Cio Cio San

Un parfum d’une grande délicatesse ; si je devais recommander une fragrance dite « jeune fille », ce serait sans hésitation celle-ci, tant elle s’éloigne des douceurs sucrées simplistes et convenues L’ouverture se déploie autour d’une note de litchi claire et limpide, juteuse, étonnamment réaliste, soutenue par une touche de citron qui apporte à l’ensemble une vivacité douce, presque aérienne. Progressivement, le cœur floral prend place : un accord floral rosé, tendre, sans référence à une fleur identifiable. La fleur de cerisier, en tant que telle, étant pratiquement inodore et inexploitable en extraction, il s’agit ici d’une évocation, d’une image olfactive plutôt que d’une matière précise En fond, apparaissent des nuances vertes de feuillage et de tiges végétales, accompagnées d’une note de thé oolong dont le registre rappelle davantage les thés fruités que l’on trouve dans les salons de thé modernes Dans son ensemble, il s’agit d’un parfum féminin d’une réelle profondeur, capable de suggérer un printemps baigné de cerisiers en fleurs. À ce titre, il mérite à mes yeux une appréciation nettement plus élevée

Gorgeous lychee and flowers, with lovely cedar, guaiac wood and tea and gentle musk for comfort. I love it. I love the sharp citrus opening, and the beautifully true lychee - lychee is such a delicious fruit - and the lovely flowers. It smells very Japanese delicate feminine, pretty and also demure and serious, not silly or frivolous at all. The ginger is really nice and strong, and gives Cio Cio San a strong assertiveness, as if to say 'I may be delicate and pretty, but.....' I really like Cio Cio San, I feel very alluring in it, and my husband adores it on me. It lasts for 17 hours without needing any extra sprays, but I do put more on a couple of times during the day, as I love the opening so much! It is lovely.

Testing this from manufacturer dabber so not a s spray but I’m going to decant it in spray tomorrow. It’s juicy sweet but not cloying because it’s not chemically. If you’ve tried Peche Cardinal it’s about the same level of sweetness. But this is also both softened and strengthened by the florals. While peche gets to be almost fuzzy soft, this stronger and more alluring, but not in your face. I don’t get distinct florals but they are there on the outer layers of the projection. I think this is going to be a love. I do love and own la Belle helene and like Peche Cardinal. So for the hefty price tag I’m going to have to see which one I love more peche or this.

To me, this is very special and refined. It is light, absolutely not sweet, and slightly dry, reminiscent of tea. At the opening I notice a subtle lychee note that adds a fresh, juicy touch. Soon the scent develops a slightly smoky character, which I suspect comes from the gaiac wood or the oolong tea note. The dry down is fresh, dry, and subtly floral, creating a beautifully balanced composition. I can easily understand why people associate this fragrance with Japan: it has that calm, elegant, and understated aesthetic.

A well-balanced, juicy, fruity-floral perfume. Its rather straightforward and there aren't many secrets here, its just a really charming, tart and mouthwatering composition, perfect for warm weather. My favorite part is the slight hint of incense in the base (I think this could be a combination of the oolong and ginger) which stops it from being just another fruity floral. I don't think it warrants the $$$$ price tag for what it does, but I'm tempted nevertheless.