The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Sonak arrived in 2024 from UNDER THE PERGOLA, a young fragrance house built around atmosphere and close, personal wearing. Sian Lee created this unisex composition as a study in contrast: water and citrus up top, leafy green notes through the middle, and a soft woody base underneath. The structure feels suited to the brand's shaded-garden image, where air, plants, light, and passing seasons shape the mood. Nothing about Sonak announces itself loudly. It develops in layers, revealing its floral and balsamic side gradually, like a conversation that gets better when you stop trying to interrupt.
The unusual part is the handoff between water and greenery. Bamboo and aquatic notes give Sonak its clean, moving quality, while galbanum introduces a sharper green edge. Jasmine, neroli, rose, and geranium keep the center floral but not sugary. Down below, pine, patchouli, musk, white amber, and Iso E Super give the composition a quiet body. Together, they make a fragrance that can feel airy and grounded at once, with enough contrast to stay interesting beyond the first impression.
The evolution
Sonak begins with a cool, brisk impression: bamboo, bergamot, petitgrain, and aquatic notes move together like air moving through water. The opening has movement, but not a loud citrus sparkle. As it settles, galbanum brings a green, almost mineral edge, while jasmine, neroli, rose, and geranium soften the composition into a floral center. The base then changes the temperature of the scent. Pine and patchouli add dry woods and earth, while musk, white amber, and Iso E Super leave a soft, clean trail. Over a 4-6 hour wear, it moves from fresh water to leafy greenery, then to polished skin with a faint woody hush. The finish is intimate rather than loud, the sort of scent that stays in your personal radius.
Cultural impact
Sonak belongs to the newer independent fragrance world where atmosphere matters as much as a recognizable signature. Its quiet intimacy fits wearers who prefer scent to stay present rather than perform. The unisex composition also places it in the overlap between fresh aquatic and woody floral territory, making it easy to imagine in everyday wardrobes rather than reserved for special occasions.
The House
UNDER THE PERGOLAUNDER THE PERGOLA is a new fragrance house with a compact, intriguing catalogue emerging between 2023 and 2026. Led by perfumer Sian, the brand pairs the intimacy of a shaded garden with compositions made for close, personal wearing. Its name suggests a place to pause, where scent becomes part of the atmosphere rather than a distant performance.
The Creator
Sian LeeThere is not enough verified information to define Sian Lee’s technique or preferred ingredients. The available notes name no materials, extraction methods, composition styles, or performance priorities that can be confidently linked to this perfumer.
