Black Saffron

One of my favourite fragrances all time with an addictive allure this is one of those wow factor fagrances that just smells incredible. Jammy raspberry, violet, saffron and leather is the core of the fragrances with touches of juniper and grapefruit to add freshness producing a very powerful unique aroma that still has some verstaility. Many compare this to Tom Ford Tuscan Leather and Clive Christian C and whilst all these fragrances are similar with difference approaches to the same DNA I believe Byredo does it the best out of the three. Has the same bold unique character of Tuscan Leather whilst being more mass appealing and higher quality it’s like a fresher Tuscan leather with a slight soapy touch and I think the violet really sets this apart adding that unique effervescent floral touch giving this fragrance complexity and just smells amazing to me more so than Tuscan leather so much more pleasing to me more complex and not as harsh due to the nice airy charactistic whilst still being very strong. Despite being a challenging scent DNA to some Byredo does it the most approachable way that is very refined and smells classy and elegant definitely making it a more dressed up scent. Saffron is definitely present but is not the main note here despite being in the name, the warm spicy fuzzy feel that saffron provides is very pleasant here and slightly reminds me of the luxurious saffron within baccarat rouge extrait but dialled back a bit that floral spicy saffron resonating is very addictive without being cloying complimenting the raspberry very well with a nice punchiness and sweetness which gives the fragrance a lot of robust character and warmth making it perfectly suited to winter and night times. High quality ingredients and being packed with naturals gives this fragrance that fuller, realistic high quality smelling scent profile really giving the formulation lift and making it smell more finished Compared to many leather fragrances out there with that over harsh new car smell this is more of a dusty premium leather or suede giving this more of a comforting warmth and proving a more opulent well dressed vibe with a subtle cigarette type smell in there as opposed to that overly harsh loud inky like facet which leather is usually paired with in many designer fragrances which is what sets this apart. Deeper and easier to wear whilst still being very dark and mysterious this is the type of fragrance that intrigues people due to the allure it creates around you. The way fragrance is very well put together and cleverly constructed is evidently demonstrating the mastery of this house and skill of the perfumer as the precision give the fragrance and wonderful clean feel that’s very smooth just making this fragrance smell perfect and three dimensional like a finished fragrance rather than being an overbearing mess truly amazing scent. Performance is amazing on my skin 10-12 hours longevity on skin 48 hours on clothes Strong projection that radiates well with a nice lingering sillage trail without being too much. The florals, slight powderiness and the construction that allows for a slight airy quality make this fragrance feel much more unisex aswell as the leather not being too pungent or animalic which makes this scent even more brilliant as I do think women will enjoy wearing this just as much as men whilst it is slightly leaning masculine. Overall I think this fragrance is heavenly and very indulgent and sexier Tom Ford Tuscan leather whilst similar enough also very different. Byredo offer amazing value for money especially compared to other niche brands it’s hard to comprehend how divine this fragrance truly is until you smell it even if you don’t like leather fragrances give this one a try as it is different it’s a true stunner 9.5/10 one of best fragrances out there and the best leather raspberry combo by far that I would argue is unisex leaning slightly masculine.

#619 in my "Tour de Fragrance" This after noon while enjoying a root canal, one of my endodontist's assistants said, "You smell great by the way." "Mancera Instant Crush", I responded. She said, "You're into fragrances?" "More like obsessed," I replied. "What's your favorite Parfums de Marly?" she asked. "Godolphin" I answered. "I don't know that one," She said. "So you're into fragrances?" I asked. "You should see my collection," she said, "I've got like fifty bottles." I resisted the impulse to say, "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours." It's a workplace after all. But I did return with three fragrances for her collection that embody her expressed tastes. She was delighted. Reward enough. Sharing is what makes this all so much fun! Anyway, it's no surprise that since I love the fruitiest PDM frag I love this Byredo raspberry tart of a fragrance. Raspberries and leather. To be more accurate. "RASPBERRIES!!!" and leather. A lot of fragrances claim to be fruity. This is fruity, but it's not overwhelmingly sweet and the combination of florals and leather set it off like a raspberry field in bloom. But it is not unique. Someone mentioned Amouage Black Iris as similar. Not even a little. Atelier Oud Saphir? Please. Ombre Leather? No. Montale Aoud Leather? Also no. I have all but the Atelier which I have sampled, and they are not in the same ballpark. Godolphin is similarly fruity, but the fruits don't make themselves individually known. Tuscan Leather and it's clone La Yuqawam, are both very, very close, but a little less raspberry forward to my nose. Enough that I can tell the difference, but it's a difference without a lot of distinction since the fruitiness has faded away with all three in a hour or so. So if you already have Tuscan Leather or La Yuqawam, this would be redundant. But if I didn't have those already, I probably would prefer this Byredo fragrance to those two. This is certainly fine for any use, any time, anywhere, except I think at the office I probably wouldn't. I tend to stay with fougeres during business hours. My personal bias. I don't think an executive, man or woman, smelling this fruity will get a positive response, at least not in the C suite. This has acceptable longevity and projection. No one is going to be offended by this fragrance. That said. I just don't see the point in spending $200 for this when La Yuqawam is $49. The difference between La Yuqawam and Black Saffron is noticeable to me, but it is rather niggling difference, and there are a several hundred other scents I'd like to try and haven't sampled yet that I could spend that $150 on. So not a bottle buy for me, but if I run out of Tuscan Leather and La Yuqawam before I die of old age, and this Byredo scent is still out there, maybe then.

Right off the bat before I say anything, this very much smells similiar to Tuscan Leather but by no means are they a 1:1, they may share notes in common, and even perhaps at their very core they have similiar ideas, but they both go in different directions if that makes sense. Tuscan Leather by Tom Ford is a much bolder, harsher, potent Leather fragrance, that's very unapologetic and is either loved or absolutely despised by people from what I've seen and experienced, it does have some fruitiness and a little spice, but its very minor, more or less being an accessory to the Leather, and in a way feels a little screechy due to its trying to smooth out the Leathers pungency. Black Saffron on the other hand takes a much fruitier approach, with a bigger emphasis on the rasberry note, and some spice from the saffron, with some slight nuances from the Vetiver and Juniper Berry that are in the background, altogether it feels like a much more well rounded Leather fragrance (especially in comparison to Tuscan Leather), and its more wearable due to this fact too. I still believe it's a bit of a polarising DNA, but if you thought Tuscan leather was wayy too abrasive or pungent for you to wear/enjoy, or perhaps you wished the Rasberry played a bigger role, you may find yourself potentially enjoying this more, and as someone who likes both this and Tuscan Leather, I'd say I prefer this as its; 1. Easier to wear, and 2. I prefer the fruitier aspect to TL's pure harshness. Its perfectly Unisex, but whereas TL leans more male despite also being Unisex, Black Saffron leans more feminine for me, in terms of longevity I get around 6-7 hours on my skin but I can detect echoes of it upwards of 9 hours, good for colder and more moderate weather, DEFINITELY not a summer fragrance 😂 but cool summer nights are passable, definitely orients towards a dressed up fragrance but if you're confident it definitely can be dressed down. Overall I'd say this is easily I the top 3 if not top 5 amongst Byredo in my opinion, and as stipulated I highly recommend trying this if you're looking for a more balanced/less abrasive Tuscan leather, and/or looking for a new Leather frag to try in general. Final Verdict is a 8.1/10 for me

I’m in love. I’ve been a longtime fan of TF Ombré Leather, and his hot DILF Tuscan Leather. They’re animalic, leathery and as another commenter mentioned, like an overpowering monologue. Ombré Leather is a 20 something ambitious boy, dressed to the nines, perhaps old money heir or at least walks in those circles, and well on his way to the first taste of wealth and success, while Tuscan Leather is a MAN, with a weight to his personality that announces his presence before he’s even walked in. But they’ve always been too masculine for me to own and wear, until I accidentally sampled Black Saffron. It’s got the same DNA, but now she’s feminine, with a clean, soapy and sweet note that follows the leather, smoke and raspberry. It’s a heady balance that smells clean and dirty at the same time, and SO expensive. It smells like wealth, which is reminiscent of the original TF dna. I’d say a woman of any age can carry this perfume, as long as you’re wearing it with the right outfit and for the appropriate occasion. One of the commenters mentioned it smells like hair after a cheap dye job, and I partially agree - if does smell a bit like after you’ve had your hair freshly bleached and toned, but the kind where you’ve blown 1000€ for the most expensive blonde balayage money can buy. That’s the soapy note that’s shining through with a bit of fruit and leather which can come off chemical-y from the tannin. I love that smell, and I love this perfume. It’s complex, unique, and performs very well. My skin tends to eat up perfumes and this does a solid 12hrs on skin, and 24-48hrs on clothes. Projection is quite decent, just make sure to spritz a bit on clothes and hair. This is with 3-5 spritz Not a safe blind buy unless you love leather notes in perfume.

BLACK SAFFRON, a fresh,sweet , fruity leather ! One of the best fragrances I have tried in some time. This is incredible !!! A very gorgeous take on Leather infused with raspberries , a friendlier take on the famous Tuscan Leather TF , starts out with a fresh smell of junipers like gin ,,,and grapefruit as well as a slight violets note , almost like a sweet cosmetic note , the raspberry and saffron make it borderline edible. All on a bed of soft high quality leather. This fragrance is the best of Byredo , it's exquisite ! It never turns stale or cloying. It's airy and sweet and stunning. A compliment getter !!! White suede was my favourite leather fragrance for years , this is taking its place with its zesty fresh , sweet feel ! Needles to say all Byredo fragrances are packaged in a beautiful minimalistic way, bottles are stunning with a magnetic cap! I also love the fact that Byredos don't necessairly smell like cologne or perfume but realisticly of things , food, spices, plants , fruit or places or an emotion. They capture a Feeling and can be worn at any age to any place ! Update: wearing this almost daily , it has become one of my absolute favourites , it's such a fresh ,sweet ,airy take on leather, completely taken by this fragrance ! A master piece and second bottle worthy ! Update ; This is now my favourite fragrance !!!!

What an intoxicating, beautiful, daring, and addictive scent! And this is coming from a gourmand girlie! This scent is so sophisticated and chic. You're definitely a badass if you can pull this off. I'm wearing this scent in the office today and I feel so untouchable. I fell in love with this fragrance in fall, but it's been sitting on my shelf since exploring other fragrances. I've been avoiding it because she tends to have a sour and metallic thing going on. I decided to reconnect with her today, so I just went for it and sprayed her on the skin. Ugh, it's amazing the way she unfolds. The sour and metallic notes last only 2 secs and begin to unfold into a warm and fuzzy cashmeran. As I move around through out the day the fruity notes pop in out so sensual and refreshing. On Byredo's website there is a note of "cristal rose", and that is my FAVORITE part of the Black Saffron experience. There's a nostalgia to this fragrance as well. It's giving your childless diva auntie who had black leather couches in her living room in the 2000's with the zebra print & black panther motifs, who likes to end her night with a nice glass of champagne or rose'. She doesn't smoke, but she likes to hang out with her boyfriend at the cigar lounge, that's where that smokey smell comes from! LOL

I have a very large perfume collection of over 300, but Black Saffron stands out as THE perfume that people say the most is ME. That's why I'll tell you what I'm like so you can get an idea of Black Saffron and its essence, vibe, mood, or "demeanor". I'm a calm, kind, and generous but decisive, ambitious get-it-done-today type of person. The soft with the hard, the feminine with the masculine, the raspberry with the leather. That spice from the saffron that is on the one hand warm and soft, but on the other hand a slight spicy slap. I usually wear monochromatic, simplistic less-is-more ribbed tops/sweaters, well-fitting branded jeans, black leather boots, and a long black Ralph Lauren coat with a golden maximalistic, decorative Versace pin. I'm a softie wrapped up in a harder outer shell that means business. I think that that's what Black Saffron is. Depending on how you interpret the saffron, it has both the secure, earthy warmth of cuddles, AND the spicy no-b*llsh*t, let's keep things simple and see things for what they are groundedness. On the whole it's definitely a classy scent above all. I think it evokes maturity and respect without being old-school.

Sultry, smoky, and sweaty for a Byredo. The punk-pop younger sister to Bibliotheque. She’ll shift into Eau Rihla once she gets a mortgage and an AMG. Dominant notes are crushed raspberries and supple black leather. There’s the faint musk of cigarette smoke, but without the ash or tar. She smells like a music video nightclub: jewel-bright cosmopolitans, bokeh neon skyline, slo-mo dancers, serpentines of sweet pomegranate hookah smoke. The hottest party, minus the spilt liquor and BO. Longevity and sillage are on par with Bibliotheque, so above average for Byredo. I got the 50 cc size, as I can only cosplay the Black Saffron girl – I’m afraid she’s someone I’ll never be. Mental Snapshot: The villain on the reality dating show, but the only sane one in the cast. Vintage motorcycle jacket, slung over La Perla lace and silk. Laser-cut winged eyeliner, yesterday’s mascara. On hiatus from law school. Owns a Doberman named something like Prada or Saint Laurent. And a black marble and stainless steel kitchen full of specialty Japanese knives. Total peach otherwise. tl;dr: VIP hot date 🕶️👠

I really don’t know how I feel about Byredo in general. For me most of the fragrances seem overrated or lacking something. With that being said, I believe black saffron is amazing. Imagine being on a cocktail date. You’re sitting in a well worn high end leather chair and wearing your Schott black leather jacket that you’ve owned for years. You’re drinking a dirty (juniper berry) martini. Your date... she is drinking a cosmopolitan or some kind fruity martini that you’re getting whiffs of. Someone just opened the door to the place and smells slightly of cigar smoke. While the door is open, there’s violet flowers planted outside that ever so slightly just wafted in. If you can picture that... that’s the vibe I get from Byredo black saffron. It’s definitely the best Byredo scent I’ve smelled. I would say this is meant for someone sophisticated and maybe older, however is see this one as completely unisex and any gender could easily wear it. The only con I see is I’m not sure this is worth 300 bucks. I’d need to test this it a while to make that determination.

Oh, baby! Where have you been all my life? After 7 years of wearing TF Tuscan Leather as my go-to, Black Saffron smells much more balanced and complete than TF. Floral leathers are my favourite genre, and BS is definitely leather dominant; but there are contrasts aplenty. Sweetness, sharpness, green-ness, all with a delicate (but not effeminate) powdery violet undertone - not forgetting the strength from a clean suedey-leather. If you squint, it even has shades of Roja Dove's Aoud or Amber Oud collection - a faint recollection of a chypre. It's not grimy enough to be leather biker gloves; there's not enough violet to be old-lady's handbag. Black Saffron is more sexy and poised. I loved TF for its intensity, but it was quite an assault on the senses (and my wife never liked it. TF's Private Blends were designed to be minimalist anyway, like the perfume bases of yesteryear. Black Saffron is a more satisfying full ensemble cast movie than an angry, harsh-lit, monologue. Very nice. The only downside is that it's gone after 3-4 hours.

Light, cozy, smooth, sexy, SCRUMPTIOUS. At first I wasn't impressed at all – it was just a masculine leathery and woody clump. I didn't think much of it when I was at the counter. But after I let it sit for a while...yes. It morphed into a rounded and decadent leather thanks to the raspberry note. It smells even better on clothes. As I'm sitting in a café right now, I am absolutely yearning for Black Saffron. It has the creaminess of the London Fog I'm sipping on and the mild and tart sweetness of a raspberry cheesecake. It's a very light scent for sure. I barely smell it unless I pass my wrist across my nose, but because of that I see it working for any weather (<30oC) and any occasion. This is a happy gourmand-but-not-too-gourmand break from my usual floral fragrances. Love!

So well blended - I love this - a very wearable leather even in summer. I first got a sniff of this in a beautiful shop that used to be a palace based in Palma, Majorca. For me this is a perfume I associate with yachts in a harbour, Aperol Spritz and sunkissed skin. Such a wearable leather scent and although unisex its easily wearbale for a female, its not animalic, and has almost an airy leather scent with a mysterious vibe. In my opinion under-rated. I own and like Tom Ford Ombre Leather which is darker and more animalic to me. Black Saffron is lighter & more fruity, the more I wear this the more I love it. You really pick up the Raspberry in the dry down, its a fresh raspberry not syrupy. An understated fragrance that does just enough without trying too hard.

Let this macerate for a few days! It's only gotten better with every try. Upon first spray this was super feminine (has since moved into perfectly unisex) to me and very leather heavy. My roommate said it was aquatic and fresh which I didn't get at first either but a few days later I totally get that vibe with a strong backbone of leather and raspberry. The saffron note is one I smell the least but maybe its so well blended that i just cant discern it. I get pleasant whiffs of this for 4 hours on skin then I think it hangs a little closer but still lingering, its such an amazing scent I don't even care if it it has average to below average performance. Got a 10 ML decant from colognity.com for ~38$ shipped, check him out for other niche fragrances too.

I was sampling some of the other fragrances by byredo that i thought I would like, and i sprayed this , not expecting to fall in love. On me, it is a crisp autumnal scent. I have wanted a violet scent for so long, but most of them just dont sit right on me. This one feels very edgy, yet clean and elegant, not too powdery. I also really love saffron, however i dont smell that much on my skin. I have the discovery set from dedcool, and I really wanted to love Blonde. I enjoyed that scent on the card- a cool girl vibe for sure... but just not ME. Blonde came across as too wet, and dirty for me, whereas Black Saffron is much more refined, I would even wear this for a night out or a special occasion. Same family of scents, but totally different feeling.

Black Saffron is one of my, if not my most favourite perfume ever. It’s so sexy and mysterious to me, a perfectly balanced mix of serious and stern, but light and flirtatious. Sounds strange but the smell reminds me of a dominatrix. Which is a very cool vibe to me, captivating and alluring, extremely addictive. And it is a truly unisex scent imo, neither too feminine nor masculine, right in the exact middle. A few main words to describe this smell: Serious, sensual, Strict, Flirtatious, Lighthearted, Deep, Dark, Mysterious, Lust, Addictive, Commanding. Irresistible. That description may be silly to some, but that’s what it truly feels like to me. I love it so much, and would definitely recommend it, it’s worth every penny.

I'm not one who can smell the violets specifically (seen some say it smells like Pez, or parma violets I'm guessing) but I feel it adds depth to the rest of the notes I can smell. This is such a good leather, and I love that it is one that is unisex that was done fruity and bright to start, and warm and cozy to dry down. I have my rose-leather scents and this is such a different vibe all together, Black Saffron feels more uplifted on my skin. And having Ded Cool's 03 Blonde, they are very similar sibling scents. I love Black Saffron more myself because it feels a bit brighter with all the edge that the deeper notes have, where 03 Blonde is a little less dense of a scent overall.

Quite interesting thing! I feel that it has a similar complexity, although generally weaker by performance, than TF's Black Orchid. Leather? I didn't even think about it before looking up the list of notes here. But that's right, leather is the most prominent but still mild, rounded and weak. Raspberries -- yes, there is something sweetish-red in it too so that's probably that. But no vetiver whatsoever so if it's really there it has completely merged into everything else. Saffron I can only imagine and that seems to have a similar fate with vetiver. Even though I find the scent a bit weak, I still love it as a smell experience. One of the mildest leather scents I've smelt.

Black Saffron was the first leather themed fragrance I ever enjoyed. It is so peculiar. This smells like a goth guy, I was dying when I first tried it! It's like a leather jacket and cold, night-time air. This literally smells like the sweet smoke from a clove when it gets absorbed into someone's hair. It's like smoke break at the goth club and you're all huddling together in front of the door with freezing fingers, and someone has boozy cherry schnapps still on their breath. It feels like it's time to go reapply my black lipstick. When you finally get home at four in the morning, your clothes smell like last night's shenanigans. Glorious.

Right from the first spray, you get this luxurious saffron mixed with fresh grapefruit super elegant and smooth. Then it slowly transitions into leather and berry notes, and the shift is really classy and well-blended. The performance is amazing long lasting with strong projection, but not overwhelming. If I had to describe it in one line: this is what Ombre Leather should have been. Ombre Leather is sharp and too bold for me, but Black Saffron balances the leather perfectly with fruity and spicy notes, making it more wearable and elegant. If you don’t like Ombre Leather, give this one a try it might surprise you.

I first came across this gorgeous scent in the Byredo sampler, and it was one of the first to get used up, along with equally fantastic Biblioteque. I had to have a full size, but I was lucky enough to find one on eBay for half the price. I smell the leather, which I adore, but I don't get the raspberries. I just know that I love it, and it reminds me a lot of Etui Noir by Miller Harris, another full bottle scent for me. It lasts 8-10+ hrs. on my skin. I will wear this at any season, any time of the day, and with shorts, jeans, or dresses.