Shihan (Sensei)

Surely among my favorite cold weather fragrances, Sensei (now named Shihan) is a wonderful mix of several favorite notes, or categories of notes, specifically: whiskey, coffee, and tobacco. The dancer-turned-perfumer released the original 3x33ml (in EDT/EDP/Extrait) presentation in 2014, but by the end of 2015, when I finally ordered a bottle, the presentation had switched over to the single-concentration 100ml EDP variety, which very much smells like the EDP in the original arrangement. Since then, the scent has been renamed “Shihan” due to what I assume was some sort of a legal dispute, but I still like calling it Sensei. In short, this is a winter, masculine-leaning delight, not that it’s strictly for men (despite the existence of a later release, the more feminine-leaning She Sensei, now She Shihan). It includes familiar notes that are somehow rarely all together in one fragrance: whiskey, coffee, and tobacco are the main players, an amalgam of bold winter contributors that play off one another superbly in this dark, dense concoction. The main trio is supported heavily by resins (incense, labdanum, amber, myrrh) along with the curious ambrette seed and some musk, though I don’t especially detect these two. The main story is the boozy tobacco coffee with a healthy dose of resins which satisfies several vices in one bold fragrance. I get exceptional performance on my skin, beast mode for hours and then moderate for hours beyond that, exceptional longevity and very good projection overall, certainly what I expect for high-quality niche juice that suits the colder weather, particularly. The pricing has consistently remained $160 for 100ml (in the US, sold only by Luckyscent) for the past three years, and this value is great, in the same range as Kerosene, 4160 Tuesdays, Hilde Soliani, Phaedon, etc., particularly as his more recent releases have increased in pricing to $175 or $195. While the intrigue of the original presentation will always remain high, and I’m glad to have one of those, the 100ml EDP is still excellent, and the basis for my review / recommendation. Also, for what it’s worth, the name change does not seem correlate with any change in the actual juice as I’ve tried the 100ml EDP Shihan and it’s the same as Sensei. Sensei is a supremely excellent release, nearly-perfect, in my opinion, and a winter staple, in particular. It both conjures cold weather times and also reinforces those occasions when wearing it. Truly a majestic scent. 9 out of 10

Fragrances can be hate or love. They can be forgotten.This is an instant love for me and there are only a few that made to this category and pass the test all the way from the top to the dry down! The minute I have tried it, It took me with the storm. Such a beautiful and unique creation. Opens with a balsamic,resinous and warm spicy dusty notes of rich strong brewed coffee and tobacco ,followed by whiskey note which is giving it extra kick of uniqueness. Going over to even more spices, incense and myrrh. I can smell cinnamon and cardamom that blend perfectly with the arabica coffee note. Its unique more tamed and smooth labdanum ambery base stays still with the undertones of above mentioned both tobacco and coffee which I love especially huge fan of the true coffee note. Great gourmand theme presented all the way in this fragrance without this sometimes overdosed sweetness you can meet in a few other fragrances that makes you feel dizzy not always in a positive way! Much for the people who loves and seek unique,deep, warm,comforting scents. Scents that evokes senses and memories.Scent that invites to life in all the positive way. Definitely a must have in my collection. Glad I will soon add the bottle. Be aware a new one is comming called She <3 Sensei for the ladies : notes :plum,rose,coffee,vanilla,myrrh,cinnamon,ambrette,labdanum,tobacco,musc.

This is not the scent for someone young or juvenile as it's not playful... This smells of Christmas to me... Good Christmas... OLD Christmas... I get lots of incense, spices, and amber... The whiskey/boozy vibe is fleeting and it leaving almost as fast as it appeared doesn't upset me in the least... As time moves on will get just the slightest hints of coffee and the tobacco comes peaking through from time to time in the way that it does in Canfield Cedar by Kerosene but again I predominantly get incense, spices, and amber... (NOTE: These two fragrances don't smell alike at all... Just the uses of tobacco in the two scents are similar...) This is also not at all sweet... It feels warm and for me is actually VERY comforting... Old holiday memories... Good memories... Warm safe memories... I am not sure if this fragrance is still available as the brand's website no longer works and places like Luckyscent are out of stock of the entire fragrance library... This is not a fragrance that I think I will ever want to be without so I really hope it is still in production... This is a 10/10 for me... Just incredible stuff... (Reviewing the EDP Shihan version of the fragrance... MUST be worn on skin...)

Rich and warm smoky, resin orient with the gourmand theme. Well balanced, based on natural ingredients arrangement of Cuban tobacco with accompanied by bitter Arabic coffee and nonchalant chord of elegant alcohol with attractive touches of colonial spices, classic frankincense, myrrh and exquisite labdanum based on ambrette absolute and long-lasting molecules of oriental muscs. Composition of amber color resulting from the use of only natural essences, is designed for strong and courageous personalities conscious of their choices, which often happen to occur in exceptional situations. Fragrance in a gentle but very characteristic manner surrounding the figure with a unique aura which remains solid and slowly changes their sound in the space of time. It's the description made by Piotr Czarnecki which I 100% agree :)

I like it. I like the notes, I like how subtle it comes across. It's very very wearable, masculine or feminine honestly. It doesn't have the greatest dry down, but I really love these notes. I think this perfume is very solid. It's warm, smoky, the top notes are full of color and spice. There is definitely some musk at the bottom, but it works very well with the remaining notes. It's not outstanding or out of this world, but it's very nice and I wouldn't mind adding a bottle to my collection. 7/10 Update: I never stop thinking about this fragrance... or this perfume house. I am obsessed now. I don't know what I was thinking before -this is delectable, warm, cozy, it's lovely.... time to save up for a bottle! 8/10

Wow! This stuff is AMAZING! I get a great mix of whiskey, wood, and tobacco on my skin, with whiffs of supporting notes of coffee, amber, and incense. It is a very well blended masculine fragrance with each note supporting the other. I find Shihan to be a warm, rich, slightly sweet and spicy experience that works well in the cooler days. Although this is marketed as unisex, I find it to be much more on the masculine side. I get great projection and longevity on my skin. This is more of a trendy casual scent, but I can see it in a sports coat as well. Bottom line: If you like masculine scents, you should try a sample of this one.

Lovely. It's in a similar style as Ummagumma and Tobacco Oud, slightly hovering near gourmand territory without fully embracing it or crossing that line. Unlike Ummagumma, it avoids excessive sweetness, and avoids animalic foulness and shrillness that plagues Tobacco Oud. The prominent notes to my nose are whiskey, tobacco, and cloves (not listed), while coffee, incense and labdanum obfuscate the composition adding a smoky undertone. In the dry down, a chocolate note emerges, creating warmth and coziness. A great one for the colder months.

I know it's no longer officially called Sensei anymore, but Piotr Czarnecki's EDP creation is nevertheless a masterpiece in boozy, spicy, tobacco, and amber. And chocolate, cinnamon, cloves(?), and old, leather-bound library books. Thick, dense, resinous, and earthy. Not for the casual fragrance dabbler. This is for grown ups who appreciate fine art, speak several languages, who have seen the world, and lived. It smells pretty damn awesome, too!

I love this stuff. It’s different and the whiskey and coffee notes are so well blended. The whiskey note definitely comes off as a chocolate smell, A little bit of a unknown fragrance is all the more reason to buy it! Too my nose this is not unisex. I could not picture a woman wearing this fragrance at all. Definitely a masculine fragrance.

I am a lucky recipient of a sample of SENSEI and Piotr, this is so well done!! It is very rich, sensual and seductive, the notes are so nicely blended. Feels so sexy! Just can't wait to sample the She version!

The opening notes = gingerbread gourmand with a dark twist! Love it!! Turns very woody after that (the kind of heavy woodiness you find in classic homes with wooden libraries and furtniture).

Update: As of 12/04/21 this fragrance is back in stock on Luckyscent after being MIA for a LOOOOOONG time. So it does still appear to thankfully be in production. ^_^

Edible gingerbread in a bottle! ❤️❤️❤️ perfect for winter, also very potent so one or two sprays is enough!

Surprised there was no Chocolate note listed. Very nice edible scent.

I’ll just addd my raves. A gorgeous dark serious scent.

After I wore this the first time the sample was untouched for couple of years. Perhaps I sprayed it too much the first time, so it made me feel unwell and I didn't want to try it again for a long time. Few months ago I reached for the old sample again when I wanted to wear something I don't usually wear and I was completely blown away. Why did I dislike this scent back then? Sensei (it's called just Piotr Czarnecki EDP nowadays) is for the lovers of warm spiciness. It opens with warm and intense chocolate note with hot (and sometimes almost too sharp) whiskey and roasted coffee beans in the background. The whiskey becomes more dominant as the scent dries down. I can also smell rich pipe tobacco, lots of different spices, amber, myrrh and labdanum. To me this scent is throughout the colour brown, dark brown. Like coffee beans, chocolate, tobacco and brown wooden furniture. There's also hints of more reddish and orange brown like autumn trees and burning woods. This is one of the warmest scents I know and it's really comfy too. I would love to use it in autumn when the days begin to get colder, the air is crisp but the sun still shines brightly through the red and orange leaves. This perfume is quite strong so one small spray is probably enough.

Review of the EDP from a sample This starts off really delicious, with boozy and tobacco-y nuances, soon followed by coffee and, as others have said, something resembling chocolate. It is very warm and comforting. I also perceive what appears to be cloves, like someone else has mentioned here. It does have some kind of retro vibe, is very elegant and classy. More on the masculine side, but not so much so that a woman wouldn't be able to pull it off - in my opinion of course. Sillage is quite soft on me, but it is not a bad thing, when you think that this is quite warm and boozy. It is not something I would overspray! Persistency is good. UPDATE: this blossoms beautifully in the heat.

My review is based on the edp format. It's definitely a wild, spicy but not very sweet gourmand. Like others I get whiskey, spices and coffee up front. A very intense experience. With time the amber seems to sweeten further and the myrrh adds more smokiness. I'm glad the ambrette is low key as it's one of the few notes I don't get on with. I find this pretty much unisex. There is something about this that has bought back memories of walking into a Russian orthodox church in Kensington years ago. It seems to soften further with time although the coffee and spices remain strong for quite a while. Very nice indeed. Good longevity and silage.

EDP Coffee right off the bat followed quickly by boozy chocolate, resins and woods. The spices are not too jarring and are well-blended. They smell like clove and cinnamon. Makes me think of warming up with a Turkish Coffee at a Middle Eastern restaurant on a chilly day. One of the nicer coffee fragrances I have encountered. Totally unisex. Think of a more balanced, more velvety Opium with softer spices, then add a real coffee note. Anybody who enjoys dark, rich fragrances can pull this off easily. Very nice.

I was a bit underwhelmed by this the first time I tried it, but on a second visit, I enjoy it a lot more. I can see the comparison to Pineward gingerbread. Shihan has more clove and dark chocolate, where Gingerbread is heavier on the brown sugar. I would say I prefer Shihan, except it doesn't perform as well on me. I only need a small squirt of Gingerbread, whereas I need to layer up on the Shihan for it to reach my nose.