Discussion Groups / English Usage / July 2009

I would say almost but not quite.  Unless "substance" is the name of
something, such as a new perfume (in which case it would likely be
capitalized), what's lacking is a "the" in front of substance:

   "The odour of the substance percepts as orris, fat and cucumber."

Mind, that casting is allowing the noun "percept" to be used as a verb:
but that sort of thing is reasonable in English.  (It also doesn't deal
with the "serial comma" issue.)

That doesn't make a *good* sentence, just one without actual defect.