Kagiroi

Di Ser Kagiroi (2020) - hinoki vetiver - @diser.essentia ‘s shinohara-san starts the perfume with Yuzu, Juniper berries, Shiso leaf that smells herbal, green, piney and fresh. This transitions to the heart which is Vetiver and Hinoki that resemble a cypress forest with trees, grass and I also get this lake-like smell. It’s supported by a base of Rosewood, Patchouli and Agarwood, but this isn’t funky and animalic - it just adds to the beautiful scenery. Well-made with a focused story. Beautiful.

A very mediative and transportive woody aromatic chypre style scent. The perfume opens with aromatic citrusy notes of yuzu, lemon, pepper and coriander. The brief heart showcases ylang ylang surrounded by slight hints of vetiver, patchouli and shiso (Japanese mint). The perfume settles on a woody bed of Hinoki cypress, rosewood, slight agarwood and cypriol. The slight masculine leaning scent has moderate to strong projection and excellent longevity. DI SER scents are meant for internal reflection and meditation and are not sillage monsters or the type of scents usually meant to evoke sensuality and glamour. Very beautifully blended reflecting the natural beauty in the Northern part of Japan where this farm to bottle natural perfumery is located. Absolutely superb! (Review based on a complimentary bottle received as a gift.)

Opens very spicy citrus as in don’t breathe it in too hard at the start it might irritate the nostrils. After that though very nice mix of smoky vetiver, green freshness, citrus and the peppery spice. Drydown goes woodier. Great fresh natural feel to this one.

Lemon/Citrus opening. Very light. No projection. I get this "new shoe" smell. Strange, because leather isn't listed. No performance, not for me.

Yuzu-shiso punch in the face followed by a tidal wave of herbal, medicinal notes.

LuckyScents sample. I've heard that Di Ser perfumes are way better when sprayed on instead of applied directly like the LuckyScent vial. I couldn't judge on sillage, but longevity is poor for me. I get that it's not synthetic, so won't last as long, but come on, this is still quite pricey for the experience you're getting. At any rate, I did not like this one. It opens with what is to me the scent of star anise seed and fennel mixed. As it dries, it gains a citrus note, and ends for me with a slightly-woody vetiver. I will note that I have yet to find a vetiver note I enjoy as I find it inherently displeasing, so it could just be that too. I expected more complexity with the basenotes, so my expectations let me down since it just smells of vetiver on me. Unisex, but leans male for the vetiver.

my least favorite i’ve tried from di ser, i know they use all naturals but this feels synthetic and cleaner ish

Big blast of yuzu. then herbal. like an herbal yuzu cologne style edt. dries down to something akin to sage and vetiver. its fine.