Safran Gourmand

I tried this in a very cool store, the decor recalls a boudoir and opulent places and times, plus the ladies are so nice and helpful. I tried this and a few others, amongst which there was Casamorati Italica: in the opening they're very similar and they in fact share some notes. I can definitely smell the almond and some milky notes. Though, if Italica turns very cherry-like, sour and a bit off-putting, Saffran Gourmand is a splendid composition with balance, elegance, roundness. It's enveloping with the sweet notes that support the saffron, but never invasive or bothersome. The bottle reminds me a bit of Balenciaga Paris EdP, even though the Places des Lices design is a bit more appealing to me: it's like having a luxurious vintage bottle on the dresser. I practically stumbled upon this perfume (I entered the shop to test Elix by Tiziana Terenzi) and fell in love with it. Only a physical shop can give you certain experiences (and help you find things you wouldn't have considered otherwise).

This is absolutely lovely. I was afraid of the saffron note because that can come off sharp or metallic but no - it doesn't jump out at all like that. Not spicy either, maybe just a hint of spice, but subdued for sure... I can see the comparison with XERJOFF's Italica, but don't let that scare you either - if that fragrance was too much for you, this one is dialed back and more balanced imo. I own Italica but really have to be in a mood to reach for it, where this is an easy-reach gourmand. It has a little something special about it too. It is really a lovely gourmand. Gourmand, but not screechy. Definitely sweet but not tooth-aching... you probably get the point.

This is such a beautiful fragrance! It’s sweet, smooth, and warm. This smells like a warm hug from your favorite person. Its opening is like getting ready to bake for a loved one and you're smelling your bottle of almond extract. It turns into a lovely milky, warm, almond dessert fragrance; an Italian cookie, marzipan, Badam burfi, or whichever sweet treat speaks to you. This fragrance encourages me to be nicer and softer. I haven’t smelled saffron on its own but I’m assuming it’s the warm spice/floral scent that I pick up. This lasts a LONG time; I applied at 7am and could still smell it at 7pm.

I am always excited for a new saffron gourmand, so of course I had to try this one. It's delicious, sweet, creamy with a bitter almond and saffron accord. Loved it immediately. I would say it's quite similar to Jo Malone's Honey and Crocus which was a much beloved limited edition for me and it could almost pass as a dupe. It's a bit more sophisticated and complex. Personally prefer this over Casamorati Italica By Xerjoff which I also love, but is at times a bit much and almost cloying. This is a little more subtle.

One of those “smelled it and immediately knew I was going home with it” situations. The most beautiful almond milk you have ever smelled. Creamy, lactonic, sweet, and tuned just right. Linear and straightforward. This is perfect for layering if you need to add a base to a fruity fragrance. This verges on the edge of sickly sweet, but I am honestly not mad about it. Sometimes you need that sugar.

This is my favorite almond gourmand. It's not syrupy or cloying like Italica. This is more airy even though it has great projection. It's creamy without being overly creamy or lactonic. Easy to wear and love. Seeing safron note scared me at first but there's nothing scary about this at all, just a yummy gourmand. Not synthetic or sticky sweet. But definitely 100% gourmand.

That’s a nice one! Smells like a real almond croissant - sweet and yummy but also with a bit of bitterness and tartness from almond essence. I like it a lot. I think it’s very hard to create a nicely balanced almond fragrance. Follow me on IG: scent.guide

I don't see the similarity to italica honestly.. I guess the notes are similar and it might give similar vibes, but this is so much more wearable to me. Italica was SOOO HEAVY and just dense. It's like lace compared to a brick. I really like this =)

I like this a lot! Definitely see the similarities with Italica but this one is a bit softer and milkier. I think they're both worth owning in my collection. Interested in purchasing if anyone has a bottle they are looking to get rid of.

This is lovely, very balanced and warm. It does smell a bit like marzipan, very creamy milky almond with a hint of safran. I always come back to it as a safe choice to wear for any occasion.

I just received my sample of this and its LOVE AT FIRST SNIF! It’s so creamy and sweet. It’s full bottle worthy!!!!

I'd describe this as a drinkable perfume! It feels more like sipping something smooth and creamy than eating something sweet. The scent opens with a soft almond note. Almond sometimes come across as sharp to me, but here it's mellow and rounded, gently softened by creamy milk and vanilla. It smells like a chilled glass of lightly sweetened almond milk, infused with a touch of saffron and vanilla. It's definitely comforting, but there’s a hint of coolness that keeps it from feeling too heavy. Overall, this is something cozy, smooth, and elegant. Sweet, but never loud. Comforting, yet quietly refined:) Edit: It's been nearly 8 hours, but I can still smell on my skin. Surprisingly, the scent remained almost the same for me.

Safran and milk. Very sweet, gourmand-ish. I like the smell but not for everyday use. Maybe more for the colder seasons when you want to snuggle up under a blanket. I think this is definately more female but not in a "sexy" way. My husband thinks it smells like an amusement park. Oh, and the bottle is beautiful! Edit I sold my bottle to a friend who loves gourmands. I ended up never using it.

Really nice but it’s definitely giving Italica vibes on my skin. Like it’s Italica’s little sandalwood cousin. Pretty redundant to have both in your collection. I think I like Italica more bc it has better projection and bottle design is better. Just bought a 5 ml to test waters and it’s nothing groundbreaking but it is a pretty lactonic gourmand w/ an almondy sandalwood dry down.

When I sprayed it on, I immediately thought it's similar tooo... I can't remember... and then I looked here and when I sow the "reminde me of..." recomendations I said "Yes, It's so Italica". Unfortunately I don't like Italica so this is also not a love for me. Maybe the drydown is a bit softer than Italica, but almost the same vibe.

Marzipan, marzipan, marzipan. That’s all I get from this. There’s no evolution and on my skin, this projects only slightly and lasted only a few hours. I so wanted to love this because of the bottle but I’m glad I tested instead of blind buying.

A sugared almond lactonic gourmand. Too sweet and nutty for my personal tastes. Thought I’d love this way more!

Very warm fragrance, sweet, dense, milky. Reminiscent of Italica. Best for cooler weather!

It smells like cheap baby wipes. Based on the notes I thought I would like it but it didn't work out for me :(

I just got a sample of this. I have to say I’m not a gourmand girl BUT i love sandalwood. I smelled Italica in store and although really cloying and sweet, it peaked my interest. I thought I’d try this and on first spray all I got was a face full of marzipan, which I really hate. That dissipated quickly and it became the scent of the Brazilian bum bum cream, which I love using in winter. I have to try it out some more but most likely I won’t be getting a bottle, I was just intrigued

This scent is incredibly accurate to its listed notes for me. It is nutty, caramelized milk turned to a soft shade of toffee with saffron threads steeped in it. This is sweetened to dulce de leche levels, but does not go heavy or sticky somehow. It's hyper sweet, but in an airier way. It's ultimately too sweet and unfamiliar to my nose to feel comfortable wearing it. Regrettable, since I love the bottle :) I'd like to try more from Place des Lices.

Weird one! Goes on sharply nail polish, with a nice food-y gourmand behind it, dries to peanut brittle, exactly, then on past to a toffee-ied floral blend, and ends up a floral perfume with a buttery vanilla in the base at full dry down. Very ornate and busy the whole time it goes through it’s dance. Interesting journey but too exhausting for me!

Delicious, natural smelling gourmand that's not over the top and will draw people towards you. I agreed with the Italica comparison, and that it's softer and more milkier, but I think the DNA is so unique (compared to the rest of perfumery), that the nuance is worthwhile.

Would anyone be willing to give me a decant of this, or can PM me and recommend me something similar? This hass every single note that I love in perfumes.... I must have it! I am located in Canada!

Smells like a saffron cake which is similar to a tres leches cake but sweetened with almond milk and steeped saffron etc. There’s a slight starchy accord. Cozy and understated.

This smells like a rich Italian almond dessert. It's sweet, but the dry almond note makes it very wearable. I can't get enough of it and I am usually not a gourmand lover.