J-Scent - Japanese people's impressions

The image is taken from here.　https://j-scent-global.com/　　https://luzfragrance.com/j-scent/
※By Japanese, we mean born and raised in Japan, but we do not mean to exclude anyone else. It is a vague definition.

What prompted me to write this was this article onfragrantica."The Quiet, Slow Beauty of J-Scent: Peach, Rain, and Shaft of Light"
After reading every corner and having doubts, I tried out the sample set. I found it interesting expelience.
So this time, I would like to share my answer to this article in the form of a blog.
First of all, I do not want to insult him or embarrass him. I just hope that by writing what I feel, mutual understanding will deepen. Also, I think people overseas are curious about whether "it has a Japanese name, but does it really embody Japan?" I will touch on that point in line with the content of his article.

First of all, I will write it so that even those who have not read the article can read it.
When I read this article, I felt that he romanticized Japan too much overall.
The Japan that is being praised on TikTok is not Japan. lol, what country is that?Of course, I'm not a spokesman.
I have always wondered about this, but it seems that Japan is considered a "mysterious country". This is clear when you watch Hollywood movies. Also, I think that only classical images such as geisha, Mt. Fuji, and sumo are predominant. I think that there are people here who have immigrated to Japan from other countries, so I think that they understand, but that is only a very superficial part. It is not something that is familiar to our at all.
And I think that there are many people who misunderstand it.

So, going back to the topic, in the article he says that,"Unlike the West, Japan has a culture of wabi-sabi, which provides a fresh surprise to obsessive Western values,"(Summary). but Japan is also a culture that has a tendency to make quite obsessive efforts, so I think it's hard to say.
Well, the wabi-sabi culture may be fundamental in valuing materials, valuing simplicity, and not dominating nature, but I don't think it's absolute.

This part in particular made me think, "Huh?" "I don't know how Japanese consumers feel about J-Scent perfumes. Do they love them or do they see them as tourist curiosities? I doubt that idea. Japan is a rich and self-contained civilization where Western and traditional elements coexist and in a way ethical elements are replaced by aesthetic norms."
Hmm. Well, this feels very "Western" to me. lol
How can someone living in another country determine how people in that country feel? (This was also mentioned in the thread "Politically incorrect fragrance notes?")
It's up to us to decide, not for others to decide, right?
I wish he would just ask "What do you think?" Is it the result of a "Western obsession"? ?(as he said)
I was like, “He's just saying ‘I don't think so,’ he's not pushing it!” I thought. But he liked it so much, I feel willed that he doesn't want to think of it as a touristy perfume. I think he wants this to be real because he probably wants an escape. It's as if a generation that hasn't caught up with gender consciousness is saying to women, "Always be the nice woman I want you to be. Don't show me anything I don't expect." In short, they are pushing the ideal a little too far. I think they are too conscious of being separate from themselves.(Well, it happens all the time. Japanese women are modest, kind, and will do whatever you say...umm,OK, I'll hit you? LOL!)

I can't 100% understand what he's saying, but I think he's trying to say that because Japan is a self-contained civilization, they don't need to pander to the West, so it's probably not for tourists.(But earlier you said that you appreciated the culture as a fusion of Western and traditional elements, so isn't that a contradiction?）
Hmm, I don't think so. If you read my J-Scent review, you'll understand that the people who say this is "Japanese" in Japan are either Japanese people who are not familiar with perfume, or Japanese people who live abroad. I didn't feel any Japaneseness in it at all.Yeah, no...some of them simply smell good, I won't deny that.
"Maybe you don't realize how good it is because you live in Japan?" Oh, that's a good point! I like people who are skeptical and smart like that. Lol
But no. I don't think that's the case.
Because (hmm, I hesitated to say this) it's a brand that isn't really taken seriously by Japanese perfume fans. I think it's more that he's not really interested in J-Scent, rather than that a "perfume snob" who makes fun of Japanese perfumes and praises foreign ones. I feel the same way.
I hope people don't think that this is a genuine Japanese fragrance.
As I mentioned in "Yawahada," I can't help but wonder why this novel was chosen as the subject of the story. It's a pretty terrible novel. (I don't deny Yasunari Kawabata's talent.)

Also, as I mentioned in this review, these fragrances are imitations of famous perfumes from overseas (or rather, the West). Shaft of Light Eau de Parfum
"Isn't it just because you're too sensitive that you feel that way?" Yes, I understand your suspicion. But I want you to read his review and my answer the question. The difference between how he perceives perfumes, a European(Wait a minute. Is this distinction correct? It's hard for me to express it because I don't welcome nationalistic ideas at all. For convenience, I'll call it Europe. He calls himself "Western.") who loves perfumes, and me, a Japanese who loves perfumes.
"At first, it has a complex and classic scent that reminds me of a European green chypre."
→Yes, that's because it actually imitates the French perfume Jour d'Hermès Eau de Parfum.
"But after 5 minutes, the Western edge completely disappears, the mask is cast off, and a unique scent quietly spreads. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that makes this scent so different, but it's clearly not similar to Western perfumes. But it never claims originality. It whispers."
→To be honest, it's not difficult. They simply improved European cuisine to suit "Japan".
This is common. For example, curry. This was introduced to Japan around the Meiji period, but it was improved to reduce spices and add thickness and sweetness to go well with Japanese rice. (Indians would never call this Indian food. lol Yes, I know. This is not Indian food)
The same goes for bread. Asians don't secrete as much saliva as Westerners, so they don't like crunchy, crispy, or flaky textures. Or heavy black bread like German bread(rye bread). So, "shokupan" that contains a lot of milk and moisture was developed. The same goes for ramen. It was originally a Chinese food, but Japan improved it. The same goes for beef. Japan didn't eat beef originally. But they created a brand called Wagyu beef. Do Japanese people often eat Kobe beef and the like? No, they don't.
As always, they are just "arranging things from overseas in a Japanese way."
So when you eat a French restaurant run in Japan, you wonder "Is it really the authentic taste?" (Actually, I've heard that the level has become quite high because of that perfectionism) (I don't usually eat French food, so I can't speak to my own experience, but French food made by Japanese chefs is at least delicious)
But maybe there is a certain group of people who believe that J-Scent and Mitsuko are really Japanese scents because that tendency doesn't exist overseas. It's the act of trying hard to make something from overseas as close to the original as possible, or improving it for Japan. I don't know about this because I've never lived overseas.

However, since Japanese perfumes are not very popular overseas, I think not many people know about this, but cheap(umm...a little) Japanese perfumes generally smell like this (soft musk).

He says, "These scents have a mature, philosophical, introspective serenity that is completely unique, and at first it felt strange and even foreign. But the more I use them, the more I'm fascinated by their slow pace, introspective atmosphere, and quiet sincerity."
Important point part1. I never complain about how someone perceived a fragrance. I respect his experience. I may disagree with the expression or words (of course), but I basically don't say things like "What you felt is impossible" or "Please smell it more properly. Try it a few times and write a review that I'm satisfied with." lol
So I never make fun of his experience. But when I look at reviews of Mitsouko Eau de Parfum and other Japanese-named perfumes, it seems that many people think that this is really Japanese, and this is my answer to that.
Well, it's okay to have at least one person like me. It's because there are so many Japanese people who are gentle about everything and don't say what they want to say that Guerlain has been able to stick to its lies to this day. lol (If you're wondering what I'm talking about, just read my review of Mitsouko and you'll understand) So, Japanese perfumes are often described as introspective or Zen, but to be honest, I don't really understand it at all.
The only one I felt was Japanese was Parfum Satori, but I feel that it's just barely "introspective".
Hyouge Satori
This is an important point part2, but we don't call European culture "exotic" (I'm writing this because someone like that is writing this time). Both cultures have existed since the day the Earth was born, so to be honest, when someone calls us exotic, I'm like, "Huh?" Of course, anything feels that way to people from other cultures, right?
I guess you don't know because you've never been told that much, but how does it feel to be told "You're strange!" just for being there? I don't think it makes you feel very good. France is an exotic country! ←What do you think? Doesn't it feel strange? Also, the "oriental" that is associated with the image of Japan was developed by Westerners, so it has nothing to do with us.
So when people say "It's Zen-like!" or "Introspective!", I have a hard time responding. I wonder what they expect from Japan. For example, you wouldn't say "French perfume is diplomatic!", would you? I can understand that it's glamorous, though.
But I think Japan is somewhat mystical and introspective, so I don't mind that, but I feel uncomfortable when I see it described as too Zen or exotic. I think it's over-interpreted.
Honestly, isn't it kind of stupid to call the culture of more than half the people on Earth exotic? lol
（Hey, what do you mean, more than half are exotic? Doesn't that mean it's no longer exotic?
Also, how can you believe that the name Mitsouko means mystery? Do you think there are parents who would give their child a name that means mystery?）

Now, this article is quite revealing, and I think it's the most honest article about J-Scent in the world.
So it may have seemed a bit harsh or critical.
But if I write honestly, without the Japanese "true feelings and pretense," it's like this. I felt the same with Mitsuko, but Japanese is a difficult language for other countries and it's not very well known. On top of that, Japanese people don't say what they think clearly, so I think this is what's happening. Of course, it's fine to express "delusional Japan" because it's art. But I don't think it's good to assume like he did that this is the real scent of Japan! Because I actually thought it was different. If you're not sure, ask me. lol
It's a bit of a joke that most perfumes with Japanese titles aren't even released in Japan, so I think that causes a lot of misunderstandings.
Harukaze Akai Kemuri Yuzuyakuza
These have nothing to do with Japan. Undecipherable.
Of course it can exist. Of course it can. Because it's up to the perfumer to express it! This is art.But on fragrantica (yes, I was a user) someone saying "This has nothing to do with Japan. Japanese people would never wear this kind of fragrance." (Well, let's leave aside for now whether this is a good or bad thing.) I agreed with him in my heart, saying, "Yeah, that's right." But another person was angry and said, "Even Japan might wear this kind of fragrance!" So Again, how do you know that? （But it doesn't even get stocked in Japan in the first place.)May be,I wouldn't wear it, there's about a 100% chance that I wouldn't wear it. So it's not for Japanese people, it's a "Japanese-ish perfume" worn by people overseas, and it's OK.

That's all. I'll leave a link to my review of J-Scent that I tried, so please use it as a reference.
In the end, this is all just my opinion, so I'll leave it up to you to make your own judgment.

Roasted Green Tea Eau de Parfum
Ramune Eau de Parfum
Hisui Eau de Parfum
Hanamizake Eau de Parfum
Sumo Wrestler Eau de Parfum
Hydrangea Eau de Parfum
Hanamachi Eau de Parfum
Shaft of Light Eau de Parfum
Usubeni Eau de Parfum
Yawahada Eau de Parfum
Yuzu Eau de Parfum
Rakugan Eau de Parfum
Black Leather Eau de Parfum

P.S.
I thought this brand was a bit suspicious and wondered if an advertising agency was involved. I sensed a commercial-like "smell" somewhere. (I think I wrote about this in a review somewhere.) However, the only thing that lingers behind this brand is an office-like smell.
So I looked into it and found that it was indeed true. This company, LUZ, had previously made a perfume called "Pink Typhoon." The concept of that perfume was as follows: "It was produced by a team of young businessmen working for a major advertising agency and a major trading company with the concept of 'We want women with good taste to use it.' The top note is a calming fragrance that is a blend of peach and citrus aromatic oils." (Major advertising agency? Hakuhodo?)
Oh, I thought so. Lol. I see, that's what it is. This perfume was created to grab people's hearts with the catchphrase "The Fragrance of Japan." The main focus is on this package, website, and the scent that men want women to wear. (Read the reviews to see) The dots connected. Maybe that's why it was described as vulgar and middle-aged. lol
By the way, there are many reviews that say "Pink Typhoon" is a cheap fragrance that seems like it's for junior high school students.
It's sad that Parfum Satori, which has been creating truly valuable "Japanese fragrances" for many years, is not getting any attention, and J-Scent, which promotes this "fake Japan," is getting attention from all over the world.