Spicy

Mustard Seed

Note Profile

Natural

Scent Profile

Mustard seed has a sharp, pungent, and slightly sulfurous aroma with spicy, green, and radish-like facets. Its scent is volatile and can evoke a wasabi-like heat, mellowing to a dry, earthy warmth as it evolves. The note is distinctive for its biting freshness and vegetal undertones.

Citrus 0%

Floral 0%

Fruity 0%

Green 5%

Sweet 0%

Warm 30%

Woody 0%

Earthy 50%

Animalic 20%

Fresh 10%

Origin

Mustard seed is harvested from various Brassica species, primarily Brassica nigra and Brassica juncea. In perfumery, its essential oil is obtained through steam distillation or cold pressing of the seeds, though use is limited due to its potency and regulatory restrictions.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use mustard seed in trace amounts to add a spicy, piquant accent, typically in top or heart notes. It is often blended with other spices, green notes, or herbal accords to create intrigue and lift in avant-garde or gourmand compositions. Its assertive character requires careful dosing to avoid overpowering other ingredients.