Scent Almanac
Black Pepper
Piper nigrum
Dry, warm and sharp-spicy with a fresh, piney-citrus sparkle. It isn't sneezy, because the pungent compound doesn't distill.
- Made from
- Steam-distilled from dried, crushed unripe peppercorns.
- Strength
- ●●●○○
- Cost
- Moderate
- Moods
- EnergizingGroundingFocusing
- Seasons
- Autumn, Winter
- Rooms
- Office, Living room
Cautions
- Oxidizes with age — old oil is more likely to sensitize; store cool and dark
Fresh oil is gentle. Oxidized oil can sensitize, so store it cool and tightly closed.
How it behaves
CandlesGood
Adds sparkle and bite to woody, leather and tobacco blends. Alone it smells thin.
Wax meltsGood
Reed diffuserGood
Room & linen sprayGood
Electric (water) diffuserGood
Cold-process soapGood
No acceleration. It gives a spicy lift to 'men's' bars with cedarwood or vetiver.
Melt-and-pour soapGreat
Laundry & cleaningWorkable
Pairs well with
Bergamot
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Grapefruit
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Atlas Cedarwood
Base · Woody
Essential oil
Vetiver
Base · Earthy
Essential oil
Ginger
Middle · Spicy
Essential oil
Cardamom
Middle · Spicy
Essential oil
Frankincense
Base · Resinous & amber
Essential oil
Sandalwood
Base · Woody
Essential oil
Leather
Base · Smoky & leather
Fragrance oil
Tobacco Leaf
Base · Smoky & leather
Fragrance oil
Don't have it? Try Pink Pepper, Ginger.
In these blends
Old Library
Leather armchairs, pipe tobacco and the dusty spice of old book spines.
Clary Sage · Bergamot · Cardamom · Leather · Tobacco Leaf · Black Pepper
GroundingCozyNostalgicAutumnWinter
Cabin Weekend
A log cabin, a woodstove going and fir trees right outside the door.
Fir Needle · Bergamot · Atlas Cedarwood · Juniper Berry · Campfire · Black Pepper
CozyGroundingAutumnWinter
Coffeehouse
Fresh espresso, caramel drizzle and the hum of a corner café.
Coffee · Mandarin · Almond · Caramel · Vanilla · Black Pepper
EnergizingCozyAutumnWinter
Mahogany Study
A polished wooden desk, a spiced tea and a long evening of reading.
Mahogany · Bergamot · Cypress · Cardamom · Black Pepper · Nutmeg
FocusingGroundingAutumnWinter
Pomegranate Noir
Jewel-dark pomegranate, violet and a smoky trail of patchouli.
Pomegranate · Violet · Amber · Geranium · Black Pepper · Patchouli
SensualRomanticAutumnWinter
A little lore
Black, white and green peppercorns all come from the same vine; black ones are unripe berries dried until their skins darken and wrinkle.