Oboro

I rushed to the Byredo Takanawa store on the day Oboro (a Japan exclusive) was released so I could test it on skin. My first impression was a fresh, green yet humid petrichor accord of bergamot, violet leaf, earthy moss and vetiver. It captures the sense of a violet plant—the flower, leaves, roots and all—growing alongside a raked stone garden at a Japanese temple after a sudden summer shower. The contrasting notes of green leaves and sweet petals, wet earth and dry wood, bitter citrus and defused incense are beautifully integrated, creating a hazy (oboro) yet uplifting fragrance that sits close to the skin. A truly unisex fragrance with intimate projection that lingers gently for around 6 hours. The dry down is reminiscent of Eau Triple Lichen d’Écosse by Buly 1803—another aromatic citrus-petrichor perfume that I absolutely adore. As with D’Orsay’s Japan exclusive, Love After Rain, which was also released this month, Oboro is perfectly timed for the summer tsuyu (rainy) season. However, for me, Byredo’s Oboro better captures the humid, aromatic atmosphere that seems to have inspired both fragrances. I broke my own rule and purchased it in store after testing it for just 30 minutes—it’s the perfume I’ve been wanting Byredo to create after the same-same-but-different Absolu and ambroxan laced releases (Alto Astral) that have left me a little underwhelmed recently. Note for collectors: the bottle and cap are the standard EDP version, but Oboro has the gold and silver atomiser used on the Absolu range.

I received a 2ml spray as a gift when I shopped at Byredo, so I’m going to review it. Things that should have been visible gradually lose their shape in my memory. I sense this process in the scent. It’s a fragrance that truly embodies the Japanese concept of “oboro.” Brightness and coolness, flowers and stones, presence and absence. A fragrance that gently sways at the boundary between them. To put it simply, In the top notes, I sense a refreshing yet slightly assertive vibe. To put it negatively, it might remind you of insect repellent. To put it positively, it has a herbal feel. It’s fascinating how the combination of bergamot, ginger, and spices creates this herbal impression. However, this opening doesn’t last long. It settles down quickly, and each note does its job well. The heart notes combine minerals reminiscent of rain and stone with a floral scent that is anything but a bouquet, blurring the line between nature and inorganic matter. The base notes feature distinct hints of incense and amber. There’s a lingering sense of ambiguity between a cold, religious atmosphere—like that of a temple—and a warm atmosphere reminiscent of human skin or body heat. Well, that’s about it.

Tested this at Tokyo, I though it was very boring, don’t worth the money

Tested this in OSAKA. Pass for me Big Dawg.