Black Saffron
Black Saffron blends warm saffron and dried fruit with a juicy raspberry top and a leathery, woody base. It is one of Byredo's richer, more colorful compositions, balancing spice, fruit and suede.
Black Saffron opens on Raspberry and Pomelo, moves through Saffron and Cardamom, and dries down to Leather and Vetiver. At $200 - $310 it is firmly luxury pricing that demands you love the profile first, with long lasting (6h - 8h) on skin. Sample before you commit — it is loud and polarising rather than crowd-safe.
ADEGBE ANALYSIS SCORES
Scores are AdeGbe's editorial analysis based on composition, concentration and community-reported performance — not a single personal wear test.
Approx. $2.00/ml — Based on the lowest street price ($200) over an assumed 100ml bottle for this concentration.
OLFACTORY PYRAMID BREAKDOWN
- Raspberry
- Pomelo
- Juniper Berries
- Saffron
- Cardamom
- Black Violet
- Leather
- Vetiver
- Cedar
EXPERT ANALYSIS — COMPOSITION & PERFORMANCE
Black Saffron by Byredo is a juicy fruit-leaning eau de parfum released in 2012, composed by Jérôme Epinette. This is our research team's structured analysis of how it is built, how it performs, and who it suits — based on its composition, community-aggregated performance data, and the AdeGbe scoring model.
The Opening
From the first spray, Raspberry, Pomelo, Juniper Berries establish a juicy fruit character that defines the top of the composition.
The Heart
The middle phase is floral and warm spice: Saffron, Cardamom, Black Violet carry the core of the scent through its most expressive hours.
The Dry-Down
The base is dry woods and smooth leather, with Leather, Vetiver, Cedar providing the depth and tenacity that carry it through the day.
Who Should Buy Black Saffron
Black Saffron is genuinely unisex. Its season vector points strongest to autumn, and its day/night balance makes it best suited to versatile day-to-night wear. If you gravitate toward juicy fruit and floral compositions and want a more moderate, easy-going wear, it belongs on your shortlist.
No major red flags in the composition, but fragrance is personal — skin chemistry can shift the balance of notes, so a sample wear is always wiser than a blind purchase at this price.
PERFORMANCE INDEX & SUITABILITY VECTORS
PROJECTED PERFORMANCE TIMELINE
Projected from this fragrance's concentration, note structure and reported longevity — an analysis, not a single personal wear test.
Raspberry and Pomelo lead the opening before the volatile top notes burn off.
Saffron and Cardamom take over as the core character of the fragrance.
Leather and Vetiver anchor the scent close to the skin.
A skin-scent of Leather and Vetiver is what typically remains by now.
Wear It
- ✓Autumn / Fall (35% seasonal fit)
- ✓Winter (28% seasonal fit)
- ✓Flexible across day and night
Skip It
- ✗Summer — it underperforms here (15%)
Blind-Buy Risk
- • Contains polarising notes (leather) that not everyone enjoys
- • Divisive, character-heavy notes mean reactions vary widely person to person.
- • Moderate projection makes it forgiving and easy to wear day to day.
INGREDIENT SAFETY SNAPSHOT
Generally well-tolerated base/fixative materials with low sensitiser risk.
This snapshot is based on the published note list, not a full INCI ingredient breakdown. Always check the box for the official allergen declaration and patch-test if you have sensitive skin. See full ingredient-safety guides →
MOST COMPARED WITH
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does Black Saffron smell like?
Is Black Saffron unisex?
How strong is Black Saffron?
Is Black Saffron worth buying?
Can I wear Black Saffron to the office?
Is Black Saffron good for summer?
How many sprays of Black Saffron should I use?
Is Black Saffron safe for sensitive skin?
INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS
Personalised calculators and scanners specific to Black Saffron.
INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS
Personalised calculators and scanners specific to Black Saffron.
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