Nasai

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.

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: (1)
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was shown various scenes of Paradise and Hell, and he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) wished to pluck a bunch from Paradise. However, since the things of Paradise cannot come into this world, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) realized that he could not pluck that bunch, and in this hadith, it is expressed as, "My hand could not reach it." Therefore, to claim—based on the wording of some ahadith—that Paradise was given into the control and ownership of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is mere presumption and obstinacy.

(2)
Committing cruelty and oppression against animals, or depriving them of food and drink, can become a cause for punishment.

(3)
‘Amr ibn Luhayy, ‘Amr ibn Malik, and ‘Amr ibn ‘Amir al-Khuza‘i are all the same person.

(4)
This incident of the solar eclipse occurred on 13 August 630 CE, corresponding to 28 Rabi‘ al-Awwal, 9 AH. In Arabia, the month of August is extremely hot because there is very little rainfall. From this hadith, it is also established that the eclipse prayer was not performed on the death of Ibrahim (alayhis salam), because that event took place in January, which is not a hot month.

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.

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.