Description
Zen is the first Shiseido’s perfume released at the world market. It was created in 1964 in a black bottle with a floral pattern. This is an intensive floral scent, with hyacinth, orange blossom, jasmine, mimose, daffodil, violet and woody-musky base, which is not produced anymore. The new, modern version was launched in 2000 and the creator is Nathalie Lorson. This version is lighter, more pellucid, with a general resemblance with the original (the production will be stopped soon). The bottle of the second Zen is white.
The third version of Zen was created in 2007 by Michel Almairac of Robertet. This time the bottle is square-shaped and inspired by Japanese golden room for tea ceremony. The designer of the bottle is a Japanese, Taisuke Kikuchi.
dmitrii_p – :
04. november 2016
Ok,so 100ml bottle of this beauty was purchased by me years ago and simply got lost amongst hundreds of bottles of mine. But today i had a strange craving to find out this perfume and try it, the bottle is so pure and we have first snow up in here and while having a breakfast and looking outside the window i suddenly recalled i have this perfume and i wanted to wear it.
To be honest, i have tried it this summer once and i wasnt impressed, but now sitting in a warm apartment,watching the snow falling down outside i have completly different approach to this perfume. There are notes now that iclearly smell that werent so pronounced during warmer period of the year. First of all, the most dominant note on me is clearly gentiana (i wonder why this note was rated so low,since it is strong enough,but thenduring the summer time i didnt smell it so clearly), i have Guerlain´s Aqua Allegoria Gentiana,and the opening is almost identical, but here it is even more spicier,thanks to bergamote. It is so surprisingly good. There is a strong oakmoss accord as well and idosmell somekind of ripe pear side smell (pearwood?). Since i do dislike iris and violet combo in one fragrance i was scared their combination here would be also a disaster to me, but they are both extremely soft, i actually dont smell any iris yet at all. The patchouli is still there, but it was loaded very lighthaded in here. The closer to drydown, the more pronounced the bamboo note is. in generali think i have found a perfect weather to wear this fragrance and today will be my ZEN day. Gladi didn´t get rid of it in the first place.
stalker2033 – :
Along with Clinique Wrappings (stupidly discontinued too, at least in several countries), it was one of the most perfect, beautiful, exquisite perfumes I have ever smelled. It was serenely majestic, quietly great. Astonishing.
As its serene, stylized white flacon (in the shape of two praying hands, but also a cloud of smoke), recalled me perfectly the idea of the white color. The whiteness of a piece of paper awaiting a drawing or a watercolor, a piece of marble waiting for the sculptor, a cinema screen wanting the images (most likely in black and white or in sepia tones), the white of the silence in a concert hall, just before a concert.
Zen was truly Eastern. It makes to think about the classic Chinese or Japanese paintings with Chinese ink on silk or rice paper, the refined simplicity of the Ikebana, or the Tea Ceremony.
I think the notes are not correctly listed in Fragrantica. For me, the most prominent ones were moss, white flowers and Kyara Wood. Kyara Wood is a sort of incense from the aloeswood, so fashionable today, and with a long ritual tradition in Japan.
The opening was green. Very green. Perhaps the greenest perfume I have ever smelled. It was like being in a traditional Japanese moss garden under the moonlight, close to a lake on whose waters the moon was reflecting. And the moss note was prominent all over the time. A wet, green moss, very moist, albeit not acquatic. It never was dry or sour, like it can be the moss in, let’s say, Clinique Aromatics Elixir. Then, appeared shyly the heart, with the most astonishing, realistic white flowers I have ever smelled. I am pretty sure there was some lily, along perhaps with rose, hibiscus and lotus blossom. And some gentiana. The violet was also present, but in its lest sweet, greenest incarnation. They were white flowers, with some pink and tender green hues. Radiant, traslucent, evanescent white as the bottle and the box.
And then, the background. It was dark, perhaps black, most likely in sepia and brown tones. Its darkness was not messy or unsetting, but serene, even cosy. The moss note was here enhanced by the Kyara Wood. Imagine the most perfect oudh than you can: then, remove the sweat-like note from it and add some balmy, milky sweetnes, like milk and smoky vanilla.
It was terribly elegant, and, at the same time, totally lacking of pretensions. There are no words to express such unearthy beauty.
Please, people from Shiseido: instead of releasing the pretty mediocre EverBloom line, you should re launch this absolute gem.
Mike88VK – :
This smells very soapy and strong. Not a fan of it. I bought the mini Pefrume bottle for it’s looks and it still had some perfume left in it. Kinda smells like an old ladies perfume, yuck!
Serega Zp – :
Such a delicate, soft, warm scent. Sadly it was available such a short time. I am happy to have used a bottle of this pearl. In the opening it is a powdery, sweet scent, but with some patience it opens up to an unique bamboo creation. The patchouli does not dominate and the warmth stays on for a long time. You are greatly missed Zen!
INFINITI1001 – :
I love this extra,it reminds me of all those oriental things in movies,which also could calm me down immediately.Wish this one is still under manufacture.
Mexvj564elipseskism – :
Shiseido Classic Zen Eau de Colgne Pure Mist 2.7 fluild oz is available from Macy’s. Black bottle with the gold floral pattern.
Werewolff – :
For those wondering if this is still in production, I just bought a bottle at the Shiseido flagship store in the Ginza, Toyko. The lovely Japanese sales assistant described it as a perfume for meditation. It’s true! This version of Zen is very comtemplative, very Japanese.
By the way, the black bottled Zen was sitting on the shelf beside it!
masti – :
This has all the elements I look for in a fragrance. I do have the mini concentrated essence and I love the fresh green aspects that are not too sharp, the florals that are in harmony, and the solid dry wood base that has no vanilla, no sweetness, and no musk.
I am saving the bottle and using it as if it is liquid gold. I love this Nathalie Lorson version but I am looking forward to try the 1960’s version too, if ever I find it.
wasa35 – :
LOVE this scent, soft and warm yet strong and comforting – I don’t get the overpowering thing at all on my skin that I find with other scents like Beyond Paradise or Tresor, now they are overpowering on me!
Does anyone else get hints of Murasaki from this? This version of Zen definitely reminds me of Murasaki but not sure quite which notes – or maybe it’s a Shiseido thing, something in the formulation that reminds me of Murasaki? This version of Zen is very soft, warm and sensual…love it for winter…
a1974m – :
This reminds me of Cinema, only loads more wearable. Where Cinema NEVER quiets down and settles into anything other than a scream, Zen starts out with a bang of sweet patchouli and Iris , then quickly transforms into a softer version of the top notes. The dry down later is fabulous…it becomes animalic and musky,still retaining much of the initial flavor. This lasts on me for hours and has nice silage. I love this stuff!
madbooka – :
Luckily, I still have a bottle of the original Zen. I absolutely love it. This is a fragrance just for me, not a fragrance to douse on and wear around town. I find it comforting and familiar. Spicy but not overwhelming.
Duh2006 – :
I LOVED this Fragrance!! I wish they still made this it was amazing!
nat-75 – :
I had this version of Zen and I loved it very much but unfortunatly they stoped the production.. I’m seeking for a similar perfume, do anyone try the new version? is it very different? or can we detect the old zen?
paukihor – :
Oh I had this and loved it so much.
I like that it´s creamy and soapy. But I can see how some people don´t like it, cause it´s very unique.
What a scandal that they stopped producing this Zen version…. oh sadness!
makcik – :
loooooved it! had only one bottle, years ago. did they discontinue this one too? i cannot find it at all!!!
VLADRA – :
Splendid scent. For me is of niche , performed from natural components.
Beautifully it balances. At the beginning I feel the green but they do not fresh , such natural . How one crumples recent leaf of the tree. Then it lies into the warm , delicate note. Without water acords , without the pepper. And because I adore him. It does’t torment me. Can be as the everyday scent ,in the morning , but perhaps to be also with the evening. This scent very nobilly lies.
I love ZEN 2000
ArturBadalyan – :
i smell fresh bamboo, humble powdery violet and iris with lil rose thrown in.very unique,calming,inspiring,happy smell.This is my new fave:)Lasting power is very good.
GROODSCED – :
I would like to love this frangnance because I love the name, the simplicity of the bottle… but this perfume turns to a really strong soap smell on me that makes me cough…I can’t stand.
crow – :
I had a sample of this version of zen for so many years but I didn’t go smell it but in the cold days of winter while I was trying to concentrate to my lessons to get ready for exam.
the first notes are really too strong!it’s the pure bergamot.even make me allergic.but then it softens.
actually I don’t consider this one a sexy nor a young lady perfume.but it helped me to concentrate,in fact I remember the cold days of exams with this perfume.so maybe they’ve choosen the right name!
RASMUS73 – :
Zen by Shiseido is a bit too strong for me. I think it might be more suitable for some special occasion. Young girls don’t always like this scent. To my mind a staying power is quite average.