Notes on a House: Stora Skuggan
A Swedish house where scent becomes story, and wear turns into ritual.
I came across Stora Skuggan while following a few scent trails online. Fragrance creators I trust kept mentioning it, always with a kind of reverence. So I’ve long been intrigued. I started reading up on the house and learned that Stora Skuggan translates from Swedish to The Great Shadow. The more I explored, the more it felt fitting; moody, a little mysterious, hard to pin down.
Eventually, I got a discovery set, though I didn’t rush into testing (other than a quick stolen moment with one sample). I wanted to give each scent a proper moment. These didn’t feel like perfumes you wear casually, they felt like stories waiting to unfold. And once they did, I found this is a house that trades in atmosphere, imagination, and a very particular kind of quiet boldness.
Stora Skuggan is based in Stockholm, and their creations feel rooted in Scandinavian myth, wilderness, and quiet introspection. The branding is stripped-back in tone but rich in concept. There’s a folkloric quality that runs through their work, and as someone who loves storytelling in scent, I was pulled in. These aren’t loud attention seekers. They unfold and whisper. They grow on you; sometimes literally.
I gave each scent proper wear time, on skin, in real life, in different moods and moments. Here’s what I found:
Pine
This one caught me off guard. On paper, it was exactly what I’d hoped for: earthy pine, resinous, with a walk-in-the-forest clarity. On my skin? A brief horror show of mud and mildew, wet soil and swampy greens. But I gave it time. A minute or two in, and it shifted: the murkiness dried down, and that piney, aromatic backbone emerged.
A walk through a bog that opens into a sunlit glade.
Who it’s for: Lovers of outdoorsy, green scents willing to weather the storm for the calm after.
Hexensalbe
I knew I was going to love this before I even smelled it. It’s been spoken of highly by many of my favourite fragrance voices, and it lived up to expectation. A soft, smoky liquorice note leads, followed by a green spiced freshness. Nothing screams here, it’s well blended, soothing, and quietly intoxicating. I love liquorice in perfumery when it’s used thoughtfully, and this feels like a masterclass.
Like walking through a witch’s garden at dusk… with faint smoke curling.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants to feel mysterious but approachable, like the friend who reads your aura but also brings snacks.
Azalai
Bright, juicy, spiced citrus with real movement. This scent took me by surprise: the opening is lush orange then slowly morphs into something drier, like semi-cured fruit or warm, spiced air. It has a slight bitterness that balances the juice beautifully.
Like a market in motion; fruit stalls, heat, laughter, spice in the breeze.
Who it’s for: Confident wearers who love citrus but want more than just a top note hit.
Thumbsucker
Cherry, violet, beeswax, powder; yes, yes, and yes. This one’s addictive. It’s got a slight vintage makeup bag vibe but never feels dated. The cherry is sour and playful, then the dry down mellows into a lovely almond-honey softness. I found myself constantly sniffing my wrist.
Flirtation in scent form. A quick glance, warm skin, and something unspoken.
Who it’s for: Fans of lipstick scents and cherry lovers looking for something with depth.
Mistpouffer
Instant love. This is the scent I’ve been wanting without knowing I needed it. Balsamic mist, subtle woodsmoke, and something green and bitter running underneath. It stays fresh while still feeling textured. There’s a floral element in there too; gentle, not sugary.
Morning mist leaving silver trails on mossy ground.
Who it’s for: Anyone chasing freshness with soul.
Moonmilk
This has that elegant, elevated black tea scent I tend to gravitate toward. Think Earl Grey with lime peel and faint cardamom. It’s sophisticated without being aloof.
A porcelain cup left warm on a windowsill at dawn.
Who it’s for: Tea lovers, minimalists, and those who want subtle complexity.
Silphium
Opens with soft leather and ginger, then veers into more herbal and medicinal territory. I found it a little unpredictable. Some stages I loved, others less so. It definitely evolved a lot on my skin, which I respect, even if I didn’t fully connect with every twist.
A scent that reads like a complex manuscript.
Who it’s for: Fragrance explorers who love a challenge and enjoy a scent that doesn’t sit still.
Fantôme de Maules
Lemon, lavender, cardamom, green herbs… there’s something beautifully structured here. But emotionally, I didn’t fully click with it. It has a slightly melancholic edge that left me admiring more than loving. Still, a complex and thoughtfully built perfume.
A pressed flower found in an old book.
Who it’s for: The introspective wearer, someone who finds comfort in shadows and soft greens.
What stayed with me most after exploring Stora Skuggan was how seamlessly scent and story are woven together. These perfumes don’t just wear, they evolve sometimes quietly, sometimes with sudden left turns that challenge your expectations. They aren’t always easy, but they’re certainly not forgettable. Each one felt like stepping into a different world: mist-covered, herbal-strewn, citrus-drenched or powder-soft. Some scents felt like old memories. Others caught me off guard, made me lean in, made me think.
I didn’t rush the process. I wore them on long walks, during writing sessions, and on evenings when I wanted my scent to say something. Some I loved immediately (Mistpouffer, I’m looking at you). Others took their time to click. But even the ones I didn’t fully connect with left an impression and that, to me, is the mark of a house doing something meaningful.
Stora Skuggan doesn’t just make perfumes. It builds little fables in scent. Some you’ll fall for, others you’ll puzzle over, but all worth spending time with.
My top three
Each wildly different, but all deeply satisfying to wear. These are the ones I kept thinking about long after the scent had faded and will likely be purchasing full bottles of.
Mistpouffer - Fresh, smoky, and quietly surreal. It’s the scent of air thick with mood.
Hexensalbe - Liquorice-laced and herbaceous. Spells, not sparkles.
Thumbsucker - Sour cherry, powder, and playful nostalgia. Addictive and full of charm.
Final Thoughts
Stora Skuggan is the kind of house that makes me fall in love with perfume all over again not just as a sensory experience, but as a form of storytelling. These aren’t background scents. They have personality. They shift and breathe and sometimes contradict themselves.
What I appreciate most is the quiet confidence of the compositions. Nothing feels mass-produced or trend-chasing. Even the ones that didn’t work for me felt worthwhile. If you’ve been curious about Stora Skuggan, I can’t recommend the discovery set enough. It’s a house worth spending time some quality with.
