In short: cardamom smells fresh, warm and spicy, with a cool, almost eucalyptus-like lift and a soft citrus edge. It is the smell of chai tea and Scandinavian cardamom buns.
What cardamom smells like
Cardamom is the most elegant of the kitchen spices. It is warm like cinnamon but much fresher and lighter, with a cool, slightly camphorous top and a sweet, almost floral finish. In a candle it adds sophistication, especially to woody and amber blends.
Where it comes from
Green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is a plant in the ginger family native to the forests of southern India. Its small green pods hold the fragrant seeds. Guatemala, where it was introduced in the early 1900s, is now the world's largest grower. The pods are picked by hand, which makes cardamom one of the most expensive spices after saffron and vanilla.
The oil is steam distilled from the seeds. Its main compounds include cineole, the same cool molecule found in eucalyptus. Our candles use fragrance oils with a cardamom note.
How it is used
Cardamom is a heart note. It has become a favorite in modern perfume, where it brightens warm woods and gives them a polished, slightly exotic feel.
What it pairs with
- Sandalwood and amber, for warm, sophisticated woods
- Cinnamon, ginger and clove, for chai
- Leather and tobacco, for a refined study
- Coffee and vanilla, for a gourmand twist
Our candles with cardamom
- Santal: cardamom with sandalwood, cedar, amber and musk.
- Dark Mister Darcy: cardamom and ginger with amber, cedar and sandalwood.
- Guardhouse Armory: cardamom and allspice with leather, saffron and tobacco leaf.
- Butterscotch Brew: cardamom with butterscotch, brown sugar and oak.
Common questions
Is cardamom sweet or spicy? Both, gently. It is less sweet than cinnamon and less sharp than clove, with a cool freshness neither of them has.
What's the difference between green and black cardamom? Black cardamom is a different plant, dried over fire, and smells smoky and camphorous. Perfume and baking almost always use green.
Explore more notes in our Fragrance Notes A to Z, or browse our Woody & Earthy candles.