Reviews of Basala / Basara (1993)
by Shiseido

Beautiful lavender opening mingled with citrus that has a perfume aura to it. Initially, it's almost too feminine for me, but very quickly morphs into woody spices with the topnotes refusing to make an exit.

This is the McShnizzle Dizzle of lavender woodies. Reject it or rejoice...it's your choice.

Big thumbs up from Aromi.

Shiseido Basala

Shiseido is, of course, the corporate influence behind Serge Lutens but they do put out scents on their own. Sad to say many of these scents are for the asian market only and they are difficult to find. Basala was created in 1993 by Dominique Preyssas who is better known for D'Orsay's Le Dandy. In Basala she has created what feels to me like a very asian feeling scent. Almost scent Haiku if you will as each transition is mostly made up of two notes which lead to the next. The top is a bright mix of citrus and lavender. The lavender is really in near-perfect balance with the citrus to create a dry astringent beginning. The heart is spice and woods which is very similar to the middle of Obsession for Men to my nose but somehow a little more reserved and a little better composed. The base is a classic pairing of sandalwood and vetiver and with the herbal feel of the vetiver to provide contrast to the creaminess of the sandalwood you bring to a close a well-constructed chypre. This is clean, austere perfume construction which shows, like haiku, even the simplest of themes can lead to beautiful artistry.

Basala and Basara in Japanese are the same word, meaning free, unrestrained, unconventional. It explains why this men's fragrance was release under both names. The fragrance lives up to its name --it is bold, unique and unconventional, with only enough allusion to traditional masculine fragrances to keep the wearer from initially dismissing it as unwearable. Wearable it is (though not for the faint or heart, and not for the heat of summer), with a lovely prolonged evolution through warm spices to leather chypre. The longevity is astounding. It also has Serge Lutens fingerprints on it, at times calling to mind the suede of Daim Blond.

Interesting fragrance. Dark green but not forest green notes mix with citrus and lavender. It hints at being a fougere and a chypre at the same time while being its own identity though \I'd tuck this under an aromatic fougere. I like.

An incredible mix of green and woody aromas, with a touch of florals, leather, oakmoss and patchouli. This would qualify as a chypre based on notes, but it's unlike any other chypre I've ever smelled. The mix of green and woody notes is unique to my nose. This is a fragrance that would really shine in cold weather, having enough projection to radiate from the skin without the aid of of warm air temperatures, but it can be worn well in cool weather as well, adjusting the application. Quite a coup for Dominique Preyssas, about whom I unfortunately know very little, except that she designed Le Dandy for d'Orsay, Talisman for Balenciaga, and a couple of men's scents for Jaguar. Definitely worth a sniff if you don't already know it.

Initially is more then a bit overwhelming. Really, this is not a fragrance you want to put on just before a date or going into a public space. You will drive people away. One spray and my housemate needs to leave the room. After about 30 minutes the monster settles down to one of the most amazing fragrances I've ever tried. Spicy, sweet, complex, unique... A winter/evening scent.

Gorgeous frag I love to wear in cold weather. (That said, I'm not sure I can even imagine putting this one on in spring or summer.) Deep and complex and oh-so-spicy -- not at all like the other (read: bland, boring) Shiseido frags for men that I've tried.

The coriander can be a bit strong at first, as can both the cedar and lavender. Basala/Basara is definitely one of those frags, though, that you really need to give at least a few hours' time to, if not multiple wearings.

A must-try if not a must-have.

Dark, devilish, dangerous, dashing and daring... all in a wonderous concoction that will really give the wearer and it's female beholders goosebumps upon contact!!! It will be a longtime staple in my collection... however long perfumeemporium.com keeps it... LOVE IT!!!

I’m ashamed to say it but the reason I bought this one was the bottle (I’m blushing right now). Happily, I really liked it.
It’s not a perfect choice for the office, but it’s ideal for a pleasant evening with the friends or your beloved.
It’s funny, but I start to get compliments for this one not until four hours after the application. I was thinking a long time about the reason. Maybe, but just maybe, “the key” is amber. Namely, the same thing happens to me with Boucheron pour Homme. In the drydown of both scents, Basala and Boucheron pour Homme, you can easily notice amber.
Basala is an excellent example that a safe scent could be original, at the same time. Nowdays, that accomplishment stays a mystery for a lot of producers. They give us so many safe but tragically unoriginal fragrances. But, hey, don’t bother, the propaganda will do the rest; it will cover the lack of their creativity… or maybe of their courage.
In short, Basala is a really great one.

Potent without a doubt, and bone dry as well. Basala jumps out of the bottle like it means business, with whole lots of cedar, lavender, and dry herbs. The opening is so stark it's almost frightening, and when I first applied it I thought "Oh *@#%!" and then "What have I done?"

Basala calmed down after a few minutes, and so did I. The very realistic lavender emerges even more strongly as the scent ages, eventually taking center stage, with notes of cedar and sandalwood, cinnamon, and maybe even nutmeg in the background. It would all be way too much if the accords were sweet, but like Caron's Yatagan, Etro's Palais Jamais, or Malle's French Lover, there's not a speck of sugar in this fragrance.

The result is stoic, bracing, and a bit austere, but also hypnotic and more than a bit exotic. The cedar and sandalwood persist into the drydown, along with the barest hint of powdery musk to meld it with the skin. An excellent scent. Too bad it's become so hard to find.

Another thumbs up from me !! potent , unique and definately one thats up their amongst the very best .

Very, very nice opening — a well-balanced lavender / citrus / aromatic accord that is rich and spicy without being too aggressive. The citrus is in the background and the accord has a definite warmth and dryness to it — an almost bitter dry. It is certainly a masculine accord. The spices seem to grow a bit stronger as the citrus wanes even more, and soon the warm dry spicy heart accord takes over the middle — so warm there is a smokiness to it. These accords are as compelling as they are dramatic. Basala ends with an elegant, masculine woody drydown featuring a smooth dull sandalwood. What I like about Basala is that it manages to be interestingly spicy without making me a spice bomb. There is an elegance and even a bit of conscientiousness in the lively accords — they not only are delectable and solid, they exhibit depth and the quality of sophistication. It is a rich but comforting spicy very much like a niche fragrance might present. What an excellent fragrance this is. I love the woodiness of it, its pleasant wearability, and its very good longevity.

one of the best and most characteristic scent i have ever used..
Hard to find at the markets but absolutely has a special place in your heart. Go for it .. At least try..

I can remember the first time I tested this scent somewehere in 90's. After seeing a lot of advtisement and articles about this japanese fragrance in the magazines I decidedto give it a test, but of course being someone who was used to the fragrances of 80's it was a very strange scent for me. But years later, somewhere in 2002 I have seen it a fragrance shop and gave it a seond try, but this time I liked it very much. I guess the main smell that makes it very unusual is the Coriander, which is not mentioned above among the notes. This is one of the fragrances which smells very strong to you but not around you. Don;t get the ida that the people around you smell it as strong as you do. It smells very nice to outside.

I like this a lot. Although created in the early nineties, it has a seventies-eighties feel. As several members have pointed out, it starts off strong and lasts forever,but it mellows out in time without ever becoming sweet. I just think that it's very interesting and a very good deal.

A love-it-or-leave it scent, very masculine, with many spices, some of which clash with interesting results. Kind of grows on one...a definite try for lavender lovers.

I’ve recently made a complete U-turn on this one – I take it all back! Maybe it was due to the fact that, after testing so many fragrances one afternoon, my nose just couldn’t take anymore. Basala has made me realize that, as long as there’s a warm and sensual vibe among the notes, ‘very masculine’ fragrances aren’t so bad for me after all.

Basala really packs a punch, in terms of sillage and longevity – its strength is very reminiscent of fragrances from the ‘80s, while still smelling modern and unique. Apart from Havana, this is the only chypre that I really enjoy wearing. A great alternative to Gucci’s Envy for dates and evenings out.

This is THE find of the year for me. It is totally amazing. It smells green, woody, spicy, smokey, insensy and something in it does remind me of plastic, that vivid plastic subtleness really gives it a mysterious character. If evil had a smell this would be it. It's as if Satan had walked the earth carrying with him trails of fire that could not be extinguished.

One of my favorites. A wonderful combination of cedar, amber and pepper make this a distinctive, long-lasting scent. Perhaps a little better for winter, but truly wears well year-round.

Shocking! Shockingly good! This cologne is amazingly kick butt, masculine and extremely spicy. The greatest aspect of this fragrance is that it is very enigmatic with a dash of mysteriousness about it. It smells nothing like others instead when people notice it they will surely ask you as to what you are wearing. It's probably one of the most unique fragrances I've ever had the chance to come across. There's also a smoky and woody character that gives a seductive aura to any man that wear this cologne. Words just simply cannot describe this cologne. I recommend this cologne to be worn during evening time especially out on date. Apply it with caution because it's very potent. Shiseido Basala it's an excellent fragrance and I highly recommend it.

Another one of my top choices. Loved it from the fist sniff. Very hard to find in the States but worth the try. It is the only men's Sheseido I don't find cheap and barber-shoppy. The opening is pretty loud and sharp with the lavender but it quickly settles down as you smell the spices and the "warm" notes. Some lavender stays present, which I find refreshing. I don't smell so much leather in it (as Sheseido lists it) but the vanilla and tobacco are definitely present and this gives it the most wonderful pipe tobacco smell. Girlfriends always make comments and wonder what it is. I love it when someone says, "I didn't even know Sheseido made men's fragrances!" Something very Japanese is always present in this fragrance and I find that mysterious and noble. You can't go wrong with this one. Very good longevity. By the way, a unique feature of the bottle is that it's the only one (of my frags) that comes in a screw-top spray (standard). This would be great for decanting purposes or re-using the bottle. I have used the entire line in the past and I have to say that the shower gel is also great.

Really strong, woody and spicy, like Azzaro on steroids! How much long lasting is?: accidentally I sprayed a CD booklet... the smell stayed for more than 2 years.

One mysterious scent, it actually makes me believe in past-life experiences. It's unique, rich, darkly textured. The only thing I can REALLY think of for a Japan connection would be the fact that it smells oddly like a King Kong penny-bank I adored as a child that was made in Japan. It was made of a plastic that had a distinctive smell to it... Not that this smells plastic-like by any means. Or like a giant Gorilla, for that matter.

How do i describe Basala? A very deep, spicy, dry, complex potion that smells "red", just like the handsome bottle. Masculine to the hilt and mysteriously sensual. My all time favorite!

Unique scent! very acrid smokiness and very dry. A very little-known gem that I'll be on the look out for.

one of 3 all time favorites. profound, sharp almost smokey. truly original which is difficult to say these days of endless eau de dept store. cedar and amber perhaps?
in the same corner as dolce gabana, yohji and bel ami but better. an elusive stunner

First it smells grassy and bitter, then with the development of notes it becomes more spicy-woody with. Stays for a very long time. Not sweet in a slightest.

This is one potent, aromatic, leathery scent which smells Japanese-like, beats me which notes remind me of Japan, since I've never been there, but it does. If you're after something distinctive, but non-oriental, check this one out (Hmmm - a non-oriental Chypre, which reminds me of a country in the Orient). Women seem to smell and comment positively on Basala instantly. It's more a cool weather scent.