Le Secret de Suzanne by Les Parfums Suzanne (Perichon) was first introduced in 1924 in France, and it wasn't until around 1933 that it made its way to the United States. The name of the perfume, "Le Secret de Suzanne," carries an air of mystery and romantic allure, drawing inspiration from the opera Il Segreto di Susanna by Italian composer Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, which premiered in 1909. The name itself translates to "The Secret of Suzanne" in English, with "Le" meaning "the" in French, and "Secret" remaining the same in both languages. Le Secret de Suzanne is pronounced "luh seh-krey duh soo-zahn" (with a soft French "r"). The phrase evokes images of secrecy, allure, and intrigue, suggesting a woman with an air of hidden depths, someone who is both enigmatic and captivating, like the opera's heroine, whose secret is central to the plot.
Launched during the Roaring Twenties, a period defined by exuberance and change, Le Secret de Suzanne would have appealed to the bold, confident women of the time who reveled in their newfound freedoms. The 1920s, or the Jazz Age, were marked by shifting social norms, the rise of flappers, and a cultural atmosphere of liberation, where fashion and personal expression were key. Women were embracing more modern styles, cutting their hair into bobbed cuts, wearing shorter skirts, and reveling in the indulgence of the decade. The scent, with its floral oriental composition, would have resonated with these women—assertive and confident—while offering an underlying softness and sensuality that matched the era’s mix of exuberance and subtle sophistication.
In terms of how the fragrance was interpreted in scent, Le Secret de Suzanne is classified as a floral oriental fragrance for women. The scent is warm and floral, with a sweet, heavy finish dominated by sandalwood. The floral heart gives the perfume a refined, feminine essence, while the sandalwood base adds depth and a velvety, woody richness. It’s a fragrance that feels like an intimate secret, wrapped in a cloud of softness, with the lingering warmth of oriental spices and woods. Its sweetness could have been both enticing and luxurious, evoking a sense of mystery—much like the hidden emotions and secrets that women of the era were beginning to express more freely.
