Category
Saffron
Saffron is not only an ancient spice, but also a striking perfume note. It’s harvested manually by separating and drying the tiny red stigma of the Crocus sativus flower. Each flower produces only three stigmas (also called threads). 1 g of dried saffron contains approximately 500 threads, so you can imagine the enormous amount of work needed to make it. Depending on the year and other factors affecting the harvest, 1 kg of saffron can fetch around $5000 on the wholesale market, making it the most valuable spice by weight. The scent of the saffron is just as striking as its crimson red color. I experience it as bitter, metallic, and sharp as a blade. Saffron note is easy to spot even in the tiniest concentrations, as it cuts through everything else. It’s also often used as part of the leather accord. Either way, saffron is likely to add authority and dominance to any fragrance, offering a counterpoint to all the sweet, floral, or gourmand accords.
