Annayake / アナヤケ
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The pear nectar and mandarin burst forth with crisp, almost tart energy, immediately joined by a distinctive savoury spice—the clove announces itself without hesitation, cutting through the fruit like a knife through silk. There's a faint honeyed floral presence from the ylang ylang, but it's secondary, allowing the spiced-fruit accord to dominate entirely.
As the citrus gradually retreats, the American plum deepens considerably, becoming almost jammy and candied, whilst the clove softens into something more refined and aromatic. The peony and lilac emerge subtly, adding a dusty, slightly green texture that prevents the composition from sliding into pure sweetness, creating instead an unusual tension between spice, stone fruit, and delicate florals.
What remains is predominantly heliotrope and precious woods providing an amber-tinged warmth, with that curious provençal peach note adding a final touch of powdered sweetness. The florals recede significantly here, leaving a spiced-amber base that feels more like a whisper than the assertive opening—intimate, slightly powdery, with just enough clove lingering to remind you of the fragrance's original character.
Matsuri is a study in restrained exoticism—a fragrance that whispers rather than shouts, yet leaves an indelible impression on those close enough to catch its drift. Henri Bergia has constructed something genuinely unusual here: a spiced floral that refuses the typical sweetness associated with its accords. The pear nectar and mandarin establish a bright, almost tart opening before the clove and American plum arrive to impose discipline, transforming what could have been a simple fruity confection into something far more cerebral and intriguing.
What makes Matsuri distinctive is its architectural clarity. Rather than melting into an amorphous fruity-floral blur, each element maintains its own voice within the composition. The ylang ylang doesn't cloying soften the spice; instead, it creates a slightly creamy undercurrent that lets the clove and plum speak with crystalline precision. The peony and lilac add a whisper of green elegance—they're not the perfume's focus, but rather contextual players that prevent the spice from becoming aggressive.
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3.9/5 (189)