Kodo

DI SER Sasora and Shiragoromo Perfume Review With Chester Gibs

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About half a year ago Yasuyuki Shinohara from the Hokkaido based company DI SER in Japan sent my perfume buddy Chester a free sample set of 8 Diser fragrances along with his purchase of Tsuki. He tested all the samples and was so enthusiastic that he thought it’d be a nice idea to share the pleasure of reviewing these special perfumes with me. I gladly accepted and we met up twice to sample the perfumes and had some tea with cakes on the side! We sampled all four of Diser’s agar wood collection perfumes Kyara, Shiragoromo, Hasunoito and Sasora.

In this review we will talk about Sasora and Shiragoromo.

Sasora (Agarwood Collection)

‘Sasora is another fragrant wood used in Kōdō*. This fragrance expresses the traditional flavor of ancient Japan. This perfume, extracted from Kyara, Agarwood and blended with Japanese yuzu, is finished as a suitable scent for Japanese traditional clothing and kimono.’ ( text from Official DI SER website)

Notes: Agarwood (oud), Yuzu (citrus fruit), Rosewood, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Camphor

Esperessence: ” Sasora is both fresh and dirty. It calmed and alerted me at the same time and would be excellent for those moments when you need both of these qualities. For example when you are taking an exam, having an important meeting or job interview. When I wore Sasora on my skin it became slightly powdery and feminine leaving an elegant impression. Sasora does not smell seamlessly blended and more botanical which is probably due to the fact only essential oils are used in DI SER compositions and not aroma chemicals.”

Chester: “Sasora is a subtle perfume with a most pleasant fresh and green opening. Through the fresh yuzu burst in the opening you can smell the patchouli. Perhaps it’s the ‘tingling’ effect this one has on my skin but I find the fragrance to be calming yet alert at the same time. Sasora becomes more woody and soft after a while.”

Shiragoromo (Agarwood Collection)

‘Shira Goromo means white cloth. In Japan, white is a sacred color, representing purity and cleanliness. This is a perfume that represents the “beauty” of innocence, using the white flowers Roses and Jasmine. Balance has been created by adding Kyara and Agarwood to the Jasmine and Roses.’ (Text from Official DI SER website)

Notes: Agarwood (oud), Yuzu (citrus fruit), Jasmine Sambac, Jasmine Grandiflorum, Rose Absolute, Spikenard

Fragrance family: Oriental/Floral/Woody (according to DiSer website)

Esperessence: ” When I first scented Shiragoromo woody notes and uplifting citrus fruit evoked a relaxing and activating feeling. The woody notes could be from the Spikenard or its combination with Agarwood. Spikenard oil (botanical name: nardostachys jatamansi) was traditionally used to uplift the mood and stimulate relaxation. Shiragoromo gave me the impression of smelling incense which is probably due to the spikenard which is not surprising as it is used to make incense. The ancient Egyptians already used to make incense with spikenard. Shiragoromo smelled like a room fragrance to me. I would gladly use this fragrance at home to evoke a relaxing atmosphere. It scented quite special as it does not smell like anything I have scented before. ”

 

Chester: ” Lime ,jasmine ,Agarwood, spikenard.This is just lovely! Delicate, almost a fresh neroli feel to it, maybe its the right blending of the lime and the jasmine with the other ingredients. It is uplifting and cheerful, certainly a perfume that moves me. I made a drawing while wearing this a few days ago (see painting above) I wanted to create an image of plant like hands spreading perfumed snow – that is what this perfume evoked when I smelled it during my drawing process. Shiragoromo is a beautiful perfume- oriental citrus, but certainly also floral enough. And it is a scent that makes me feel positive!”

Thanks Yasuyuki Shinoohara for your kind service and thank you Chester for sharing your perfume passion with me!

Visit the DI SER website here
Check out Chester’s blog Pencils and Perfume:

*Kōdō: explaining Kōdō in a few sentences does not do justice to the art of appreciating Japanese incense. You can watch more about the elegant art of enjoying or listening to aromatic woods in this interesting short documentary, the part about Kōdō starts at minute 9  (Begin Japanology: The Fragrances of Japan)

Photographs were made by me and the painting by Chester.

In Conversation With Satori Osawa – Parfum Satori

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A few weeks ago I meet Japanese perfumer Satori Osawa at the niche perfume shop The Perfume Lounge in Amsterdam. The Perfume Lounge is the only store which sells Parfum Satori in Europe (except a pop-up store in Paris) at this moment.

Satori Osawa was born in Tokyo and opened her perfume salon Parfum Satori in 2000. She studied Japanese culture intensively. Its tea ceremony called Sado. The incense ceremony named Kodo. The Japanese art of flower arranging known as Kado and Japanese dance. Japanese culture is the base from which she works. I had the impression Satori had a clear mission to explain her fragrances and Japanese culture to people coming from other cultures. Part of our talk was in explaining aspects of Japanese culture to me which I found very interesting. Satori explained the idea behind her five fragrances as well: Wasanbon, Sakura, Satori, Iris Homme and Hana Hiraku.

Wasanbon 

Wasanbon is a special refined Japanese sugar. The Wasanbon sweets are called Rakugan. They are hand made in several stages. The Wasanbon sugar has a less sweet, more creamy and buttery taste than ordinary refined sugar. Rakugan are used for the Japanese Matcha (green tea) tea ceremony as part of the tea ritual. First you take a small piece of Rakugan in your mounth afterwards you take a sip of Japanese Matcha tea. In this way combining two kinds of flavours, sweet and bitter.

Satori explaned she created Wasanbon Eau de Parfum as a not too loud dry gourmand fragrance. A scent for adults unlike other very sweet bombs which can be found nowadays. This fragrance is meant to be gentle, happy, innocent and sophisticated. Satori uses this fragrance on moments she wants to take care of herself. To me personally Wasanbon Eau de Parfum is a pink light fluffy scent. Wasanbon is not too sweet, quite delicate and girly.

Notes: Lemon, muscat grape, mimosa, muguet, almond, sugar, honey, vanilla, iris, guaiacwood

Sakura 

Sakura means cherry blossom. Contrary to what one would think the cherry blossom in itself is not a blossom which smells fruity. Sakura eau de parfum is supposed to bring a feeling of happiness, delightfulness and innocence. The joyful feeling of spring arriving after winter. Cherry blossoms filling the air with their pink petals all at once, creating a beautiful pink carpet when they fall on the ground. Satura eau de parfum contains incense, spice and sandalwood. It wears very close to the skin. I really like this scent and could fully wear it.

Notes: cherry blossom, shiso, perilla frutescens, cherry, jasmine, rose, moss, musk, woods, incense

Satori 

Satori is the best seller in the Tokyo perfume salon. This fragrance is based on the Japanese ceremony of incense, Kado. In this scent the 5 Japanese elements of taste are combined, spicy, bitter, sweet, sour and salty.  Kyara is known to have these 5 tastes. Satori eau de parfum was formulated based on the image of it. Kyara is a not very dominant precious agarwood and more refined than the oud we are used to in Western perfumery.  Cinnamon and clove are used for the spicy notes, cocoa for the bitter, vanilla adding sweetness, oakmoss, cypress and bitter orange for its sour and saltyness.

I find Satori to be the most outspoken one of all her fragrances. Some compared it to the original Shiseido Serge Lutens Feminite du Bois. Not being an expert on vintage Feminite du Bois I am curious how these two compare to each other. From all fragrances I like this one best together with Sakura. It is a very refined, warm cozy scent. If Satori eau de parfum had a colour it would be the autumnal colours of dark red and brown leaves of a tree like Indian Summer colours of leaves. The texture which comes to mind is very thin but warming wool.

Notes: Bergamot, coriander, cinnamon, clove, cacao, vanilla, frankincense, sandalwood, oak moss, agarwood (oud)

Iris Homme

The iris flower is only used in Japan for decoration and not in fragrances. It is used to decorate kimono’s, paintings and in haiku poems and very much part of Japanese culture.  Iris Homme starts with a sparkling citrus note of lemon and bergamot to change to a dryer powdery heart with iris and finish with a woody amber/sandalwood base. Although not mentioned in the official notes it has galbanum and elemi as well. Iris Homme wears quite close to the skin. I find it quite a refined scent for men to wear.

Notes: bergamot, cardamon, orange flower, iris (nioi-ayame), violet, jasmine, amber, sandalwood, light musc

Hana Hiraku

Hana Hiraku is the latest release of Satori. It means blooming flower and was made as a Magnolia scent. The fragrance has an interesting combination of sweet melon, creamy jasmine and salty german blue camomille. The blue camomille was added to add a miso and soy sauce note. The Japanese magnolia tree (Magnolia Obovate) smells like melon, creamy and at some stage even carnal. The carnal note was added by tuberose absolute. Hana Hiraku is meant to portray the emotion of a new beginning after wintertime.

Hanu Hiraku was the most challenging fragrance for me as I am not too fond of melon as an accord. It struck me as very odd in the beginning and not as refined as the other Satori perfumes. But after learning the explanation of the fragrance of the Magnolia Obovate tree I understand why the pronounced melon accord was added. The flowers of the magnolia tree I know near our Dutch garden smell more like soap which is very different I imagine from the Magnolia Obovate.

Notes: bergamot, galbanum, melon, magnolia, iris, jasmine, tuberose, rose, ylang ylang, blue camomille, miso, shoyu, guiac wood, opoponax resin, sandal wood, bees wax

Most of these Eau de Parfums are very subtle and quite exquisite fragrances. I would not wear all of them but I could certainly wear Sakura during Spring and Satori with colder weather in Wintertime. You have to take a quiet meditative moment to fully appreciate these fragrances and let them sink in to value them. Before buying a bottle, I would recommend to sample them at ease at home as these fragrances need their time and attention to be valued. Samples can be bought online at The Perfume Lounge in Amsterdam.

I would like to thank Satori Osawa and The Perfume Lounge for the opportunity for this interview.

Disclosure: all photographs were made by Esperessence, the samples which were used for this article, were a gift from The Perfume Lounge I did not get any compensation to write this article. More information can be found on: The Perfume Lounge and Parfum Satori.