Tsukimi

Grapefruit and lemon crash onto skin with an immediately tart, almost astringent quality, but red pepper seizes control within moments, transforming the citrus into something peppery and slightly caustic. You're hit with the sensation of biting into citrus zest whilst someone waves fresh black pepper beneath your nose—it's bright but angular, undeniably present.

Cinnamon and jasmine emerge as the citrus and pepper fade into the background, introducing a creamy, almost soapy floral quality that sits uneasily against the spice's continued presence. The violet arrives as dusty powder, attempting mediation, but the cinnamon refuses to be tamed—instead, these notes create a warm, spiced floral that feels vintage and slightly austere, like a fragrance from a different era.

Sandalwood, vanilla, and patchouli anchor the composition into something warmer and more resinous, with the amber accord bringing a subtle sweetness that never tips into gourmand territory. What remains is a creamy-woody base where the patchouli's earthy persistence outlasts everything else, warm but never entirely comforting—a lingering reminder of the fragrance's uncompromising character.