The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Vodka and Swearing launched in 2018 as part of Sucreabeille's Bloody Murder collection, the indie house's line of scents built around bold, unapologetic themes. The catalog treats fragrance as a spell, a story, a mood worn on skin rather than a status symbol. This particular composition pulls from that same well. Lemongrass cuts sharp and citrusy at the opening, a bright green blade of aromatic grass that announces itself without apology. Juniper follows close behind, adding that cool, resinous snap that anyone who's held a gin bottle recognizes. Together they build a cocktail-glass clarity, the scent equivalent of ice clinking against crystal. There's no pretense here, no careful layering of softness to smooth the edges.
The composition is stripped down and deliberate. Lemongrass and juniper share top-billing, each one pushing forward without ceding ground to the other. Sage grounds the heart, lending the dusty green of crushed leaves and the warm, slightly peppery quality of dried bundles rather than anything sharp or coniferous. There's no sweetness here, no amber ballast, no smooth sandalwood drydown to round the edges. The structure stays herbal from first spray to final fade, with the sage deepening as the citrus notes recede.
The evolution
On skin, Vodka and Swearing arrives cold and bright. The lemongrass hits first, almost green enough to taste, with juniper snapping right behind it like the first pour of a gin and tonic. The mojito accord sits underneath, carrying that mint-and-lime shadow, but it's the lemongrass that dominates. Within 20 minutes, the sharpness softens just enough for sage to push through, adding a dry, herbal warmth that reads almost like sun-warmed rosemary. The base is quiet. There's no big resinous anchor, no lingering sweetness. What remains after 4-5 hours is a faint green close to the skin, like the memory of herbs pressed between fingers. It doesn't last forever. It doesn't need to.
Cultural impact
Vodka and Swearing sits within Sucreabeille's Bloody Murder collection, a catalog known for bold and unconventional scents. The composition itself draws comparisons among indie perfume enthusiasts because of its stripped-down, herbal character. Creed Virgin Island Water appears among fragrances often listed alongside it, though Vodka and Swearing charts a distinctly different course. Where Virgin Island Water pulls toward tropical territory, Vodka and Swearing keeps its formula tight and green, built on lemongrass, juniper, and sage without any coconut sweetness or creamy ambers to soften the edges.
