Perfumer's Notes - Chestnut

Aromas in Gourmand Fragrances

In the world of perfumery, certain scents have the power to transport us to comforting places. One aroma that embodies such warmth is chestnut, a great ingredient for gourmand in perfume. With its rich, nutty fragrance, chestnut adds a touch of indulgence, especially in the realm of gourmand scents.

The Essence of Chestnut

Chestnut, with its slightly sweet aroma, brings a sense of earthiness to perfumes. It is often used for its warm and comforting qualities, reminiscent of evenings by the fireplace.

Whether blended with creamy vanilla for comforting sweetness or combined with spices for something more of a statement, chestnut perfumes offer a rich olfactory experience. It’s one of the best gourmand scents.

Exploring Nutty Aromas

Beyond chestnut, nutty aromas encompass a wide range of scents, such as almonds, hazelnuts, and pecans. These nutty notes add depth and richness to perfumes, creating an olfactory experience that is both indulgent and inviting. Nutty perfumes can range from creamy and sweet, to woody and aromatic, offering a diverse palette for perfumers to explore.

The Charm of Gourmand Perfumes

Gourmand perfumes often feature ingredients that evoke the sensation of indulging in sweet treats. Alongside chestnut and nutty aromas, gourmand fragrances may incorporate notes of vanilla, caramel, chocolate, and spices, creating an olfactory feast that tantalises the senses.

Pairing Chestnut with Gourmand Notes

When combined with other gourmand notes, chestnut adds depth and complexity to perfumes. Picture a fragrance that combines the warmth of chestnut with the creaminess of vanilla, the richness of chocolate, and a hint of spice—a symphony of flavours that dance on the skin and linger in the air. Soufflot is a great example of this, with chestnut as the star headnote along with Hazelnut, balanced with Jasmine, Cinnamon Leaf and Honey at its core and enriched with Tobacco Leaf and Leather at its base.

The combination of these notes together creates an intensely seductive scent, full of depth, nutty sweetness and exquisite florals. 

Soufflot is inspired by a passage of text in Ernest Hemingway’s, 'The Sun Also Rises'. 

As with Scherzo, another fragrance from the M.H Stories Collection, the short passage was the only thing given to perfumer Mathieu Nardin as the brief for the fragrance to be created. 

The passage describes the main character rising from his bed and walking down Rue de Soufflot on a spring morning. The sun shines through the horse chestnut trees, flowers are brought up from the market and the air is filled with morning brioche, coffee and tobacco. 

A sense of awakening and awareness of the beauty in the everyday is captured in this short passage. 

When Mathieu Nardin read 'The sun also rises' he immediately wanted to reproduce the olfactive memory he had of an early morning stroll at the Luxembourg garden in Paris.

Embracing the Warmth

As we journey through the world of perfumes, chestnut fragrances stand out for their ability to evoke feelings of warmth, comfort, and nostalgia. Whether worn on crisp autumn days or chilly winter nights, chestnut perfumes envelop the wearer in a cocoon of indulgence, inviting them to embrace the simple pleasures of life.