Spicy

Sassafras

Note Profile

Botanical

About

Sassafras is the oil of the bark and roots of Sassafras albidum, a tree native to eastern North America. It was steam distilled, but its use is now restricted because of its safrole content. It smells spicy and aromatic, with a sweet root beer note and touches of anise and cinnamon. It mellows to a soft, balsamic sweetness. Perfumers now recreate it with safer chemicals.

Scent Profile

Sassafras has a distinctive, spicy-aromatic scent with sweet, root beer-like facets and subtle notes of anise and cinnamon. Its aroma is warm, slightly woody, and herbal, with a creamy undertone that can evoke nostalgic or vintage impressions. Over time, it mellows into a soft, balsamic sweetness.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeHeart · ~8h lasting

Family Green & Aromatic, Fresh & Citrus, Sweet & Gourmand

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

What this is made of

Sassafras names no single substance

Reconstructed

Safrole-rich and effectively banned; no compliant material exists.

How the layers join

Origin

Sassafras is derived from the bark and roots of the Sassafras albidum tree, native to eastern North America. Traditional extraction involved steam distillation to obtain sassafras oil, though its use is now restricted due to safrole content regulations.

Usage in Perfumery

In perfumery, sassafras is used sparingly as a heart or base note to impart warmth and complexity, often in fougère, oriental, or gourmand compositions. It blends well with spices, woods, vanilla, and citrus, but is now typically recreated with safer aroma chemicals.