Spicy

Star Anise

Note Profile

Natural 58 perfumes

About

Licorice-like spice

Scent Profile

Star anise has a sweet, spicy, and distinctly licorice-like aroma with subtle hints of pepper and clove. Its scent is bright and aromatic, with a slightly woody undertone that softens as it develops. The note can impart both freshness and warmth, evolving from sharp and lively to a more mellow, balsamic finish.

Citrus 0%

Floral 10%

Fruity 0%

Green 0%

Sweet 35%

Warm 65%

Woody 0%

Earthy 5%

Animalic 0%

Fresh 5%

Origin

Star anise is the dried fruit of Illicium verum, a tree native to southern China and Vietnam. The spice is harvested when green, then sun-dried to develop its characteristic aroma before essential oil is obtained by steam distillation.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers typically use star anise as a top or heart note to introduce spicy, aromatic freshness, often in fougère, oriental, and gourmand compositions. It blends well with citrus, woods, vanilla, and other spices, providing lift and complexity to both masculine and feminine fragrances.