Zen (original / black) (1964)
by Shiseido

Well my crush wears this and I hugged her fairly recently.... I didn't smell it at all, I can't give it a thumbs down since I haven't tried it but no longevity or sillage thats for sure.

A friend sent me a little decant of Zen to compare with Spirit of Zen. The original Zen really suprises me. When I got it, I sniffed from vail, but merely only got aldehydes. So I thought it's quite similar with the later Spirit of Zen. But yesterday when I apply it on wrist, it like a bomb "burst" on my skin, and suddenly, the strong and heavy woody notes exploding and roaring within aldehydes. This heavy woody notes almost like burning dry wood, with bit spicy, you can feel the intense flame, and smoky dusty air surround you.
Masculine, if people want to put it this way. I rather think it's a strong-mind or dignity scent for a very powerful woman.

The staying power is superb for cologne water, it lasts the whole day on my skin.

Definitely worth a try!

About fifteen years ago, a friend noticed my perfume collection.
She said, "Oh my God, do you know Shisedo Zen? It's the best smell on the planet."
I told her I did not, and thought nothing of it.
The next time she came over, she brought me a bottle to have, of this old stuff, and I was so impressed. And so grateful. One of the best gifts ever.
I have bought a few bottles since, and I still have, and treasure, the original gift.

This fragrance smells incredibly ahead of its time to me. Even though it's a bit powdery, it never strikes me as obviously vintage. In fact, if I smelled it for the first time today, I would think it was a really unique and heart-stopping new masterpiece. It smells like nothing else. It's lovely. And ladylike, very complex and sophisticated without being a grande dame in any way.

I save this one for the really special occasions. Something about it is so perfect, that I think of it as my eternal failsafe.

Woods, spice, a little incense, some aldehydes. It's a "little black dress" perfume, very classy, quite masculine. The new Zen is a completely different concoction, only the name is the same. This one is definitely worth a try, though certainly an acquired taste.