Spicy

Mace

Note Profile

Natural 23 perfumes

About

Mace has a warm, spicy, and slightly sweet aroma, closely related to but more delicate and floral than nutmeg. Its scent is aromatic with subtle citrus and peppery undertones, adding creamy warmth and complexity to spicy accords in perfumery. Mace can evoke a cozy, inviting character reminiscent of holiday baking and exotic spice markets.

Scent Profile

Mace presents a warm, spicy aroma with delicate floral and sweet facets, distinct from the heavier, earthier scent of nutmeg. Its olfactory character includes creamy warmth, subtle citrus brightness, and a gentle peppery nuance that evolves into a soft, lingering spiciness. The note is both aromatic and slightly resinous, contributing complexity and depth to spicy accords.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeHeart · ~5h lasting

Origin

Mace is the lacy, red aril that surrounds the seed of the Myristica fragrans tree, native to the Banda Islands in Indonesia. After harvesting, the aril is carefully separated from the nutmeg seed and dried, then either used whole or ground for extraction. In perfumery, mace oil is typically obtained by steam distillation of the dried aril.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use mace primarily as a heart or base note to impart warmth and subtle sweetness to spicy, oriental, and gourmand compositions. It blends well with other spices, woods, resins, and certain florals, enhancing both the complexity and the creamy aspects of a fragrance. Mace is valued for its ability to round out sharp edges and add a cozy, inviting character to blends.

A variety of