I fell in love with the Japanese art of Kintsugi about three years ago. I must admit that not many are familiar with it, but when I first witnessed the beauty of a vessel artistically restored from broken shards—mended together with a golden alloy (often containing actual gold)—I had a revelation. I saw a sensitive soul, a wounded heart broken into pieces, where, despite the suffering, love came to fill the wounds with light and gold, making it whole again.
I confess that I found my soul in that concept far more than just my artistic spirit, eye, or vision.
The art of Kintsugi possesses a distinct depth; its symbolism molded itself to my own soul, which was also shattered into thousands of pieces in the past. It brought to the surface that light we all carry within us but often fail to see. And that light which cleanses, heals, and fills the voids is love.
I will begin with the poem Kintsugi, which I wrote last year in February, and then I will tell you about the niche fragrance house Kintsugi Perfumes—a new brand whose perfume concepts I have just finished exploring.
The Poem
Kintsugi Souls
I can still choose to hope
That nothing in this life is ever truly lost—
It transforms, it builds anew,
It is reborn, revived, and returns
With all the light upon which it is founded.
I can still choose to hope
That out of nothingness, something is sometimes made:
A new soul, pieced back together from threads,
Which life itself celebrates
In a poem of Kintsugi souls.
And yes, I still want to hope
That stardust and melted gold
Mend the light within us once again—
The light we lost somewhere along the way,
Hoping for a better world,
Hoping we could save it.
Destinies bound by stories
And souls mended with stardust,
Hearts infused with love
Make a life and a dream come alive once more.
Kintsugi souls,
They are stronger and more beautiful for having been broken,
For their value is priceless,
And their richness stems from the light
And from the pain they once survived.
February, 2024
I discovered the concept of Kintsugi Perfumes last autumn. I was immediately drawn to the idea and the promise of new scents; even though I hadn’t experienced them yet, I was eager to try them.
The brand was founded in 2021, drawing its inspiration from Japanese culture—specifically the art of Kintsugi that I mentioned earlier.
Their concept caters primarily to those who seek a versatile range of unisex fragrances, prioritizing high-quality ingredients and pure essential arms. Their perfumes are vegan, cruelty-free, environmentally friendly, and kind to our skin.
At the heart of their philosophy lies the desire to connect us with our souls through scent, encouraging us to dive deep and harmonize the body, mind, and spirit.
I must admit that while exploring their olfactory portfolio, I have already fallen in love with four fragrances: Luna, Carnal, Santal, and Ambre!
Now, I will share the story of each one with you.
PHENIX
Inspired by the legend of the Phoenix rising from its ashes, Phenix captures the bird’s entire journey through its notes—from the symbolism of colors and the recurring motifs of flight and fire, to death and rebirth.
It opens sweet and fruity—evoking the bird’s vibrant yellow and orange plumage—rendered here through notes of pineapple, mandarin, coriander, and cumin.
The flight, the fire, and the ashes are illustrated in the heart of the fragrance through notes of smoke, coffee, tobacco, and saffron—a warm-spicy, dry, aromatic, and dark combination.
The symbolism of death is portrayed in the base by animalic and earthy notes—the earth symbolizing a return to the source from which we were created. Meanwhile, the symbolism of rebirth and the motif of infinite life are amplified by leather notes; the essence of eternal life is to shed our skin again and again to reach our source, our divine and co-creative self. This is further elevated by immortelle notes, which symbolize eternity.
A warm-spicy leather fragrance with fruity accents, animalic nuances, and earthy undertones, Phenix essentially represents our inner fire, hope, and the absolute beauty of life!
TAOM
An aromatic, aquatic fragrance with saline, spicy, citrus, and woody notes, Taom speaks of embracing every single moment of life with peace, calm, and bliss.
The tranquility of the sea, the blue of the sky, the breeze, the freshness of summer mornings, alongside the botanical and earthy scent of the soil and trees—everything narrates the gentle rhythm of a meaningful, balanced life. Fresh, saline, aromatic, and green, it is a transparent yet deeply profound fragrance—a vital energy that nourishes the body like sap and revitalizes the mind.
HANZO
This is the stillness of tropical forests, the whisper of flowing waters, and the calm, crisp air of summer rains.
It opens aromatic, fresh, and slightly fruity-tart. To me, it feels a bit bitter and earthy, reminiscent of a pine forest. Lychee, yuzu, cypress, and pine—a forest submerged in juicy, tart notes opens the fragrance. In the heart, we encounter notes of osmanthus, ylang-ylang, and olibanum. I wouldn't say I feel the floral aspect prominently; it feels more subtly earthy and creamy—a beautiful, bitter creaminess.
The base is woody, aromatic, and earthy, featuring notes of vetiver, moss, fir, and cedarwood.
An excursion into an aromatic, fresh forest full of mystery and depth, yet packed with adventures and surprises! Like the sun breaking through after a summer rain.
CARNAL
I don't know if I was drawn to the name, the notes, the scent, or the exact way this fragrance made me feel—it was simply pure chemistry, love at first spray!
A full-bodied, sweet, seductive rose infused with juicy notes of blackcurrant, jasmine, neroli, and a powdery, mysterious violet. It is unequivocally a carnal rose—mysterious, sensual, velvety, and extraordinarily well-crafted.
The base is velvety, earthy, and ambery—a flawless foundation for this opulent rose, which flows sweet like a honeyed sap and is disruptively beautiful. In the base, we find notes of sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver, guaiac wood, and amber, upon which this voluptuous and Carnal rose reigns.
I absolutely adore it!
KAIGAN
Another aquatic fragrance from the Kintsugi portfolio—this time, an airy, luminous scent that restores your sense of freedom, adventure, and vacation.
It opens with citrusy, aromatic notes of basil, bergamot, mandarin, and cypress—I can practically visualize the sun’s rays writing these juicy, aromatic notes! The heart of the fragrance is fresh and aquatic, featuring sweet figs, marine notes, and spicy saffron.
The base is woody and musky, just enough to enhance the light, luminous, and effortless character of the fragrance.
LUNA
Do I even need to tell you that it won me over from the name alone? Or by the fact that it has cotton candy in its notes? Either way, Luna is an incredibly special fragrance to me! It is just the right amount of sweet, perfectly powdery, playfully innocent, yet mature in its own way.
Luna opens effervescent and translucent, with sweet notes of orange blossom, cloves, and cotton candy! The child inside me is happy and exuberant. However, the heart of the fragrance introduces a more mature tone, immersed in powdery notes of violet, sweet, velvety tonka bean, and a slightly animalic amber.
The base—equally serious and mature—completes and softens the blend, adding incredible depth through notes of vetiver, oakmoss, and amber.
Do I like it? I love it!
SANTAL
My very first reaction? Mmmmm… now this is a sandalwood! A sandalwood with leather and raspberry!
That’s exactly what I exclaimed. This is another leather fragrance, beautifully and luminously created with raspberry, without ever feeling suffocating, heavy, smoky, or overbearing. It is a velvety, luminous, airy leather—subtly spiced, piquant, and powdery.
A creamy, unisex fragrance that I would wear with absolute joy, as it is the only leather I consider feminine and sensual enough.
Should I tell you the notes or just the vibe? Sex appeal, seduction, and mystery, but in the most playful way imaginable—that’s what Santal brings to mind. It opens with notes of cardamom, raspberry, and thyme, followed by iris and saffron in the heart. The base is woody and velvety, featuring notes of sandalwood and leather.
I like this one very, very much!
DEUS
An aromatic, creamy lavender, without being too bitter or sharp.
It opens warm and slightly spicy with notes of pink pepper, lavender, and nutmeg. The middle notes continue the warm, subtly sharp, and piquant theme with black pepper, ginger, and earthy notes of patchouli.
The base is woody and ambery—warm and balsamic—featuring notes of cedarwood, sandalwood, oud, and amber. A warm-spicy, aromatic, sharp, and woody fragrance. Beautiful, elegant, and masculine!
AMBRA
One of the most beautiful ambers I have ever tested—and you already know that amber is typically not one of my favorite notes! I only have two amber perfumes that I genuinely like, and this is one of them.
An almost gourmand amber, yet simultaneously balsamic, elegant, refined, and incredibly warm—like a dense, solar, golden elixir. It opens with notes of cocoa, rum, sweet dried fruits, and a piquant kick of chili pepper. The heart is creamy, with sweet notes of plum, neroli, and velvety tonka bean.
The base is sweet, aromatic, and balsamic, overflowing with resins and delicious, warm, oriental notes—labdanum, myrrh, vanilla, amber, and Indian sandalwood.
It is a gorgeous, poetic, beautifully executed fragrance that I can easily say I’ve already fallen in love with.
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You can purchase Kintsugi fragrances directly from their website, www.kintsugiperfumes.com, where you can also find a Discovery Set for testing.
I hope their concept enchants you and that you find a piece of your soul within it, just as deeply as I found mine.
Because in the end, every wound is healed with light and love!
