The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Succus arrived in 2015 as part of Les Eaux Arborantes, a collection from Les Liquides Imaginaires that translates roughly to 'the arboreal waters' or 'the waters of the trees.' The name itself gives it away: succus is Latin for sap, the lifeblood that moves through trunks and branches. Perfumer Shyamala Maisondieu built this fragrance around the idea of tree canopy, the place where branches meet open sky and light filters green through leaves. It's the scent of height, of being above the undergrowth, of wind that carries fragrance from one treetop to another. Not a forest floor fragrance. The opposite. Everything rises here.
What makes Succus unusual is how it handles the herbal category. Most fragrances that lead with rosemary or clary sage lean masculine or fougere, but Succus threads its herbs through mandarin and rhubarb, which keeps the whole thing bright and slightly tart rather than medicinal. The inclusion of Moxalone in the base is notable too. It's a synthetic wood molecule that behaves like cedars without the typical cedar astringency. Combined with Texan cedarwood and Haitian vetiver, you get depth that reads as forest without smelling like furniture. The somalian frankincense adds a resinous whisper, not the church-incense punch of middle eastern frankincense. It's subtle, almost a ghost of smoke.
The evolution
The first five minutes are all tartness and green. Rhubarb hits first with that sharp, almost metallic bite, immediately softened by mandarin's sweetness. Grapefruit appears here too, lending a slightly bitter edge that prevents the opening from becoming too fruity. Then the cedar leaves and rosemary arrive, transforming the scent from fruit to foliage. The hand-off happens around the 20-minute mark as ginger and black pepper emerge from the heart, warming the composition without slowing it down. The orchid accord is subtle, lending a floral quality that keeps the herbs from becoming too austere. By hour two, the top notes have receded and you're in the heart phase: warm, slightly spicy, still green. The base announces itself gradually around hour three. Somalian frankincense appears first as a whisper of smoke, then the vetiver grounds everything with an earthy, slightly smoky quality. Moxalone and Texan cedarwood create the final chapter: a woody drydown that stays close to the skin, extending the experience meaningfully into the evening.
Cultural impact
Succus occupies an interesting space in the niche fragrance landscape: green enough for spring and summer, but with enough warmth from the ginger and frankincense to work into cooler months. It appeals to wearers who want something herbal but refuse the traditional fougere structure. The moderate sillage means it doesn't announce itself across a room, which makes it practical for office environments where projection-heavy fragrances become distracting. Among its Les Liquides Imaginaires siblings, Succus sits between the aquatic-adjacent Tumultu and the deeper Melancolia, offering a bright, treetop energy that stands apart from the house's more contemplative offerings.
