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Chapter 2: Memories of Japan

Spirit of India Vandini 2023

6.4 / 10 45 Ratings

A perfume by Vandini for men, released in 2023. The scent is leathery-woody. It is being marketed by Zen91 Inc..
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Main accords

Leathery

Woody

Spicy

Smoky

Green

Fragrance Notes

Leather

Cedarwood

Metal

Sake

Wild flowers

Perfumer

Anh Ngo

Ratings

Scent

6.445 Ratings

Longevity

7.734 Ratings

Sillage

7.532 Ratings

Bottle

6.529 Ratings

Value for money

6.323 Ratings

Submitted by Blue84HB, last update on 11/12/2025.

Interesting Facts

The fragrance is part of the Chapter 2: Memories of Japan collection.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Reviews

8 in-depth fragrance descriptions

12/08/2024

8Scent 10Longevity 10Sillage

parfumpixie
357 Reviews

parfumpixie

Helpful Review 1

a samurai in a bar

An extremely boozy and leathery forward scent with hints of a metallic undertone thanks to the metal sword accord. Opens with a strong sake note, like you’re smelling it straight out of the bottle, accompanied with that sharp metallic undertone, and a subtly floral touch. The leather comes loud and proud as the scent develops and never leaves, only becoming stronger in the dry down with a prominent dry woodiness from some cedar. This is like a samurai drinking sake in a wooden bar with his swords nearby.

11/25/2024

8Scent 8Longevity 8Sillage

Landshark321
746 Reviews

Landshark321

2

Leathery spicy outdoorsy mix, bold and somewhat daring, a twitch animalic

Sampling d’Annam Moonlight Samurai (from the recently-released Chapter 2 collection, Memories of Japan), a spicy, leathery, hearty blend, about midway between sophisticated and raw/animalic. The official note list consists of sake, steel sword, leather armor, wild flowers, and cedarwood, so there’s a suggestion of a metallic vibe but for me it’s not really there, which is fine, as it feels outdoorsy and lived-in, and the spicy leather makes me think of the armor, all with a woody background. I don’t get sake per se but rather a heartiness that feels like a blend of wheat, woods, and a general earthy quality (patchouli-/vetiver-like).

Moonlight Samurai is EDP concentration and priced at $150 for 50ml, sold exclusively through the house website in the US for the time being, though I expect that it will be sold by other retailers in the future, as several carry some of Chapter 1. It performs very strongly and while I’m usually pretty cautious about animalic fragrances and leather fragrances, this slightly animalic-leaning leather-centric fragrance is quite great, a gem for colder weather especially, and a more daring follow-up to Chapter 1’s Through The Forest, a smoky campfire woody blend. I sort of feel like Moonlight Samurai is to Chapter 2 what Through The Forest is to Chapter 1.

8 out of 10

06/19/2025

6.5Scent 8Longevity 8Sillage

Manusca
14 Reviews

Manusca

2

A Warrior’s Quiet Side: A surprising tender take on leather and metal, until its sharp edge resurfaces

This was surprising, I expected something sharp and assertive based on the notes, but was greeted instead by a gentle, rounded leather that feels more like soft armor than battlefield gear.
The metallic accord brings a cool, almost meditative edge, evoking the image of a sword resting quietly in its sheath. There is unexpected comfort here - a calm, grounded energy beneath the surface.
Unfortunately, as it dried down, the metallic note begins to dominate, gradually pushing out the warmth and balance that made it so enjoyable to begin with, leaving the hours to follow feeling more one-dimensional.
Still, not as masculine as I expected, making it an intriguing, if ultimately fleeting, experience.

02/24/2025

Koicha
29 Reviews

Koicha

1

strong sake with a calm cooldown

The first spray on both skin and paper is a strong alcoholic note - the sake cuts through the leathery and smokey bed. However, as the sake fades, there is a dark and damp aspect to this perfume. The leather and cedar are present as a smoother, calmer background to the loud opening. But underneath the woody notes is the wildflowers which linger around like freshly cut grass in the nose. The base notes have the signature D'Annam skin scent, which is a calming, woodsy scent.

12/13/2024

6Scent

Cassrdgwy
42 Reviews

Cassrdgwy

1

Earthy, Green and Wet

Right away, you get hit with an earthy and green accord, smells like a very earthy sake. I'm not sure why this comes off as so green/herbal, and less woody/leather to me - but it smells like I just crushed a bunch of herbs.

When I was sampling it, I wrote that it smelled like springtime spent outside after some rain. Smells like wet bark, pollen, and wet mushed grass rubbed on my hands. The dry down was still smelling green and earthy.

Out of the discovery kit, this one is a pass from me, but not surprising considering this isn't my personal taste. I will say usually these scents are extremely off-putting, but this one seemed well blended.

More reviews

Statements

12 short views on the fragrance

Katzevogel

9 months ago

1

Very sharp metallic up front, with a distinct sake note that comes in! Not the warm leather I was expecting, steel is the star here.

vanillafiend

2 months ago

1

on my skin this smells like burnt tires with a hint of sweetness

Sirryscloset

2 months ago

1.5Scent 7Longevity 8Sillage

1

Vodka and leather. It makes me slightly nauseous to be honest.

Kahl

7 months ago

2.5Scent 7Longevity 8Sillage

1

Smells like stale weed smoked in a sake bar.

BeansGravy

8 months ago

7.5Scent

1

The metal sword is only in the opening, and it comes slashing. Then it becomes a nice cozy leather scent rounded out by flowers & campfire

SirLancelot

9 months ago

6.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

17

25

Always in the moonlight, the samurai stains his sword and leather armor with sake. At home, the geisha waits with cedar wood behind the door.

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Dreizehnte

11 months ago

8

2

special: the train slows down and a cherry is struck down with a sword. everything is wiped clean with grog.

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Karo0208

9 months ago

7.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

2

Special but not bad: definitely leather, COLD leather (metallic note?), herbaceous and soft at the same time but definitely cool. More on the masculine side.

Translated · Show original