Yuki

ゆき

Miya Shinma 2012

雪と雪　今宵師走の　名月か ~ 松尾 芭蕉
„Snow, more snow
In this December night
A bright moon shines?“

In social (public) situations, we are usually different from how we are when we are alone or with friends. We are adapted, somewhat overly friendly, and careful not to stand out too much. For many, this is child's play; to be honest, I find it difficult to be so carefree and extroverted among strangers. Often, I think a lot about how I come across to others and am then more preoccupied with those thoughts instead of living in the moment and really trying to build a genuine connection with the other person. And how does that come across to others? I have often received feedback like “cold” and “distant.” And every time I get this feedback, I am honestly a bit shocked, because people who know me well give me completely opposite feedback.
#YUKI evokes exactly this association in me. Right after spraying it, I am enveloped by a powdery, fresh coldness of lavender, like a blanket of snow that completely covers all the other warm, inviting notes. I am always shocked anew at how differently fragrance notes can be used. Alongside the lavender, a hint of black tea can also be sensed, which makes the scent even more aromatic, nature-connected, and yet simultaneously cold. The first line of the aforementioned haiku by Matsuo Bashō speaks of “snow and snow,” which, according to some interpretations, refers to a difficult, “icy” relationship between two disputants.
The next part of the poem clearly underscores the setting of a night in December once again. Perhaps we find ourselves in a dense Japanese coniferous forest consisting of Hinoki false cypresses, whose woody-aromatic scent is particularly prominent in the heart note.
And despite the dense coniferous forest, the cold yet simultaneously heartwarming glow of a “beautiful, bright” moon finds its way between the cypresses. It is reflected by the snow, and the result of the cold-warming moonlight gathers on the face. Interpretations suggest that Matsuo's moonlight reveals what lies in the hearts of the two disputants and thus stands for reconciliation in the icy relationship. This moonlight, accompanied by warm musk and amber notes, allows #YUKI to radiate a warming coldness after a while, as paradoxical as that may sound. For me, it represents once again who I am as a person and my nature: I find it difficult to open up and approach strangers right away. But for people I already know well, I have nothing but warmth. This ambivalence is also reflected in #YUKI and deeply touched and captivated me from the very first time I smelled it.

Typically Japanese, #YUKI has a gentle, understated projection lasting about 4-5 hours. However, the scent lingers on the skin for much longer. Even though I personally identify 100% with #YUKI, it is still a unisex fragrance; like snow, it cannot be precisely assigned to any gender.
#YUKI was truly a serendipitous find at the beginning of my fragrance journey, and I am infinitely grateful to fate for allowing me to discover this scent that resonates so deeply with me. 新間さん、感謝申し上げます！
Even if you cannot find yourselves in me and my situation, I can only strongly recommend that you give it a try.