A beautiful scent is distinctive and captivates the senses.
In Japan, fine fragrances are especially esteemed.
Many Japanese perfume brands have become international favorites, popular with men and women across the world.
In this article, we keep you up to date with 11 Japanese perfume brands popular right now.
Table of Contents
11 Japanese perfume brands popular right now
These 11 Japanese perfume brands have been created by some of Japan’s leading perfumers and fashion designers.
Many are influenced by the incense trade that has flourished in Japan for hundreds of years.
Learn about these popular Japanese fragrances that have become contemporary classics.
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1. Kenzo
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founder | Kenzo Takada |
| Number of fragrances | 150 |
| URL | www.kenzo.com/uk/en/home |
| Social Media | www.instagram.com/kenzo/ |
The Kenzo fashion house was founded by the Japanese designer Kenzo Takada in the 1970s.
It is now owned by LVMH but retains its distinctive Japanese aesthetic.
Kenzo has produced over 150 fragrances including the bestselling Flower by Kenzo fragrance that has sold over 15 million bottles since it was released in 2000.
- Clear and unusual, Flower by Kenzo links nature with city, emotions with a high-paced contemporary city life
- This powdery floral scent is built on three basic notes
- Floral note revolves around Parma violet, gentle wild Hawthorne, cassis and Bulgarian rose
- Flower was launched by the design house of Kenzo
2. Sholayered
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Sho Ishizaka |
| Products | Personal fragrance Home fragrance Body Care products |
| URL | https://sholayered.jp/ |
| Social Media | https://www.instagram.com/sholayered_official/ |
Sholayered is an authentically Japanese, luxury perfume brand that is inspired by the incense-making of Japan.
It was founded by Sho Ishizaka in 2013 and has since gone from strength to strength with its range of carefully layered delicate fragrances.
The brand is minimalist and stylish, with a range of fragrances for men and women.
A Milder Form of Perfume: Unlike other heavily scented colognes.
SHOLAYERED is a fashionable Japanese fragrance line that was established in Tokyo in 2013 with a unique focus on fostering tranquility and simplicity through the art of scent.
3. Shiseido
| Headquarters | Chūō, Tokyo, Japan |
| Founded | 1872 |
| Founder | Arinobu Fukuhara |
| Products | Skincare products Hair care products Fragrances Cosmetics |
| URL | https://brand.shiseido.co.jp/ |
| Social Media | www.instagram.com/shiseido_japan/ |
Shiseido is one of Japan’s oldest cosmetics companies.
It was founded by a pharmacist in 1872 and has grown to become one of the world’s leading cosmetics manufacturers.
Shiseido produces over 74 perfumes, with their first fragrance created in 1917.
Their specialty is floral perfumes that appeal to Japanese taste but are now popular globally.
Shiseido’s perfumes are known for their high quality and unique scents, which often draw inspiration from Japanese culture and nature.
4. Keiko Mecheri
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Keiko Mecheri |
| Products | Personal fragrance Home fragrance Body Care products |
| URL | www.keikomecheri.com/ |
| Social Media | www.instagram.com/keikomecheri/ |
Perfumer Keiko Mecheri founded her eponymous company with her husband in 1997 after they both left their jobs in tech.
The brand has gone from strength to strength, due to the nuanced home and personal fragrances they have developed.
Many of her scents are inspired by the Japanese Riviera where she was brought up.
5. Perfume Satori
| Headquarters | OURS 2F, 3-6-8 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Satori Osawa |
| Products | Perfume |
| URL | parfum-satori.com |
| Social Media | www.instagram.com/parfumsatori_official/?hl=en |
Perfume Satori is the perfume atelier of Satori Osawa from Tokyo.
She is a French-trained perfumer but draws from a deep knowledge of Japanese botanicals which she has studied since childhood.
Inspiration for her classically Japanese fragrances include incense, the tea ceremony, and flower arranging.
Her rare and exclusive fragrances can cost as much as $800!
Popular Satori fragrance
Teapot type perfume Satori cherry blossom pattern
- A traditional Japanese teapot filled with a classic Satori fragrance
- Finest Kyara (agarwood tree)
- Teapot is decorated with cherry blossoms
6. Issey Miyake
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founder | Issey Miyake |
| Products | FashionFragrance |
| URL | https://www.isseymiyakeparfums.com/ |
| Social Media | www.instagram.com/isseymiyakeparfums |
Issey Miyake is a legendary Japanese fashion designer, known for his exquisitely pleated clothing and iconic fragrances.
His L’eau d’Issey has eclipsed his fashion in prominence and popularity.
The Issey Miyake fragrances for men and women were created by the perfumer Jacques Cavallier and are produced by Shiseido.
There are numerous limited-edition fragrances that are created in collaboration with a range of guest perfumers.
AQUATIC INSPIRATION : The House of Issey Miyake created a fragrance for women that was meant to be “ as clear as spring water”. With this theme they created a flora-aquatic masterpiece that has become a beloved product.
7. DI SER
| Headquarters | Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Yasuyuki Shinohara |
| Products | Natural pharmacy Organic cosmetics Fragrances Health foods |
| URL | www.diser-parfum.com |
| Social Media | www.instagram.com/diser.essentia |
DI SER is an ultra-niche Japanese perfume company that specializes in fragrances made from natural fragrances.
The company also has a natural pharmacy called Essentia Ltd which sells herbal medicines.
All ingredients in DI SER fragrances have been gathered in Japan.
Essential oils are carefully blended to create unique fragrances that are beautifully bottled on the island of Hokkaido.
The scents, costing almost $1000, are available internationally from specialist retailers.
Popular DI SER fragrance
Kyara fragrance
- Pure Kyara and Agarwood
- Rose and cedar notes
- Inspired by Japanese incense
8. Miya Shinma
| Headquarters | 320, rue Saint-Honoré 75001 Paris |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Miya Shinma |
| Products | Perfume Perfumed card Perfumed pearls Incense Perfumed fans |
| URL | en.miyashinma.fr/ |
| Social Media | www.instagram.com/miyashinma/ |
Miya Shinma is a Japanese perfumer who set up her eponymous fragrance atelier in Paris in 1999.
Her distinctively Japanese fragrances are inspired by her childhood in Shizuoka and her studies in Kyoto.
She divides her time between France and Japan and has developed unique fragranced products like incense, pearls, and elaborate fans.
Popular Miya Shinma fragrance
HANA (Flower) fragrance
- A nuanced floral fragrance
- Iris, ylang-ylang, jasmine, and rose fragrances
- For women
9. Hanae Mori
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Founder | Hanae Mori |
| Products | Personal fragrance |
| URL | hanaemoriparfums.com/ |
| Social Media | www.instagram.com/hanaemoriparfums/ |
Hanae Mori was one of Japan’s most famous female couturiers dressing famous women like Empress Masako and Grace Kelly.
She became internationally acclaimed in the 1970, receiving numerous honors from the Japanese government.
Mori’s classic perfumes were launched in the 1990s, and have continued to be popular with discerning buyers.
10. Annayake
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Founder | Suzuki |
| Products | Skincare Body care Personal fragrance |
| URL | annayake.com/en/ |
| Social Media | www.instagram.com/annayake.official/?hl=en |
Annayake is a Japanese cosmetics company that was founded when a pharmacist created a beauty cream for his wife.
It is now well known for its fragrances and collaborations with leading french perfumers.
Launched in 2000, there are now more than 40 fragrances to choose from.
Popular Annayake fragrance
Annayake Tsukiyo by Annayake
- Eau de parfum spray
- 3.4 fluid ounce bottle
- Delicate vanilla fragrance
- For women
11. CANMAKE
| Headquarters | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | IDA Laboratories |
| Products | Cosmetics Makeup tools Perfume |
| URL | www.canmake.com |
| Social Media | www.instagram.com/canmaketokyo |
CANMAKE is a leading Japanese drugstore cosmetics company.
It was founded by IDA Laboratories in 1985 and has grown to become a popular brand across Asia.
CANMAKE perfumes are pleasant and affordable. They have an extremely wide appeal, though they are not premium.
Rather than eau de parfum or eau de toilette, CANMAKE produces fragrance water that is cheaper but less lasting fragrance.
A body mist that you can use instead of perfume. Gently scented, so even those who dislike strong perfumes can enjoy it. Compact size makes it handy to keep in your make-up pouch.
Japanese Perfume Brand Facts
- Japanese perfume brands are known for their unique and innovative fragrances that often draw inspiration from Japanese culture and nature.
- One of the most famous Japanese perfume brands is Shiseido, which was founded in 1872 and is known for its high-quality fragrances.
- Another popular Japanese perfume brand is Comme des Garçons, which was founded in 1969 and is known for its avant-garde fragrances that often challenge traditional notions of scent.
- Japanese perfume brands often use natural ingredients in their fragrances, such as yuzu, sakura, and green tea, which are all native to Japan.
- The Japanese approach to perfume is often more subtle and understated than in Western countries, with a focus on creating fragrances that complement rather than overpower the natural scent of the wearer.
- Many Japanese perfume brands are also known for their minimalist and elegant packaging, which often features simple, clean lines and muted colors.
- Japanese perfumes are often sold in traditional Japanese department stores, which offer a unique shopping experience that combines modern luxury with traditional Japanese aesthetics.
- Some Japanese perfume brands, such as Di Ser and Parfum Satori, are dedicated to creating fragrances that capture the essence of specific regions in Japan, such as Kyoto or Hokkaido.
- Japanese perfume brands are gaining popularity around the world, with many Western consumers drawn to their unique scents and minimalist packaging.
- Japanese perfume brands are often associated with quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail, reflecting the values of Japanese culture as a whole.
Conclusion and final thoughts
These gorgeous Japanese fragrances are perfect for a special fragrance or signature scent. Many are classics, but all are popular right now.
They are perfect for the collection of any perfume lover who wants to experience the beauty and culture of Japan through fragrance.
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