Fragrance note

Saffron fragrances and their dupes

Saffron is a heart note that smells warm, leathery and slightly sweet, a golden spice with a soft suede-and-honey character. The closest saffron dupe in our data is Maison Alhambra Barakkat Rouge 540, an 85% note match for Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540, at $20 instead of $325.

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What saffron smells like

Warm, leathery and slightly sweet, a golden spice with a soft suede-and-honey character. Distinctive and a little medicinal in the best way.

Saffron is a heart note made famous by modern amber and rose-oud blockbusters. Its leathery-sweet signature is instantly recognisable, so matching the saffron is often the single most important thing a dupe of those scents gets right.

In the fragrance pyramid, saffron is typically a heart note in the spicy family.

The 6 fragrances we track with saffron, and their dupes

Ranked by note match. Average match 82%, average saving $214 a bottle. A ✓ marks a dupe that shares the saffron note itself.

01 Baccarat Rouge 540 → Maison Alhambra Barakkat Rouge 540 ✓85%

$325 → $20 · save $305Shop the dupe, $20

02 Oud for Greatness → Lattafa Oud For Glory ✓85%

$330 → $35 · save $295Shop the dupe, $35

03 La Capitale → Lattafa Kashaf ✓84%

$240 → $32 · save $208Find it on Amazon

04 Nepal Aoud → Lattafa 24 Carat Pure Gold ✓83%

$170 → $32 · save $138Shop the dupe, $32

05 1 Million Golden Oud → Lattafa Natural Oud ✓82%

$130 → $30 · save $100Shop the dupe, $30

06 Halfeti → Lattafa Mohra ✓74%

$265 → $30 · save $235Shop the dupe, $30

Saffron in fragrance, answered

What does saffron smell like in perfume?

Warm, leathery and slightly sweet, a golden spice with a soft suede-and-honey character. Distinctive and a little medicinal in the best way. Saffron is a heart note made famous by modern amber and rose-oud blockbusters. Its leathery-sweet signature is instantly recognisable, so matching the saffron is often the single most important thing a dupe of those scents gets right.

Is saffron a top, heart or base note?

Saffron usually sits as a heart note, in the spicy family. Heart notes form the body of a fragrance once the opening settles.

What is the closest saffron fragrance dupe?

Maison Alhambra Barakkat Rouge 540, an 85% note match for Baccarat Rouge 540, at $20 instead of $325.

What is the cheapest saffron dupe?

Maison Alhambra Barakkat Rouge 540 at $20, a dupe for Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540.

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