What is saffron in perfume? Where it comes from and what it smells like
Saffron is the most precious spice, and a leathery, honeyed note in perfume. Where it comes from and how it is used.
What it is
Saffron is the dried stigmas of a purple crocus flower. Each flower has only three threads, picked by hand, so well over a hundred thousand flowers make a single kilo. That is why saffron is among the world’s costliest spices.
Where it comes from
Iran grows most of the world’s saffron. It also comes from Spain, Kashmir in India, Greece and Morocco.
What it smells like
Leathery, honeyed, a little metallic and slightly bitter, with a warm, dry glow. It feels rich and luxurious. In perfumes it pairs especially well with oud, amber, rose and leather.
How perfumers use it
- A saffron extract, made from the threads.
- Safranal-type molecules that give the same leathery-honeyed effect more affordably.
Saffron is named by origin, such as Iranian, Spanish or Kashmiri, and the differences are subtle in a finished perfume.
Saffron in our shop
- Teriaq intense Saffron in the top with bergamot, over plum liquor and cinnamon, with amber and tonka.
- Oud for Greatness Saffron, nutmeg and lavender over oud, with patchouli and musk.
- Oud Maracuja Saffron, passionfruit and Turkish rose over oud, with leather and amber.
- Supremacy Not Only Intense Saffron in the base with ambergris and musk, under black currant, bergamot and apple.
- Pharaoh Saffron and cardamom with boozy notes, over suede and coffee, with vanilla and labdanum.
- Rifaaqat Saffron and olibanum in the heart, under pepper and elemi, over vanilla and cedarwood.
