The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
This is Tabu arrived in 2026 as part of Susurri's After collection, a fragrance house whose work is crafted in Romania. The composition was shaped by Lorenzo Orlandi Berti, whose hand guided Susurri's earliest releases. After represents a continuation of the house's exploration into more indulgent territory, with Tabu standing as a centerpiece of that direction. The fragrance takes materials often associated with warmth and richness and weaves them into a single, cohesive statement. Tabu carries the resonance of something held close, a sensation that hovers between restraint and release. There is an intentionality here, a refusal to dilute the materials into something safe or inoffensive.
What makes this composition unusual is how it braids gourmand indulgence with materials traditionally reserved for serious perfumery. Blood orange and cocoa absolute open the door to sweetness, then rum and oud walk through it together, a pairing that settles into something warm and slightly dangerous on skin. The davana contributes an aromatic, slightly fruity quality that helps transition between the brighter opening and the deeper base. It's a gourmand that takes itself seriously without losing its sense of play.
The evolution
Tabu begins with the bright, almost startling snap of blood orange lifted by cool nutmeg and a bitter edge of dark chocolate. As the top notes dissolve, the composition slides into a warm, shadowed heart where chocolate melts into resinous oud, dried fruit, and a flicker of rum. The final hours settle into a low, skin-close drydown of amber, patchouli, and vanilla, leaving behind the memory of a late-night conversation rather than a bright opening statement.
Cultural impact
Tabu steps into a perfumery landscape that has grown increasingly interested in gourmand compositions, and it does so with materials that speak to indulgence and warmth. The use of cocoa absolute, rum, and davana places the fragrance firmly within that conversation, joining a broader movement toward richer, more food-adjacent scent profiles in contemporary niche perfumery. What distinguishes Tabu is its willingness to combine these sweeter elements with oud and amber, materials that carry their own gravitational pull.
