Description
Bamboo Harmony is inspired by The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, a Japanese folk tale. The bamboo stands as the symbol of human perfection and is in Chinese culture the means to practice calligraphy with, it being the main material out of which calligraphy brushes are made of. It symbolizes therefore art, beauty and the “men of letters”.
The fragrance Bamboo Harmony by Kilian focuses on the olfactory impression of a sip of white tea drunk off bamboo, with fresh top notes of notes of bergamot, neroli and Bigarade. The white tea leaves being renowned for their sumptuous taste and delicate refinement are here accented with a hint of spice. Coupled with white tea there are Maté notes in Bamboo Harmony , interwoven with fig leaves and oakmoss, making us savour a serene moment of spirituality in a drop of fragrance.
Bamboo Harmony was launched in 2012. The nose behind this fragrance is Calice Becker.
mobil1976 – :
Excellent scent… I’m just not sure I would pay the going rate given the similarity to far cheaper scents.
myh506Unlogrere – :
Lovely fresh green light fragrance. Very good for hot weather. Lemon veberna with crisp peppery notes, almost like super green Linden before it gets sweet.
Galstuk – :
It seems I can’t dislike by kilian products!
Bamboo Harmony doesn’t belong to my usual favorite genre.I don’t dislike fresh,green,citrusy fragrances but I’m not into them either.I thought bamboo Harmony is going to be a very bamboo dominant scent but it’s not.It can’t attract a panda at least in it’s first stage.it reminds me Mugler cologne,CK One,Bvlgari verte,Hermes moniseur lei &… as mentioned in other reviews but if they all had same price tag I’d choose this one
It opens with a lot of citruses.I can also detect a super-clean,slightly soapy neroli,white tea and some spices(it’s spcises make my nose tickle and I start to sneeze after a while,just the same as Jennifer Lopez Still)..this citrus dominant stage lasts for half an hour on my skin while it gradually settles down to something less sharp,less citrusy and more green.I can easily detect bamboo now and strangely I like it unlike most other green scents.It feels like smelling young and crisp bamboos while still a hint of tea and neroli’s clean and comforting scent lingers in background.sometimes I even detect a fleeting whisper of earthy oakmoss(not a favorite of mine)
longevity isn’t great but 4-5 hours is enough for me.sillage is almost moderate
If I was a billionaire I’d happily buy a bottle to have a different fragrance in my sweet,gourmie collection but right now if I crave citruses,fresh spices,tea and bamboo I’d rather go for JLo Still and JLO desseo and layer them
There are couple of by kilians which I love and more of them which I like more than BH yet I appreciate pleasant simplicity of this refreshing,unisex juice
gula – :
This perfume immediately brought me back to my teenage years, it is perfectly similar to CK one by Calvin Klein that I like a lot, it’s an essential perfume for summer a classic fresh citrus/green that makes you feel very “clean”, but the price is clearly not the same it’s about 10 time more expensive….
wowa-tschu – :
This is a very clean, somewhat soapy, fresh, green fragrance. I think it is unusual yet I have this sneaking feeling of familiarity. It is worth the try. I probably would not wear it to work or nights out, but any other time, especially daytime in the summer, this would be great.
Overall rating 8/10
Scent 9/10
Sillage 9/10
Longevity 7/10
zve011speagoessenda – :
A fresh unisex summer scent opening with bigarade, neroli and bergamot.
This could be a part of the Hermés un Jardin line. If you’re into summer freshies like e.g. Mugler Cologne but would like to soften up the soapiness with some white tea and fig plus added spices, this is made for you. Not sure if I can pick up the bamboo though ? A little linear, but at the same time it seems sophisticated and unpretentious to me, reminiscent of a high class spa product.
Green, clean and quite long lasting for this kind of scent.
Natalia_fromAD – :
Scent – astringent bamboo.
Season/Time of Day – I prefer to use this one in the colder months, day or night.
Projection – I did get noticed, I didn’t get a compliment.
Longevity – I get 8hrs consistently.
Pocomaxa – :
Refined mossy and a little bitter drydown. Comfortable.
A niche tea-bamboo scent.
Zakuska – :
Possibly the best tea scent on the market. I only wish longevity and sillage were better.
Nonetheless, I don’t regret purchasing the full bottle. Nishane’s Wulong could be an interesting, and better performing, alternative.
Uskor – :
If the rice note were deeper and roasted and lasted, I would like this more. Otherwise, it’s just a green tea and lemon scent. Slightly green with a clean, almost dryer sheet, musk in the base. The citrus/florals get kind of screechy/harsh as it develops and starts smelling like cleaning products to me- or even Crystal Light Lemon Iced Tea powder. It’s not unpleasant smelling, but it’s not doing much for me and I agree with another reviewer who said it gave them a headache. I can totally see that. There are similar veined scents that are great for much less $ (Hermes Le Jardin de Monsieur Li, Bulgari Thé Vert, ELDO Fils de Dieu to name a few).
dgydi – :
This is such a platypus of a fragrance. Is it a duck? Is it a beaver? Is it an oriental? Is it an aquatic? Is it complex? Is it simple?
The answer is yes.
I adore this. If I could only have two tea fragrances (of recent memory) in my possession they would have to be Bamboo Harmony, and Mona di Orio’s Bohea Boheme.
Bamboo Harmony walks such a tight and crisp path. Almost squeaky clean, and ever-so-slightly aquatic, but without relegating itself to the Land of the Predictable.
I had bought (and worn) this while on vacation in a warm climate, and it was perfect. I smelled like I’d just stepped out of a spa at one of the most expensive hotels on the island.
Once I got home I shuffled it to the back of the cabinet, thinking it would have to wait until summer. However, after a third freak snow storm I felt I needed a gentle reminder of warmer weather, and pulled Bamboo Harmony forward again. It made the transition to cold weather beautifully! It developed much greener on me, and less sweet than it had in warmer temperatures. Whether that was due to the weather, or my olfactory bulbs responding differently in the cold, I don’t know. And really I don’t care. I’m more than happy that this will get more than just seasonal wear.
Ascent – :
3/10
h12h12 – :
Fragrance Review For Bamboo Harmony Kilian
Top Notes Neroli Bergamot Bitter Orange
Middle Notes Tea Mimosa Spices Bamboo
Base Notes Oak Moss Fig Holly
Gorgeous Oriental tea and bamboo scent. It opens with citrus that bitter orange and a neroli scent. Then it becomes a bergamot tea. If you enjoy the aroma of bergamot tea you should love it. The spices are also helping with that tea scent. It’s got a definite bamboo recreated woodsy scent and once it kicks in it becomes a unisex fragrance. Men’s colognes contain bamboo notes and oak moss which is also here and shows up as the scent dries down. An aromatic oak moss which also matches up with the tea note. The fig and holly are the feminine touches. Sweet fig most of all. This is so beautiful. Kilian Kudos you guys make amazing fragrances that whisk me away that make me feel like there’s more to a perfume than just smelling good. This always takes me to China where I can see panda bears bamboo sticks and tea houses. Sweet and spicy lovely Oriental fragrance.
gruzbaron – :
يه عطر صابوني، كاري خيلي ضعيف و به شدت معمولي!
Ara14 – :
Bamboo Harmony is the definition of refined elegance. Like a photorealistic depiction of fresh due on sweet grass in the english country side. Light, airy, delicate, watery, lofty, distinct, pure, and beautiful. i cant imagine anyone disliking this based on the smell.
rhodos95 – :
By Kilian is always synonymous with quality, even when their creations are not interpreted as they should, ie with too much information and desire for perfection descent. Bamboo Harmony is a true example of simple fragrance, with common raw materials and enough needed to build a sporadic scent that fits well in any situation with a tendency to warmer days. It opens and citrus with a semisweet noise behind and also the evident presence of neroli oil, confessed that his departure is not very pleasant, reminiscent of the smell from the bathroom after nurtured in a state school which studied in pre Adolescence [laughs] … only it’s something temporary and it does not exceed 5 min. Then it evolves and showing its claws “niche perfume” with the appearance of bamboo, giving also notice the foliage of vegetable and herbal and natural way in its evolution is noticeable a very pronounced notes of slightly warm tea associated with an environment that contains Spice balanced faint the previous flavors at this stage there is a duel between the bamboo and tea, there are no champions. Its base becomes very green and purest much as possible with their clear natural notes, highlighting the Mate and humidified oak moss and half muffled by the fig leaves, assigning a tailpiece desparamentado the fragrance, but with the quality Creations House By Kilian, and following the subjective philosophy of luxury creations of the great heir Kilian: “Perfume is an art to me, a messenger who opens doors thousand in memory.”
dima79 – :
“The real luxury should be essential in excessive.” Bamboo Harmony is lightweight and does close after the evolution of his heart, however, fixed medium and brings joy to the wearer. No more, I said.
Word of the Day: rebuild… (day 19)
Tarik9 – :
The smell is beyond reproach, just gorgeous, but as so many before me mentioned, not worth the bucks By Killian charges. But if money isnt an issue, this is the best tea fragrance I’ve smelled. I would douse myself in this if It were financially feasible.
uhr556elipseskism – :
A very strong bamboo tea… Green, fresh, watery, but that about sums it up. It is very simple, refined and distinct. I have EA Green Tea and this smells so similar, of course with much more oooomph and longevity.
I could imagine this in an oiled room freshener but not for the skin unless one plans on layering scents….
autoxxx – :
It smells good, but really that’s about it. Nothing stands out.The tea is nice added with citrus but this type of scent can be had for 30 or 40 bucks. After an hour or so sillage is very soft. I have sampled many Kilian’s and they all seem average except for B2B. Maybe one day I will find one I love enough to purchase but until then I will only try samples. Next up for me is Apple Brandy and Vodka on the Rocks.
LiliMinerva – :
As so many have noted this has the same problem as most Kilian perfumes: smells great with AAA quality natural ingredients but not original or compelling. I love this and if it was the first to ever go down this path it would be great. Oh, and: if it wasn’t massively expensive. Yes, Kilian: for these absurd prices we expect genuinely distinctive and compelling. Ingredients can’t do it on their own.
Xeroxfhzsr – :
Phew this one kinda saved the day on the ‘fresh’ set I bought in terms of taking things in a more manly direction. Don’t get me wrong I like ‘Flower of Immortality’ and ‘Water Calligraphy’ but they’re not exactly butch.
Love tea fragrances and this is a real challenging one which opens with fresh citrus. The strange watery quality of bamboo actually has a unique smell to it that I’m quite familiar with…it’s in here but just a hint an infusion perhaps? just a suggestion by the other notes.. cleverly done though. It does have a slight soapiness from the neroli but if this was too prominent I wouldn’t like it, and thankfully it isn’t.
Basically it’s kind of a figgy, tea with a hint of spice which is transparent enough to make it invigorating and not too heavy, perfect for summer.
It’s weird though be warned…I’ve not worn it enough times to be convinced that I love it yet but it can’t be accused of being too similar to anything which makes for an interesting juice.
RhineeRibia – :
A quick burst of citrus at the start, followed by a linear partnership of crisp clean bamboo and fragrant white tea.
It’s pleasant, fresh and airy, but definitely NOT worth the asking price. Really nothing better than the multitude of fresh green spritzers you can buy in The Body Shop for an eighth of the cost.
So unless you have money to burn, I wouldn’t recommend spending your hard earned cash on “Bamboo Harmony”.
snikers000 – :
I love the initial blast of tea and citrus. But then it ends up being so linear, just more and more pungent, and eventually gets tiresome. The lasting power is amazing, but I got bored with it after a couple hours because it didn’t develop on my skin.
And I wish I got the oakmoss in the dry down that people are talking about! Instead, it started to smell sweaty. The end. 🙁
dgolf – :
Looks like I’m one of the few to love this. So I”ll throw in my caveat; my chemistry loves green notes, specifically the drier ones (fig and tea are big hits with me).
I too think the longevity could be better, but when I woke up in the morning I got a lovely sniff of oak moss. Mmm. Yes it is a skin scent, but I like this aspect. My scent shouldn’t announce my arrival to the entire auditorium. I also like that they left out the more vulgar, harsher green notes. This is soft, wearable and respectful. Love it!
mlo793speagoessenda – :
Hmm… Inoffensive? Pretty? But not distinguished in any way, and disturbingly like air freshener. This is like a Yardley floral or something similar: light, soft, forgettable. Also it’s giving me a sore throat.
c00peR21 – :
My second attempt on By Killian is crowned with failure. Another generic,simple,all over the place niche citrus fragrance that doesn’t justify its exorbitant price. Green tea with bergamot,that’s how I describe it. Almost identical to Bvlgari’s Eau The Vert. Weak longevity and sillage close to skin. I expected more creativity and originality,perfume is not just a pretty bottle.
karimovim – :
197) A facade of Harmony
A shower of citrus draws attention in opening. The bitter orange with green neroli accents announcing the following: a mimosa and especially a quite realistic white tea. Infusion rather than dry sheet with subtle and round notes of hazelnut and almond, you can feel the softness of Silver Needle downy buds. Next the mate acidity and milky fig leaves join the coumarinic and buttery notes of white tea. It is elegant, well controlled like a Japanese garden and full of this kind of tranquility that we feel in trying meditation in front of a bonsai. “do not disturb”.
Unfortunately the background falls in faded musk stretching the whole as possible. Far from the line precision and conciseness of Japanese prints.
Longevity and sillage? well, we should rather speak about non-existence and ethereality.
As always the exaggerated price is the best way to hide the mediocrity of the product. Who dares say that he paid this price for something less good than an half expensive perfume?
pul16al – :
You know what I like about Bamboo Harmony? Its unpretentiousness and delicate simplicity.
It opens with citrus and some greens, but mostly citrus.
Then it turns full green, raw, earthy and natural. It feels clean too.
It doesn’t last long and sillage is soft/modest. But I guess that’s the idea behind this creation.
Ягужинская – :
Finally had the opportunity to sample this (thanks to a thoughtful swapper)!
This is a light scent. I actually prefer light scents, and I don’t mind re-applying. But this fragrance is almost non-existent mere seconds after application. Perhaps it needs to be layered?
Tea and fig were most prominent for me, and very lovely, indeed — for only about a minute. Then — *poof!* — it disappeared, only to be left with the merest trace of baby powder.
I would definitely consider this for my want list if it had better/any longevity and sillage.
Boiweeld – :
It is so far my favorite Kilian but again and again: no sillage and staying power – at least in my case :(( I really love tea-scents and this is one of the most elegant and sophisticated tea fragrances but with this pricetag and that quality I won’t get a full bottle.
stolyr4ik – :
Wonderful creation by Kilian that is rather unusual and exotic. Green, fresh, somewhat aquatic but not in the 90ies “Cool Water” kind of way, but more in the sense of a green pond by the waterlilies as you relax with a cup of green tea.
Very interesting and “fresh” in a new, not yet done fashion. While there may be some reminiscence of the sweeter, denser cousin GUCCI II Pour Homme, this one here is just so otherworldly and exotically new.
I somehow wished the bamboo element was stronger, but the creation was to tell a story around the bamboo concept of serving green tea in a cup made from the plant material, whilst indulging in the art and crafts of writing some very personal Calligraphy memoirs. How can you not get carried away in the many myths and deep secrets of the Orient, be that the bustling city of Hong Kong or the tranquility of China’s countryside with ricefields and tea plantations as far as the eyes can reach.
After the fresh citrus bergamot/ bitter orange opening, the fragrance settles well into a slightly floral, green, exotic skin scent that keeps you cool, calm and collected during those hot and humid summer days and nights.
Ideal for those who seek a bit of zen in our often all too hectic and overcomplicated world.
Great concept scent. Creativity 9/10.
Moderate sillage but good longevity.
Calming and soothing skin scent. Perfect for summer.
Understated, sophisticated and refined in an organic and natural way.
Deroxnymff – :
I bought this and recently returned it. It deserved to go back honestly. It smells fine for a woman. Not a guys scent IMO and not a good gender bender. I just couldnt…
Piobplealia – :
Bamboo Harmony starts off with promising hints of citrus and sweet floral notes, but rapidly becomes an unexceptional (dusty) powdery floral green tea fragrance. I much prefer Water Calligraphy to this, though with Water Calligraphy, the emphasis is on sparkling sunny florals instead of tea, bergamot, and green grassy notes.
After the delightful opening, Bamboo Harmony quickly morphs into a powdery floral, and then the tea really comes out full force, but still cloaked in this powdery floral veil with a hint of ambiguous spice.
The green tea has a somewhat nose-tingling bitter element as if it has been a little over-steeped, and then used to make iced green tea, so that the notes do not really sparkle on my skin.
In the dry down, there is a powdery musk and the tea continues to permeate with its subtle yet persistent bite. The dry down is actually quite pleasant and ends as green as they come, but I would not choose this before any other more vibrant and simultaneously gentle (harmonious?) green tea fragrances.
This reminds me of the perfume which “hangs” around a strange rich lady who is placidly looking at the same painting as you at a museum. You can tell that she is not friendly and she does notice you at all, even though you are no more than inches away. She is in her own calm, insulated and isolated world. Like warm ice.
volot1984 – :
This a very good fragrance formulation. I get the tea, the bergamot and the subtle grassy note. This fragrance does remind me of an older great fragrance that was discontinued and that would be the original Calvin Klein. I like very much that it reminds of Calvin, that was a classic that should be brought back, but Bamboo Harmony will do just fine in its place. Bravo to Calice Becker for this fragrance for By Killian. I think it is terrific and so clean, so fresh. It’s just so right for work or evening. Wow!
marindodita – :
This is the first real chypre from Kilian. Its a good entry. Citrus freshness up front, a grassy herbal middle and a really green base. Put together like a classic chypre, executed very well.
groorpuse – :
: ((((Tea soap. So unnatural sounds, this is my first Kilian, very unpleasant acquaintance with such an interesting brand with such a mediocre flavor.
v1967v – :
I love tea scents, I really do, but as much as I hate to say this, Bvlgari and Elizabeth Arden have already done this scent to death. I was hoping for something more bamboo-like, but supposedly this fragrance is meant to emulate the scent of white tea being drunk from a bamboo cup or leaf… or something along those lines.
I expected to smell a luscious, green jungle, but instead Bamboo Harmony greeted me with crisp tea notes and aromatic spices. It’s not bad in terms of composition, although I do admittedly find it a little bland and boring at times.
It wears splendidly on the skin. The unisex qualities are quite apparent, with refreshingly green and spicy notes combining to create a smooth, non-gender specific scent. I actually quite like it for its versatility and easy-going approach.
So far I am beginning to realise that this Asian Tales series is intended for Summer. On my side of the world, I am in the midst of a freezing, cold Winter, so it’s probably not the best time to test these scents. Either way, I will be looking forward to giving Bamboo Harmony a whirl in forty degree celsius weather.
The drydown smelt quite earthy on my skin, which was certainly pleasing. The longevity for me wasn’t as disappointing as it was for others. I got at least a good five or so hours from Bamboo Harmony, and what I’d call moderate sillage.
It may not be the most innovative Summer scent, but I will agree that it does smell nice and has the ability to grow on you over time. I found the simplicity the only bothering factor.
em_forever – :
A very green opening, and you can quickly smell the tea. Frankly, the entire scent reminded me very much of Bulgarie Eau Parfume au The Vert…which I actually prefer (and is more financially acceptable). The fragrance did not last on my skin more than a couple of hours, so this is not a keeper for me.
rlv077speagoessenda – :
This is a very lovely, fresh tea/floral. It has a very nice staying power. The dry down is very clean, but yet the tea scent is still present. The neroli and bergamont notes are very nice. One can detect the mimosa, but unfortunately, with my chemistry, it is not that noticeable.
I truly like this fragrance.
Rspefilm – :
Bamboo Harmony is the olfactive impression of a subtle sip of white tea taken in the hearth of a bamboo… moment of spiritulity.
Bamboo Harmony opens with luminous notes of bergamot, bigarade and neroli. It evolves through a comforting heart combining white te leaves and mimosa, highlighted with a touch of spices. The unique character of the trail is given by rare mate essence interlaced with sensual fig leaves and oak moss.
Well, it indeed starts with a blast of bergamot followed by an semi hernal neroli tone in a very soft type of scent which through time gives space to a tea note. By Kilian needs to learn how to do tea scents with Bvlgari.
Faroantarne – :
I love this fragrance-it is exotic, green, and unique-all things which I seek in a fragrance. Also many uniquely Asian notes-another thing I love. The dry down is much more sweet and somewhat spicy than the initial essence of bergamont, tea, and, I actually smell water in this, although it is not listed in the notes.
I can see that one would have to specifically love the notes in this to like it, because it is very unique and specific-not everyone will like this direction of scent, but I happen to really like this.
The more I smell/wear this, the more I love it-and while it does have some notes of other fragrances others have mentioned, it is definitely unique and unlike anything else I have smelled.
I just got my bottle today-the packaging is amazing, as all is by Kilian, and I cannot wait for the other fragrances in the Asian collection to be released!
Jey – :
It’s great! I love it! Fresh & Spicy.
vetos161rus – :
By kilian is my favorite house but with this one i am not impressed , maybe because i have very big expectations from them.Calice did good job but not perfect. pure and rouse oud are much much more impressive then this one .
lisica-lisa_34 – :
I love by kilian, I have 3 full bottles that I love, I tried the two latest offerings today and was not left wanting more. This one was the more unusual of the two, I can pick out the tea and the fig and whilst it is a very nice perfume and well blended I will stick to the 3 that I already own. I still love you though mr hennessy for your amazing sample programme and wonderfully trained staff.