A New Trilogy: TELLUS, SALTUS and SUCCUS by Les Liquides Imaginaires

by: Jodi Battershell

Photo © Roberto Greco

"THE ARBOREAL WATERS are a sacred tribute to trees, to the wild, to both plant and animal life. THE TREE is the totem of this trilogy, venerated as a god, becoming a mythical being and protector. As shamans become wild through their ritual union with a spirit in nature, these perfumes become sensorial 'guides', forging symbiosis
with the forces of nature."—Les Liquides Imaginaires

Les Liquides Imaginaires, the mysterious French perfume house known for releasing its fragrances in trilogies—three fragrances related in theme released as a set—has announced its newest trilogy, Les Eaux Arborantes ("Arboreal Waters").

With Latin names that suggest multiple meanings, the new trilogy honors trees, from roots to highest branches, in both spirit and ingredients.  "Arboreal waters offer a vertical journey, from earth to sky, an imaginary voyage within the trees broken down into three perfumes: Tellus, Saltus and Succus."

We begin at the roots with Tellus, Latin for "earth" and a name sometimes used as an alternative name for the planet Earth. Tellus represents the spirit of the earth, "a deep spirit, with strong, solid roots, the telluric force without which nothing grows." Described as a "Terrestrial perfume," Tellus lays a solid foundation with notes of Earth accord, Indonesian patchouli, Cashmeran, Lily, Costus, Mosses, Ambroxan, Fir balsam resinoid and Cistus. The perfumer of Tellus is Nadège Le Garlantezec for Givaudan.

Continuing our journey up the tree, Saltus (Latin for "leap" and also "wooded area" or "wilderness") represents the spirit of sap. Described as "an energetic perfume" whose spirit is "the bubbling vigour of life, the will to live, to jump up, rise, the vital energy of the ambition to grow," Saltus highlights scents emanating from inside the tree. Its official notes are Cedar leaves, Eucalyptus essence, Camphor, Styrax Honduras resinoid, Ethyl Laitone, Indonesian patchouli essence, Somalian incense, Venezuelian tonka bean resinoid, Castoreum artessence and Australian sandalwood essence. Saltus was composed by perfumer Shyamala Maisondieu for Givaudan

We approach the uppermost branches of the tree with Succus. The Latin word for "juice," and with an ancient meaning that specifically referred to the expressed juice of a plant for medicinal purposes, Succus is the spirit  of the treetop, "the spirit of the border between the material and immaterial worlds, between leaf and air, freedom and dream, desire and exterior beauty." This "perfume in flight" features some of nature's bounty often found in a tree's upper branches. Italian mandarin essence, Grapefruit essence, Laurel essence, African rosemary essence, Juniper essence, Cedar leaves essence and Clary sage essence adorn the top. Indonesian purple ginger, Clary sage essence, Black pepper essence from Madagascar and Orchid accord form the heart, leading to base notes of Haitian vetiver essence, Texan cedarwood essence, Georgywood® (an aromachemical known for its intense, clean woody aroma), Somalian incense and Moxalone.  Perfumer Shyamala Maisondieu for Givaudan also composed Succus.

As our writer Miguel Matos noted in his review of another Les Liquides Imaginaires fragrance (Bello Rabelo), the scents of a trilogy are designed with blending in mind. Les Eaux Arborantes can be worn individually or combined at will for a more complex aroma. Please visit the official website of Les Liquides Imaginaires to learn more about their unique philosophy, their scents and points of purchase.
 

Source: Les Liquides Imaginaires Press Release