Quenepa
Note Profile
About
Quenepa is the fruit of Melicoccus bijugatus, a Caribbean tree. It is a small green-skinned fruit with a single large stone and a thin layer of salmon-coloured pulp. It is not a citrus and not a lime, despite the common name Spanish lime.
Scent Profile
Quenepa smells fresh, sweet and fruity, a ripe fruit rather than anything sharp. It is often compared to lime and lychee, and sits in tropical fruit territory. A light citrus note runs through it, though the fruit is not a true citrus despite the Spanish lime name. It has a sweet, tart edge, with a subtle floral and resinous touch underneath.
ScentWheel
Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.
ScentArt
Origin
Melicoccus bijugatus (Sapindaceae, the soapberry family, so a relative of lychee and rambutan rather than of citrus). Grown across the Caribbean, Central America and northern South America. Also called mamoncillo, ginep, guinep and limoncillo. No extract, absolute or aroma-compound study of it was found.
Usage in Perfumery
Rare. One perfume lists it: El Coqui by RDZ Parfums (2024), where it is a top note beside lemon and mandarin. A quenepa candle has also been sold. It reads as a tropical fruit with a citrus lift, so it sits with guava and hog plum rather than with lime.
Similar Notes
Perfumes featuring Quenepa
A selection of reviewed perfumes where Quenepa appears prominently.
No perfumes featuring this note have been reviewed yet. Check back soon.