Donglin Temple

I've grown to be a big fan of Zhufu from what I've tested so far. It's such a different style of perfumery than what I'm used to and I really love it. Donglin Temple threw me for a bit of a spin, to be honest. With my occidental mindset, I was thinking incense and wood but that's not what I get here. It's a blast of airy lotus and bright ginger and citruses, along with something kind of earthy and green. My initial mental image was a temple in the middle of a forest with a nearby pond with blooming lotuses. There's no aquatic note here but lotus in general gives off that vibe. The emphasis here is on the scenery and not on the actual temple. I can see why some would say Portrait of a Lady, as the floral aspect is very top-heavy. As it evolves, it turns greener and woodier. I think it's still unisex but you have to be into florals. The longevity is good, I get a good 4-6 hours with this one. However, with most Asian perfumes I've tried, the focus on Asian perfumery is not nuclear performance or "beast mode", it's a more introspective style of perfumery, more contemplative. Definitely perfect for spring but for the cooler not-too-humid days of summer you can't go wrong with this one.

It opens with a blast of cypress, fir, camphor, and citrus, giving a very crisp, masculine forest vibe. Lotus adds a cool watery floral tone, but the overall structure stays dry, ozonic, and aromatic. The rosewood and cedarwood base is smooth and understated, with a touch of musk. Agarwood is present but not dominant. If you enjoy pine needle freshness and temple‐air clarity, this will speak to you. For me, it leans too green‐leaf and masculine.