Berdous: Somei Yoshino

For those not familiar with shiso, other than maybe as a Japanese herb that appears mysteriously on your sushi plate with the wasabi, shiso tastes like mint (no wonder as it's a member of the mint family!) However, unlike mint which smells as it tastes, shiso offers a spicy aroma. It's newer use in fragrance has been to impart something similar to maybe cinnamon or cloves.

With the top note of this fragrance being shiso, I expected a spicy jasmine with a warmed base. I wanted a lovely excursion to a Japanese temple. Nope. On me, Somei Yoshino is that poor tourist that somehow got lost finding the shrine. It's a faint hint of the loveliness that could have been. I get a very soft green jasmine with a barely there warm base. The spiciness is barely perceptible. There is so little projection I feel this is almost a skin scent. Is it pleasant? Sure. Does it take your breath away as it should have? Only when you sigh in disappointment.

"Somei Yoshino is a blend of Earth’s noblest materials. Shiso from Japan, jasmine sambac from India, and patchouli from Indonesia mingle into a balanced and harmonious floral bouquet—the spirit of Japan captured in a glass bottle.

Top note is shiso; middle note is jasmine sambac; base note is patchouli."