Perfume is often hailed as an expression of individuality and self; a touch of luxury during our every day lives which allows us to convey a sense of who we are on the inside. The Floraiku perfumes fits in rather nicely to this statement.
The Floraiku range of fragrances first caught our eye whilst we were in the Harrods perfume department. With such eye-catching bottles and oriental scents, we felt compelled to write about them. So, here is our best Floraiku perfumes review article for those fragrance lovers who would like to try something a little different.
Floraiku: Elegant, Sophisticated, Beautiful
John and Clara Molloy founded the Memo Paris fragrance house in 2007 They launched the Floraiku brand in 2017 as a celebration of Japanese culture, traditions, and ceremonies.
Named after haiku poetry, the Floraiku brand was designed as a statement, a representation of the elegance, precision, and beauty that many Japanese ceremonies and traditions hold at their hearts.
With a focus on natural ingredients, delicate ingredients, their perfumes are over 50% natural. They incorporate traditional Asian artwork on the lids of otherwise plain bottles, and demonstrate that Floraiku is committed to the Japanese aesthetic, but not at the expense of quality.
Best Floraiku Perfumes Review
There’s no getting around it, Floraiku perfumes are expensive. Then again, it is a luxury brand and as such Floraiku uses high quality ingredients, sources them ethically, and employs only the most skilled artists and perfumers to make each fragrance come to life in a truly unique way.
Of the entire range, 11 stood out as truly breathtaking and made it to our the best Floraiku perfumes list. They are:
1. Sleeping On The Roof
Review
A part of the ‘Shadowing’ collection, Sleeping on the Roof is a light, sweet, and simple scent which can be be layered with other fragrances in the collection.
Lily-of-the-Valley is the star of this perfume and is noticeable from application. The floral upper notes give way to the deep musky base, with hints of amber, this fragrance becomes more sophisticated than uplifting.
Best worn during the day, this is the perfect scent for spring and summer afternoons when the warm air will help it to blossom and hang nicely in the air.
The sillage of this fragrance, designed by Alienor Massenet, is not huge, thankfully, but it is noticeable. Longevity was 5+ hours. Nonetheless, this is a beautiful perfume which manages the unusual and difficult task of remaining unisex when the leading ingredients are floral.
Finally, the deep, almost burnt, red of the bottle and lid are striking and almost encourage you to lift it and feel the weight in your hands.
Top Notes:
Lily-of-the-Valley
Mid Notes:
Orange Blossom
Base Notes:
Amber, Musk
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
2. One Umbrella For Two
Review
One Umbrella for Two is an aromatic and fruity fragrance which is a part of Floraikus ‘Secret Teas and Spices’ collection. This collection is intended to represent Ô Cha, the Japanese ceremony dedicated to matcha, and the white bottle is designed to represent the sacred gesture of tea preparation.
Each scent in the collection has a unique lid design, this one is red and black. Made up of just three notes, blackcurrant, tea, and cedar, this perfume is nonetheless surprisingly complex.
The fruity blackcurrant is present throughout its very long wear period, but as the first blast fades the warmth of cedar seeps in, closely followed by the light, aromatic scent of tea.
Equally pleasant during the day or night, this scent really shines in spring and autumn when the extremes of cold and heat are not in play. This juicy fragrance has a surprisingly mild sillage and as such is perfect for sensitive noses. Longevity was 6+ hours
Top Notes:
Blackcurrant
Mid Notes:
Genmaicha Tea
Base Notes:
Cedar
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
3. The Moon And I
Review
The tranquil night scene displayed on The Moon and I’s bottle top is a perfect contrast to the white bottle, and despite seeming to be unrelated to the scents within it’s not!
You see this scent, part of the ‘Secret Teas and Spices’ collection, is muted, subtle, and gentle where others are brash or vibrant. Sophie Labbe mixes mate, tea, and cedar to create a woody and aromatic perfume that is perfect for afternoon and evening wear in the spring.
The light sillage of this perfume may make it appealing to those with sensitive noses, but the short wear time is less of a plus; this is a gentle fragrance which is easily trampled underfoot by the smells of daily life.
For best effect, it should be layered with a more robust scent from this collection like One Umbrella for Two or I Am Coming Home. Longevity is short, some 3+ hours
Top Notes:
Mate Absolute
Mid Notes:
Matcha Tea
Base Notes:
Cedar
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
4. I Am Coming Home
Review
The third installment in the ‘Secret Teas and Spices’ collection, I am Coming Home is a spicy and vibrant fragrance which relies on aromatic and warm ingredients like ginger and cardamom.
The fresh and spicy notes of this scent make it a perfect complement to The Moon And I, and while this fragrance can be worn alone they really are best worn together.
This is a long-lasting 6+ hours perfume with huge sillage, but the white tea which has been used as a middle note stops the top note of ginger from being overwhelming. The warm, sunny notes make this an amazing day time perfume for summer and spring, but it can also liven up a cold winter night.
Top Notes:
Ginger
Mid Notes:
White Tea
Base Notes:
Cardamom oil
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
5. I See The Clouds Go By
Review
A homage to the sophistication, purity, and complexity of Japanese scent culture, I See The Clouds Go By mixes traditionally masculine and feminine scents to create a surprisingly complex and subtle perfume which lifts the spirits. As a part of the ‘Enigmatic Flowers’ collection, it really shines!
The cassis top note is evident from the first spray. and while the overall perfume is pleasant the sillage is huge at first but settles down nicely.
Once it fades, however, the scent of cherry blossom and musk begins to seep through; the overall result is pleasant, but not lifechanging. Best suited to winter nights, I See The Clouds Go By is a complex and sophisticated scent that makes you feel like you’re in control of your own day. Longevity 4+ hours.
Top Notes:
Cassis
Mid Notes:
Cherry Blossom
Base Notes:
Musk
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
6. Cricket Song
Review
Cricket Song is a part of the ‘Enigmatic Flowers’ collection which is inspired by the traditional Japanese art of Ikebana (flower arranging). As such it should be no surprise that this is a floral focused perfume, however citrus notes lift it to give a complex and fresh result overall.
The rich blue bottle which marks this collection out is reassuringly solid and cool, though the grey-tinted topper is in this case is delicate & pretty.
An invigorating and spicy scent, Cricket Song is most distinguished by the bergamot which makes up its top note and produces a moderate and pleasant sillage. Once this fades, however, the middle note of magnolia is pleasantly sweet and the underlying vetiver ensures that this stays a firmly unisex fragrance which is best worn on fresh spring days! Very long lasting 8+ hours
Top Notes:
Bergamot
Mid Notes:
Magnolia
Base Notes:
Vetiver
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
7. First Dream Of The Year
Review
Also from the ‘Enigmatic Flowers’ collection, First Dream of the Year is a sharp, citrusy, vivid scent whose top note of grapefruit cuts through the powdery florals to give a distinct clarity that is truly invigorating, At first application, the sillage on this perfume is enormous and the grapefruit can feel quite overpowering at first.
Despite this, it quickly mellows into a light and vibrant scent that can be worn at any time, in any season. For those who want a little more spice or musk, this scent is best layered with other fragrances in the collection, but it can stand alone and when it does so it lasts very well.
There is a youthful vigour to First Dream of the Year that makes you feel lighter when you wear it; it brings a spring into your step and a smile to your face. That alone makes it stand out from many other luxury perfumes on the market right now. Medium lasting 4+ hours
Top Notes:
Grapefruit
Mid Notes:
Orange Blossom
Base Notes:
Iris
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
8. My Shadow On The Wall
Review
Inspired by the Japanese Kōdō ceremony (which surrounds the art of burning incense) and part of the ‘Forbidden Incense’ collection, My Shadow on the Wall was mixed by Alienor Massenet to represent of a moment of intimacy and relaxation.
It manages to do this beautifully. The spicy, powdery, and sweet scent of the perfume is surprisingly complex given Floraikus unique choice to utilise only three ingredients in each perfume. The floral notes of violet, mimosa, and sandalwood belie the often peppery fragrance it holds.
Perfect for bright winter days, this is an empowering fragrance which mixes well with fruitier offerings and makes you feel strong, confident, and just a little sexy. The sillage is not huge, but this perfume has staying power (more than most Floraiku perfumes), so it makes a perfect base for those who like to mix and match. Longevity 5+ hours
The solid black bottle, and its ornate blue topper, make this a somewhat discreet looking perfume; it won’t be the star of your dressing table, but given how suited it is to being a base, and how deliberate Floraiku is in everything they do… I suspect that this was intended.
Top Notes:
Violet Leaf
Mid Notes:
Mimosa
Base Notes:
Sandalwood
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
9. Sound Of A Ricochet
Review
A part of the ‘Forbidden Incense’ collection, Sound of a Ricochet is infused with warm, spicy scents which are offset by the sweetness of vanilla absolute. The delicate, powder blue topper decorated with dragonflies is perhaps the first Floraiku topper which seems to have a totally tenuous connection to the perfume and name. It does, however, link to the unique haiku on its bottle;
“A red dragonfly, under a burning sky, the sound of a ricochet”
The warm and spicy tones of this scent make it perfect for wintertime, but it is equally suited to day and night time wear, The sillage on this long-lasting perfume is moderate so does not overpower those around you. Longevity 5+ hours
Top Notes:
Vanilla
Mid Notes:
Tonka Bean
Base Notes:
Sandalwood
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
11. Between Two Trees
Review
The second instalment in the ‘Shadowing’ collection, Between Two Trees was designed by Alienor Massenet and Sophie Labbe to embody and aromatic richness that makes the wearer feel powerful.
In this endeavour, they certainly succeeded. The simple but inspired mix of grapefruit, mate, and vetiver makes this a complex, earthy, and spicy fragrance that warms you to the core and empowers you to walk with your head held high.
When paired with it’s ‘shadow’, however, the fragrance comes to life and takes on an enigmatic, seductive scent that is perfect for dimly lit, autumnal evenings where romance and intrigue abound. Mid to long lasting 5+ hours.
Top Notes:
Grapefruit
Mid Notes:
Mate Absolute
Base Notes:
Vetiver
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Harrods:
Conclusion
So that wraps it up for out 11 best Floraiku perfumes review. What Floraiku’s creators are trying to do is revolutionary; for a long time luxury perfumes have been complex. Stuffed to the brim with ingredients and notes which work well together, but obscure each other.
By celebrating key ingredients and their connection to traditional Japanese ceremonies Floraiku has not only created a portfolio of unique fragrances which are designed to be stacked and played with, but they have also indicated that there is another way forward for fragrance houses around the world. This alone makes them worthy of attention and investigation for perfume connoisseurs.
So, when you treat yourself to one of their scents you’re getting something truly special. Since 2017, the brand has worked with perfumers Alienor Massenet, Sophie Labbe, and Sarah Burri to create 17 unisex fragrances which evoke unique feelings and sensations in the wearer (and everyone around them).
Before you go, I have put together a review of the most elegant perfumes ranging from timeless classics to modern day sophistication that I think you will enjoy.
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from Viora London’s blog. We write articles on a number of interesting lifestyle topics such as fragrance, beauty, designer handbags, luxury accessories and more.
