Nasai

Since saffron is both a fragrance and a coloring agent, and it is not permissible for men to use colored substances as adornment, therefore, it is not permissible for men to use saffron in any circumstance. In the state of ihram, it will be even more strictly prohibited. Similarly, it is also prohibited for men to wear clothes dyed with saffron under all circumstances. In the state of ihram, this will be even more unlawful. Clear narrations regarding this have already been mentioned previously.

Hadith Commentary:
Abdul Aziz bin Rafi’ is among the well-known, trustworthy scholars from the Tabi’in. He was a student of Anas bin Malik radi Allahu anhu. He lived to the age of 71 years. The meaning of the hadith and the chapter is clear.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
The use of saffron fragrance is impermissible for men because it is a fragrance specific to women.
It is narrated from Ammar bin Yasir radi Allahu anhu that he said: I came home at night and there were wounds on my hands.
The members of my household applied saffron to my hands.
When I presented myself before the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in the morning and greeted him with salam,
he did not respond to my greeting nor did he welcome me.
He said:
Go and wash it off and come back.
When I removed its traces and presented myself again, he responded to my greeting and welcomed me.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, As-Sunnah, Hadith: 4601)
Similarly, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
The angels of Allah neither attend the funeral of a disbeliever nor enter the house of one who applies saffron fragrance.
...
(Sunan Abi Dawud, At-Tarajjul, Hadith: 4176) (2)
However, women may use saffron and saffron color.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: As for why the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade the use of saffron, there is a difference of opinion regarding this. According to some people, he forbade it due to its color and fragrance, because colored fragrance is for women. Therefore, if its fragrance is removed, then its application or dyeing clothes with it is also permissible for men. Some have said that it was forbidden due to its yellow color. According to Imam Shafi'i and the Hanafis, it is not permissible to dye clothes with saffron, but according to Imam Malik and some other scholars, this prohibition is specific to the muhrim (one in the state of ihram). There is a narration of Hazrat Ibn Umar (radi Allahu anhuma) in Sahih Bukhari that he used to dye his clothes with yellow color because he saw the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) wearing clothes dyed with yellow color. This narration has also appeared in Sahih Muslim in the chapter of Hajj, and the color of saffron is also yellow. However, if fragrance is the reason for the prohibition, then this hadith cannot serve as evidence for the permissibility of saffron.

Benefits and Issues:
It is permissible for women to use saffron or other fragrances inside the home in the presence of their husbands.

English translation:

For a man, it is unanimously forbidden to apply saffron to his body. Applying it to the beard is unanimously permissible, and applying it to clothing is a matter of scholarly disagreement. For women, it is permissible both on the body and on clothing.

A woman may apply saffron (za‘farān) to her body and her clothes except during the state of ihram. In the state of ihram, it is also prohibited for her, because it is a fragrance, and the use of fragrance is prohibited for both men and women during ihram.