Description
In 2013, in collaboration with perfumer Olivier Pescheux, Yohji Yamamoto launched six fragrances: five relaunched originals and one new fragrance.
Red, one of the designer’s favourite colours, comes to life in this sophisticated and sensual scent. An unusual opening of grapefruit and clove is followed by ultra-feminine rose, jasmine and ylang-ylang, resting on a refined base of patchouli and moss.
Top Notes: Grapefruit, Clove, Galbanum, Chamomile, Gardenia
Heart Notes: Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine, Linden
Base Notes: Patchouli, Amber, Moss, Musk
Available in: EDT 30ml, 50ml and 100ml Parfum 15ml
Body Lotion 200ml; Shower Gel 200ml; Deodorant Spray 150ml
atsoft – :
This fragrance is amazing and it gets even better when you step outside to the fresh air! It’s great for colder weather. It’s very sophisticated, and it smells like vintage classic, first notes remind me a little of the Red Moscow, but in a very nice way, and when it dries down it becomes very soft and warm. Beautiful scent, you need to wait until it settles to appreciate it. Do not blind buy it, try it first.
Update: I have just tried Genny for women and it is very similar to Yohji Essential, so if you Like Genny, you’ll like Yohji too =)
Andriy1990 – :
This smells sooooo good, it’s an outstanding perfume for an outstanding woman. It’s warm and a bit spicy, very good for cold month. You have to try it before buying it though because this one is definitely not for everyone.
irina20 – :
A new version of Yohji Essential smells almost the same as the vintage one IMO. I would rather classify it as Oriental Floral: sweet, spicy, bittergreen and musky. The scent is so well-balanced, fully-rounded and eclectic- sheer Zen in the bottle! The sweetness of the white flowers makes a perfect match with the bitterness of the herbs, resins and balsams here.
Bittersweetness of Life. Unbearable Lightness of Being…
I’m entranced, hypnotized by this beauty. I’m dreaming….
I’m walking through a green field of chamomile blossom in the warm sunshine. The air is pungent from damp earth, wet stones and plants.
I smell green moss, gray roots and dewy white rose here.
There is no noise but the solitude that gives peace.
There is no worry about the future. I open my eyes and there is a world full of light, full of bitter pleasures, and my soul is torn between dreaming and living. Which is better?
Absolutely unique scent! Quintessence of femininity. I’m lulled forever….
ritka – :
This classic chypre is beautiful. Sparkling, slight spice. Beautiful smokiness too, early on with cloves and moss. Miss Dior vintage has the same vibe. This is smoother and more modern. Juicy bitterness from the grapefruit and galbanum keep this fresh. It is not bone dry but smooth. The chamomile lends that herby lightness and gives it a unique twist. perfect for spring and summer. Fresh planty floral green smell. Just perfect.
p.s. the chamomile is a moody note, some days it smells fresh and herbal, others it does a weird stale sour thing. Same perfume, different day, amazing! I like being surprised so this is no bad thing, just another twist…
Andrey231094 – :
A few years ago i had a bottle of this perfume but at that time i didn’t gave it the proper attention it deserves and ended selling it when i needed. Today, due the generosity of a friend i’m rediscovering this classic from the japonese stylist Yohji Yamamoto and seing how good it is. Essential translates for me very well the important elements of a classic chypre, a style that unfortunately felt out of grace from the feminine public, being alive today due the classics that survived with time and some efforts from niche brands. Also, it’s hard to do a chypre at the old fashion way with the current restrictions on oakmoss and what i think it’s interesting on this one is that it smells like a classic chypre even with the focus on the floral, green and citrus elements of the bittersweet harmony typical of this family. Essential opens with that galbanum aroma that reminds you of soil and plant, specifically the dry sap aroma of plants. The citric aroma acts secondary to give it a bright and fresh part to this impression with the chamomile extending the vegetal impression with a faintly sweet side. Already in this phase, as with most chypres, you can already notice the earthy, woody, dry and slightly salty base that it’s an impression which for me happens due the combination of the typical elements on a chypre base (patchouli, oakmoss and labdanum). But for me the star in this fragrance and that makes all the difference in the harmony it the floral accord at the heart. It oscilates between the bitter and greend side captured of the roses to something more sensual, thick and sweet from the jasmine to my favorite and beautiest part, the citrusy and floral aroma of lindenblossom, which reminds both of orange petitgrain and also of a floral and green lemon. It’s a very beautiful perfume, with a lot of things happening and everything balanced in a quite precise way, but it doesn’t seem a fragrance for everyone, its driest aroma is not the type which is popular today.
Sanja83 – :
I was very excited to order a sample of this online.
Unfortunately, my chemistry amps galbanum and any perfume with galbanum in it smells like toxic/poisonous plant extract on my skin. Busybody galbanum shouts over all the other notes making me afraid to even sniff my own arm, and then after about an hour, everything seamlessly fades into a scent that reminds me of chamomile and shrinkwrap, which is weird and incredibly addictive to my nose.
The soothing yet synthetic combo in the drydown is comforting to me and reminds me of smelling new books and CDs.
Yohji is a very distinctive and unique perfume! I find myself craving it from time-to-time, and nothing else can take its place.
orlandoche – :
I’ve been wearing this baby for a day or two now and feel compelled to write my review so that others may try this rather enigmatic little gem.
I say enigmatic because this is a mysterious fragrance with a soft and sultry undertone of a spicy oriental, despite it being a chypre floral.
The initial spritz to my nose is spicy, (I think that would be the clove note) which is very cleverly freshened by the grapefruit. A quiet little woodyness creeps in at this point which is created by the resinous notes of galbanum, this of course is followed by the florals.
The heart of the fragrance then settles in about 20 minutes into the most beautiful and gentle sweetness of rose and ylang-ylang, I also smell a touch of a soft and beautiful jasmine.
The composition dries down sweetly and wraps itself around a very well behaved patchouli, amber for sweetness and a little moss which gives this a fresh, ferny forest aroma.
This fragrance is a very beautiful, quiet and secretive cocktail of the most wonderful but unusual notes, which act well together to create a great union of olfactory joy.
This is a very classy and beautiful fragrance which is long lasting and high quality. The smell is so utterly unique and joyous. I have had complements from this when I couldn’t even smell it on myself anymore.
I’m so glad I never smelled the original because I wouldn’t want my judgement to be clouded. I’m so glad that I have nothing to compare this to. Thank you so much to the lovely Yohji for gifting me this delightful fragrance and being able to part with it so readily.
seambDrorreek – :
Strange coincidence. I have to write this first review. It used to be my favourite fragrance starting from 1999 till now.
Today I tried new formula of Red-Yohji for first time as old one is gone and you hardly can get any at all. I knew my last 40 ml will not last long so I got this one hoping it will not be bad. At least. It’s not bad. Its even beautiful. Still sophisticated and unusual.
But its not my Yohji Essential. Its another, similar by maybe 15% from the very beginning fragrance, recognisable by camomile and galbanum twist.
Instead of amber with rasberry in Old Yohji here is very strong patchoili/labdanum base note so the impression is not sensual/bright but I would say more elegant and reserved.
Drydown turns into tender lime blossom on my skin which is wonderful for spring…
*sigh*
At least it’s even now unlike anything I had…