Saffron, the dried stigma of the plant Crocus sativus L. (a member of Iridaceae family) has a distinct color, flavor and smell. It is widely used as a spice, and as a coloring and flavoring agent in the preparation of foods and cosmetics. According to chemical analysis, more than 150 chemicals are present in saffron stigmas among which, the three main chemical compounds including crocins (mono and diglycosyl esters of a polyene dicarboxylic acid, named crocetin), picrocrocin (a precursor of safranal), and safranal (monoterpen aldehyde) are responsible for saffron exclusive color, taste, and odor, respectively.