fragrance notes: cardamom
Gents focuses on
Once again it's time to highlight a new fragrance note and this time we're taking a look at cardamom, a spice with oriental origins but which for many in the West is associated with winter, Christmas and baking.
Cardamom is an aromatic spice widely used in both cooking and baking. It is derived from the seeds of the cardamom plant, and has a unique, sweet and slightly spicy flavour with hints of citrus and menthol. Cardamom is particularly popular in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine, but like cinnamon, it is also widely used in Nordic baked goods such as buns and cakes.
For northerners, it is mostly associated with winter and Christmas, while in the Middle East and exotic countries it is used daily as an everyday spice all year round, Cardamom is considered to have several healthy properties, including as an antioxidant but also favourable for digestion.
CARDAMOM AS A FRAGRANCE NOTE
Cardamom is used as an elegant and spicy top note in perfumes, contributing a warm, aromatic scent that is both sweet and slightly peppery. It has a complexity that is often balanced with woody, citrus or oriental notes, giving perfumes an exotic and luxurious character.
Cardamom is popular in both men's and women's perfumes, where it adds a subtle freshness and depth that gives the fragrance both warmth and freshness. It is often combined with the sweeter spice cinnamon, which adds a soft, gourmand note.
Cardamom can be used subtly and elegantly in a mix of other spicy or woody notes, or given a more prominent place in the fragrance pyramid, automatically giving the perfume a warm and exotic character that makes it perfect for winter.
