Sichuan Pepper

Sichuan pepper, harvested from the prickly ash shrub (Zanthoxylum simulans and related species) native to the Sichuan province of China, is unlike any other spice in the world. Its berries produce a unique tingling, numbing sensation on the tongue known as má in Chinese, paired with a bright, citrusy, and distinctly floral-spicy aroma. Long a cornerstone of Chinese cuisine, it has also found a celebrated place in modern niche perfumery. As a fragrance note, Sichuan pepper is electric and vibrant — citrusy yet spicy, with a characteristic fizzing, almost effervescent quality that makes it feel alive on the skin. It adds a kinetic energy to compositions, often used in the top or heart notes to create an arresting, dynamic opening. It pairs exceptionally well with woods, ambers, resins, and cool aquatics, bringing a sophisticated, slightly exotic spice that is more nuanced than black pepper and more piquant than pink pepper. At Fragrenza, our Sichuan pepper collection showcases the most exciting fragrances that harness this electrifying ingredient. These are bold, modern scents with serious character — and our high-quality dupes bring them to you at a fraction of the price. Discover the tingle.

Often paired with these accords

Often paired with these notes

Patchouli41 Bergamot41 Musk35 Amber29 tonka bean26 Vanilla25 Sandalwood25 lavender21 Cardamom21 cedar20 grapefruit19 Frankincense18

Fragrances featuring this note

Sichuan Pepper

Often paired with these accords

Often paired with these notes

Fragrances featuring this note

As top note

Obsession Night

Obsessed

Obsessed Intense

Ocean Di Gioia

1 - The Black Tee Eau de Performance

11

1902 - Figuier & Sichuan

500 for Him

Bergamotto di Calabria

Bihaku

Clean Reserve Avant Garden - Galbanum & Rain

SCULPTURE

As heart note

Cedro di Diamante

Clean Reserve Avant Garden - Hemp & Ginger

First Instinct Extreme

Kings Wood

Light Blue pour Homme Italian Zest

Omeyocan

Un Hiver à Grasse

Vintage Spirit - In Between

Ambra Nuit

By the Yuzu Grove

Colognes Imaginaires - 2040 Nectar Tonka

Lesedi La Rona II

As base note

Imperio

The Limited - Chouchou East