Authentic reviews from our perfume community
9,486 reviews
There’s something really addictive about this. It opens bright with juniper berries, almost sparkling, then that saffron comes in and gives it this smooth suede-like warmth that feels super classy. I wouldn’t call it loud or beast mode, but it has enough presence that people notice when they’re close. That’s actually why I love it. It feels intimate and polished instead of trying too hard. This works for day or night on me, office or dinner, which is rare for something this distinctive. Byredo nailed the balance here. Clean, dark, warm, fresh somehow all at once.
Black Saffron surprised me tbh. I expected something heavier, but it’s actually pretty sleek and easy. The saffron is the star for me, with the berries adding this slightly bright, almost fizzy opening that keeps it from getting too dense. I love this because it feels dressed up, but not in a stiff formal way. More like a leather jacket with clean lines. It doesn’t scream for attention, so if you want huge projection this may feel underwhelming. But the scent itself is gorgeous and refined. I’d wear this on a date, to a gallery, even just on a cool daytime walk.
Love this, honestly. It’s warm, smooth, and kinda comforting without turning sweet. The sandalwood feels silky and a little milky to me, while the thyme gives it just enough lift so it doesn’t get too creamy. I’ve worn it on casual days and on a dinner date and it worked both times, which says a lot. It’s not trying too hard. My one complaint is the price feels a bit high for how understated it is. Also projection is moderate at best. But the scent itself is so tasteful and easy to enjoy that I can forgive that. Super classy stuff.
This is one of those fragrances I know has flaws, but I still really enjoy it. The opening is beautiful - spicy saffron with that dry, slightly aromatic juniper thing going on. It kinda reminds me of a less rosy, more minimal take on the whole luxe spicy-leather vibe. Super polished. My complaint is simple: for Byredo money, I want more staying power. On me it lasts around 5-6 hours and never gets very loud. Still, the actual smell is so good that I forgive it. It feels sexy in a quiet way, not clubbing-sexy, more close-up and expensive scarf sexy.
I wanted to love this more than I actually do. The opening with saffron and juniper berries is really nice—clean, spicy, a little fruity, super wearable. It kinda reminds me of some other modern niche scents that try to do that airy luxury thing, but this one doesn’t have enough personality to stand out. Nothing smells bad here, and I actually think it’s very easy to wear to work or pretty much anywhere. The downside is performance is just okay, maybe 5-6 hours, and the whole thing feels a bit too safe. 3/5 makes sense to me: good quality, just nothing special.
This is nice, just not that exciting to me. I get a fizzy ginger thing right away, then it turns into that soft woody skin scent Molecule 01 always does. Clean, airy, easy to wear. The problem is... that’s basically it. It smells good, but I kept waiting for something more interesting to happen and it never really did. On me it sits pretty close and feels more like a fresh aura than an actual perfume. I can see this being great for work or hot weather, but for the price, I wanted a little more personality. Decent for sure, just not one I’d reach for over and over.
I really like this one. The Australian sandalwood is the star for me, super smooth and creamy without going into pickle territory like some sandalwoods do. There’s also this little herbal thyme touch up top that keeps it from feeling too flat or sleepy. It smells clean, expensive, and quietly cozy. Not a loud fragrance at all though, so if you want beast mode this probably won’t do it. On me it sits pretty close after an hour, but I still get around 6-7 hours. Minor flaw: it can feel a bit linear. Still, I keep reaching for it because it’s just easy and classy.
This is nice, just not very exciting to me. The sandalwood is definitely the star and it has that soft, creamy woody thing going on, with a little dry herbal touch from the thyme in the opening. It smells clean and polished, almost like expensive hotel lotion, which I don’t hate at all. But tbh it never really develops into anything memorable. I kept waiting for a twist and it stayed pretty linear the whole time. Performance was decent, around 5-6 hours, but it sat pretty close to my skin after the first hour. Easy to wear, super safe, just not something I’d reach for when I want to feel wowed.
I love this one so much. Black Saffron has that slightly dry saffron thing right away, then the juniper berries make it feel crisp and almost gin-like for a minute before it settles into something smoother and darker. It kinda gives me luxury leather jacket energy without going full harsh leather. Super wearable, but still feels different from the usual sweet crowd-pleasers. On me it lasts a solid 7-8 hours and I keep catching little wafts all day. Tbh this is one of those scents that makes me feel instantly more put together. Really elegant, really unique, and just ridiculously well done.
Tbh this is one of those scents that doesn’t sound exciting on paper, but on skin it’s really lovely. I mostly get creamy sandalwood and a subtle thyme freshness in the opening. Very simple, very clean, very put together. It reminds me a little of Le Labo Santal 33 in the sense that it’s dry and woody, but this is much softer and less aggressive. Way easier to wear. I love this for daytime or just chilling, and it never feels annoying. Downside: if you want lots of development, there isn’t much here. It stays in the same soft woody lane the whole time. Luckily, it’s a nice lane.
This is prob my favorite Byredo and that says a lot because their stuff can be hit or miss for me. The saffron is gorgeous here—warm, airy, a little spicy—but not loud or abrasive. The juniper in the opening keeps it from getting too heavy, which I really appreciate. It doesn’t smell like BR540 to me, but if you like that airy saffron feel and want something less sugary and more refined, def try this. I get compliments every time I wear it, especially in cooler weather. Projection is noticeable without being obnoxious. Just smells expensive and effortless.
Black Saffron is decent, just not something I’d reach for a lot. The saffron and juniper berries give it this cool dry, slightly leathery feel at first, and I do like that part. It smells polished and kind of expensive in that typical Byredo way. But tbh it never really becomes memorable on my skin. It stays pretty close after the first hour and turns into a soft woody skin scent. Not bad at all, just a little too restrained for the price. I can see why people like it, but for me it’s more “pleasant background scent” than wow.
I really like this one. The saffron hits first, but it’s not that loud medicinal type some perfumes do. Here it feels soft, a little leathery, and kinda airy with the juniper berries giving it a crisp edge. It smells modern without going full sterile niche on me. If BR540 is all sparkle and sugar, Black Saffron feels drier and more grown up. My only issue is the price because performance is good, not amazing - I get around 6 hours and then it sits pretty close. Still, the vibe is super nice and easy to wear. Def one of the more interesting Byredos I’ve tried.
This kinda feels like the anti-BR540 to me. No sugar cloud, no burnt amber thing, just soft sandalwood with a dry herbal edge from the thyme. I love how calm and polished it smells. It’s got that expensive hotel spa vibe, but warmer. Super wearable too, especially when I don’t want to announce myself to the whole room. The only reason it’s not a full 5 stars is performance. It lasts decently, around 6 hours, but projection is definitely on the softer side. Still, the quality smells really nice and natural. Great office scent if you’re into woods.
This is such a cool scent. On my skin the juniper comes through almost gin-like at first, then the saffron warms everything up and keeps it from feeling too sharp. I love that it’s kinda fresh but still has this cozy suede-ish feel underneath. Very wearable, very Byredo, very “put together without trying too hard.” Not beast mode at all though. It projects nicely for maybe an hour and then turns into a close bubble, which honestly I don’t mind for work or dinner. Minor flaw aside, I keep reaching for it because it smells unique without being weird.
I actually liked the opening a lot. The ginger has that bright, almost sparkling freshness that kinda reminds me of a cleaner, simpler take on a citrusy summer scent. For the first hour it feels crisp and modern, then the iso e super woody vibe takes over and it gets pretty abstract on my skin. Not bad, just a little too minimal for me. If you love subtle skin scents, you might be into it. I just found it a bit overpriced for something that feels more like an accessory than a full perfume. Lasted around 5-6 hours, but projection was super chill.
I can see why people like this, but for me it’s a solid 3/5. The Australian sandalwood smells smooth and natural, and that slightly aromatic thyme up top keeps it from being too bland at first. After that though, it turns into a very soft woody skin scent. Kinda calming, kinda classy, but also a little too tame. If you like louder sandalwoods or something with the creamy richness of Santal 33’s style, this might feel underpowered. Not bad at all, just a bit overpriced for how simple it is. I’d wear it to work or on a quiet day, but I wouldn’t call it special.
I really wanted to like this because I usually love sandalwood, but White Sandalwood just feels oddly dry and lifeless on my skin. The thyme at the top gives it a slightly herbal bite, then it turns into this pale woody cloud that never gets creamy or comforting. I was hoping for something smooth and rich, maybe Santal 33-adjacent without the pickle thing, but this just stays thin and a bit scratchy. It also sits super close to the skin pretty fast, so for the price I expected way more presence. Not terrible, just kinda boring and underwhelming tbh.
Tbh Black Saffron was a letdown for me. I was hoping for something rich and moody from the saffron, but what I mostly get is this thin, slightly sharp juniper vibe with a weird plasticky feel underneath. It never really settles into anything exciting. Kinda reminds me of those expensive niche scents that smell “interesting” for 10 minutes and then just sit there doing nothing. Performance wasn’t great either — I got maybe 4-5 hours and pretty soft projection after the first hour. For the price, this feels super underwhelming. Not awful, just bland and a little synthetic on my skin. Def not one I’d repurchase.
Kinda disappointed with this one tbh. I was hoping for a bright, fizzy ginger moment, but on my skin it’s basically a quick sparkle for like 10 minutes and then just a soft woody skin scent. I do get that clean Iso E Super vibe, but it feels too minimal here, almost unfinished. Not bad, just really underwhelming for the price. It reminds me of those “your skin but better” scents, except this one barely shows up at all. Projection is super weak and I had to practically press my nose to my wrist after an hour. If you want subtle, sure. If you want actual ginger and some personality, this probably won’t do it.
