Culture

Top Japanese Perfume Brands

Japan is known for its culture, excellent food, and top-notch entertainment. One of the most fascinating aspects of Japanese culture is their perfume industry. They have a rich history that dates back to over 100 years ago when they were producing incense. Today, Japan has some of the best perfumes in the world

The top Japanese Perfume brands are:

  • Kenzo
  • Shiseido 
  • Issey Miyake
  • Keiko Mecheri
  • Parfum Satori 
  • Di Ser 
  • Miya Shinma
  • Monocle  
  • Zoologist

Perfumes from Japan are best known for their smooth yet subtle scents and they make this happen by using high-quality ingredients and profound knowledge of perfumery.  In this article, I will introduce you to these Japanese perfume brands and discuss what makes them stand out in the market.

Photo by Victor Wong on Flickr

Top Japanese Perfume Brands

Kenzo

Kenzo was founded by Kenzo Takada in 1970. Kenzo is a Parisian designer and the founder of the fashion house, Kenzo. The perfumery section was also founded by his wife Michiyo in 1994 to create perfumes under her husband’s name.

Photo by erinhunghyh on Pixabay

Kenzo has over 20 years of experience in perfume creation and their fragrances are available at many retailers around the world. They have a variety of perfumes for both men and women. Kenzo sells its products in department stores, specialty boutiques, and its own fragrance shops.

The best creations from Kenzo are, L’Elephant , Amour Eau De Toilette, and L’eau Par). 

Established: 1994

Website: https://www.kenzoparfums.com/ 

Recommended Product: L’Elephant

Shiseido 

Shiseido is a multinational Japanese company that was founded in 1872 by Arinobu Fukuhara. Shiseido is a global manufacturer and marketer of cosmetics, hair care products, skincare items among others. The company has more than 3500 employees around the world who are based out of 14 countries.

Shiseido sells its product to over 140 countries worldwide through specialized distributors as well as directly from specialist stores that carry their line of products. 

The best creations from Shiseido are the Maquillage Nude Velvet, and Ever Bloom Perfume for women, and Aqua Eau de toilette fragrance for men.

Established: 1872

Website: https://www.shiseido.com/

Recommended Product: 

Issey Miyake

Issey Miyake is best known for his designs in women’s clothing. This Japanese fashion house manufactures and markets perfumes, clothing, furniture designs among others. The company has more than 200 employees worldwide with headquarters in Japan and France where it also sells its product through specialized distributors as well as directly from specialist stores that carry their line of products.

Photo by Locies on Pixabay

Issey Miyake’s best creation is the L’Eau d’Issey (1992) which was initially launched on an international scale to compete against the popular perfume White Linen by Elizabeth Arden.  

Established: 1992

Website: https://www.isseymiyakeparfums.com/

Recommended Product: L’Eau d’Issey

Keiko Mecheri

Although based in America, the founder of this brand is actually a Japanese perfume designer. She created her first fragrance in 1979 and has now expanded to include more than 20 perfumes for both men and women. 

Photo by Rae Wallis on Unsplash

Keiko Mecheri emphasizes using natural ingredients and often includes flowers in her perfume. 

Keiko Mecheri’s best creations are Savage Beauty and Curious Amber for women and Tomboy for men.

Established: 1979

Website: https://www.keikomecheri.com/

Recommended Product: 

Parfum Satori 

Produced by Japanese perfumer Satori Osawa, Parfum Satori is known for its commitment to using natural ingredients and often includes fruits such as apple, pear, or grapefruit. 

Satori Osawa founded this brand in 2000 and the company is now based in France. They have now expanded their range of products by including various other scents like Jasmine, Lavender, and Lily-of-the-Valley. 

Photo by Ali Muhamad on Unsplash

The best perfumes from Parfum satori are, Vanille Abricot, Cassis Pourpre, and Nouveau Monde. All of these perfumes are designed for both men and women for the best appeal.

Established: 2000

Website: https://parfum-satori.com/

Recommended Product: Cassis Pourpre

Di Ser 

Established in 1999, Di Ser specializes in creating luxury fragrances for men and women. It was founded by perfumer Di Sero who has been an active player in the industry since 1946. 

Di Ser also offers herbs, medicine, and natural cosmetic products. All their products are manufactured in their own lab from the best ingredients possible. Every year, Di Ser launches a new fragrance collection in order to cater to the latest trends. 

One of their most popular products is Kyara which is made from the best quality Agarwood. Hasunoito and Sarora also maintain the same quality as the Kyara but the intensity is different.

Established: 1999

Website: https://www.diser-parfum.com/

Recommended Product: Kyara

Miya Shinma

This Japanese renowned perfume brand was established in 1927 by Masami Shinma and Kiyoshi Kuroki, their goal was to provide the best quality ingredients possible at a reasonable price so that everyone could enjoy fragrance without worry about affordability.

Their fragrances are manufactured in their own lab from the finest raw materials available which make them stand out among other brands on the market today.

The most popular perfume from Miya Shinma is SAKURA Cherry Blossom which is a romantic fragrance that has floral notes of cherry flowers. Hana, Momo, and Ruri are also worthy to mention because of their smooth but subtle fragrance.

Established: 1927

Website: https://en.miyashinma.fr/

Recommended Product: SAKURA Cherry Blossom

Monocle  

The perfumes from Monocle are simple yet hardly engaging. Monocle was established in 2002 and is one of the first brands to create a perfume with delicate aromas. They offer a wide range of products to suit all tastes. Monocle has physical shops in Japan, the USA, Canada, and Switzerland.

The most sought-after perfume from Monocle is the Scent One Hinoki which is a refreshing blend of citrus and floral. Laureal and Yoyogi uzu are other fragrances from Monocle that have a nice mix of woody notes and freshness.

Established: 2007

Website: https://monocle.com/shop/beauty/perfumes/

Recommended Product: Scent One Hinoki

Zoologist

Zoologistperfumes is an award-winning brand that was established in 2010 by a renowned perfumer and the owner of Zoologist is often seen on TV. They have created celebrity scents for famous Japanese personalities such as Hatsune Miku, Kazumasa Oda, and even Kumamon.

Zoologist offers unique creations that are modern yet natural-smelling. From the leveling on the bottle, it may seem that these perfumes are made from animal extract, but these are all from plant extract and oil except the Hyrax.

They name their perfumes after different animals like Bat, Elephant, Bee, Musk Deer, Panda, etc. So, if you are an animal lover, I recommend you give this brand a try.

Established: 2010

Website: https://www.zoologistperfumes.com/

Recommended Product: Zoologist Snowy Owl

Eli Civil

A software engineer, entrepreneur, and Japanese culture enthusiast. I travel the world while working from my laptop and try to visit Japan as often as I can. About Eli Civil

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