Tokyo is the inspiration behind the seventh fragrance in the GALLIVANT collection. Founded and created in London by Nick Steward, GALLIVANT is an indie perfume brand whose perfumes have been inspired by cosmopolitan destinations.
Tokyo was created in collaboration with perfumer Nicolas Bonneville as a playful tribute to kōdō – the Japanese Way of Fragrance.
I had the opportunity to participate in a kōdō ceremony some time ago and have written about my experience, you can read about it here . Kōdō is the art of appreciating Japanese incense, and involves using incense within a structure of codified conduct so the perfume as you can imagine revolves around it.
Tokyo is described as a zingy, spicy, woody fragrance. A citrusy head of yuzu and bergamot with black pepper and cardamom, electrified with a dash of wasabi. A woody heart of hinoki, cedarwood, and incense, with iris, rose and nutmeg, on a base of amber, sandalwood, patchouli and vetiver.
For me Tokyo opens a window to a dark green forest after the rain. It's fresh, sparkling and humid with a metallic buzz. It's structured, delicate, tranquil and spicy at the same time in a very calm and elegant way. It captures the style and mentality of Japanese culture while paying tribute to the beautiful incense used in ceremonies. The drydown is a beautiful blend of smoky incense, sweet patchouli, aromatic vetiver and woods that leads you down to a path towards a wooden cottage with a burning fire; cozy and refined.
If you'd like to read more about GALLIVANT and their previous creations just follow this link