Basala / Basara (Eau de Toilette) by Shiseido

Bottle Design:
Marc Newton

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Basala
Basara
Shiseido 1993 Eau de Toilette

8.2 / 10 82 Ratings

A popular perfume by Shiseido for men, released in 1993. The scent is spicy-leathery. The production was apparently discontinued.
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Main accords

Spicy

Leathery

Woody

Earthy

Green

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Lavender

Citrus notes

Blossoms

Heart Notes

Spices

Tobacco

Dry notes

Base Notes

Leather

Sandalwood Amber

Amber

Perfumer

Dominique Preyssas

Ratings

Scent

8.282 Ratings

Longevity

7.566 Ratings

Sillage

7.160 Ratings

Bottle

7.067 Ratings

Value for money

7.916 Ratings

Submitted by Kankuro, last update on 05/11/2025.

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What the fragrance is similar to

Exception Eau de Toilette

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Basala After Shave

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Bal d'Afrique Eau de Parfum

Reviews

6 in-depth fragrance descriptions

06/15/2020

9Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Leimbacher
2873 Reviews

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Leimbacher

Very helpful Review 25

A Knight's Blow to the Heart

In the early/mid-90s, freshies, clean scents, and aquatics were in demand - "Basala" could hardly have crawled onto the market at a more inappropriate time. Yet, this brutal belly flop does nothing to diminish its excellence and its floral, glorious style...

A wild-classic mishmash like "Basala" is unthinkable today as a new release in the designer sector, from back to front. And as its "OoP" existence confirms, it seems that was the case nearly 30 years ago as well. What a missed opportunity for the world! "Basala" is a wonderful, strong floral, yet entirely a men's fragrance. A tobacco-lavender gentleman that completely captivates me, and I deeply regret that it was in the wrong place at the wrong time. One can imagine it as the long-lost link between "Relax" (!) and "Insense" (!!) - and I think that speaks for itself. What a hard-to-find triumvirate... "Basala" has a leathery base, very bitter and only minimally ambered, yet on top of that lies a dreamily bitter bouquet of ashtray flower arrangements just before their death, where they still manage to give off their last, most delicious sighs. Simply fabulous. An essential scent for the transitional seasons. Leaves. Meditation. Self-confidence. Shiseido, brave enough for an authentic, unrefined reissue? ;-)

Bottle: powerful, curvy, beautiful - fits the scent
Sillage: perfectly dosed, never absent
Longevity: I easily enjoyed 8 hours

Conclusion: what a stylish, relaxed powerhouse... I don't want to say that the current moon prices for this discontinued gem are justified - but it's close... "Basala" is/was an disarmingly great fragrance!

05/23/2013

9Scent 7.5Longevity 7.5Sillage

Fizmo
10 Reviews

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Fizmo

Helpful Review 14

Mysterious fragrance from an autumnal Nippon

It happened in the year 1998, when there was only Photo by Lagerfeld. One day, the princess came home with a mysterious treasure from the distant land of Nippon. The treasure was called Shiseido Basala, looked somehow mystical, and smelled wonderfully exotic and herbaceous. For during this wintry time, the prince had to spend two months in the bitterly cold Suomi (also known as Finland). Thus, the prince set off and eagerly indulged in the mysterious treasure, which he, of course, carried in his luggage...

In the past, I could practically bathe in this scent. These days, that is absolutely not possible anymore, as my nose would immediately wave a little white flag. One spray is enough to spend an evening reminiscing about the coldest and most alcoholic but also the most thrilling time.

I can somehow understand my predecessors well. Basala knocks you off your socks. Especially if you apply too much, which can happen quickly with the sillage.

The scent is extremely herbaceous and spicy, almost devoid of any freshness. I can smell the very dominant spice, but also mate and green tea, which rounds it all off. Overall, I find Basala very interesting and good in its composition. The overall work is coherent, but very, very far from the mainstream. Thus, it is also polarizing.

For me, Basala is the absolute epitome of autumn. And that is also the season when I always enjoy wearing Basala.

Falling leaves blown away by a cold winter breeze. The first snowflakes fall from the dull, gray sky. One strolls wistfully and sentimentally through the forest, surrounded by countless shades of brown and gray, mourning the past summer...

Shivering...

Basala...

...

03/11/2010

TVC15
216 Reviews

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TVC15

13

Philosophical Gibberish

Basala (formerly Basara) was a scent statement for those who like to work on their image with a sledgehammer, just to avoid smelling like the masses. The fingerprints of Serge Lutens are unmistakable; he probably strolled by the lab while Dominique Preyssas was trying to smoke chestnuts in a pipe.

The stuff smells as dreadful as the fragrance pyramid promises - a breathless, evil, herbal, compote-like, chemical club-like, bone-dry, balsamic, resinous, rancid, bitter, sweet, musty, spicy, oriental men's chypre. Or something like that. With a celery twist! Since this was way over the top for the Western market, they quickly added a bit of Eastern mystique (Basara/Basara jap. = free, unconventional), but that didn't help either. The thing flopped and was discontinued. My sorrow is limited.

12/27/2014

6Scent 7.5Longevity 5Sillage

loewenherz
917 Reviews

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loewenherz

11

Under the Spell of Baba Yaga

In all cultures, there exists the archetype of the old woman who lives in the woods, usually of at least a grim disposition, often clearly dangerous. In Slavic mythology, this old woman is Baba Yaga - and unlike the one-dimensional evil witch who lures children or unsuspecting princes, this Baba Yaga is ambivalent, not unlike the forest spirit Rübezahl. She punishes the wicked and rewards the good and is seen as part of a trinity of maiden, mother, and old woman - representing becoming, being, and passing away, similar to the Greek Fates. Whether good or evil, Baba Yaga is always an eerie, fearsome figure who resides in a bewitched forest in her house made of skulls.

Shiseido's Basala tells of the indeterminate darkness of this forest where Baba Yaga dwells. It lures us in and pushes us back, leads us astray and denies us any arrival. The enticing aspect is the smoky-soft spices at the beginning, but without sweetness - and then one finds oneself caught in the enchanted forest and cannot escape. Like will-o'-the-wisps, flowers flash by - clove, rose, and jasmine - and cinnamon and resins draw us further in, driving us toward the house of skulls. What is painfully missing is the reconciling, gently embracing element that one expects, that one needs after this stumbling journey through Baba Yaga's coldly bewitched forest. The longevity is high; one does not find a way out for a long time.

The listed 'What doesn't belong here?' ingredients 'fruit', 'neroli', and especially 'coconut' are not perceivable to me, which can hardly be regretted.

Basala seems to be one that has been strangely torn from its time. Oddly out of place in the early 90s amidst the aquatics that dominated the market back then, it is loosely related to the powerful fougères of the 80s and serves as an irritating premonition of what we now call 'niche'. Also, a - albeit not just any - woman can wear Basala. It is not a light fragrance; nothing flatters, nothing clings. It is demanding, exhausting, and requires concentration, while being equally exciting and complex.

Conclusion: a strange relic from the 90s. Highly interesting for those who wish to engage with it. Not suitable for light pleasure and quick happiness.

01/18/2011

Taurus
1164 Reviews

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Taurus

3

Moldy Leather in Ashheim

… was my first thought about this olfactory disaster. I don't know all perfumes yet, but this one is/was the worst mixture for me. I really wondered who would voluntarily buy something like this and apply it. I wouldn't even gift this stuff to my worst enemy.

I have never experienced such a terrible, penetrating musty leather note. Basala is only good as a negative example. And I found the bottle to be totally misshapen and ugly back then.

That it flopped is as surprising to me as horses in the Wild West!

More reviews

Statements

15 short views on the fragrance

Charilaos77

3 years ago

8.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

2

I really like it. The smell somehow reminds me of the two years later Xeryus Rouge. Disappointingly discontinued..

Hermesh

10 years ago

8Scent 7Longevity 7Sillage

2

Multifaceted and unique: wild but pleasant herbal mix meets lavender (as well as other floral notes), fir and some leather.

Theris

7 months ago

6.5Scent 7Longevity 7Sillage

28

23

Spicy Tjost
Distinctive Knight
With a hint of lavender
In musty leather armor
It falls grimy
Into the small
And dry herb trench

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Scorpio

6 years ago

8.5Scent 8Longevity 9Sillage

9

4

Exotic Japan. A truly exceptional scent. Warm, floral, woody, slightly feminine. Unfortunately launched during the Clean Chic era.

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ParfumAholic

5 years ago

8.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

8

Herb, spicy, leathery, woody with a special kick from the lavender. At the time, it (unfortunately) didn't hit the zeitgeist. Striking & elegant.

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Lillie

7 years ago

7

1

Probably my all-time favorite men's fragrance. Sandalwood, spices, leather, tobacco. Herbal-masculine and elegant at the same time. A rarity and a delight!

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