The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Leaf arrived in 2013 from perfumer Sherri Sebastian, drawing on the brightness and clarity associated with traditional French eaux de cologne. Its name points toward greenery without making the composition a literal botanical sketch. Instead, the fragrance builds around petitgrain, bergamot, bitter orange leaf, violet, galbanum, orange blossom, buchu, and violet leaf. Together, the citrus notes create a crisp opening, while galbanum and the leafy materials introduce a sharper green quality. Violet brings a powdery softness that rounds out the sharper facets, and orange blossom adds a delicate floral accent.
The interesting part is how many kinds of green sit beside one another. Petitgrain and bergamot bring a polished citrus brightness, while galbanum and violet leaf make the composition more mineral and leafy. Orange blossom softens that sharper edge with a white floral hush. Buchu adds an herbal, aromatic accent without changing the easy elegance of the whole. It is a familiar eaux de cologne outline, but the violet and green materials give it a more distinctive pulse.
The evolution
Leaf begins with a brisk citrus impression, as if cool air has just crossed a sunlit windowsill. Petitgrain and bergamot provide the bright lift, with bitter orange leaf adding another crisp, green-toned accent. Galbanum and violet leaf then pull the composition toward a greener, more mineral middle, giving the opening a distinctive aromatic edge. Orange blossom arrives as a soft floral veil, tempering the sharper citrus and greenery without covering them. Violet lends a powdery character, while buchu contributes a herbal quality that complements the leafier notes. As the fragrance develops, the opening brightness gives way to a more interconnected green-violet impression. Citrus, leafy greens, and powdery florals continue to define its character, and the final impression resembles clean fabric dried in a breezy room rather than a simple shower-fresh scent.
Cultural impact
Leaf belongs to Sebastian Signs' Purusa Naturals direction, where classical perfumery meets a newer gel format associated with argan oil. Its clear green-citrus profile is paired with the softer presence of violet and orange blossom, creating a composition that can be explored as a study of leaves, citrus peel, floral softness, and powder. Petitgrain and bergamot establish brightness, while galbanum, bitter orange leaf, and violet leaf introduce greener, sharper nuances. Violet adds a rounded, powdery texture, and orange blossom keeps the leafy structure accompanied by a delicate floral veil.
The House
Sebastian SignsSebastian Signs is an American fragrance house founded by perfumer Sherri Sebastian and later merged with its parent brand, Provision. Best known for the numbered scents No. 35, No. 17, and No. 44, alongside Root, Leaf, Petalum, and Seed, the house draws on classical perfumery while exploring ingredients and textures associated with nature. Its Los Angeles setting and founder’s background in flavor and fragrance give the brand a distinctly personal context.
The Creator
Sherri SebastianHer style carries the imprint of two apprenticeships, one in a flavor house, one in a European wine cellar, which gives her a fluency in the savory, the fermented, and the vegetal that many fine fragrance perfumers skip. She works comfortably in naturals and synthetics, choosi…
