The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Abyssis is a fragrance of the deep, named for the creature that Norse sagas called the largest monster of the sea, a colossal thing capable of swallowing ships whole. It rises from the Eaux des Bermudes collection with tentacled arms of synthetic marine and spice, dragging you into cold, dark waters. Perfumer Shyamala Maisondieu built this around the tension between what floats above and what waits below. The top is bright, sharp, almost aggressive. The bottom is where it lives. Abyssis doesn't introduce itself. It surfaces.
The note structure is where it gets interesting. Rather than relying on traditional marine ingredients, Abyssis uses synthetic molecules, Calypsone® and Cosmone, to build its aquatic character. The result is cleaner, more controlled, and more intense than anything nature provides. Combined with the warm-amber quality of ambroxan and the balsamic depth of styrax, the fragrance creates an oceanic effect that feels simultaneously modern and ancient. This is aquatic without the clichés, built from the molecular level up.
The evolution
The opening is a command. Calypsone hits first, that cold, mineral, almost metallic marine note, followed by a double dose of pepper (black and white) that adds sharp spice to the brine. It announces itself without apology. Within twenty minutes, the aquatic starts to integrate with the woody heart. The cedar and sandalwood surface while keeping the marine quality alive. This is where Abyssis reveals its structure: it isn't linear, it shifts. The drydown settles into something resinous and mineral, styrax bringing warmth, Cosmone providing that warm-musky ambergris effect that rounds everything out. Close to the skin, but present. You catch traces of it the next day on fabric, stone and depth, the ghost of the sea. Wearers who love this fragrance describe it as the one they reach for when the temperature drops and the days get short.
Cultural impact
Abyssis belongs to the Eaux des Bermudes collection, where Les Liquides Imaginaires explores marine themes beyond the expected. Abyssis embraces deep-sea darkness, mineral quality, and an animalic base, creating something that feels substantial and intentional. Since its 2022 launch, it has built a following among those who appreciate a marine that carries weight and complexity. The synthetic marine approach represents a fragrance built from molecules, not myths, prioritizing control and intensity over natural materials in the modern perfumery landscape.
