The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Susurrus takes its name from the softest kind of sound. A whisper, a rustle, the murmur of wind through silk. A poetic reinterpretation conceived to echo Shēng Shēng Màn, the ci poem by Li Qingzhao, a Song Dynasty poet whose work carries the ache of absence and the gentle weight of remembrance. The 2025 release from Auphorie is an olfactory meditation on the emotional and cultural atmosphere of the Song era, composed from ingredients drawn from Chinese botanical tradition: chrysanthemum, lotus, jasmine, gardenia, tea, plum, quince, and the unmistakable scent of soil after rain. The name is not decorative. It is the composition's instruction manual. Listen closely.
The notes themselves read like a Chinese garden inventory rather than a perfumer's pyramid, and that is the point. Chrysanthemum appears as three specific Chinese extracts: Hang Bai Ju, Shen Nong Ju, and Jin Si Huang Ju, signaling an obsession with the flower's range rather than a generic floral gesture. Lotus arrives in two forms: Blue lotus and Lotus leaf, each bringing its own facet to the composition. The rain accord is presented alongside soil, moss, and Chinese tea as a deliberate element of the structure.
The evolution
The opening unfolds green and almost aquatic. Lotus leaf and rhubarb, with a thread of rain accord that smells more like the aftermath than the event. Then the fruit rises. Chinese quince, green plum, and rhubarb sharpen the composition, giving it shape and a subtle tartness that keeps the florals from going soft. As the hours pass, Susurrus settles. The chrysanthemums, drawn from Hang Bai Ju, Shen Nong Ju, and Jin Si Huang Ju extracts, become more prominent, joined by jasmine, gardenia, and rose. The base builds slowly underneath: sandalwood, patchouli, incense, resins, ambergris, orris root, and Kyara oud. Kyara oud adds a faint resinous edge. Orris root, ambergris, sandalwood, and patchouli warm the composition. What lingers is the chrysanthemum and incense, dry and contemplative. The wet garden smell becomes a dried garden smell. Still beautiful. Still whispering.
Cultural impact
Susurrus draws from ingredients sourced for regional specificity and a mood that resists the louder tendencies of contemporary niche. It's the kind of release that rewards patience, and it's already found its audience among collectors who treat their fragrance wardrobe as literature rather than accessories.
The House
AuphorieAuphorie is an independent perfume house based in Malaysia that creates handcrafted fragrances for a discerning niche audience. Founded by brothers Eugene and Emrys Au in 2015, the brand blends cultural narratives with modern olfactory techniques. Each scent is presented in a minimalist bottle that reflects the house’s commitment to clarity and balance. Auphorie’s catalogue includes releases such as Zen (2015), Golden Chersonese (2015), Eternal Voyage (2016) and Chypre Oud Maharani (2019), each designed to evoke a specific place or memory. The brand sells directly through its website, offering worldwide shipping while handling customs and duties for customers.
The Creator
Emrys AuEmrys favors precise, ingredient-driven compositions where each element earns its place. His background in food work draws him toward natural materials with identifiable character: osmanthus, resins, green notes that carry actual botanical weight rather than generic freshness.
