Taipei

I am very much aware how popular this fragrance is becoming. I don't follow anything on social media, but I still get a good idea. Every time I try to purchase it, it is always sold out! That is a good indicator. I will admit. I have only tried it once before, and that one time really stuck with me. It is a very good fragrance. Very good! Sometimes it's very hard to explain why it is good versus not good. Sometimes a fragrance just has that quality. Very similar to humans. It just has it. It is sweet without being too sweet. It's milky without being over done. A tiny bit of salt comes from the rice accord. It becomes very balanced when that is added in. And that makes for an enjoyable experience where you can wear it for a long period of time without getting sick or nauseous or simply just tired of smelling it. It also wears very light. Now, if you were to ask me, I would say it is a little bit too light. I like to wear mine a bit heavier than the average person. However, it is perfectly fine for the typical fragrance connoisseur. I'm sure if they were to change it, the overall composition and the smell would change as well, and if we are talking about just the smell, I don't think you can get any better than where it is right now. So I'm very happy they did not try. The corn chip thing? I don't get that whatsoever. Keep in mind the things that you eat and drink every day influences how you smell. You might want to cut back on some things if you are smelling corn chips here. That does not come up for me and I'm quite certain it should not come up for anyone else. Taipei does not change overtime and I don't think it's supposed to. It's very straightforward and I don't mind that at all. In my opinion, it is a perfect Night time of fragrance as in going to bed. Not necessarily going out at night. Very similar to a cup of warm milk and honey. Perhaps good for the really early morning as well. Maybe it is raining outside at around 6:30 in the morning and you would really like something comforting to help you get going. This is the fragrance for that. The more I talk about it, the more I want it! At this point for me, it's very hard to find a fragrance that is unique and enjoyable enough to purchase a whole bottle. I am currently on a milk tangent. I have been craving it and have been trying to add to my collection. I don't have anything quite like this. I wanted something light but not weak. Something sweet but not sickening or overly done. I didn't want anything complex, but I also didn't want it to be boring or something that I had to compromise. I am aware it sounds Goldilocks. It is even more surprising that I found it! Thank you to whoever made Taipei. It may not be for everybody, but it certainly is for me. You have reignited my love for perfumery and I am looking forward to what is coming next.

Soy milk in Taiwan is very different from American soy milk. It has an almost nutty quality to it. My favorite breakfast in Taipei features a steaming bowl of soy milk, (sweetened with several spoonfulls of sugar) and youtiao (an airy fried dough). You dip the youtiao in the piping hot soy milk, it soaks it up and becomes almost custardy. The vendors who make their soy milk fresh the traditional way (and their youtiao extra fluffy and flaky) always have crazy long lines in Taipei. In the states, you can buy powder mix to make Taiwanese soy milk, but it doesn’t taste the same. It doesn’t taste the way this fragrance smells. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved having a bowl of soy milk all to myself. I knew lunch time was approaching by the smell of a rice cooker just popped open, or freshly steamed taro. Taipei by One Day captures all of those scents perfectly. It’s evocative the way I think all gourmands should be. It’s powdery, but powdery like taro, certainly not like baby powder. I love to spray this right before bed. It smells like a hug: selfless, desperately sweet and a little bit sad. But maybe that’s just my association with these memories. (p.s. this scent is often compared to White Rice, which I was very disappointed by. It didn’t smell like rice and it didn’t last at all on my skin.)

I am very addicted to this perfume. This is my first "gourmand" and as a starch-y / salty snacks girl, I did not realize I would enjoy smelling savory as much as I do. I first sniffed this at Stéle in their SoHo location on a hot hot summer's day when I asked the store owner for an usual recco he could provide me for the season. I didn't buy it then and there which frustrates me to no end because it was suddenly sold out for MONTHS. During that time I had such a strong olfactive memory recall of what it smelled like and I grew to desperately yearn for this perfume. My mother lovingly gifted me a full bottle for my birthday and I have to hold myself back from wearing it every single day, reapplying multiple times a day or bringing with me when I go out. I need to GET A GRIP ;) This just calms and soothes me in a way I am unsure how to put into words. I put this on in the morning when I wish I was still in bed. I put this on before I have to run annoying errands to keep my mood in check. I wear this post-shower in my softest PJs, water bottle filled with ice water and ready to binge my favorite comfort show before going to sleep. Such a special scent that I will be buying over and over again as I am sure I will use this bottle to the last drop.

They did it boys, they did it. They made me want to smell like soy milk. Wow. This is a beautiful bear hug of a lactonic. It’s a nutty, blond-wood cream, ever so slightly sweetened with taro. But not too sweet. I also get that musty, Frito-y dog paw scent, but in the best way possible. While I always fear these milky musks will wind up sheer, Taipei held for at least 6 hours and had a close, dense scent bubble. It’s everything I wanted in d'Annam's White Rice. I feel like this opaque, savoury lactonic is a profile I hadn’t come across until this year (also see Arielle Shoshana’s rice puddingy Sunday), and I love this niche. Perfectly unisex too, for all soy boys/girls/theys. Mental Snapshot: A cloudy morning, in a city you’ve never been before. You wake up in a childhood friend’s loft. Strange, but familiar. The celling-to-floor windows yawn upon a misty jungle of high-rises and balcony gardens. You nestle under the duvets, savouring a mug of milk tea. tl;dr: milky beans 🥛🐾

This is so good. Being tawainese, I was super excited to this get and it did not disappoint. You can definitely smell the different facets of this: the rice, the taro and the soy milk. It smells a lot like the little chewey taro rice balls (tan yuen, iykyk) that is used in a hot sweet water broth or as a shaved ice topping. I also have dannam white rice and while I see the similarities, they’re different enough to own both. Dannam is a bit of a colder, drier rice, with the iris to mimic the rice accord being somewhat discernible. Taipei is a smoother, more gourmand rice with a touch of sweetness. At first I thought it was similar to strangers perfumarie Chokadee or sweet farewell but it never approached their sweetness levels. TL:dr - very good nostalgic scent that should be comforting and nostalgic to any Taiwanese person :)

One of those perfumes where it's so good, I'm embarrassed to describe it. But in trying, I'm going to go with: carnival treat from an animation painted with earth toned yet vibrant watercolors. My first impression was the sticky rice from mango sticky rice. With a savory element noted by myself and others. Delicious. My friend said it's like popcorn. To me this is a world bending gourmand, initially reminded me of L'Eau Papier, but honestly makes EP smell like a slightly too sweet men's musk in comparison. Sorry I said that, I love L'Eau Papier. Taipei has a sweetness in the chord of hay. Sometimes when I'm craving something to eat I realize I'm thinking of Taipei. Strong enough and projecting enough that I don't hose myself down in it, otherwise I definitely would. It's so good. I love you Michael Wong.

One Day Taipei (2023) – Creamy Rice & Taro - This gem by One Day (house founded by Michael Wong) which I purchased in Taiwan, is pure olfactory nostalgia. Imagine the soothing aroma of steamed glutinous rice, warm soy milk, and taro, just like the comforting scent of a breakfast stall in Taipei. The opening whispers of soy milk, rice, and taro—creamy, starchy, and subtly sweet without ever crossing into sugary territory. As it settles, delicate traces of iris and guaiac wood emerge, offering texture and sophistication. The final embrace is soft and grounding: musk, vetiver, and sandalwood, leaving behind a gentle, lingering veil. It’s like a warm hug on a cool morning, cozy and nostalgic. A fragrance built for comfort, yet shaped with artistry.

In my opinion, this is truly masterful perfumery. Michael Wong, you are an absolute genius. Taipei is a beautiful composition of creamy taro, starchy glutinous rice, soy milk, and a few other notes such as a powdery iris and a creamy, cozy sandalwood and musk. All put together, they create an absolute warm hug in a bottle. I know a lot of people seem to dislike this fragrance due to the correlation with "chips" or "popcorn," but me? I can't get enough of it. I really love spraying this on me when winding down for bed, and find it to be quite comforting and relaxing. To me, this reigns superior to d'Annam's "white rice," and if you are looking for a perfume with an amazing rice and/or taro note, look no further than One Day's "Taipei"

i think my special interest is rice perfumes. the second i sprayed this i almost cried LOL. i love love love the initial photorealistic toasted starchy rice and earthy savory taro milk tea. i personally don’t get the corn chip thing some people are saying. or maybe im just not bothered by it. full size price point is slightly on the expensive side for me but i believe it to be worth the money for the overall scent experience. it doesn’t really fade into a soapy skin scent for me either. absolute must for me and will continue to keep this in my rotation. this fragrance reminds me of fuzzy kitchen slippers, a warm cup of milk, a soft white cat, & fresh pot of jasmine rice 🍚🍶🌾🐈 90/100

I immediately looked for the #cccccc boutique during my last month's visit at HK to try all One Day fragrances, especially this! I really loved the lactonic note in this fragrance - it doesn't turn sour on my skin and is airy and ethereal but lasts a long on skin and clothes. I love it! Filipinos would recognize the "kakanin"-like note in this, but you don't have to worry because it was made in a good way. Drydown is milky sandalwood with a bit of muskiness. I tried it on rainy cool HK weather and on hot Philippine weather in November, and it was superb on both. I would wear it even at home just to experience its light coziness! Can't wait to try White Rice by d'Annam next!

This scent perfectly nails the scent of taro! It opens with a scent that is more akin to the actual taro root rather than just the typical sweet smell. It’s earthy, woody, and starchy. Then as the scent develops the blend of soy milk with rice smells like a sweet and creamy rice pudding with a now much sweeter taro. The iris adds an even creamier touch but the woody accords make this a touch savory for a bit. As this dries down it’s a dry and woody sandalwood with nutty milkiness and earthy taro. It manages to be slightly sweet and savory at the same time with a woody creaminess all throughout. This is a dreamy scent that nails the scent profile of taro to a T!

Got this as a sample, at first it smelled very much like realistic popcorn - the dry salted ones, not the sweet buttery ones. Plus it was rather cloying and headache-inducing. So I thought I didn’t like it and was disappointed the notes weren’t accurate. I forget about the sample and let it sit for about 6 months in a drawer. When I smelled it again it’s a starchy rice, taro and soy milk scent, exactly what I hoped for. It reminds me of a HK breakfast with congee and soy milk, or the rice rolls in Taiwan (+ wafts of earthy taro). So if you got this and thought it smelled like popcorn or corn chips initially, try to let it rest a bit! :)

I’m utterly in love with this perfume. The starchy richness of both the rice and taro is immediately noticeable, just waiting for that conversion to sugar. The creaminess of sandalwood with the white, barely there smokiness of guaiac adds an earthy yet clean depth that I find just irresistible. The dry down for me sees that promised sweetness come through, with the creamy starchiness developing a cosy warmth that I cannot get enough of. There’s nothing harsh about this perfume, just savoury, comforting creaminess that I want to bathe in. Somehow I have to —and I will!— get my hands on a full bottle of this in the UK.

In my opinion, this brand's best offerings are this and Oolong Tea. It's beautiful, soft, not overpowering, and so easy to layer with—truly that girl. One of the best rice fragrances you can have in your collection. Very starchy glutinous rice, subtle powdery iris, and a lovely creamy drydown with musk. Imagine a warm hug bottled just for you. I'm lucky that on my skin she lasts and projects for hours, so so good I personally find this to be superior to d'Annam's White Rice and recently Mischief Academy's Almond Milk, but if you're seeking something more budget-friendly, those are also wonderful choices

A beautifully rich, nutty, sticky rice. Forward on the soy milk and taro, and the rice aroma is captured so beautifully that allusions to "lifting the lid off of a rice cooker" to smell the steam isn't an exaggeration. It's realistic, and carries the traits of high quality ingredients. It's true that you have to be familiar with these notes to appreciate them, otherwise you might not be able to enjoy it. These are such specific accords that unless you've had the ingredients replicated here beforehand, will not be able to grasp how accurately they have been captured.

I was disappointed to find that D’Annam’s White Rice doesn’t do it for me. For a year I’ve been looking for a starchy, non-sweet, cozy rice scent that lingers. This is it. The taro note enhances the rice note. It’s not a very moist scent, either. One Day Taipei smells very similar to Soft by Poésie, which as an indie may have higher production costs. I love that one, but the price per ml on the EDP is horrible, and their water perfume (body mist) doesn’t last. If you like Soft, try this one out. I already bought a back-up bottle at a discount!

I think I’ve just discovered my new favorite perfume! I was worried about the reviews saying it smells like Fritos, but I do not get that at all. If you really smell it it truly smell smells like a sticky Taro Asian pudding dessert with soy milk. It literally makes my mouth water. I am a huge gourmand fan but I do not like vanilla gourmands or chocolate gourmands so I was on the hunt for the perfect sticky rice, dessert gourmand and this is definitely it. I’m so glad I discovered it. If you are not a gourmand fan just stay away!

Divine 10/10 gourmand. Somehow not overbearing, and transitions masterfully between notes. The opening of soy milk, rice, and taro is particularly comforting and smells like Asian bakeries after they finish a batch of bread and pastries. It then gradually settles into a clean skin scent with mild projection. Absolutely nuclear in longevity - I could still smell it on myself after showering. Despite being sweet, Taipei is not that warm compared to most gourmands I've smelled. Epitome of a sweater weather fragrance.

This is awesome. Obviously there are some people in the reviews who eat too much junk food, saying it smells like doritos, cheetos, and fritos. WTF? To me this is a beautiful and very elegant fragrance for a cool day. It feels gross if you wear it on a hot day though. If you put it on in the morning and then work out later, or if you sweat a lot, skip it. There's a very rich and warm rice and cream smell, and it leans toward seeming like some weird nutty body odor if you're in the wrong headspace for it.

This is probably the most realistic gourmand I've ever smelled. The taro note is unreal! Or should I say hyperreal. It is like a cup of warm lilac -coloured taro milk tea and a side of powdery mochi with it's characteristic not-too-sweet dessert feel. It gave me instant cravings for both. It's not super long lasting but would be perfect to wear in climes such as Taiwan/Hong Kong. Light and lovely, soft comforting glutinous rice skin with a standout taro note as the star 💜🍠🍚🍡