The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Once Upon A Garden was born from La Perla's desire to bottle the feeling of a secret summer hideaway. In 2021, perfumer Caroline Dumur set out to translate a youthful garden stroll into scent, working with bright mandarin orange to evoke sun-warmed skin, pink pepper and mint to capture the sensation of early evening breezes among blooming paths.
The note selection here balances freshness with depth through deliberate pairing. Mandarin and mint provide the initial sparkle, while pink pepper grounds that brightness with subtle spice. Rose and sweet pea create a floral heart that feels youthful rather than heavy, and the mossy patchouli base ensures the fragrance evolves beyond superficial brightness into something with staying complexity and texture.
The evolution
The opening burst of mandarin orange, pink pepper and mint paints an immediate sensory snapshot of a garden at golden hour, all bright energy and cool air. From that sparkling introduction, the scent evolves into a floral heart where sweet pea takes center stage, its fresh green-buttery quality softened by raspberry leaf and gently framed by rose petals. The journey winds down through patchouli and moss, an earthy mossy pas sage that recalls damp garden soil and shaded nooks, before ambertonic leaves a warm amber whisper on skin for hours.
Cultural impact
Since its 2021 debut, Once Upon A Garden has been noted for its fresh‑green take on the modern floral niche, often compared to Acqua di Giò’s aquatic vibe and Florabotanica’s botanical richness. Wearers cite it as a summer‑evening staple, a scent that feels both youthful and refined, fitting casual brunches as well as Intimate rooftop gatherings.
