The Merchant Of Venice
The Merchant Of Venice
162 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The saffron-thyme combination strikes immediately with a peppery-golden assault, almost nostril-clearing in its herbal directness. The leather accord surfaces almost at once, preventing any potential sweetness from establishing a foothold.
The white suede emerges with genuine texture, creating a soft-animalic bed for the cedarwood and lily to rest upon, though neither gets romantic space to breathe. The spice gradually recedes, revealing a woody, slightly smoky foundation that settles into something almost tobacco-like in its warmth.
The crystal amber and Indonesian patchouli become the primary voice, with vanilla present but restrained, never creeping toward gourmand territory. A persistent leather-woody-amber trinity remains, gradually flattening into skin scent with a lingering smoky-amber whisper.
Byzantium Saffron announces itself as leather-forward and deliberately austere—this is not a fragrance that coddles. The Greek saffron in the opening provides something almost medicinal, a golden-threaded spice that immediately establishes an ancient, almost liturgical quality. What's particularly compelling is how the thyme amplifies this effect, introducing an herbal, slightly peppery counterpoint that keeps the saffron from veering into purely sweet territory.
As the composition settles, the white suede becomes the true star—a animalic, skin-like base that grounds the more ethereal lily and cedarwood. Rather than softening into a powdery whisper, the suede acts as a leather undertone, creating an accord that feels almost tanned, deliberately textured. The cedarwood contributes a dry woody skeleton without sweetness, whilst the white lily attempts delicacy but finds itself firmly anchored by those leather and spice accords that dominate (note the 100% leather accord rating).
Add fragrances to your collection and unlock your personalised scent DNA, note map, and shareable identity card.
4.0/5 (139)