The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Andreas Wilhelm has always been interested in materials that most perfumers avoid. In 2023, he started from a simple question: what does raw fuel actually smell like, in all its abrasive honesty? Working from Perfume.Sucks' Zürich laboratory, he built FUEL 0987 around a core of gasoline, oud, asphalt, and spikenard, selecting ingredients that capture the smell of fuel depots, burned rubber, and industrial steel. He paired these industrial materials with traditional oud and nard, elements that have been used for centuries in sacred contexts, giving the composition unexpected depth. The goal was never comfort. It was accuracy, and the courage to wear something most people would walk away from.
Perfume.Sucks believes that notes should reveal, not decorate. Each ingredient in FUEL 0987 serves a specific purpose: gasoline for raw power, oud for depth, asphalt for mineral grit, spikenard for earthiness. The tolu balsam and caramel in the heart exist to complicate the initial aggression, adding warmth that makes the drydown wearable instead of punishing. Leather and labdanum anchor the composition into something enduring. The result is a fragrance built for people who find beauty in honesty, and who are willing to earn their sillage.
The evolution
The fragrance unfolds as a deliberate progression from volatile to grounded. Opening notes of oud, gasoline, and asphalt hit immediately with sharp, acrid force. Spikenard adds an earthy, medicinal counterpoint that tempers the fuel's aggression without softening it. As you move into the heart, gasoline remains the dominant player, but Tolu Balsam introduces a warm, honeyed sweetness, and caramel threads through the composition, creating an unexpected gourmand quality beneath the industrial exterior. The drydown reveals leather, asphalt reappearing with styrax and labdanum, settling into a smoky, resinous base that feels permanent once it arrives. Gasoline never disappears entirely. It threads through every phase, a constant reminder that this scent was born from fuel.
Cultural impact
Since its 2023 debut, FUEL 0987 has sparked conversation among enthusiasts who admire its unapologetic industrial vibe. Wearers often describe it as the scent of a midnight pit stop, noting its strong sillage and the way the gasoline note dominates a crowded room. Its raw character aligns with the brand’s transparent ethos, making it a go-to for those who prefer fragrance over story and enjoy a perfume that feels more like a mechanical pulse than a perfume-fluff narrative.
