WHY IT'S WORTH IT
Di Ser
Bold and unusual perfumes are on the minds of more and more connoisseurs. Being unique has become important, even in your choice of fragrance. The perfume should tell a fascinating story - what we call storytelling. But is there anything more unique than Japanese Di Ser - a perfume brand that is as quirky as it is exclusive? Gents is one of the few brands in the world to offer these unique fragrance creations in its range.
In Sapporo, Japan, located on the island of Hokkaido with its mountainous coastal landscape, the mysticism of nature lies like a poetic filter over the landscape and the people. A medical culture thrives here, with essential and homeopathic oils, spices and cosmetics. And it's probably home to one of the world's most unusual and rare perfume houses - Di Ser. The perfume house started in 1999, but with roots in a thousand-year-old tradition. They are not sold by just anyone - and may not be for just anyone either. But why not give them a try?
THE MAGICAL POWER OF NATURE
Experimenting with natural ingredients has strong roots on the island of Hokkaidoo, and this is probably no coincidence - the mountainous landscape combined with the varying climates of the coasts have meant that there are big differences between summer and winter. This also affects the ingredients, but also people's relationship with the gifts of nature. Hokkaido and Sapporo are the hub of medical research in Japan, and Di Ser is also divided into two units - the pharmaceutical section Essentials Ltd. and the development section Luz Research, focusing on the fragrance industry and essential oils.
Natural local ingredients in the wood, flower and citrus fruit categories are blended with carefully selected external raw materials and infused with herbal alcohol and water. To preserve the special properties of the essences, they are carefully blended one by one - all done with love and meticulous precision. Because that's what Japan is all about - spirituality and attention to detail in a magical symbiosis.
The symbolism of nature is also reflected in Di Ser's logo - a stylised lotus flower reflected in the water, a symbol of two different reflections of the world: the visible, material, versus the invisible, spiritual. A yin and yang of nature.
The fragrances
This ambiguity is also reflected in the nature of perfumes. They are often not what they first appear to be. The fact that nature is a source of inspiration for Di Ser's perfumer Yasuyuki Shinohara is certainly a common thread, as is the typically Japanese purity - in everything from the quality of the ingredients to the aesthetic minimalism of the presentation with its stylishly simple bottles. Everything breathes Japan.
And some fragrances, like the fresh Akanesasu, deliver on their promise as a fresh sun-drenched scent meant for summer and spring with its citrus notes and dry woody vetiver notes at the base. Like a light breeze caressing the landscape as the sun goes down. In the same summery style, but with a richer and more complex structure, we find the fresh bomb Mizu, which in harmony with a cooling mint overwhelms with its Amalfi lemon and the bitter, local citrus fruit yuzu, gliding like a ship on top of a sea of jasmine and woody vetiver
But then there are perfumes like the intense Hasunoito (hailed by connoisseurs as one of the world's most exciting olfactory experiences), which is initially almost obtrusive in its warm hay notes, but changes costume after a few hours and the stable and earth notes evolve into planed wood, spices and floral notes of jasmine. The narrative idea of the lotus flower's harshness as it tries to penetrate the earth now becomes clear to the wearer. But it takes time and patience. To open your mind and wait. Allowing yourself to be deceived.
When it comes to the ingredient oud, however, there is hardly anything more exclusive than the precious and exceptional variety found in the perfume Kyara. Named after the extremely rare oud that grows in Indonesia, among other places, but is virtually extinct, it is an elegant scent that is less animalic than the oud in Hasunoitu but, with its warming combination of patchouli and Indian sandalwood, contains all the more distinctive woody notes, although there are also hints of rose. It is a perfume rooted in a thousand-year-old Japanese tradition where kyara is used in the religious ritual of Kodo, where it is burnt as incense. The word kyara is also used to grade the properties of oud wood, referring to the absolute highest quality. Kyara is so rare that every time Di Ser extracts its own stock of the raw material, it takes a big risk, as the supply of kyara is extremely limited. No wonder it's considered so special.
That kind of unique experience costs - and should cost. And both Kuara and Hasunoitu are also extrait du parfum - the highest concentration of pure essences.
UNISEX AND DUALITY
The duality is also present in the unisex profile of the perfumes. Even a perfume like the fruity Amadeku - created as a sensual tribute to the elegance of the Japanese woman - is enticing to wear for anyone, regardless of gender. The palette of fruit and floral notes from the sweet orange fruit - a form of orange often used in perfume house top notes - and jasmine sambac also make it a celebration of nature and Japanese spring and summer. It's an intense fruity scent with a base of benzoin and frankincense that gives it an almost animalic quality, perfect for male skin and for those who want a little luxury for the summer with something completely different.
So, if you want to be unique and different, and try one of the world's most special perfume brands - try Japanese Di Ser. And step into another world.
