Zen Essence
Shiseido Zen Essence is built from six materials and the restraint is the point, consistent with a house that has approached fragrance from a Japanese rather than a French tradition.
Bergamot and jasmine open it together. Putting a white flower this high is unusual, and it means the fragrance never has a purely fresh phase: the bergamot lifts, the jasmine softens, and the two arrive as one impression.
Musk and iris make up the heart. Iris comes from the root rather than the flower, powdery and cool with an earthy, almost hide-like quality, and the musk around it keeps the middle clean. This is the part that reads as calm.
Cedarwood and vanilla finish it. Cedarwood is dry and sharp, vanilla soft and warm, and the two balance each other so the base settles rather than sweetening.
How Zen Essence wears
Moderate on both counts, staying close to the skin and lasting a working day. It works across the seasons and is easy to wear at an office.
Shiseido Zen Essence Eau de Parfum, from Shiseido, the Japanese house founded in 1872.
Please note: images are a guide only. Packaging and bottle design may occasionally differ from those shown due to manufacturer updates or promotions.
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