ParfumPlus Arabia

P A R F U M P L U S 21 In more recent times, the formula of the world’s first ever eau de toilette - the Kyphi perfume - has Saffron present in it. ORIGIN AND HARVEST Originally from Greece, saffron or “Crocus Sativus” as it is botanically known, is now also produced in places like Morocco, Iran, Spain, Italy and the French Mediterranean basin. As the season of autumn comes to an end, this bulbous plant - whose flower blooms in a single day - is harvested right in the morning in order to have the petals stay in their well- closed state. During the process of what is called ‘pruning’, the three red filaments of the saffron are then delicately removed from the Persian Za'Faran. These precious pistils are then taken to a ventilated room where they will be dried to preserve the rich colour and aroma. SAFFRON, A FASCINATING OLFACTORY TREASURE Saffron, also known as, Red Gold is a multi-faceted spice, whose history, in its cultivation and use, dates back to more than 3500 years and crosses several cultures, continents and civilisations. In perfumery, saffron has a very distinct olfactory signature: spicy, leathery, woody-dry, metallic, etc. However when it comes to the plant, depending on the stages of the harvest, multiple fragrant facets are revealed which we had the opportunity to discover. The Fresh Flower : Green-hyacinth, floral-honey, freesia-apricot scent, with a slight dry saffron effect The Drying Stigmas : Fruity-floral smell of apricot, osmanthus, plum, dried fruit, very slightly leathery Dry Stigmas : Leathery, tarry, “dry woody” metallic smell, with an addictive baked fruit-furaneol facet. Saffron is naturally found in oriental and woody perfumes, worked with woody notes of oud wood. It can accompany leathery, oriental, chypre, gourmet, vanilla, woody notes, possibly floral notes with character such as iris, rose, violet.