The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Simon Constantine dreamed of a permaculture plot. After a few failed attempts at growing, he made peace with the soil and turned his experience into a fragrance. Secret Garden pairs osmanthus absolute with sticky apricot notes, blending immortelle absolute and myrrh to capture the richness of soil and bloom. Dedicated to the friend who taught him about permaculture. A scent inspired by the garden, not a literal one.
Four materials. Osmanthus absolute for the sticky fruit warmth. Immortelle absolute for the honey-herbal complexity. Myrrh for resinous depth. Herbaceous notes for green. The blend opens with apricot sweetness before the herbs arrive, green and cutting through the florals. Osmanthus brings thick, almost suffocating sweetness. The honey-tobacco facet of immortelle adds warmth and complexity. Myrrh anchors both into something earthy and balsamic. The result is a fragrance that saturates without being sweet, resinous, warm, and unapologetically dense.
The evolution
The opening arrives with apricot sweetness, immediate and assertive. Herbs follow quickly, green and almost weedy, cutting through before the florals fully establish themselves. As the fragrance develops, osmanthus dominates, thick in its sweetness. The honey-tobacco facet of immortelle begins to surface, adding warmth. Myrrh eventually takes over, the floral sweetness fading to leave resinous earthiness, animalic, slightly dirty, undeniably present. The scent lingers on skin and fabric, holding its presence long after application.
Cultural impact
Secret Garden belongs to Lush's more challenging side. It sits apart from conventional floral fragrances, offering something bolder. A Gorilla Gallery Tour exclusive in 2017. The release featured an unconventional osmanthus-myrrh pairing that stands out in floral perfumery.
