Saffron

Worth far more than gold by weight, these brilliant red strands are the stigmas of the crocus flower. Each flower only produces three stigmas, and they must be harvested by hand, hence saffron’s cost of more than US$5000 per kilogram. Thankfully, a saffron note can be faithfully replicated with synthetic safranal and various other materials, though perfumers will sometimes use the natural essences.

The scent of saffron is leathery, earthy and bittersweet, acting as a base note that works particularly well with rose, leather and oud.