Cardamom

Cardamom is one of the oldest documented spices in perfumery, used in Indian and Middle Eastern fragrance traditions for over four thousand years. The primary aromatic compound, α-terpinyl acetate, is responsible for its characteristic warm, slightly floral, and camphoraceous quality. A secondary compound — 1,8-cineole, also known as eucalyptol — gives cardamom its clean, slightly sharp edge that distinguishes it from heavier spices like clove or cinnamon. In perfumery, cardamom occupies a rare position: it is simultaneously warm and fresh, spiced and clean. This duality makes it an exceptional opening note — it announces the fragrance without overwhelming it. Most commercially produced cardamom fragrance oil is synthetic, since genuine cardamom absolute is costly and variable. AURĒ uses a high-quality cardamom aromachemical profile that accurately reproduces the compound structure of Kerala green cardamom — the finest grade grown in the Idukki district of Kerala, at altitudes above 600 metres. In Gravity, cardamom opens the composition alongside pink pepper: the two compounds create an immediate warmth that is spiced but never aggressive, signalling depth before the heart notes arrive.