The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Ulysses was composed by Roxana Villa as a unisex scent that connects bright citrus with a woody, aromatic core. Calabrian bergamot and Japanese yuzu establish the first impression, while sage gives the opening a cool herbal edge. The composition moves away from simple freshness, using vetiver, labdanum, and sandalwood to build depth beneath the citrus. Bergamot brings a lively, lightly bitter brightness, and yuzu adds a clean, juicy lift. Sage introduces a greener herbal character that makes the opening feel composed rather than sharp. As the scent develops, vetiver lends dry earth and grass, labdanum contributes warm resinous depth, and sandalwood rounds the composition with smooth woodiness.
The interesting part is how citrus behaves here. Bergamot and yuzu supply brightness, but sage, cypress, and cedarwood keep the composition from becoming light or sweet. Bergamot gives the opening a sparkling, lightly bitter quality, while yuzu adds a juicy, translucent brightness. Sage introduces a cool herbal accent, and the woody notes give the citrus a firmer structure. Labdanum adds a warm, resinous counterweight, while Australian sandalwood brings a creamy woodiness that softens the sharper edges. Madagascan vetiver then pulls everything downward into earth and dry grass.
The evolution
The opening arrives with the snap of citrus and a clean herbal lift. Bergamot and yuzu feel lively at first, almost sparkling, while sage introduces a cooler, rosemary-like shadow. As the fragrance settles, the heart takes over: cedarwood and cypress give it a vertical woody grain, clary sage adds a soft, powdery herbal texture, and labdanum brings amber warmth. Sandalwood smooths those edges without making the scent heavy. The transition is gradual, with the bright fruit-and-citrus character becoming less distinct while the woody, resinous notes gain definition. The drydown is where Madagascan vetiver becomes the main character, leaving earthy, aromatic wood with a faint green trace of the opening. On skin, the scent becomes close and quietly polished, settling into a blend of dry wood, soft herbs, warm resin, and subtle citrus.
Cultural impact
Ulysses offers a grounded unisex option for wearers who prefer freshness with a woody finish. Its character is built through a layered progression of citrus, herbs, woods, and resins. Bergamot and yuzu create an energetic opening, giving way to the cooler herbal texture of sage and clary sage. Cypress and cedarwood add a clear woody grain, while labdanum introduces warmth and Australian sandalwood brings smooth creaminess. Madagascan vetiver shapes the drydown with earthy, dry grass impressions, leaving the fragrance balanced between brightness and depth.
The House
SìunoSìuno is a Melbourne-based botanical perfume house founded in 2024 by Amanda Marotti-Thompson. Its identity brings together Australian nature and traditional perfumery through five debut releases: Sunetto, Kalyptos, Aurelius, Seva and Ulysses. The house describes its approach as working with whole plant botanicals, while independent fragrance listings credit the fragrances to perfumers Andrej Babicky and Roxana. Sìuno presents perfume as both personal ritual and an invitation to notice the character of plants more closely. Public appearances, including a Melbourne pop-up with Van Brussel, place the brand within a contemporary Australian fragrance scene shaped by workshops, conversation and sensory discovery.
The Creator
Roxana VillaRoxana’s technique centers on cold‑press and steam‑distillation, preserving the raw character of each botanical. She favors single‑note accords that evolve slowly, allowing the heart to emerge without synthetic accelerants.
