Ume

UME by Keiko Mecheri On my skin, Ume is magnificent. It has the distinct air of sensually glamorous far eastern elegance and brings to mind Gion Kobu Maiko and Geiko magnificently attired in full performance kimono, dancing at the Kaburenjo theater at Miyako Odori spring festival. A resplendently golden fruity opening unfolds with streams of zesty bergamot and sparkling mandarin followed by an entrance of succulently-rich and deep plum. A glorious showering of luxuriantly spicy osmanthus petals then come showering joyously down across everything, covering it all in a nutty-apricot-tea-like velvet haze. A few delicate wisteria blossom strands flutter back and forth through the intoxicating mist, wafting tantalizing nuances of lilacs and cloves. A subtle splash of jasmine petals and freshly gathered patchouli provide an added element of refined sensuality. The magnificently blended moistly-crisp oakmoss is layed seamlessly atop an impeccably-clean and fresh-woody-cypress astringency which is distinctly of the Japanese hinoki variety, while the deep warmth of mahogany provides a flawlessly rich base. Rather like the sturdily elegant wooden stage boards of the Kaburenjo theater provide the perfect support for the exquisite splendor of the geisha performance above them. I sense the glittering silk screen byobu backdrop of the Kaburenjo stage, the swishing silks of the ancient style hikizuri kimono, the fluttering long sleeves of the young maiko, the faultless finish of the powdered geisha makeup like early morning sunlight on a white cloud, the jeweled black eyes gazing serenely out above tiny cupid-bowed crimson blood red lips, lacquered raven black hair coiffed elaborately with priceless hand-carved jade and silken floral ornaments nestled firmly within, effortlessly assuming positions of intense yet restrained expressiveness. The crowds immersed ...watching in rapture...applauding their favorite performers. The scent of joyful fruity flowers, and silk, and woods, and delicate spices entwined throughout. All this adoration, and usually I do not like chypre. I just love this one. Like the Gion Kobu geisha, famous for their unwavering and impeccable courtesy and grace, their sensual elegance, and their tremendously refined artistic demeanor.... this one has completely entranced me. Domo arigato gozaimasu and okini to Keiko Mecheri-san.

I love this so much. I'm a fan of many Keiko Mecheri fragrances and Umé is one of the best. When I first got a sample I had to get a full bottle before even thinking about writing a positive review - I didn't want to risk having more competition for the single bottles of this discontinued beauty that pop up on ebay from time to time. But now I got a rather old bottle with a purple fabric label and I'm happy to report that it smells just as stunning as the more recent sample I had before. This is a wonderful warm plum scent. On the one hand it's spicy and balsamic, but on the other hand it has a sparkly citrus opening and creamy floral heart that make it feel lighter and more versatile than other spiced dark fruit scents. In my opinion this can be worn almost all year round with the exception of hot summer days, but if I had to chose only one season to wear Umé, it would definitely be autumn. I can sense the peachy-clean osmanthus and also something rosy. I know camellia doesn't really have a scent, but it still makes sense to see it here as a perfume note - I guess I have smelled a similar accord in some camellia scented product. But of course the ume plum is the star of the show. I read that it's a different fruit from regular plums and closely related to apricots, so it's hard to say where the osmanthus starts and the plum ends. Even though there is no honey listed I get a sweet honeyed vibe in the drydown. At this stage all the tartness of the ume plum and citrus is gone and the spices have their time to shine. I can't discern a single spice note here, it's just so well blended. Now the perfume feels warm and dark, but a ray of floral light is still shining through it. Umé is something special, I'm sad that it's discontinued and I can't recommend it enough to anyone who likes warm, fruity, spicy fragrances. I've been dreaming about a similar fragrance with berries instead of plums, but there doesn't seem to be anything like that. I don't really find Umé similar to Euphoria, which is more tart and woody, or to Poison with its heady tuberose, but it's roughly in the same category. The performance is absolutely fine on me, long-lasting and projecting a nice little scent bubble without being overwhelming.

I think I'm not familiar enough with plums! I don't get them from this. But persimmon! Oh that comes through exquisitely for me. I even liken the spice to that in a perfectly ripe Fuyu. Eating a persimmon always makes me think of kissing, and so smelling it in Ume gives me frissons of sensual pleasure. That heavy-lidded languour of good loving with a new sweetheart. Very melty! I really appreciate the hinoki that sits quietly behind the flowers and fruit. Many of my husband's fragrances have hinoki in them in some capacity, so I'm reminded of him when I smell it and that just adds all the more to the sexy feeling I have wearing Ume. As a tea lover, I purr to the notes of oolong tea (jin xuan, specifically) I detect as the fragrance develops. It has that shimmering, ever-changing and barely graspable quality a good oolong has that can (honestly) get me drunk. I am crazy for jasmine (who isn't) and love the way it's grounded in the heavier or more thick notes, I guess from the fruits. I could wear this any time, I think, but it really gives me that late fall feeling: frost, dead leaves, early nights and walking through it all to meet your sweetheart; pink-cheeked and wool-scarved. Marvy.

This is a beautiful and heavenly perfume which has been lovingly created by the very respected house of Mecheri. Plum is one of my favourite notes and this fragrance opens with that lovely sweet smell of plum which makes you want to deeply inhale it at every occasion! This is not a rotten and fermenting plum that one gets in some fumes, but a beautiful and divine aroma that pleases the olfactory senses in a way that makes you want to skip and dance. I simply adore this scent and would pay anything for it as it's worth every penny. The notes are so well blended together and there is nothing synthetic or artificial. I find that this is fairly linear and what you smell initially is what you get 6/7 hours later. Gorgeous, beautiful, fruity and addictive frag. Fabulosity: a fruit and flower market at the start of the day, simply exquisite!

I second the Christmas theme here, I can't pinpoint it, but every year my Mom puts out this vine-type runner around the living room and it smells just like this. Or at least something she's putting up in the living room smells like this scent. I got a sample of this becuase it is in the same category as Mitsouko, and I was interested to see how the plum note came across. This isn't on the same level as Mitsouko (but what is, really) Nevertheless, this is a nice, well rounded fragrance that lasts in the medium range. **UPDATE** I pulled my sample back out now that the weather is cooling off. And I must say I'm liking this so, so much more now.This one really snaps, there is a wonderful spicy note that comes across, and it is quite sophisticated. Love it!