Saffron

Saffron comes from the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus, but perfumery often reinforces or reconstructs its effect with aroma materials. Its smell is unusual: dry spice can meet leather, hay, warmth and a slightly metallic edge. It typically smells dry spicy, leathery, warm, hay-like, metallic and slightly medicinal. It is usually a heart note that adds luxury, dryness and tension to rose, oud, leather and amber compositions. Saffron is not simply “warm spice”; its leathery and metallic facets are a big part of why it works so well with oud and rose.