L'eau de Kasaneka

L'EAU DE KASANEKA by Menard Opens with all reserved elegance amidst an unsweetened dark-spicy-citric-melange of bergamot, orange, ginger, basil, cardamom, and nutmeg soon followed by the entrance of gentle hamanasu rose blossoms. Then the quiet, restrained carnality of ambrette seeds arrive and mingle with musk in an enveloping breath of hushed, shadowy sensuality. A delicate heliotrope swirls mischievously inside the smooth blend of spicy carnation blossoms with hints of clove and almonds while a buttery smooth trace of ylang-ylang, vanilla, and sweetly erotic jasmine balance the entire composition within complex layers of deep femininity. A beautifully subdued cedar entwines itself within groves of densely rich, balmy, and astringently meditative sandalwood. To my nose and on my skin this is exceedingly and exquisitely Japanese. Never loud or bombastic. Perfectly refined. Exceptionally discreet. Quiet, hushed, deeply contemplative and bittersweet. Strong and tenacious, but never suffocating, never loud. Like the most gorgeous, delicate and finely embroidered silk.....wrapped around a sword of the finest sharpened steel. This is the samurai warlord’s wife. Supremely self-contained, elegant, educated, gracious, modest, loyal, and honorable. Beneath this woman’s magnificent, many layered, scented silken kimono is a formidable creature indeed. No excessive sweetness exists here to flatter and charm. Here... there is only the stark beauty of steadfast devotion. This heart is a bottomless depth of dark passions and the bittersweet constancy of unrelenting honor. Incredibly beautiful.

A quick orgasm of basil, cardamon with a touch of mandarin/ bergamot. Varnyte is true, this reminds me of cola drink, but without that boozy soda. Top notes however, gone in 5 second. Then instantly the nutmeg overruled, followed by a shy caress of light jasmine & powdery carnation. This phase is so low on projection. My nose have to struggle hard to pick up the notes. Finally, the base is sandalwood with vanilla. I didn't get any bitter vetiver or cedar, as this phase is sweet enough to be a vetiver. The musk came late, but it's there. To wear Kasaneka, I think I would need at least 5-10 sprays, it really is close to the skin. Subtle but noticeable, so Japanese.... Overall, I really really love the scent! So much of my floriental type, with hints of spices. Cozy and friendly, like a fireplace in winter. But don't be mistaken by its looks, even though the bottle looks oldies it never smells outdated. Alas, with low projection and longevity, I think I will not buy this one anytime soon.

The initial spray on my skin is balmy, mildly sweet and spicy. Closing my eyes, I get pleasant whiffs of ginger, cardamom, vanilla and jasmine ... all smoothly blended with nothing piercing. This fragrance is by no means shy nor forgettable as I thought it would be. I was pleasantly surprised as it may be demure yet it is brimming with unabashed confidence. The scent settles down swiftly into the most glorious powdery aura laden with soft florals and whisper of vanilla rendering it an addictive quality. It's the kind that draws you in slowly but surely in a hypnotic way. That's definitely KASANEKA, it may seem reticent but it has the esoteric power to mesmerize. I adore it and I foresee a full bottle in my future!

This Japanese geisha is very refined, tasteful, cozy, with an undercurrent of unlocked lust. The japanese rose /cardamon/hellitrope is at the forefront, with a base of vanilla and ambrette estrogen. A hint of basil, ginger and nutmeg along with the cardamon spices this beauty in an understated manner. The black and gold bottle is elegantly bedazzeled with a gorgeous obi. The solid performance of this perfume with it's unusual mix of notes, is a serene, yet sexy path for me.

This truly is a masterpiece. A powder soft green veil over spicy vanilla soaked wood in a gentle floral breeze. It`s just poetic. One spray and i turn into a romantic. The bottle is equally lovely, simple yet elegant. What else is there to say.