Zen for Men Shiseido 2009 Eau de Toilette

I can echo Friendchild's assessment: Zen for Men has that certain something. In short, this is probably the best possible description of this fragrance.

I tested Zen for Men without knowledge of the pyramid and was quite puzzled. I couldn't identify the top notes at all. Was it floral, citrusy, minty, or all of the above? Before I could decide, it was already gone. So only a fleeting impression remains: modern, urban, and unusual. Even the top note makes it clear: here is something you don't find every day.

Zen for Men quickly changes its character. The lightness is still there, but it gives way to a somewhat more stable, in my perception, woody heart note. And it is attractive: none of the usual harsh cedar- sandalwood notes, but something milder. From distinctly woody, this note reaches into a scent impression of old, stained paper, as celebrated extensively in Dior's Homme. But that's not all: an unusual spicy note flanks the whole thing. I couldn't identify it as nutmeg, of course. Is my nose letting me down?

Be that as it may - the heart note is really attractive. In this section, the wearer of Zen for Men exudes an extraordinary, pleasantly understated aura. I think this can certainly lead to curious questions and comments.

But unfortunately, unfortunately, this does not last. I would have loved to have this accord as the base scent. It actually appears after an hour and is basically an old acquaintance. I smell neither leather nor patchouli here. I clearly perceive it as woody, paired with something vanilla-like and a bit of powderiness, which could be attributed to a musk in my opinion. This is familiar from many other perfumes, from cheap (J'S Exté Man) to luxurious (Guerlain's Arsène Lupin Voyou). It's not bad, but clearly in the wrong place here.

I have nothing fundamentally against perfumes with scent development - but a certain line should be maintained. When a perfume changes its character along the way, I can no longer go along with it. This is the case here. The heart note is totally different from the base, fitting other types and occasions. It is noble, exciting, dark, sexy, and mysterious - yet the base is well-known, solid, friendly, and bright. Both are nice, but please not together.

Thus, Zen for Men leaves a rather ambivalent impression. It fundamentally disappoints me - I would have loved it if the style of the heart note had been continued. On the other hand, Zen for Men has exciting, original sides. It's difficult to have to decide for or against it here. In any case, the wearer should love variety in perfumes.