02 Owari

Inspired by the rare mandarin found in the Owari province of Japan, '02 Owari' takes us on a journey into the farthest reaches of the enchanting orient. Japanese people utilize a wealth of citrus fruits (yuzu, kaki, mikan, kabosu, daidai, sudachi, and kinkan to name a few) in their daily life and culture. They can be found lacing warm cups of fragrant tea, adding an acidic counterpoint to lavish seafood dishes, and decorating aromatic communal baths where breathing their scent helps cure common ailments. '02 Owari' salutes a luscious rare mandarin variety, showcasing its beautiful citrus qualities along with its delicate sweetness. The composition begins with an eye opening hesperdic accord of bergamot, Owari mandarin, and grapefruit leaves. The citrus notes are authentic and well constructed, with the Owari mandarin's sweet orange aroma dominating. Amyris wood, neroli blossom, and cubeb pepper comprise the heart of the fragrance. A warming piquancy is imbued by the interesting cubeb pepper, while indolic neroli blossom provides a floral soapiness. In the dry down, cedar combines with amber and tonkin musk creating a gentle woody-aromatic base. 02 Owari' is a complex citrus fragrance which both sexes can easily enjoy. I immediately fell in love with the beautiful mandarin based composition, noting specifically the artful pairing of vibrant pepper and lively citrus accord. For me it evoked a Japanese tea house, its walls built of warm cedar wood. Green tea leaves steep in a steaming porcelain cup of water with fresh cut citrus nearby to accompany. I prefer this fragrance for the optimistic months of spring and summer, as the featured mandarin is showcased most prominently in warmer weather. As an "eau de parfum", sillage and projection are modest, while longevity of the fragrance is average. '02 Owari' is a great daywear scent and suitable for wearing to work due to its universally appealing qualities. For those who are stressed by our day to day hectic lifestyles, '02 Owari' seems to act as a quiet refuge. Its scent conjuring a zen-like inward stillness and offering us all a hopeful self fortitude. Read my complete review at my personal fragrance blog

Citrus might be my favourite category of perfume notes, and a reorganization of my (decant) wardrobe recently revealed to me that all type of orange notes must be my favourite note from that beloved group. If pressed I would have guessed either lemon or grapefruit, but the numbers tell a different story: it seems I just can't stop collecting (bitter/mandarin/regular...) orange scents. And whatever obscure Japanese citrus fruit it might be inspired by, to my nose Owari could just be the very best pure (bitter) orange perfume I've ever smelled. It captures that deliciously bittersweet pithy scent that emanates from orange peels better than anything I've ever encountered (and yes, that includes Orange Sanguine, which I also love, but which is a little sweeter and more mellow). Totally addictive, so realistically natural that it can't be anything but perfectly unisex, and longevity is good for a citrus scent as well.. this is going straight to the top of my wishlist!

I'm clearly longing for citrus scents right now considering how much I'm digging them right now. that said, there's really nothing really noteworthy about this, the usually orange and bergamot, and some musk, doesn't last at all. they highlight the use of a specific mandarin orange from Japan, but it smells like straight up orange to me. and trust me, as someone who eats way too much citrus, there is a difference in taste and smell, but I don't get it here. Update: wore it today, early July. I guess it grew on me, and I do get a more unique orange smell that might resemble the Japanese mandarin used. maybe its the warm weather that is making it come out more. and I also get more neroli, so it has more of that beachy vibe I always get with neroli. still wish it lasted more the. projection was ok.

My first thought after spraying this on was that it is very similar to Atelier's Orange Sanguine. It has that same bright juicy orange start, but after the first few minutes Owari turns more woody than OS. This is a good thing, at least for me, because Owari lasts much longer on my skin. I've read quite a few reviews lamenting it's poor longevity but on my skin it lasts well, about 8 hours - and this is the first time a fragrance of this kind has ever lasted so long. I do enjoy this pleasant woody/orange scent, but there is nothing extraordinary about it, and it won't replace my beloved Eau d'Orange Vert.

This has one of the best citrus openings of anything i've ever smelled. I cant stop smelling my wrist... for about a half hour, then it mellows into a faint cedar smell. If the opening lasted for longer than an hour I would happily buy a full bottle for $200 easy. the opening is that good. but i just don't know if I can justify the price for the performance. but it is really one of the most lovely fragrances that I've put my nose on.