Clove

Clove or the clove tree is a plant of the Myrtaceae family. Clove originates from Indonesia, but it is also grown in Madagascar and Tanzania. Clove flowers are picked by hand when the buds are ready to open. The buds are then exposed to the sun for 3 days so that they obtain that dark brown color which characterizes them so much. In perfumery, the flower buds, called cloves, are steam-distilled. Because of the eugenol present at 85% in the clove bud, its scent inevitably reminds us of the dentist.

Clove, a beautifully spicy note

Clove is perhaps the most popular of spices, but certainly the most mysterious. Beyond the smell of the dentist, clove brings to mind mulled wine, gingerbread, or even a candy apple. Like its “spicy” olfactory family, clove presents powerful, strong notes, notes with character. Clove also has an aphrodisiac side. Spices are used as much in men's fragrances as in women's. Clove is found essentially in oriental fragrances, often paired with other spices such as pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, and of course cinnamon. This is the case for Boss by Hugo Boss, where clove is paired with cinnamon in the heart notes. With a woody base, Boss is the signature of a fragrance for city men, elegant and chic men.

Clove and other olfactory families

Clove pairs particularly well with woody, floral, or fruity notes. When thinking of clove, one inevitably thinks of the legendary Coco by Chanel. Since then, clove has been recognized in unexpected pairings, as in Kenzo pour Homme by Kenzo. Here, the marine note offers an intense freshness. With a spicy heart (clove and nutmeg) and a woody base (sandalwood, cedar), this masculine fragrance is an ode to freedom. Kenzo also incorporated clove into another of its compositions, this time for women, with Kenzo Jungle. Clove also fits into gourmand fragrances thanks to its mysterious side. However, it remains very closely tied to oriental fragrances.

Clove is a spice known for a very long time. It is widely used for its medicinal properties, notably by our dentists. In perfumery, clove belongs to the “spicy” olfactory family. It therefore fits mainly into oriental fragrances, as a heart note. Clove has difficulty fitting into fragrances because of its distinctive scent, but it sometimes creates a surprise, and can be discovered in woody, aromatic, fruity, or floral fragrances.