings. The brightness of citrus can evoke a sense of confidence without being overwhelming, making these fragrances suitable for people who prefer subtlety over intensity. Additionally, many citrus perfumes are unisex by nature, appealing to anyone who enjoys fresh, natural aromas rather than sweet or musky scents traditionally associated with gendered marketing.
For those new to the world of perfume, citrus fragrances can be a gentle introduction. Their straightforward nature makes them easy to appreciate and enjoy without needing an advanced understanding of perfume structure. At the same time, seasoned fragrance lovers often return to citrus scents for their simplicity and elegance. A well-crafted citrus perfume doesn’t need to be complicated to be captivating, it relies on the purity of its ingredients and the balance of its composition.
Citrus perfumes can also be tied to memory and mood in powerful ways. The smell of oranges might bring to mind a childhood summer. A whiff of lemon could evoke thoughts of a favorite drink or a day by the sea. Because our sense of smell is closely linked to the part of the brain that processes emotion and memory, citrus fragrances often feel personal and emotionally resonant. Their lightness can evoke clarity and joy, making them especially comforting during stressful or busy times.
In recent years, there has been a growing appreciation for minimalist and nature-inspired perfumes, and citrus fits perfectly within this trend. Consumers are increasingly drawn to scents that feel authentic, transparent, and clean. Citrus perfumes meet this desire by offering a straightforward freshness that feels both modern and timeless. Whether used alone or in harmony with other notes, citrus creates a fragrance experience that feels honest and invigorating.
Ultimately, citrus perfumes are more than just a refreshing spritz, they represent a mood, a mindset, and a lifestyle. They capture the essence of sunlit mornings, crisp linens, open windows, and endless possibilities. Whether you gravitate toward the sweetness of mandarin, the zing of lime, or the sophistication of bergamot, there’s a citrus scent out there that reflects your energy and spirit. In a world that often feels heavy and fast-paced, citrus perfumes offer a moment of brightness and clarity, an aromatic reminder to pause, breathe, and savor the present.
Little White Lies was established in 2005 as a bi-monthly print magazine committed to championing great movies and the talented people who make them. Combining cutting-edge design, illustration and journalism, we’ve been described as being “at the vanguard of the independent publishing movement.” Our reviews feature a unique tripartite ranking system that captures the different aspects of the movie-going experience. We believe in Truth & Movies.
Little White Lies was established in 2005 as a bi-monthly print magazine committed to championing great movies and the talented people who make them. Combining cutting-edge design, illustration and journalism, we’ve been described as being “at the vanguard of the independent publishing movement.” Our reviews feature a unique tripartite ranking system that captures the different aspects of the movie-going experience. We believe in Truth & Movies.
Little White Lies was established in 2005 as a bi-monthly print magazine committed to championing great movies and the talented people who make them. Combining cutting-edge design, illustration and journalism, we’ve been described as being “at the vanguard of the independent publishing movement.” Our reviews feature a unique tripartite ranking system that captures the different aspects of the movie-going experience. We believe in Truth & Movies.
Movie sex scenes are a time capsule of our evolving norms around relationships and consent. These 10 went out of bounds in alarming ways.
A master class in how not to direct sex scenes. Thirty-year-old director Bernardo Bertolucci and 48-year-old star Marlon Brando decided the morning of the movie’s most infamous sex scene to incorporate butter into it, but didn’t tell 19-year-old lead actress Maria Schneider about it until the cameras were rolling.
“I wanted her reaction as a girl, not as an actress,” Bertolucci, who died in 2018, later said. “I wanted her to react humiliated.” Schneider, who died in 2007, said she did indeed feel violated by the scene.
When the scene gained renewed scrutiny in 2016, Bertolucci clarified that Schneider was aware that the scene would be violent, and that it was in the script, but that the “the only novelty was the idea of the butter. … And that, as I learned many years later, offended Maria. Not the violence that she is subjected to in the scene, which was written in the screenplay.” He also clarified that the sex in the film is all simulated.
The recent Hulu documentary Brooke Shields: Pretty Baby catalogues the countless ways that Hollywood men sought to sexualize Shields from an early age. The film takes its title from Pretty Baby, the Louise Malle film based on a true case of a 12-year-old, raised in a brothel, and forced into exploitation by her mother.
The film sympathizes with Shields’ character, Violet, but raised understandable alarm because it shows Shields undressed. The film was deemed so problematic even by 1978 standards that it sparked countless articles debating its decency, and the British Board of Film Classification carefully debated whether it should be legal.
One dubious scene: a kiss between Shields, who was 11 at the time, and 28-year-old co-star David Carradine — though Shields said recently on The Drew Barrymore Show that Carradine was “gracious” and “protective” of her on set.
You could write whole articles about the problems with Revenge of the Nerds, and many people have, but one of the main ones is a scene in which nerds use hidden cameras to watch sorority women in various states of undress. It’s a felony, nerds.
The most troubling part of Revenge of the Nerds is a scene in which lead nerd Lewis (Robert Carradine), the supposed hero of the movie, wears a mask to trick a fellow student into believing he’s her boyfriend. After they have sex, she’s delighted by how good it was, which is the movie’s way of justifying the criminal deception. Terrible lessons all around.
Screenwriter Steve Zacharias has said he regrets both the mask scene and the hidden camera scene, and he removed them when he sat down to write a musical adaptation of the film.
Also Read: 12 Shameless ’80s Comedies That Just Don’t Care If You’re Offended
Sixteen Candles is another film in which the awfulness of a character’s behavior is compounded by the movie expecting us to like him. Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) is presented as the dream guy of our heroine, Samantha (Molly Ringwald). But at one point Jake passes off his unconscious girlfriend, Carloline (Haviland Morris), to another guy, Ted.
Jake tells Ted, “Have fun.” The next day, Caroline and the Ted conclude that they had sex. He asks if she enjoyed herself, and she says, “You know, I have this weird feeling I did,” which is the movie’s way of justifying the guys’ behavior.
Sharon Stone wrote in her memoir The Beauty of Living Twice that she was tricked into the most revealing scene in Basic Instinct by a crew member who told her she needed to remove her underwear because it was “reflecting the light.”
She said she was so shocked by the end result that she slapped director Paul Verhoeven and immediately called her lawyer — but that she eventually agreed to the release of the scene. Verhoeven later said Stone was a willing participant in the scene and “knew exactly what we were doing,” which she disputes.
Stone told the Table for Two podcast earlier this year that she lost custody of her child in a 2004 court case because of her role in the film.
“I lost custody of my child,” she said. “When the judge asked my child — my tiny little tiny boy — ‘Do you know your mother makes sex movies?’”
She lamented “this kind of abuse by the system… that I was considered what kind of parent I was because I made that movie.”
We don’t think depictions of bad behavior are endorsements of it, and Poison Ivy in no way suggests that there’s anything OK about the relationship between Ivy (played by a then-16-year-old Drew Barrymore) and her friend’s dad (a then-58-year-old Tom Skerritt).
The film wasn’t intended as gross exploitation — it even premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.
Director Katt Shea has said she and Skerritt were well aware of the potential problems inherent in the relationship between Ivy and the much older character, and that she was protective of Barrymore, using a body double for her in certain scenes.
Nonetheless, she said in 2022 interview with Yahoo: “I don’t think that movie would be made today, period.”
We can’t even type the name of this movie, based on the masterful Vladimir Nabakov novel, without freaking out internet censors. You can blame gross people who use it as a euphemism for despicable criminal conduct.
Stanley Kubrick’s 1962 adaptation of Navabov’s novel proved that you didn’t need to be explicit to tell the mortifyingly sad story of Humbert Humbert, who abducts and abuses his young stepdaughter, Dolores Haze, while lying to the audience and himself that it’s a consensual love affair instead of a serious of horrendous crimes.
Adrian Lyne’s 1997 version decided that relaxed standards in the 1990s would allow him to finally adapt Vladimir Nabakov’s novel without leaving things to the imagination — but his timing was very bad. During the making of the film, President Clinton just signed the Child Pornography Prevention Act, which banned depictions of sexual activity by minors. Though Lynn was using an adult body double for 15-year-old lead actress Dominique Swain, distributors were so spooked that the film debuted not in theaters, but on Showtime.
Lynn may have just gone about the whole thing wrong: Nabakov’s novel contains not a single dirty word. Kubrick’s adaptation was up to the challenge of adapting it, with similar restraint, and Lyne’s artistic endeavor felt unnecessary and misguided.
The film by Abdellatif Kechiche led a Cannes Film Festival jury to give the Palme d’Or prize to not only the director, but also his two lead actresses, Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos. But Seydoux said soon after that the long takes of intimate scenes were “kind of humiliating sometimes, I was feeling like a prostitute.”
Kechiche said of the critcism: “If Seydoux lived such a bad experience, why did she come to Cannes, try on robes and jewelery all day?” he said. “Is she an actress or an artist of the red carpet?” He also said the film shouldn’t be released, because it was too “sullied.” But it was released in the end.
The two stars of 1968′s Romeo and Juliet sued Paramount Pictures in 2023 for more than $500 million over a scene they shot as teenagers.
Olivia Hussey, who was 15 at the time and died last year at 73, and Leonard Whiting, then 16 and now 74, said director Franco Zeffirelli, who died in 2019, misled them by saying they would wear flesh-colored undergarments in an intimate scene, but informed them on the morning of the shoot that they would wear only body makeup.
A judge dismissed the case in May 2023, but Whiting and Hussey filed a second lawsuit against Paramount, claiming the studio had digitally redistributed the film without their permission.
Here’s a story about the Best Picture winner Anora, which features lots of sex scenes that were carefully communicated between director Sean Baker and the film’s actors.
You might also like this list of 12 Rad ’80s Movies Only Cool Kids Remember, featuring the sequel to Revenge of the Nerds.
Main image: Romeo and Juliet. Paramount Pictures.
