- Silphium Stora Skuggan for women and men:
main accords
fresh spicy
warm spicy
amber
aromatic
woody
"Even a single taste stirs an invigorating warmth throughout the body, accompanied by a distinctly wholesome aroma."— Pedanius Dioscorides, c. 70 BCE
Silphium (likely belonging to theFerulagenus) was a plant native to the region of Cyrene—now part of modern-day Libya. Revered across the empires of classical antiquity, it was celebrated as a spice, medicinal herb, and perfume ingredient alike. Its virtues were praised by Greek philosophers and writers, Roman emperors, and authors of ancient cookbooks.
Countless attempts were made to cultivate Silphium, but all proved fruitless: the plant would only grow wild in a narrow stretch of the North African coast. This inherent rarity, combined with its exceptional value as a seasoning and remedy, elevated Silphium to the status of the world’s most precious spice—outshining even saffron and cinnamon. Eventually, demand grew so insatiable that Silphium was harvested to extinction; the taste and scent of what was once history’s greatest spice faded into obscurity.
Our interpretation of this lost botanical treasure is crafted through rigorous research into Silphium’s presumed surviving relatives. Using aromachemicals—the molecular building blocks of scent—we have created an accord that we believe honors the remaining historical descriptions of Silphium. This core accord is anchored in a rich backdrop of ancient incense, woods, and leather.— Stora Skuggan
Olfactory Notes of Silphium
Top Notes: Silphium Accord, Cistus Heart Notes: Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Tobacco, Ginger, Geranium, Clove Perfumers: Olle Hemmendorff, Tomas Hempel
Perfume Pyramid
Top Notes
1.Labdanum
Middle Notes
1.Ginger 2.Geranium 3.Black Pepper 4.Clove 5.Tobacco 6.Cinnamon
Base Notes
1.Olibanum 2.Cedar 3.Myrhh 4.Leather
