Citrus

Orange zest is the bright, almost peppery bite you get when you peel a fresh orange—that moment when oils spray from the skin. It's sharper and more intensely aromatic than the juice itself, with a slightly bitter, resinous quality beneath the sweetness. Imagine the smell of a Seville orange peel, almost herbal, with a crisp zing that makes your nose tingle. It's citrus without the juicy softness; instead, it's energetic and slightly scratchy, like lemon peel's more sophisticated, warmly spiced cousin.

Citrus

Rhubarb smells tart and slightly green, like biting into the stalk of a freshly picked plant. Imagine the sharp, almost sour zing of ripe granny smith apple meets the leafy, vegetal quality of freshly cut grass or rhubarb leaves themselves. There's a candied sweetness underneath—reminiscent of stewed rhubarb with sugar—but the dominant character is brisk, slightly tangy, and surprisingly juicy. It's herbaceous without being medicinal, and carries a whisper of that pleasant astringency you'd feel on your tongue.