What does Pistachio smell like?
Open a jar of Sicilian pistachio cream. Toasted nut, milk and butter come first. Then a green, almost leafy facet and a pinch of salt. A pistachio accord keeps that blend. It is less bitter than almond and fresher than hazelnut. On skin it lasts well when set in the base. Placed at the top, it mostly gives a creamy first impression before the flowers take over.
Origin and production
The pistachio tree (Pistacia vera) comes from Central Asia and Iran, where it has grown for thousands of years. Iran, the United States and Turkey now lead production. In Sicily, Bronte pistachios are prized for their colour and flavour. The nut gives no oil usable in perfumery. Perfumers rebuild the note with milky, toasted and green facets, often next to almond and tonka bean.
How perfumers use it
Pistachio pairs with almond, caramel, coconut and white flowers. Tom Ford put it at the top of Soleil Blanc (2016) with bergamot and cardamom, above a sunny tuberose. Sol de Janeiro made it go viral with Cheirosa 62 (2020), the scent of its body cream, where it meets salted caramel. Guerlain tucks it into the base of La Petite Robe Noire Eau Fraîche (2015). Elie Saab Girl of Now (2017) pairs it with pear and almond.
How to wear it
Pistachio works all year. Soleil Blanc was made for summer and sun-warmed skin. Cheirosa 62 can be sprayed generously on body and hair, but it fades faster than an eau de parfum.