Looking for a way to refresh your fragrance collection? It’s time to consider taking cues from Japan’s fashion girls known for their trendy takes on everything from haute couture style to scents. We’ve rounded up 13 bestselling fragrances from four internationally recognized Japanese brands (Issey Miyake, Hanae Mori, Kenzo, and Shiseido) that have completely won over the hearts of Japan’s most stylish people as well as ours at Who What Wear. It’s no coincidence that the first three mentioned started as fashion brands before venturing into the world of fragrances.
If you find yourself gravitating towards fragrance notes that are not as commonly used, Japanese fragrances may be the way to go. Often using notes only native to the Far East such as Shiseido’s Ever Boom Eau de Parfum with Japanese camellia at its heart, your bound to discover and unexpected blend to transport you on a unique olfactory journey. If you’re ready to dive into the world of fashion-forward fragrances, we recommend you get ready to keep scrolling.
Issey Miyake founded his namesake brand in Tokyo in 1970 as a high-end producer of women’s fashion before expanding to other areas (including costuming). The brand’s first fragrance, L’eau d’Issey Eau de Parfum launched in 1992 to enormous popularity, selling especially well in the United States and in Japan.
Key notes: Cyclamen, freesia, lotus flower, amber, musk. Described as the, “scent of water on a woman’s skin,” this perfume is a tribute to water as the basis for life, purity, and freshness. It’s an aquatic floral fragrance that uses notes of soft lotus rose, powdery white florals, and precious woods for a fresh, warm, and slightly translucent fragrance that’s both timeless and revolutionary.
Key notes: Neroli, bergamot, magnolia, rose, dreamwood. Echoing the velvety softness of the magnolia flower and the freshness of bergamot, Issey Miyake’s eau de toilette intense oozes femininity. It offers a day-to-night delicate balance between its fresh and floral notes; making this fragrance a fan favorite.
Key notes: Pink peppercorn, raspberry, pear, Damascena rose, patchouli essence. Launched in 2019, Issey Miyake’s L’eau D’Issey Rose and Rose captures the serenity and romance of a garden in bloom. Blending Damascena and and Bulgarian rose with a refreshing splash of pear and raspberry, this fragrance perfectly captures the arrival of spring.
Key notes: Almond milk accord, solar lilac accord, musk. Inspired by the beauty and poetry hidden in nature, this floral eau de parfum features notes of floral, solar lilac enlightened with almond milk accord, a musk note, and a hint of ethically-sourced orange blossom. Its unique, minimalistic packaging is unlike any of Issey Miyake’s other famous fragrances.
Key notes: Honey, pear, rose, cashmere wood, ambergris. Launched in 2019, L’eau d’Issey Pure Petale de Nectar is absolutely brimming with vibrant, powdery-fresh florals paired with juicy honey and pear for an enchanting aromatic experience. Classified as a floral aquatic fragrance, the floral and fruity notes are backed by warm amber and cashmere wood.
Hanae Mori is the namesake brand of one of Japan’s first female clothing designers to own an internationally recognized label with its headquarters in Paris. In 1995, Hanae Mori launched a line of perfumes focusing primarily on “East Meets West” formulations and its signature butterfly insignia.
Key notes: Blackcurrant, tea rose, patchouli, cedarwood, vanilla. According to the brand’s official website, legend tells use Hanae Mori was born under the sign of the butterfly. Hanae Mori’s Butterfly Eau de Toilette pays tribute to the arrival of spring and ethereal, fluttering butterfly wings (look at that gorgeous bottle design) with a timeless olfactory composition of florals, red fruits, and precious woods.
Key notes: Jasmine, bergamot, coriander, iris, precious woods. What better way to express one’s love for haute couture than expressing it through both style and fragrance? Since its launch in 1998, this eau de toilette has offered its wearers an expansive olfactory experience through the unique combination of coriander, Lily-of-the-Valley, jasmine, and sweet bergamot for a bright, floral green fragrance.
Japanese designer Kenzō Takada founded Kenzō, his worldwide clothing brand, in 1970 following a move to Paris to pursue a career in fashion. The luxury fashion house launched its line of perfumes in 1988 with fragrances for men and women. A quick scroll through the brand’s website reveals its love of nature, from its naturally sourced formulas to the youthful designs of its bottles.
Key notes: Pink pepper, damascena rose, white musks, vanilla. The brain child of perfumers Alberto Morillas and Christian Dussoulier, Kenzo’s bestselling Flower Eau de Parfum hit the shelves in 2000. The florals of this fragrance, created from a bright bouquet of violet, Black currant, and Bulgarian rose are countered with the juiciness of Mandarin orange, smooth vanilla, and cozy white musk.
Key notes: Lily-of-the-Valley, hyacinth, jasmine, peony, sandalwood. If you’re on the hunt for a versatile, floral green fragrance that will smell great on you and look gorgeous on your vanity, you’ll want to give this Kenzo perfume a try. Combining notes of freshly-picked cyclamen, hyacinth, and peony, you can rest easy knowing this fragrance will always be on trend.
Key notes: White tea, cherry blossom, heliotrope flower, thanaka wood, white musks. The Amour Eau de Parfum by Kenzo is an aromatic exploration of Asia starting in the Far East and traveling onwards. With a single spritz of this perfume, we’re introduced to an almond-like aroma supported by Frangipani blossom and Japanese Cherry Blossom before the introduction of rice, incense, and Chinese white tea.
Key notes: Mandarin orange, caraway, mango, ylang-ylang, amber. Spicy and warm, Kenzo’s Jungle L’Elephant combines cloves, mango, ylang-ylang, and mandarin orange against a background of sweet vanilla and amber. Of all the fragrances on this list, Jungle L’Elephant is my top pick for an enticing evening fragrance.
Shiseido is a Japanese multinational cosmetic company founded in 1872 with its first perfume, Hantasubaki, launched in 1917. With over 150 years of experience in the industry under its belt, Shiseido has since released 70+ perfumes, with its Ever Bloom Eau de Parfum being one of its most popular to date.
Key notes: Peony, gardenia, orange blossom, apple, white musk. Shiseido’s most popular floral fragrance, Ever Bloom, was inspired by a photograph taken by Shinzō Fukuhara in 1940 of a Japanese camellia. If you’re a lover of air floral fragrances like sweet peony, gardenia, and Tunisian orange blossom, you’ll want to get your hands on this. I absolutely love the inclusion of apple in this one for added freshness.
Key notes: Pomegranate, jasmine, Japanese orchid, patchouli, Hinoki wood. If Japan’s legacy of high fashion had a fragrance, this would be it. First hitting the shelves in 2021, Ginza boasts an energetic mix of fruity and floral notes that includes pomegranate, orhic, pink pepper, Hinoki wood. Following its successful release, Shiseido launched two additional fragrances, Ginza Murasaki and Ginza Intense.
