On request
Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Grand Soir
Honey light turning to amber
Note
Perfumes with spices
The spices note covers the dried bark, buds, seeds and berries that give a perfume its warm, dry sparkle: cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, coriander, cumin and the peppers. Used in small doses, they add grain and heat to flowers, woods and amber. These are the perfumes in our collection that list spices among their notes.
On request
On request
Maison Margiela
Replica By the Fireplace
Wood smoke, roasted chestnut and warm vanilla
On request
Essential Parfums
Bois Impérial
Woods, patchouli and a crack of fresh spice
On request
Nishane
Wūlóng Chá
Citrus, oolong tea and fig on musk
On request
Maison Margiela
Replica Jazz Club
Rum, tobacco leaf and vanilla after dark
On request
Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Gentle Fluidity Silver
Cool juniper, dry nutmeg, amber woods
On request
Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Oud Satin Mood
Roses around a dark oud
On request
Maison Crivelli
Hibiscus Mahajád
Red tea, rose and soft leather
On request
Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Gentle Fluidity Gold
Musky, ambery, comfortably warm
On request
Frederic Malle
Portrait of a Lady
Dark rose, tart fruit, clove and incense
On request
Amouage
Interlude Man
Spice, smoke and leather around a calm centre
On request
Diptyque
Philosykos
Fig leaves, sap and wood, with black pepper
On request
Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Amyris Homme
Woody amber with spicy vanilla
On request
Penhaligon's
Halfeti
Rose, grapefruit, spice and oud by moonlight
On request
Matière Première
Falcon Leather
Birch tar and resin, a sun-warmed glove
On request
Byredo
Gypsy Water
Citrus, juniper, smoke and vanilla
On request
Essential Parfums
Divine Vanille
Deep Madagascan vanilla with spice and wood
On request
Maison Margiela
Replica Beach Walk
Citrus, coconut milk and sun-warmed skin
On request
Goldfield & Banks
Bohemian Lime
Finger lime, coriander and quiet woods
On request
Diptyque
Fleur de Peau
Cottony musk with iris and pink pepper
On request
Amouage
Jubilation XXV Man
Resin, honey and clove in a dense woody blend
On request
Diptyque
Eau Duelle
Spiced vanilla between smoke and light
On request
Sospiro
Basso
Grapefruit, carnation and a long, dark woody base
On request
Zoologist
Squid
Ink, salt and incense from the deep
What goes into a spice accord
Perfumery borrows its spices from the kitchen cupboard, but what reaches the bottle is an oil, an extract or a rebuilt accord rather than the ground spice. Cinnamon comes from bark and is sweet, warm and slightly woody. Clove comes from dried flower buds and has a dry, sweet-sharp intensity; its main aroma compound, eugenol, is shared with the carnation. Nutmeg is the seed of a tropical tree, creamy and a little woody. Coriander seed is lemony and sharp, cumin earthy with a hint of skin, black pepper dry and biting. Pink pepper is not a true pepper but a berry, used for a rosy, airy crackle.
How spices behave in a composition
The oils are strong, so perfumers dose them lightly. Pepper, coriander and nutmeg are volatile and tend to open a perfume, while cinnamon and clove are heavier and often move into the heart. Spices rarely lead alone. They give flowers a dry edge, make woods warmer and keep sweet notes from turning flat. Clove beside rose is a classic pairing; cinnamon beside vanilla or amber feels cosy rather than sugary.
Perfumes with spices in the pyramid
- Zoologist Moth opens with black pepper, cinnamon, clove, cumin, nutmeg and saffron, over a floral heart and a smoky base. Zoologist sums it up as Dusty Honeyed Florals + Spicy Smoke.
- Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady keeps clove in the heart, beside blackcurrant and raspberry, under a rose top and above patchouli, sandalwood and frankincense. Frederic Malle files it as Floral Chypre.
- Fragrance Du Bois Oud Bleu Intense starts with cardamom, nutmeg and mandarin and ends in resinoids, styrax, benzoin and vintage oud. Fragrance Du Bois calls it Fresh Woody.
- Maison Crivelli Papyrus Moléculaire gives no tiers: Maison Crivelli lists coriander, papyrus, sandalwood and black pepper essential oils with tonka bean, tobacco absolute and leather accord.
- Lorenzo Pazzaglia Dream Sea writes Spices as a single heart entry beside white flowers, Bulgarian rose and ylang-ylang, with pink and black pepper above. See Lorenzo Pazzaglia.
- Byredo Bibliothèque puts cinnamon in the top with plum, ahead of leather accord and violet, with birch woods, patchouli and vanilla below. Byredo files it as woody.
- Nishane Wūlóng Chá sets nutmeg in the heart beside oolong tea, with citrus above and musk and fig below; Nishane files it as Citrus / Green / Musky.
Reading the spice list
A pyramid that names its spices is easier to judge than one that only says spices. Look for the dominant ones: cinnamon, clove and nutmeg lean sweet and round, especially beside vanilla, while pepper, coriander and cumin lean dry and sharp. Then look at the tier. Spices in the top are a bright first impression; in the heart or base they set the temperature of the whole fragrance. Where a house lists a single entry called spices, the base around it decides the character.
Perfumes with spices
Frequently asked
Which spices count as the spices note?
There is no fixed list. When a pyramid says spices it usually means a blend of dry, warm materials such as cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, coriander or pepper. Many houses name each spice instead, which tells you more.
Do spices make a perfume heavy?
Not by themselves. Dry spices add warmth and a little grain, but weight comes from the base. Cinnamon with vanilla and amber feels dense, while coriander or pepper with citrus and wood stays airy.
How do I know if the spices will be sweet or sharp?
Check which spices are named and what sits under them. Cinnamon, clove and nutmeg lean sweet and round, particularly beside vanilla. Pepper, coriander and cumin lean dry and sharp.
Reviews of FragranceGems
What FragranceGems customers say
NicheGems is new. These are reviews from FragranceGems customers about their orders at FragranceGems, the shop behind NicheGems. Collected by Judge.me.
4.7 out of 5
1,200+ reviews on Judge.me
Reviews of FragranceGems, the shop behind NicheGems
The store’s selection is really good and comprehensive. Placing an order was very easy, and shipping was really fast. The fragrances were well packed and they were all excellent. I’m very satisfied. 👍💯👍
Very good quality profume, it last long and it has a good price for its incredible aroma and mixes of fruit and wood smell
A cozy, slightly sensual vanilla that feels like warm night air by the sea. Easy to love if you enjoy gourmand perfumes with a soft smoky edge.
This perfume is really well blended, I just removed a star because I personnaly don't like the top note (citronella)
Placing the order was very easy. Shipping was very fast. I am completely satisfied.
Good cologne, love the citrus and ginger scent making it a playful combo while the tea base makes it a bit more mature. Great for the gym
A selection of recent reviews in proportion to their star ratings.