Zen for Men

Zen is the epitome of sensual opulence and spicy erotica. Arousal can be used in both definitions as it heightens your nose and your sense of touch. On first application the wearer will be confronted with an icy cold wave of herbaceous elixirs. Through this natural attraction occurs and the wearer is transported to a time of class, sheer extravagance and both the western as well as eastern worlds. Because of the opening stars that are pear, bergamot and orange these fresh, crisp ingredients start you off on a journey of shivering excitement that begs your primal instincts to latch on beg for more. Continuing, now that you have already travelled through ice, you must endure fields of natural wonder, with notes of freshly cracked and harvested nutmeg that entice and intoxicate those surrounding you whilst still projecting the frost of morning dew. But wait, what’s that? Is that flowers? Suddenly a subtle blockade of femininity arises in the forms of violet and Rhododendron which mirrors the wearers’ inner peace and tranquillity. Without this balance ‘Zen’ would become a simple one-sided liquid, but with it, ‘Zen’ is transformed into a balanced masterpiece that appeals to all who encounter it. To close our adventure, again we are relocated to a vintage time of class and wealth, where leather accessories, patchouli oil and musk incense are all staples. Imagine a room full of immaculately dressed businessmen surrounded by the scenery set above, with a backdrop of a snow capped Mount Fuji and faultless geishas. This is what ‘Zen ’achieves and forces the wearer to become a part of an entirely alternate era whilst staying amongst the modernity that is the 21st century. Overall Shiseido’s Zen encompasses all that their brand stands for. Natural beauty juxtaposed with ageless luxury, respect towards the earth and of course all those who contribute to it. Zen is a uniquely addictive fragrance that would be an integral highlight of any person’s collection.

This was a blind buy after returning from Tokyo where I’d been living and working for a few years. At some point when overwhelmed with nostalgia for Japan I rushed out and bought Zen, inspired by the spiritual connotations of the name and its pedigree as a Japanese fragrance comprising very Japanese notes by a prestigious Japanese label. The reviews below are spot on. Zen is a fresh fruit fragrance that performs exceptionally well in hot weather. Tokyo Summers are marked by high heat and constant, oppressive humidity. Zen seems to have been designed specifically for such conditions. Zen is a harmonious, multifaceted composition that features a Nashi pear note, with Kinkan (kumquat) and bergamot, then progresses smoothly through a subdued resin-y floral transition into a subtle but elegant woody patch dry down. Although fruit notes are prominent, Zen doesn’t smell gourmand or identifiably “fruity” -the pear is subtle and not-too-sweet, and the kinkan harmonious and complementary. One of the most familiar tenets of Zen Buddhism to Westerners is the practice of mindfulness, and I like to imagine that Zen helps its wearer to be in the here and now and to enjoy every moment. Courtesy is an integral part of Japanese culture, and that courtesy finds expression in Zen which is a polite fragrance. It is understated, unassuming and unlikely to offend anyone or bring unwanted attention upon it’s wearer. Sophisticated and elegant yet discrete and modest. Zen sits close to the skin after the first two hours and although I can no longer detect it, others can - and favourably. It gets compliments. Longevity is much better in Winter, but it performs surprisingly well in the heat and humidity of Summer. In any case Zen is an elegant fresh gentleman’s fragrance with a uniquely Japanese style, suitable for work and play, night and day and it is a pleasure to wear.

So...Zen at last I found you and I was not at all disappointed. A great fragrance, has a fresh sparkling feel with a fruity musk vibe. Definite nashi pear note in the top, vague florals (which is a good thing) and a soft musky suede drydown. What's great about this scent is it seems familiar but is actually quite unique as it goes and I'd rather wear this than some of the fresh designer scents out there. I have to say I really love the white heat edition version but I suspect this will have better performance in projection terms as it is a bit stronger and less subtle. Shiseido Zen is a casual scent that could be worn everyday and has a clean non intrusive vibe...great contemporary bottle design too! I enjoy it.

If you scroll below you will notice that I commented on this one enthusiastically in 2009, and then somewhat saturated in 2010. In the meantime, my original flacon has run empty and I re-bought it - which is, of course, a strong sign of quality. Now in its seventh season, my conclusion is that this one is a unique male scent that perfectly suits sunny but cool autumn days. It remains to be seen whether it will ever become a classic, but it undeniably has survived a couple of seasons now. It's not natural or sexy, but cool and self-reliant. At the same time, it represents contemporary style. ****

The top note is nice, but i love shiseido zen white heat edition more. This fragrance design is nice n special. The longevity on my skin about 6hours, and 12+ hours on clothes. The silage is moderate, people about one meter distance can smell it. The scent is nice, but not very special. I give it B+ for smell.