Clove Buds

About Clove Buds

Clove buds are the unopened flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum, a tropical tree in the myrtle family. The buds are picked before flowering and dried until they take on their familiar dark brown appearance. Perfumery materials include steam-distilled bud oil and an absolute made through extraction and purification. Bud-derived materials are distinct from those obtained from the leaves.

Scent Profile

The scent is warm and strongly spicy, with floral and woody facets beneath its unmistakable aromatic character. It can also suggest smoke and earth, adding a dry shadow to the warmth. Compared with a light, sparkling spice impression, clove has a more concentrated presence that gives a composition definition and depth. Processing and the surrounding materials affect the balance of its facets.

Use in Perfumery

Clove supplies a warm centre to spicy compositions and can contribute to leather-like effects. It is also useful in carnation accords, where its spicy floral character helps shape the impression of the flower. Combined with woods, resins or sweeter elements, it provides a dry accent within a fuller structure. Perfumers adjust its amount and supporting materials to control how prominently that spicy character appears.