Pepper

Pepper is a spice obtained from the berries of the pepper plant. True pepper is also known by the name Piper Nigrum, native to the Malabar coast in southwestern India. Depending on its level of ripeness, pepper displays 4 different colors, white, green, black or red. Pepper is a spice that is nonetheless subtly spicy, delicately pungent and with great freshness. Pepper has long been considered a medicinal plant. As such, it has numerous virtues for our health. Today, the main pepper-producing countries are India, Indonesia, Brazil, Madagascar and Malaysia.

The influence of pepper in perfumery

In perfumery, pepper belongs to the spices, and therefore to the great “Oriental” family. Pepper essence is obtained by steam distillation of the ripe fruits. The odor of the pepper spice is at once spicy, dry, herbaceous and also dusty. Pepper gives a pungent edge to masculine compositions and a warm quality to feminine oriental compositions. At harvest time, the pepper fruit is green, and subsequently changes color depending on the treatment it undergoes. The peppercorns we know are black, because they were harvested before ripening and then dried in the sun. In perfumery, pepper is considered the “Queen of spices”.

Pepper and its olfactory pairings

Pepper is mainly found as a base note, in oriental, woody or spicy compositions, as in “1 Million Intense” (woody-spicy) by Paco Rabanne where pepper is found as a top note accompanied by a cocktail of spicy notes, as well as in “Allure Homme Sport” (woody-spicy) by Chanel. Also in a woody-oriental fragrance, “Absolu” by Rochas, where pepper is found as a heart note alongside orange blossom and lily. Pepper can also be found within a chypre fragrance such as “Aromatics in White” by Clinique. Pepper can also slip into floral perfumes such as “Balenciaga Paris” by Balenciaga where pepper is positioned as a top note alongside green notes, or in “Black Opium Nuit Blanche” by Yves Saint Laurent. Pepper pairs with every olfactory family and can be discovered in a great many perfumes such as “Blue Label” by Givenchy, “Bois d’Encens” by Armani, “Bois Marocain” by Tom Ford, “Boss Orange Men” by Hugo Boss or “Ck One Shock for Him” by Calvin Klein.

While pepper is known for accompanying dishes, it should be noted that it is also found inside our perfumes. Spicy, but also with fresh and pungent tonalities, pepper surprises and blends wonderfully with all other olfactory families.