The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Savann was launched in 2012 by Anne McClain, the perfumer behind this compact tropical composition. The scent was inspired by an orphan Anne met while volunteering at an orphanage. Its materials point toward openness and gentleness: lotus and water lily carry the floral aquatic mood, mango introduces a ripe tropical note, and musk softens the composition with a subtle warmth. Sandalwood adds a measured presence beneath the brightness. Together, the notes create a fragrance that moves easily between floral freshness and ripe fruit sweetness, with the watery florals keeping the tropical elements clear and balanced.
The unusual pleasure in Savann comes from the way tropical fruit and aquatic florals share the same space. Mango brings a rounded, juicy sweetness, while lotus and water lily temper that sweetness with a light floral quality. Musk forms the transition between the fruit and floral notes, carrying the composition toward warmth as the scent settles closer to the skin. Sandalwood gives the final arrangement another layer of definition, complementing the clear floral character and ripe mango note. The result is a compact tropical fragrance that feels both airy and gently warm.
The evolution
Savann begins with a fresh, green impression, as though damp air has just crossed an open field. Lotus and water lily sharpen that first impression with transparent floral light, while mango slips in with a rounded, sun-ripe sweetness. The heart settles into a gentle floral pulse, keeping the fruit from becoming syrupy and the aquatic notes from feeling cold. Musk gradually moves closer to the skin, softening the edges and leaving a clean, powdery impression. Sandalwood adds a warm wooden trace during the drydown. As the fragrance wears, it gradually shifts from airy tropical brightness toward a subtler floral and musk impression, with the fruit sweetness becoming less prominent as the floral notes and sandalwood remain more apparent.
Cultural impact
Savann offers a compact expression of the tropical floral-fruity style, combining lotus and water lily with ripe mango, musk, and sandalwood. Its fresh floral character makes it well suited to spring and summer, daytime errands, warm weekends, and other occasions that call for an easy, lightly sweet fragrance. The aquatic florals bring clarity to the composition while mango adds warmth, creating a balance that can feel both airy and substantial without relying on a heavy seasonal character.
The House
MCMC FragrancesMCMC Fragrances proves that intimacy and ambition can coexist. Founded in Brooklyn in 2009 by Anne Serrano-McClain after training at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery, the house crafts original scents that reject the performative excess of mainstream perfumery. Every fragrance emerges from a single creative voice, producing work that feels personal rather than manufactured. The result is a small but considered catalog that has earned a loyal following and placement in retailers from Paris to Tokyo, all without sacrificing the handcrafted ethos that defines the brand.
The Creator
Anne McClainMcClain's style draws from her deep study of natural materials and her grounding in classical Grasse technique. She favors botanical ingredients, informed by her background in aromatherapy before her formal perfumery education.
