Spicy

Black pepper smells sharp, dry, and almost peppery—obviously—but not like the dusty spice in your kitchen cupboard. Imagine biting into a fresh peppercorn: there's an initial brightness, almost citrusy, followed by a warming, slightly woody heat that tingles your nostrils. It's spicy without burning, with an almost piney, green undertone. The sensation is crisp and energising, like inhaling cool air that somehow feels warm simultaneously.

Spicy

Saffron smells like warm honey touched by smoke, with an underlying earthiness reminiscent of dried autumn leaves. Imagine the aroma of golden turmeric, but more refined and mysteriously bitter—think of expensive spice markets where threads of crimson-gold sit in wooden bowls. There's a subtle animalic quality, almost leathery, paired with a faint metallic sweetness. It's intoxicating rather than fresh, wrapping around you like cashmere warmed by sunlight.