Nutmeg goes under “fresh spicy”

As it adds zing to a perfume—

Like pink pepper, but less pricey.

The effect, I wouldn’t assume

Is anything like in coffee

Or pumpkin pie, the way it’s used.

Cool, in contrast to cardamom,

But nowhere near icy as mint.

Modest compared with cinnamon;

You can apply more than a hint.

On many spice racks, it’s common;

In perfume, it’s done a long stint.

I’ve heard that a little nutmeg can go a long way, and it seems to enhance cool and warm fragrances alike. It was a long time ago, but I remember being enchanted by Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio, and I would sneak a spritz in shops—although I always thought of it more as an aquatic scent. Mauboussin Histoire d’Eau, which I bought for the bottle without having smelled it first, is much more of a holiday spice sachet. Frédéric Malle Noir Epices (by Michel Roudnitska) is a layered enigma, with nutmeg somewhere in the middle of the development.

What are your nutmeg perfume loves?