Saffron Elixir

I'm not familiar with the original fragrance this is close to, but I can tell you that this fragrance is very very good. It's not clean smelling tho, it's dark, spicy and heavy. The opening is fabulous, probably the best part about it........ The performance is well above average, it projects nicely and lasts a good 8 hours, sometimes more, with just 5 sprays. French Avenue's quality is nothing short of amazing. The bottle feels heavy and smoothly polished, and the cap? I've never seen anything like it, It slides in without a sharp click sound or anything but is solid, you can't remove it by lifting the bottle from the cap, it's not a simple slide mechanism, very smooth stuff. I was intrigued when I first tried the cap LOL. My final rating is a 9.2/10!

I love this one, and I am a woman. It's smooth and so elegant. I am a big time fan of saffron and I even wear saffron essential oil solo comfortably, while I know it is not everyone's cup of tea. If you don't like saffron it's better to stay away from this one. I enjoy to wear it, but I agree that many consider it be more masculine leaning. To my nose, this one is a real unisex, but I think my skin chemistry takes saffron exceptionally well. I like layering it, for example with with aromatic creamy vanillas— it makes them feel more sophisticated, even more sensual. I don't get anything chemical from it, but this baby is strong and projects, so no need to spray much!

Much smoother, greener, and sweeter than the OG. After a few weeks of maturation, while still loud and proud with projection and longevity, I find this to be much more wearable than CS. The heavy dose of saffron and the ambroxan bomb of CS takes a while to mellow out as to where Saffron Elixir is fresher from the get go. Definitely safe for everyday wear but wouldn't necessarily wear it in small spaces. I would say it's about a 90% dupe to the original (I have a 50ml) and I find myself wearing it more. Impossible to find in the US; I found a bottle from a reseller who purchased it overseas. On the hunt for a BUB.... Overall 9/10.

This is a much greener and fresher take on the note than the CS by Matiere Premiere. Instead of a warm, spice-bazaar warmth, it kicks off with a bracing, crisp quality that feels airy and sharp. It leans heavily into a synthetic, metallic saffron. If you love that clean, almost industrial, ultra-modern "photocopy paper and laser steam" aesthetic, this hits the nail on the head. Where it falls short of the original is the depth. It lacks the oily, resinous, and deeply ambery backbone that makes Crystal Saffron feel so luxurious. It’s a bit more two-dimensional, focusing entirely on the top and mid-notes. If you just opened your bottle, don't panic about the sudden disappearance act. Many synthetic saffron and ambroxan-heavy dupes need time to macerate. Spray it 10–15 times, put it away in a dark closet for 3 to 4 weeks, and let the juice settle. The longevity usually improves drastically once the alcohol fuses properly with the heavier synthetic molecules.

My friend described this as robot fart. Very chemical which gives off nice notes only when smelt from distance. I hope it calms down a bit after a month of maturation in cold and dark.