Zen Original

I don't believe I've spent a day without wearing a fragrance since I was a little girl, when I wore Avon's Sweet Honesty (in either the Persian cat, cupcake-shaped bottles or as a solid in one of their girly plastic broaches in various shapes of apples, bunnies, flowers my ubiquitous cat-themed everything), then Love's Baby Soft, or Prince Matchabelli (sp) Windsong, maybe a bit of one of the solid nature-themed scents my mother had in a light-brown rectangular compact from...was it Coty?...I remember one being called "Sweet Hay", my favourite one of the three. Scent-memories are intense! Although I wore several "cheapie" scents during my high school years, including Emeraude & Gloria Vanderbilt, I chose Zen when I was 16, and it was my sort of gateway scent to higher-end fragrances like Magie Noire, KL, Chanel 19 and Opium. I just purchased a bottle of the original Eau de Cologne "splash", which is mostly the scent I recall, although not nearly as mossy or as grey-green a scent as I recall coming from my (EDP) spray years ago. It also completely fades within an hour or so, likely containing mostly alcohol and water, but I just enjoy it while it lasts, wear it on the backs of my hands, while I wear something more tenacious on the rest of me. It's a dirty green floral, and I'm not sure if I feel the "zen", or I think I should because of the name, but it's really nice to revisit. I do sense a bit of the late 70s lingering in Zen...you know, a bit of Charlie, Halston, Chanels 5 and 19, Esteé Lauder's Private Selection, was it? Collection? Anyway, it conjures images of the teachers I adored in elementary school, and had wanted to emulate, with their turtle-necks and long necklaces, stack-heeled boots and bobbed hair like Toni Tenille...good stuff of good memories, this one. Here's a blurb from the insert in the box...maybe someone can figure out which elements they're describing? The "seed"? The "fruit"? Is there cardamom in this??: "ZEN finds its seed in India, its blossom in China, and its fruit in Japan. In India "dyhana" (ZEN) which meant "quiet meditation" was seen as a highly philosophical religion, but in China it came closer to the everyday life of the people and was regarded as a means of realising "stillness in movement." In Japan, it has come to manifest itself mainly in esthetic [sic] fields. Most art and culture of Japan is influenced by ZEN. The distinctively Japanese arts, such as NŌ drama, the tea ceremony, and painting, have ZEN at their base. It is the creative spirit of ZEN, and spontaneity of the ZEN practitioner which is responsible for the delicate raising and lowering of the tea ceremony cup, for the bold, unfaltering strokes of calligraphy, and for the great works of art and architecture abounding in Japan. This same lofty sensibility, and spiritual purity was taken by SHISEIDO as its motif in creating ZEN fragrance...a unique perfume expressing quiet, purity, and traditional Japanese beauty. The esthetic heart of Japanese culture can be appreciated through this exquisite fragrance by people everywhere in the world." Nice. I totally get it.

This is for the vintage cologne in the black bottle. Takeoff of aldehydes, hyacinth and oakmoss. I believe the hyacinth note is a "fantasy" note, woven of tuberose, jasmine and honeysuckle extracts. A faint note of methyl salicylate (wintergreen) enhances. Interesting slight rubefacience on my skin! Then a note of galbanum and some other green note-- maybe a clary sage?-- begin to darken the smell... a faint odor of roses participates. Then a surprising, faint note of sandalwood. Then a quality of narcissus and orange blossom. With time, this sensual mix becomes undergirded by orris, smelling of vintage cosmetic face powder. In far drydown, you're left with a lovely musk/amber skin scent, with a faint wash of spicy clove/carnation + wintergreen. The pronounced, "pasty" orris quality always prevents the floralcy from ever becoming too sweet and heady. ZEN very much seems like a souvenir of the Camelot Era in which it was created... It smells optimistic, forward-looking and "modern", in the 1960's sense of the word, a repudiation of the 50's, perhaps, but not yet Go-Go/Mod Sixties, however. It smells neither matronly nor little-girlish, not vampish or Victorian, but rather like an urbane, serious scent for an educated woman, age 30+, who is feminine, but with real political and social and international cultural interests... a Jackie Kennedy type, in fact. Or like Emanuelle Riva in HIROSHIMA MON AMOUR. Or Nana Mouskouri, or Anouk Aimée. Or Hiroko Matsumoto. Or Barbara Parkins. The ultimate scent for the "cool brunette" type. A most interesting perfume, not for everybody. Mysterious and soulful... very "Yin". Quite feminine, and I don't think a man could pull it off.

This review is based on the vintage pure perfume. Zen is a beautiful green chypre which, as I've discovered going through several of Shiseido's scents, the brand was very good at churning out in the 60's and 70's as seen in Mai, Koto, Murasaki, and others. Zen does bring to mind Fidji, though the citrus and florals and soapiness in Fidji sing a bit more. It also brings to mind some of the mossy, narcissus-ey greenness of Shiseido's own Koto. The old extrait I have of Zen is a well-balanced and complex iris-hyacinth-mossy-rosy-woody thing that feels earthy and grounded, though still like a fancy French perfume in structure. I saw a review online that compared the overall drydown of Zen to the originating idea behind Shiseido's Nombre Noir. It said NN was the drydown of Zen with a neon rose heart and I think I can see where that thought is coming from. Nombre Noir lightens up the dirt and earthiness with a lot of hedione, more of a muguet accord in the center, and it takes the rose note and explodes it with fruity damascones and osmanthus. Zen is beautiful and genre-gender-time-defying in its own right, and is also interesting to see just a bit of its DNA in Shiseido's long-discontinued fabled unicorn.

I wasn't even looking for it, but as i was passing the Shiseido counter in Macy's (in California), there it was! Original Zen! For a limited time. I sprayed a little on a card, then i did not hesitate and immediately bought a bottle. Oh, how it smells like Japan! I spent a month there in the summer of 1972, even spent the night with a Japanese teacher of mine in her family's very traditional home, with tatami and sliding paper covered doors. It smells of incense, woods, oakmoss, a hint of well behaved musk, and flowers. Yet i would not at all call this a purely floral perfume, perhaps more chypre floral. Everything is so balanced. I am ecstatic to have found it! They now sell it in a new black cylindrical spray bottle. But they also sell the old bottle as a refill, if you already have the sprayer. Even though i don't have the old sprayer, i bought the old style bottle, because it is so... so... Zen.

A fruity rose in the woods, shy violet, mimosa incense, poplar buds, paperwhites: these all come to mind as I smell Zen in EDC and more intensely so in EDP, which is less powdery and more unctuous. The aldehydes at the opening are pastel rather than saturated light, and there is a considerable earthy orris underpinning it. The texture is like running my fingers along the surface of brocade moss. To my surprise, there is a subtle smokiness further into development that reminds me of lapsang souchong tea, as if inhaling it from a tin, with a dry rosiness and sheer jasmine still stirring in the background. Translucent, with low viscosity, an ethereal aura: it all comes as surprise for a release from the 1960s. A moderately animal nature in its musk does impart some carnality, yet it's modulated to a tranquil level, not balmy, but watery. I find both the cologne and EDP to be beautiful.

I got this as a gift from a high school friend. It came in a gift set with a bottle of Inoui and one other Shiseido fragrance...I can't remember the name. Anyway, I alternated between the three until Zen was the only one left, then Zen became my favorite. Its dry, woodsy, incensy smell was an acquired taste for me as a teen, but once I fell for Zen there could be no room in my future for sweet, fruity florals. Unfortunately, when I looked to replace my empty bottle at the Shiseido counter, it had been discontinued! ...So I moved on to Energizing fragrance, and later even tried an astringent bottle of "O de Lancome" then a sweet bottle of "Miracle" (booo!) but never forgot my love for the original Zen. I am so happy to be reunited with my long lost high school favorite!

Imagine you walk in the park: smell the grass & flowers with morning dews surround them. The scent lingers in the air, sometimes it fades away but suddenly the scent appears & wakes your olfactory system when your brain need some relaxation. Shiseido Zen is a meditational scent rather than a daily scent. I have tried 3 different Zen, The classic one is focused on green floral scent, the white cone shaped created by nathalie lorson is focused on bamboo note and the last edition, the yellow cubic shape is focused on fruity notes. My nose still prefer the classic dark green bottle and if you want the scent stays longer on your skin you can choose the 20ml bottle in EDP concentration.

This review is for the dark bottle. I am lucky that it was pristine. Hyacinth dovetails perfectly with jasmine, along some seamless, non-sickly banana note. Then a definite note of cloves. It's so clever it's breathtaking. Everything is extremely well blended. I get green and woods too, and last but certainly not least, a clear musk pealing like a bell underneath it all. The musk is there 12 hours later, the only perfume to last this long on my skin. You only need a few drops. One of the most durable colognes I have ever tried. Beautiful. I am grateful for Catapano's genius.

I tried this recently at the Shiseido centre in Japan- it was just lovely - a classic Japanese fragrance - its incense but not smokey - perfect. It is based on what the original Japanese fragrance used in hair and clothing for centuries. It is meant to be light weight, thus true to original traditional way. Its woodsy, mossy and mostly mimosa and carnation stand out as the florals, but it is complex and changing - wonderful. Yes it would be a lovely EDP for the foreign market to suit our taste for strong perfume.

Found @ Winners in the men's section of scents...I knew it wasn't male, just because it's eau du cologne only refers to strength. 19.99 Cnd for 2.7 oz or 80 mls. My dear friend's late mother wore this as her signature for many years. The 1964 version. Love this re-release on its own merits. Very smokey & full of incense on me, with floral tones. I was looking for a heavier fragrance, for evenings & cool weather. This fits the bill. Even my husband sniffed & remarked "Pretty!"

A very dark, warm and floral scent with wisps of incense and smoke holding all the notes together. However, I also get a serene and spiritual vibe that I have never experienced in any other scent before. It actually feels more like an emotional statement that will present to others a sense of mystery and confidence. I feel a man can easily wear this and set himself apart from your run of the mill scents currently available. A must try.............

It begins like any well crafted Chypre of the era in which it was released and yet at the base, there is a sweetness and warmth which is very surprising when it appears. There's a honeyed and rich floral brightness. Zen cologne really does emulate the world famous Sakura blossoms as the weather changes from Winter to Spring, from cold to warm. I love it and it was well worth tracking this gem down.

This was a fantasic scent, that went sadly the way of many of the older masterpieces...to the reformulation butcher block. I wore the original in the late 70's, early 80's...a bit too sophisticated for me back then I think, but I loved it! Elegant, easy to wear day into evening. The new versions: they bear no resemblance, and I wouldn't touch them. Will try to find an old original...its worth it.

My mother had a bottle of this and of course I wasn't allowed to use it. But at 16 I begged my parents for it for Christmas. "We'll think about it", they said. But on Christmas morning there it was, my beloved Zen! I was the happiest teenager in the neighbourhood I'm sure. Today at The Bay I picked up a bottle for nostalgia's sake and it is still the wonderful floriental I remember. 10/10.

My mom gave me a bottle of this (parfum) when I was 10 or 12 (she'd been owning it even before I was born). Now I am in my mid-30s and guess what, there's still some left in that tiny bottle! I dare not use it, not because its age, but rather, I don't want to waste any drop of it - it's so precious and classy! Would definitely love to find a regular size in this original packing again!

I've only ever had a small sample of the new Zen and was happy to have found an original bottle on Ebay this weekend at what I deemed a reasonable price considering its scarcity. The shape reminds me of the simplistic shape of a sake bottle. What a wonderful, smokey oriental. It will be used sparingly and placed alongside my other most treasured, hard-to-finds.

This was my Japanese grandmothers signature scent. Even now when i smell it, it reminds me of her. Its the same with Elizabeth Arden green tea. It just has that Japanese grandma smell to it. I cant believe they stopped making it. Its almost got a musky Chanel No5 softness to it. I cant really work out the florals in it but its a classic and always will be!

This has all the lovely notes of a chypre, but is milder than many of the others in that genre. It would be a good entrance into that realm for someone just getting into perfumes. Such a charming blend of oakmoss and carnation. I loved stealing dabs of this from my mother's dresser when I was a child and still find it pretty and comforting.

OOh, so lovely... Today this beauty sings with daffodil, and hyacinth, and bright carnation and even mimosa - thanks to all the fresh flowers in my home I can compare the scents and it's bright and festive - on a pillow of a natural warm oakmoss. Beautiful and serene.

I bought it with my babysitting money at the counter of The Bay, in Winnipeg when I went for our grade 8 trip! The smell was definitely unique and the cedar and sandalwood notes made me feel like I was burning incense without the smoke.

I think this perfume is a absolutely amazing incense in Japan. It's an old perfume that is very compatible with kimono. In the old days, it also sold kneading perfumes in containers like "Indo(引導)". I love it soooo much!

Zen is the most beautiful perfume. I love it so much. I feel completely privileged to own it. It is like a paradise of smells. Very strong and perfect. And the bottle! What can I say? It's divine! Totally divine.

Slightly powdery aldehyde and musk. Aquatic. After a moment, heady sensual flowers and then a bit later an incense-y note starts to come through. Mature and serene. Drydown very light, still white floral though.

Strangely comforting and familiar, I wonder if my mother wore it when I was little?

This was my mom's favorite perfume. I miss her.

I sprayed this on liberally at 2pm, it's now 3:30, and it's gone. This is an edc, and eau de cologne's never stay longer than that on me. IS there an edp of this in the original version? If so, I wouldnt mind trying it. So onto the smell... As soon as I spray this, it's like hairspray alcohol to me. I think to myself...this is cheap, there's no way on earth anything good can come out after a strong alcohol smell like this. Then maybe 5 minutes later, you get hints of alot of notes but nothing concrete. This is fleeting and very cluttered floral/woody. "Oh I think I smell.....oh wait, where did it go? damn. What was that?". An hour later I got it! head shop incense. It's like when you were a teenager and you walked into a head shop that reeked of a million kinds of incense. And you pass by the namebrand incense packages, like spiritual sky. And you pick instead, the cheaper no-name variety pack...go home, listen to records, burn incense and whatever else, and wonder when you'll have enough money to leave your parents house and get your own place. This smell is like a big bag of variety pack incense sticks, with a slight hint of rose. Rose actually is the only discernible note I can pick out besides the incense stick smell. An hour an half later, it's gone on me. It doesnt smell asian-like to me, it doesnt smell "zen". This is like a back in the day new age store unisex cologne smell. It's not bad, I kinda like it. If it was more than $38 ,I'd be pissed off right now...so I'm content with this purchase. and btw , the spray bottle with the cap....heavy & masculine 70s looking. You take away that asian graphic and it may as well be called "Sexual Centaur" or "Hairy chested Pagoda Man" on it or something like that. ughh. The splash bottle in the reference pic above is much nicer looking.

Usually when I buy a fragrance, or test it out, I'm usually able to form an opinion after one or two wearings at the most. Zen took me at least ten, simply because it's just so complex. This review, of course, is for the original Zen from 1964. I got a bottle of the "Zen Classic" Eau de Cologne spray at Macy's for $38. I don't think I've ever found a better deal in my life - God bless Shiseido for reissuing Zen. Zen is the perfect rose fragrance. On my skin, 99% of rose fragrances go downhill. The rose is either too dry and powdery ("old lady" smelling, if you will), or too wet and chunky-smelling. Zen achieves the perfect resinous, woody rose that I've always dreamed of, over a tar-leather background. It's a match made in heaven, and the drydown is one of the best things I've ever smelled. It has a smoothness that is unprecedented; yes, it's pretty linear, but Zen does it the best. It has dark and evil qualities to it, but at the same time it's warm and inviting. Zen is dark, but she has a heart - like every good black metal song. The sillage goes down majorly after an hour or two, but I've had people comment on my smell 5 or 6 hours after I put on Zen. The longevity, therefore, is not great, and the sillage could be better, but Zen works best as a comforting, skin-tight aura of mystery. Bottom line, get this fragrance while you can. In this market, I fear it won't last. Not just that, but Zen is the one rose fragrance I recommend the most for men. Guys, Zen is more masculine than 99% of the "men's" fragrances out on the market today, so you won't be disappointed. Just get off your computer and go buy a bottle already. Zen is one of my absolute favorite feminines.

I do not know the original "Zen Original", only that which is still sold at department store countertops today - in that same bottle but, apparently, reformulated. This ’Zen’ is, to me, very tastefully & intelligently composed if quite reserved & demure. I confess the opening is not much to my liking, and at the risk of offending any devotees, I have to say the first half-hour very much reminds me of a box of nondescript, cheap Indian joss sticks (before being burnt). However, after an hour on my skin, this ’Zen’ really comes into its own and does indeed have the refined, balanced, simplistic, "informed by nature" elegance of Japanese taste. Light yet warm in a herbaceous way, it's certainly no statement fragrance and, as some have mentioned, does have a rather old-unaired-wardobe-of-fine-silk feel to it but... if you're in a vintage, subtle, psuedo-smokey, "close to mother earth" kind of mood, I can easily see how this is a favourite... especially as it retails for all of about £15 (in Japan)... a price level which makes it feel very quality for cost. Less esoteric to my nose than the name might suggest - more respectable, dressed up wabi sabi. I do love the earthenware-cum-laquered-objet bottle. ★★☆☆☆ Edit: Pure parfum pre-nineties bottle in my hands. WOW. This version has got my respect and my admiration. What can I say?! It's the lush original of what is now a water coloured shadow. No cheap joss sticks here Still, very "kimono" and yet, I feel the European now where East met West in mid-century optimistic best. ★★★☆☆

The scent embodies the beauty of wabi-sabi. Before this, I have not smelled such a lean, rustic, elegant and concise chypre. Zen is bare. Aldehyde fragrance is like fog, hazy covering hyacinth and galbanum. Cool green, soft daffodil scent sandwiched between gray orris root and cool cedar wood, sandalwood diffuses long and slowly. It's mild. Just like in the Zen room covered with tatami mats in an ancient temple in the deep mountains, the rain taps on the small window, and you look back on those pale, faded and old times in your dreams. The smoke from burning incense curls up, and through this layer of thin paper called "Zen", it quietly seeps into your heart, and Zen also has the power to infect emotions. The inner spiritual value is manifested as temperament, invisibly endowing Zen with more freehand and classical charm. It depicts a picture of a frustrated scholar sitting alone under the moonlight, copying the words written by his predecessors with a pen, without hearing the singing of birds and insects, and everything is silent. The scenery is lonely, but his heart does not feel lonely. "Zen" in 1964 was Shiseido's first perfume sold to the global market. Josephine Catapano accurately captured the concept of Zen and really touched the essence of Japanese culture.

This is a review of the original, my mother had and still has one she bought in the 80s and I have my own as well. It smells like something nice your mother would wear as a working woman before the turn of the century. It's strong, it's intense, harshly floral, and overwhelms my senses even to this day. It doesn't and never has taken me to a zen garden. It pushes me into the entryway to a floriculture orchard owned by an older woman who smokes, wears red lipstick, and isn't very kind. It doesn't describe me or my mother, but it does describe the serious, mature, coldhearted persona of a woman working a cutthroat corporate job during the 80s and 90s that I am familiar with. It's dated now, but I was too young to suit it and I didn't like it on my mum back then. It's full of nostalgia and I only go back to it for the sake of being taken back in time.

I have Zen Original as a cologne version in the black bottle. Some years ago I considered myself very lucky to find this online - a blind bought again, as testing beforehand was impossible. I agree with the previous reviews, there is a lot going on, but mostly I detect strong incense-like vibe, maybe the oakmoss? Zen Original on my skin is somehow dry and almost smokey. If the flowers are there, they are dried and from an era long gone. I only wish I could pick all those notes rasputin1963 refers to and be the cool brunette. That being said, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed with Zen Original, due to too high hopes I think, and she has spend most days on a shelf. More testing is needed to get to know her better, but maybe my mood is not zen enough often enough.

Lovely and soft, very greenish-aromatic, which I think keeps the floral from being overbearing. I even detect a small amount of smokiness in its early phase, rare in my experience for a perfume this green. Not what I'd describe as a playful fragrance due to its shyness, but one you know you can count on in most circumstances. Drydown brings about a quiet woody ambery base with a very mellow musk. Longevity is moderate, projection is intimate to close. I have the original perfume, vintage with just a small amount left in the black bottle for reference. Also one of the most gorgeous perfume bottles I have. Light, inoffensive, very classic, reminds me of a woman who is smart and expects to be listened to and taken seriously.

A wonderful fragrance. My mother and grandmother both wore Zen. For years, my mother savored her single bottle (bought in Japan by my grandmother more than 20 years ago), and when I gave her a new bottle as a gift, she was surprised and happy they still made it. So was I. The sales associate was touched that I bought two bottles, one for my mom and one for me. Floral and powdery, and the galbanum adds a unique dimension. In spring I will alternate between this and L' Air du Temps.

I ordered the Zen eau de cologne, pure mist vaporisateur, from Nordstrom for $38.00, and am wearing it right now--so I am surrounded by this mysteriously, lush, floral. BTW, Nordstrom is always free shipping and free returns, no matter what you purchase. And this arrived in 3 days! But back to this fragrance: I am so pleasantly surprised at how much I am liking the initial spritzing. I will post a follow-up in a few hours. No idea now about the longevity or the silage...

Zen was the first perfume I bought for myself from my own money. I loved it, and I loved the "coolness" of the chic black frosted bottle, and the gold writing. I had no idea about the contents of the ingredients, I just wore it for years, until it seemed cloying as I became more "sophisticated" (and graduated to Rive Gauche, LOL). Now that I have rediscovered Serge Lutens, I think I may have to revisit Zen, and see if it still holds a spell for me.

EDP spray in the dark green bottle. A dry, herbaceous chypre with a bitter galbanum opening. Develops very slowly for me. It's fresh and green at first with a soft melange of florals appearing much later. Stays fairly close to the skin at the beginning but sillage becomes greater with time. Finishes off with incense. It really does evoke an Asian temple garden. Very well-composed and 1960s but not dated and could be unisex today.

In the eighties I used to work as a make-up artist at a Shiseido counter in a big department store in New-York, I loved Zen, it was so classy, so beautiful but not overwhelming, I am so sorry it disapeared, there was a hint of grapefruit peel, fresh, soft and very fine with moss and flowers in buds, so exotic and japanese, this scent made me travel, I sprayed a little on during the day to feel clearer and more alert.

@Puzzlefish, I have the Zen original too, and I was disappointed with it. It doesn't smell quite the same way that it used to. It's more brash now, for some reason. I wore it back in the late 80's, and it smelled so good back then. I bought a new bottle from Lord & Taylor a couple years back, and it's just not the same. It gives me a bit of a headache now. That really makes me sad. The vintage was the best!!

I like this one, the original. Just got a bottle in an auction lot. If I run out and want to restock I'll have to be careful not to get the new one since the new one has lily of the valley in it, which I'm allergic to, and the original doesn't have that.

A very lightweight incensy floral. So classically pretty, I can't believe it was launched in 1965. There is nothing at all dated about this. A true beauty.

LOVE MAD LOVE!!! Notice there is nothing to compare it to. It is one of a kind... I hope we can always get it. Meanwhile I will savor my last bottle...

Oooh I remember this too right along w Murisaki from the 80's. Nice.

I blind bought what I believe to be the current reformulation in the EDC spray for a good price on ebay. Bad idea. I guess I was suckered in by most of the glowing vintage reviews, and I am really into Zen Buddhism. But this does not smell meditative or spiritual to me at all. It smells.. like musty baby powder. At first it smells like alcohol, then musty baby powder, one phase is alright when a spicy carnation shines though, then back to baby powder stank. No woods, no greenery, no darkness, no zen. TBH this smells a lot like the perfumes my grandmother wears and I can't get past that association. Even my mother agrees and suggested I gift it to her. I will likely do just that. Well, I guess I learned my lesson. P.S. I imagine the vintage formula is far superior but I doubt I will ever spend any of my money to smell it after this.

Current EdC classic, spray mist: Light yet heavy, surprising longevity despite being an EdC. Haven't had any comments about sillage. The scent behaves rather linear on my skin. Many of the notes are of my liking and many reviews predicted this to be something for me. My skin does however interpret this scent differently than others and this one did not want to be my friend. I'm not that good with the notes so I'll give the associations instead. I get deep thick sweet honey, earthy sencha tea, tobacco and beer. One more note also, but I'm not sure I dare to write it. Yes I do, urine. I would suggest sampling before purchase if interested. I hope that the bottle I tested from has gone bad, so if I see it somewhere else I'll definitely try it again.

I was looking for a classic, exotic fragrance and, following the reviews, I've bought it unsniffed from fragrancenet.com. To my absolute disappointment, the liquid in the beautiful bottle smells as if it had actually been produced in 1965: sour, rancid, heavy and headache inducing. I very much doubt that anyone could wear this. I would return it but fragrancenet has a bad customer service so I'd rather spare the stress...

Very meh. Silage and longevity as to be expected of cologne. Heavy smell. rather on the retro side - not something you can smell now in popular fragrances section. Not sure if it's worth the hype now. Got it very cheap and did not shed a tear when giving it away. Somebody mentioned mossy baby powder - yup, great way to put it.

First impression in the bottle - lovely floral with depth and perhaps a hint of chypre...On the skin not so good; the floral opening, discreet and soft, was followed quickly by a fruity note that did not wear well.

I get Band-Aids. Columnar EDC bought several years ago at a department store.

Review is for original 1970s which mother had roling around in car for half at decade, maybe the heat as (70+ degrees celsius in parked car) but how awful this was has not faded. Whenever hear or read smells like cat pee this comes to mind and it gave me an understanding of why some people intensely dislike fragrance. Smelt dated, shrill and unpleasant due to strong aldehydes also reminded of a damp rock with mud and moss, dark and dank. Name Zen is misleading as was not subtle or calming scent but similar to Revlon Charlie (orig) harsh loud and brash.

Zen by Shiseido is a beautiful Oriental chypre green, herbal, aromatic, peaceful & perfectly Zen perfume. As the other reviewers have done a terrific job of describing the fragrance, perhaps more than I can this early in the morning. Zen was created by Josephine Catapano who formulated Fidji for Guy Laroche. In no way do I detect identical similarities to Fidji although both appear to have a similar composition of notes and a green soapiness, like a green bar of soap. True to what others are smelling & describing, this is a soft, soothing, therapeutic, comforting fragrance of flowers on sandalwood. If it was not for the Japanese name (Shiseido) and the packaging & the bottle resembling a Japanese or Chinese bath oil, or perfumed water in a bottle, it would pass for a Hindi fragrance. It has the a spiritual air of Zen Buddhism, Shinto & Hinduism. Smells of flowers, light incense, and sandalwood, which are all notes that commonly make up a hardcore Oriental. But it never does get "hard" at all. It's soft and delicate, soapy, feminine & skin-like, powdery. I close my eyes & visualize a beautiful Chinese or Japanese Empress, taking the black bottle with the floral design and pouring it into her bath to scent her skin while she luxuriates in the warm waters. In describing the opening of this fragrance, I would say that it is a distinct galbanum, green, earthy, with a touch of citrus. It smells of day time, though usually galbanum notes are evocative of the night. Because the bergamot orange is bright but still very green & herbal, it's already making a statement. This is a green chypre in the realm of Chanel No. 19, Aliage Estee Lauder, Ivoire De Balmain, Scherrer & Ma Griffe. It also has a slight resemblance to Chamade by Guerlain. Floral? Yes! Love my florals! Along with the greenery of galbanum, the notes are comprised of jasmine, narcissus, carnation, orange blossom, hyacinth, rose & mimosa. There is also quite a bit of iris. In describing the florals, one can smell citrusy florals courtesy of orange blossom & mimosa, but it's also soapy-white with jasmine and narcissus. There's violet & hyacinth, a carnation, flowers which come at you left and right. It's hard to detect each note individually as they are presented to you in a sort of pop-up bouquet. The flowers that really "pop", at least for me, are iris, jasmine & carnation. The carnation is a spicy graphic green carnation leaf, matching up with the galbanum. The galbanum is substituting for what could have been patchouli. The soapiness of this scent is not as bad as some of the green soap scents which were common in the subsequent 70's decade like Charlie by Revlon. This is a very luxurious and well crafted soap scent. It's like they went to the Far East and took the finest ingredients of Japan's botanical gardens or even whatever they could pick up from forests and Mount Fuji to make this gorgeous Oriental bath perfume. I can't tell you how much I love the dry down. As soon as it starts to dry, I'm enveloped with a warm blanket of musk married to oak moss. The musk is not very heavy and one cannot call this an animalic when it's a distinct chypre and Oriental. A green lush moss embraces amber tree and sandalwood. The classic Oriental staple notes are enjoyable to experience in the dry down when the flowers fade. It starts to get a bit darker and more of a warm scent for winter. It's a very beautiful and evocative perfume. Asian Empresses at their bath, secret flower gardens in the Imperial Palace, peacocks, and a soft stream or veil of incense wafting out of a Buddhist temple. This is what Buddha smells like. This is what the after life smells like: Green, herbal, floral, peaceful, dignified, a garden of solace, a walk through a never ending dream of greenery. Nirvana :