Plum Harajuku

I should preface this review by saying that Tom Ford Plum Japonais (PJ) is probably amongst my top 3 favorite fragrances of all time. That said, if you cannot find PJ, just buy Plum Harajuku (PH) instead... And that’s a pretty big compliment! I have worn a lot of PJ, and still currently own ~200ml of the fragrance, and I can confirm that PH smells very, very similar. What are the differences? 1) PH may be ever so slightly easier to wear than PJ for those who dislike the typical Tom Ford “funk” found in fragrances like Oud Wood, Noir de Noir, Black Orchid, For Men Extreme, etc. - and which is also in Plum Japonais. I should say though that I do not find PJ challenging at all, and that I always steer well clear of skanky, stinky, funky fragrances (and PJ is nowhere near that). Tom Ford “funk”, to me, is not really funky smelling but rather what gives the scents their edge. (should note that I do not like Tobacco Oud, Oud Wood Intense, Oud Minerale, and other “animalic” fragrances). PH seems to have a slightly more fruity/“plummy” opening and mid (perhaps on account of the lesser “funk”) and a bit less boozy compared to PJ. (edit: following another wear of PH, I think the difference may be explained by PJ smelling/feeling more “wet”/damp whereas the woods in PH are somewhat drier, especially towards mid and dry-down). 2) Performance-wise I would rate PJ above PH, but not by that much. PJ is strong on me and if I apply liberally (say 8 sprays), it comfortably lasts 12+ hours with strong projection for at least 3-4 hours and good/moderate projection throughout the remainder of the wear. PH seems to project a bit less and also seems slightly shorter lived, but still above average. As a result though, I don’t think PH seems as “heavy-wearing” as PJ (which some people might actually prefer, as PJ can potentially be a bit overwhelming). Very, very solid fragrance, and if you can get over not having the classic TF Private Blend bottle and are comfortable wearing “a dupe”, then this should make you very happy. Stunner 👌🏻

Plum Harajuku is a recreation of the long-lost Plum Japonais by Tom Ford, and by god it does a good job of resurrecting such an amazing scent profile. Initially from the first spray, it doesn’t come across quite as refined as the Tom Ford however this is only fleeting - within a few minutes this scent starts to shine fantastically. An overdose of sweet, sticky, juicy plums and elegant florals are contrasted by the comforting warmth of intense cinnamon and a hint of dark woodiness. These notes are what dominate the overall scent profile - this fragrance smells like Christmas Day to me, in the best way possible. Not long ago I actually got a decant of the original Plum Japonais and whilst it’s fantastic, I actually like this version better. The plum and the cinnamon seem to jump out at you even more, encapsulating the very essence of plum and cinnamon together. As usual with Insider Parfums the quality greatly surpasses what the amazingly low price might suggest - this is fantastic.

I’ve never tried Plum Japonais, but Harajuka smells very high quality and expensive. In the opening I detect fruity plum and saffron, with a slight boozy nuance alongside touches of cinnamon and florals. As it dries down, oud and amber begin to appear, but the plum and saffron still sit nicely on top. The oud is not challenging, it simply adds depth rather than taking over the show. The amber becomes more apparent soon after and gives the drydown a rich, warm base that’s smooth, resinous and slightly sweet. Performance is also impressive with strong projection in the opening and excellent longevity. It smells luxurious, refined and far more expensive than its price point would suggest.

Hmm. Drydown smells so similar to Plum Japonais, the opening though it’s more herbal and something minty about it? It actually smells like snorting amphetamine right on the opening LOL. But, it’s a good dupe for Plum Japonais at surface, but I realized what I so love about plum japonais is the whole experience of it smelling so natural and there are no weird notes ever in the experience of wearing it contrary to this. :(

One of the best from Insider. Plum, saffron, oud and vanilla with a hint of cinammon. Sillage is arms length maybe a little more longevity is great. Value for money is insane. Plum Japonais was a lovely TF classic brought back to life here. I’m so happy with Insider’s quality of work and curation. Do try Tokyo Black, Damber Absolute, The Captain, Trinity and Obsidian.