The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Liz Zorn's Southern grandmothers were the starting point for Soivohle, whose name comes from her daily morning meditation. Writing Lyrical Poetry arrived in 2009 as a white floral fragrance built around lilies in the opening, followed by a currant bud, clary sage, and petitgrain. The heart adds freesia, gardenia, jasmine, orange blossom, strawberry, raspberry, and a red berry accord. Its warmth develops through the supporting notes rather than relying on a pristine floral image alone, with black currant buds bringing a green, catty snap and the berries adding a tart, almost edible quality.
The supporting notes give the composition its shape. Black currant buds bring a green, catty snap that keeps the lilies and gardenia from seeming overly sweet. The red berry accord, including strawberry and raspberry, adds a tartness that reads almost edible. Civet does the heavy lifting in the base, lending a musky, animal warmth that gives the floral accord a grounded quality. The blend holds a balance between pretty and grounded, with the bright floral notes, fruit, greenery, and warm musky base all contributing to its character.
The evolution
The first impression is dewy and restrained, with lily of the valley and currant buds opening the composition before the white florals develop. Around the 90-minute mark, the berries become more noticeable. Their sweetness feels ripe but not candied. Freesia and gardenia thicken the texture, while jasmine adds creamy warmth rather than sharp indole. By hour three, the fruit has mellowed and the base begins to define itself. Oakmoss gives the drydown a dry, earthy undertone. Sandalwood smooths the structure, and civet contributes a low, warm, slightly feral note. Vanilla softens the edges without making the drydown particularly gourmand. The result moves from dewy floral brightness to a warmer, darker, softly musky finish.
Cultural impact
Writing Lyrical Poetry was released in 2009 by Liz Zorn through Soivohle. Its composition pairs the openness of lilies, freesia, gardenia, jasmine, and orange blossom with a more unusual supporting palette. Black currant buds bring a green, catty quality, strawberry and raspberry add ripe sweetness, and a red berry accord reinforces the fruit side of the scent. At the base, oakmoss, sandalwood, civet, and vanilla give the fragrance an earthy, warm, musky foundation. The result is a white floral composition whose character comes from the interaction between fresh florals, greenery, fruit, and darker base notes.
The House
SoivohleSoivohle is an artisan perfume house founded by artist‑turned‑perfumer Liz Zorn. Since 2002 the brand has offered hand‑batched, botanical scents that are cruelty‑free and vegan. Each fragrance is presented as a small work of olfactory art, meant to be explored in intimate doses. Soivohle’s catalog includes titles such as A Rose For Beacon Free, Iris Underground (2017), and Green Oakmoss, each reflecting a balance of modern experimentation and traditional technique.
The Creator
Liz ZornZorn favors natural isolates and raw extracts, often sourcing ingredients from small farms or wild harvests. She builds fragrances in small glass vessels, allowing each addition to settle before the next, a method she describes as “painting with aroma.
