Discover Our Favorite Spicy Fragrances to Brighten Your Cold Days

In the upcoming weeks, we are excited to share a curated selection of our most adored spicy scents, ideal for infusing some warmth and vibrancy into your life during these dreary, cold days. It’s remarkable to see the surge in fragrances featuring saffron as an ingredient. In fact, we’ve dedicated an entire section to saffron scents in our newly published Scented Letter magazine, under the captivating feature titled A Feast of Fragrance.

With so many enticing options to explore, and a diverse array of perfume styles to choose from, we felt it was essential to elevate the spice factor and introduce additional scents for you to contemplate this season.

First up: how much do you really know about saffron as a key ingredient…?

When added to culinary dishes, saffron transforms a meal into a vibrant golden delight. In perfumery, it contributes a bittersweet, leathery, and intimate character to fragrances, imparting an earthy yet soft essence. Perfumers often describe saffron’s aroma as honeyed and hay-like, making it particularly effective in Ambrée-type perfumes, where warmth and richness are paramount.

Regarded as the most expensive spice in the world, saffron is often referred to as ‘red gold’ due to its rarity and high value. This luxurious ingredient has a rich history in perfumery, dating back to Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, where it was cherished as a ‘single note’ fragrance and in intricate blends. The opulent Romans even scattered it across the floors of public venues to infuse the air with its enchanting aroma during festive occasions.

Throughout history, saffron has been utilized to fragrance baths, homes, and even temples, while also being recognized for its medicinal properties as a narcotic. Interestingly, in certain tantric rites, saffron was applied to the feet of women. If you choose to engage in this practice, it might be wise to avoid walking on light-colored carpets afterward!

The Crocus sativus, part of the iris family, was introduced to Europe in the 7th Century. By the 16th Century, following the conquest of Spain, English saffron became renowned for its exceptional quality, primarily cultivated around the town of Saffron Walden, which got its name from this prized spice. Today, while many of us grow crocus in our gardens, we often overlook its remarkable properties until we realize just how costly it can be to purchase a small amount at the supermarket. Historically, saffron has been seen as the first sign of spring, and oh, how we yearn for that moment!

Until then, let’s cozy up with these spicy fragrances that bring warmth into our lives…

Merchant of Venice Byzantium Saffron: A Luxurious Fragrance Experience

This fragrance captivates with a touch of saffron, awakening the warm, aromatic notes of radiant amber. The scent exudes an almost luminescent warmth, culminating in a luxurious dry-down featuring a molten blend of patchouli and suede, creating a lasting impression.

£150 for 50ml eau de parfum fenwick.co.uk

Map of the Heart Gold Heart v.4: A Delectable Scent Journey

Do you remember the delightful aroma of soaking saffron strands in milk for a sumptuous dish? Gold Heart captures that essence, layering it with hints of rose water and a sprinkle of cardamom for an exquisite touch. Every whiff of this fragrance is a sensorial delight!

Experience it firsthand with a sample in their