Spicy

Black cardamom smells like you've just cracked open a charred, smoky spice—imagine the warmth of regular cardamom's sweet, slightly minty green notes, but darkened and deepened as if roasted over smouldering wood. There's a peppery bite underneath, with whispers of camphor and menthol that clear your sinuses, yet it remains distinctly warm rather than sharp. It's the scent of an exotic spice market at dusk, with woodsmoke curling through the air. Less delicate than green cardamom, it feels almost medicinal in its intensity—think of walking into a traditional apothecary where dried botanicals line wooden shelves.

Oriental

Tolu balm smells like walking into a candlelit room after someone's been baking spiced biscuits. Imagine warm vanilla cream threaded with cinnamon, clove, and a whisper of leather—almost medicinal in its richness, but decidedly comforting. There's an amber-like sweetness that feels honeyed and slightly resinous, with underlying notes reminiscent of old wood or aged parchment. It's the olfactory equivalent of wrapping yourself in a cashmere blanket on an autumn evening.