In the beginning…
Cloves, with their spicy and rich scent, have a long history of use in cooking, medicine, and perfumery. Originally from the Moluccan archipelago in Indonesia, also known as the Spice Islands, the clove has been a precious and sought-after spice throughout history. The Chinese used it as early as 200 BC to freshen breath. In antiquity, the Romans valued it for its medicinal and aromatic properties. During the Middle Ages, the clove was considered to be a luxury spice and was often used as currency.
Growing cloves
The clove is the floral bud of Syzygium aromaticum, a tree which grows mainly in Indonesia. The Maluku islands in Indonesia are historically the main production center, now along with Madagascar and Tanzania.
The clove tree is a tropical tree that favors hot and humid climates. It can reach heights of 8 to 12 meters. The flower buds, which become cloves, are harvested by hand whilst the buds are pink, then dried in the sun until they turn dark brown.
What do you know about clove in Perfumery ?
In perfumery, the essential oil of clove is obtained by steam distillation of dried flower buds. This oil has a strong and spicy scent and is often used as an accessory raw material in perfumes because of its potency.
The clove is part of the spice olfactory family. This family of scents is characterized by its notes that are often peppery, cinnamic or spicy… Spices like cloves are often used to add warmth, spice, and complexity to perfumes and essential oils.
The clove has a very distinctive smell. It has a warm and spicy olfactory profile with a touch of bitterness. It can be described as metallic, spicy, and peppery, with smoky notes reminiscent of a wood fire.
In perfumery, the clove blends well with a variety of other notes. It complements other spices such as cinnamon and cardamom and can add warmth and depth to floral notes. It can also be used with woody notes to create a sense of warmth and comfort. Finally, the clove blends well with amber notes such as amber and vanilla to create luxurious and exotic fragrances. Being very powerful, it is used for the most part in very small qualities.
Some popular clove perfumes…
• Opium by Yves Saint Laurent: Opium is an iconic eau de parfum launched in 1977. It is a bold oriental fragrance where the clove is combined with notes of myrrh, other spices, citrus, vanilla, and patchouli. The clove brings a spicy and warm dimension which reinforces the complexity and depth of this perfume.
• Spicebomb by Viktor&Rolf: A bold and spicy fragrance launched in 2012. The brand invented an explosion of spices. The perfume is thus characterized by its dualism between freshness and warmth. With spicy top notes of chili and pink peppercorns, an aromatic heart of elemi and saffron and a deep base of leather, tobacco, and vetiver, “Spicebomb” is both fiery and sophisticated. Its bottle in the form of a grenade perfectly reflects its explosive character, making this perfume a bold statement for the modern man.
• Noir Epices by Frederic Malle: Noir Epices is a unisex perfume which offers a true explosion of spices. Cloves, pepper, and nutmeg create an intense spicy impression, which is completed by floral notes of rose and geranium. Woody base notes of patchouli and sandalwood bring depth and complexity to this spicy fragrance.
• Des Clous Pour Une Pelure by Serge Lutens: A mixed fragrance featuring cloves. This spice is revealed right from the opening, bringing spicy and slightly bitter notes, enhanced by the freshness of the orange. The fragrance’s heart blends with woody notes, offering warmth and depth. At the base, musks add a soft, sensual finish. This fragrance offers a modern, sophisticated interpretation of the clove, ideal for lovers of spicy scents.
At Bon Parfumeur, clove is not the main ingredient in any of our fragrances. However, our collection does include spicy scents that accompany the other spices.
• If you're a fan of spicy notes, we recommend eau de parfum 301, which offers an interesting contrast between cumin and cardamom!
• Eau de parfum 901 also offers a spicy scent thanks to its duo of nutmeg and black pepper!
