Ukiyo-E

This is one is a unique, ethereal green tea rendition that focuses on the genmaicha variety. It's a very green (obviously) scent which has a lightweight and airy nature, that is lifted up with an aldehyde puff of powdered sweetness. It never ends up going too green or bitter, too dry and powdery or too sweet and sickly. I find it very well balanced altogether and it seems to work well with my skin chemistry and lastson me then some other people who have reviewed it have experienced. It's by no means a a weak scent, it isn't watery and skinny, but it isn't super solid or strong either. It feels just as it should be and I like this softer and lighter approach with this one , It works well for the notes it utilises that way. It opens with a powdery matcha and the toasted rice scent you get in genmaicha, which it captures perfectly, along with a bright citrus note. It then turns floral with the cherry blossom, whilst keeping this very fresh and powdery tone to it. It feels clean, like you've just indulged in a bubble bath whilst drinking green tea. The skin scent it leaves is extremely beautiful and feminine, sweetly powdered and just a little bit green and soapy. I love this one!

Fragrance in three words: Bitter green tea This is a good fragrance, but it's not what I expected. I was hoping for an uplifting summer green tea, this one is really melancholy. Imagine drinking bitter green tea on a pagoda while buildings are being demolished around you. Starts with a really strong naturally bitter green tea leaf, almost pine needles. Has slightly pissy Yuzu notes and a cooked stagnant rice which is almost like unsweetened popcorn. I've noticed heather is in the base. I thought it was violet. It is a dominant note and runs through it taking the bitterness off slightly by adding a purple flower note. I would class this as unisex leaning towards the feminine side. The sillage is quite big due to Iso-e, but it's not a shouty scent. It's experimental and weird, but we need perfumers to take risks or we just end up with opponox office fragrances. 7.5 out of 10

Ukiyo-e is so effortlessly beautiful ! I expected it to be a bitter, green genmaicha scent, but instead I was greeted with a very sweet, buttery popcorn with a tinge of caramel. After a few minutes, the tea comes in, accompanied by the clean, fresh cherry blossom. It’s so feminine, so well rounded, so beautiful that I am surprised some think it’s more of a masculine scent. It’s on the very edge of gourmand territory, and imo is perfect for any season and any setting, as it is not an overwhelming scent, more of a soft cloud around you.

All of Gri Gri perfumes are inspired by some tattoo technique. In Ukiyo-E it’s colorful outlaw Yakuza carps and dragons (originally dating back to absolutely legitimate Samurai tattoo patterns). The perfume is a woody herbaceous formula with lots of olfactory references to Japan: from genmaicha (green tea with caramel smelling popped-rice) to colorful blossom of the exotic dalphne and ashibi trees. In a way Ukiyo-E is a wabi-sabi fougere.

Hints of reeds from the tatami you sit on. The trees outside in full spring bloom perfume the breeze with clean, light florals. In front of you steams a cup of tea, roasted and green along with a bowl of rice seasoned with ponzu. You meditate on the meaning of spring as you prepare to eat. Complex and foodie but not cloying. Different from most citrus scents being warm and cozy rather than sharp and acidic. Decent longevity and sillage.