This is my first parfumo comment, and it's about a fragrance that I can hardly categorize. I first caught impressions of it at various airports and was thrilled: A very intricately woven scent, is it fruity, floral, woody, fresh, or sweet? A bit of everything, nothing stands out. Without knowledge of the fragrance pyramid, I wouldn't be able to identify any single note apart from the Nashi pear at the beginning.
I find the scent to be intangible, simultaneously unusual - I know of no other perfume that reminds me of Zen for Men - and yet familiar. I don't notice any real development on my skin. After a very short fruity-fresh phase, the scent remains very constant, and after just a few minutes, heart and base notes join in.
And then the fragrance is beautiful. It touches me. I feel secure. I am at peace with myself and the world. I wouldn't know that such deep feelings have ever been triggered in me by a fragrance, at least when I have smelled it on myself. By nature, I am a very analytical thinker, which makes the effect of Zen for Men all the more surprising. Only - and here I feel the same as Ergoproxy - after 1 - 2 hours, it's all over. I can't smell anything anymore. It's not that some dull base note remains, no, nothing. That is very, very unfortunate. What should I do with this fragrance, when should I wear it? To work - then I would have to keep the bottle constantly at hand. In the evening, for going out? Probably not. Although: It will surely become my wine tasting fragrance. An hour of well-being after showering, and when the first wine is in the glass, I neither disturb myself nor my surroundings with scent clouds… Accordingly, it could also be the fragrance for a very nice dinner, among good friends. For a dinner for two - no, definitely not there.
In my confusion with this fragrance, inspired by Ergoproxy's beautiful contribution, I did take a look at Wikipedia on the topic of Zen Buddhism. It may be coincidence, I don't want to philosophically elevate Zen for Men, but at least what I feel and how the fragrance develops on my skin does fit with the essence of Zen: The calligraphy of Enso (Japanese "circle") is often used as a visual symbol for Zen; it symbolizes enlightenment, strength, elegance, the universe, and emptiness (copy-paste from Wikipedia).
How do I rate the fragrance? For the first 1 - 2 hours, it would exceed the 100% scale. The low longevity (my skin is quite "fragrance-eating," but something like this…) must also be reflected in the rating. The coincidence with the theme of Zen?
“When our mind finds peace, it disappears by itself.” (Sengcan, Xinxinming)
No, I don't really have a secret... ;-)