Shunkoin Xerjoff for women and men

Super unique scent, I really like it. Descriptions below are pretty good. The first 10 seconds aren’t my favourite but that dry down is beautiful and so different to anything else that I have. Super creamy, laconic, powdery scent with tea and cherry blossom in the background. I think the creaminess grounds it quite nicely and the cherry blossom really shines through later in the dry down. This is beautiful and so unique. Highly recommend getting your nose on this, it’s so good.

This scent feels like laying in a bath of tiny little cream-colored chenille squares. I don't understand why "lactonic" isn't listed in the accords, because this is way more lactonic than many scents that are described as such. Blanche Bête is totally different, but I do kind of see them as sisters. BB is the extroverted, mischievous one, and Shunkoin is serene and innocent yet wise.
I generally don't like the exoticism in the themes of the perfume industry because it just feels colonial, but this really is a meditative fragrance so I suppose naming it after a temple is understandable.

Teeters between play-doh and a puffy fluffy whipped cream pie. Lots of baby powder and creamy vanilla that lasts through a looonnnggg and close to the skin dry down. I wish I could wrap my nose around these scent notes as they drive a lot of fragrances but just cant.

There is no coconut listed but this to me smells like the most luxurious coconut perfume ever!

Powdery, fluffy Vanilla, creamy sandalwood with sweet coconut. This is not a suntan lotion kind of a coconut… just think sophisticated expensive smelling coconut 🥥

Smells exactly like play-dough

I don't know if it was because I was smelling way too many fragrances at the time, but I could not stop smelling this all night and it reminds me of the seeds inside a ripe orange bell pepper. Something about fresh pepper seeds. My friend who has a trained nose was not able to smell it but was entertained by my undying certainty.

Whenever something puzzles me and I want to keep smelling it, it usually means they've done something right. I really like this, a very grounding fragrance.

My favourite frag atm. Took me a few wears to truly appreciate how good this is. Smells so high quality and natural. Almond, coconut, vanilla, orris, sandalwood. Magical blend. Intoxicating. Serene indeed. Excellent performance, lasts long and projects perfectly, never offensive. Unisex. Masterpiece.

Xerjoff's Join the Club representation for "Meditation"- and they nailed it. Serene, tranquil, and calming. This is the perfect scent for when I am feeling agitated or stressed. Dry, powdery, unsweetened coconut, light woodiness, perhaps a little vanilla just slightly sweetening things up. Shunkoin wears lightly, but continues to project in soft whisps all throughout the day or evening. This is the definition of Aroma Therapy.

Shunkoin is an intimate fragrance, yet it lasts the entire day. Once sprayed and dries down...the next few hours it starts to evolve and turn into a vanilla scent . I like it , it is not a love for me since I just get a one note scent. I will try this out in the spring and maybe the notes will change.

Not sure what to think about this one! I got it for a steal so I pulled the trigger. To me the notes don't really translate to what I'm smelling! It smells very basic and nondescript. I need to spend more time with it but so far it's just Mehhh to me. Kinda chalky, vanillic, powdery cardboard like smell....quite strange really

Very powdery orris and fluffy vanilla with a milky tea accord and a soft mineral or metallic edge that I can't quite put my finger on.
Shunkoin is a serene and dreamy fragrance. It has this very gentle sweetness that is at the same time clean and airy. There's something almost frosty about it.
I'd categorize it as a girly scent fit for women who aren't fond of the genre
Lasts long on my skin, but sits pretty close.
Was not expecting to love this one so it took me a long while to get to testing, but glad to have it in my collection as it's both an easy reach year round and an instant tranquilizer.

Initial impression off paper - immediately reminds me of Lalibela from Memo. Creamy powdery sweet vanilla with a coconutty aspect. I do also see the strong resemblance to Heliotrope by Reminiscence. Will report back after further testing......

This smells super powdery in the opening, and into the first half hour, it really smells like vintage powder. Then it dries down and the woodiness starts to come out, and while it still maintains the powderiness, you also start to get the sweetness from the vanilla. I don't like this at all unfortunately, it starts to resemble Commodity Milk+ which I did not like either. Both of them have this weird powdery/woody/vanilla thing going on in the drydown which is just not my style. If you are into Milk+ and want more powderiness, you might love this. I get no coconut cake like some reviewers have mentioned below... not for me unfortunately.

The reviews here for Shunkoin are all over the place. I don't even know why I come here sometimes. But here's mine, for what it's worth.

Shunkoin to me is one half Cuir Beluga and one half coconut cake, the kind of coconut cake that is made particularly in the Southern U.S. Of course I love this perfume, because Cuir Beluga is a "top ten for life" perfume for me and I love homemade, from scratch, good ol' Southern coconut cake!

Interestingly to me, because I can't stand Xerjoff's Italica, there is a slight touch of Italica in the opening, but it's not overwhelming like straight-up Italica. It is quite thick and custard-like at the opening, but only for a short while. The drydown is where it is more similar to Cuir Beluga and Shalimar Milliesime Tonka, and if you like those two perfumes you will probably like Shunkoin. There is a gourmand to aspect to this perfume, but it's not a full-on gourmand. I'm not getting much tea from it. There is nothing "tropical" at all, even though coconut perfumes are often tropical. It does go powdery.

I can see how people would use this as a comforting or meditative scent. To me this is a lovely Spring perfume, but maybe it's the association with coconut cake, which is often served at Easter. I will certainly wear this in Spring, as well as summer. I love it. I feel cozy and happy and light in this perfume.

Well, the opening is really weird but after a few minutes - this truly is very close to Cuir Beluga! For less than half the price!!! Not a dupe though because on my skin it only closely resembles Cuir Beluga in hot climate/summer and even then Shunkoin is less sweet and less loud. I'm still making up my mind about this one but so far I think I prefer it to Beluga because it can be worn any time of day and for any occasion (unlike Beluga).
It lasts very long on skin and clothes too! Very interesting fragrance and I do recommend to get a sample if you like Cuir Beluga, Cafe Chantant, etc.

Powdery vanilla WHERE? It smells spicy and a bit sweet. Leans masculine even.

My nose picks up aromatic warm spices and it has an earthy quality to it that is enveloped in a delicate powdery vanilla base. Reminds me of a milky chai tea latte. It's a comforting, calming and grounding scent and I like it.

First off, I’m VERY surprised no one has mentioned how much it smells like TF Soleil Blanc!! Which is one of my top favorites-I wear in the summer! They are identical in the first spray until about mid point, then…. they part ways unto the dry down. Shunkoin projects better and definitely lasts longer and the dry down is AMAZING! I do pick up a playdoh hint in the first 20 minutes but it’s not bad, I can detect something faintly floral or coconutty behind it, but then something smokey like church incense starts to appear and this is where it gets interesting and I literally cannot stop sniffing my wrists! I feel like I am transported to Jerusalem at night with middle eastern incense lingering in the night air, as I pass a sweet shop of coconut pastries. The combination is just stunning! It’s not a hippie incense head shop type, it’s definitely more Temple or Church, but the ancient kind you dream about in the Middle East.

I don’t think this is an edible type gourmand scent. Nor is it tropical sunscreen type like TF SB. But it does have that initial vibe. I sprayed 3 sprays; wrists and neck at 1 pm and went to work and could still smell it when I moved or in the night air around 9pm. Not bad imo!

Well done Xerjoff! Beautiful scent and bottle well worth the price!

I was really looking forward to smell this after reading reviews below but I was disappointed.
To me this perfume smells like vanilla custard but in a most basic way.
Also it kind of gives me a vibe that some teenage girl would wear perfume like this...

Having tea and eating the most delicious fluffy vanilla-coconut cream pie while being wrapped up in an almost weightless cashmere blanket and surrounded by delicate tendrils of incense. This perfume got to be the most delicious vanilla scent in existence. It even surpasses my long time favorite Un Bois Vanille. All other vanilla perfumes (and I own many) suddenly seem heavy handed and cheap compared to this perfect vanilla master piece.

Has a huge blast of coconut as it dries down you get beautiful incense and iris goes extremely powdery and woody. The tea leaf note in this is very grounding and relaxing. Cherry blossom is obviously a synthetic note so I’m glad that’s way off in the background. Overall a beautiful simple scent love it

Shunkoin is a weird experience. It's woody and powdery dry, but sweet and creamy with vanilla and a whiff of something sour or fruity like a cream pie as many other describe. It smells very natural.

I feel like I should like shunkoin, as I usually love vanilla fragrances. There's something that puts me off, but not because I dislike any of the notes. It feels overwhelming or reminds me of that feeling when you had too much to eat. Or maybe the coconut cream pie went a little bit off after staying too long in the fridge.

In any event, you might still like it, but as with most Xerjoff fragrances, I would sample first.

This smells EXACTLY like coconut cream pie to me, warm from the oven, browned crust, meringue & lightly toasted coconut on top. It’s delicious, but I don’t want to smell like it

This fragrance is perfect for sleeping with! I'd imagine heaven smelling like this. Creamy cloud-like vanilla, with a coconut vibe. 10/10

This one is a spring favourite. Smells like dried and shredded coconut, vanilla, slightly milky with a vague woody undercurrent. Sometimes I sense the powder but it’s quite minimal and it’s not of the makeup/baby powder variety (thank goodness!!). I always imagine opaque white paint for walls when I think of this. Not the actual smell of paint but more so the texture, if that makes sense. It’s light coloured yet has weighted creaminess to it. One spray lasts all day. Very inoffensive, easy to wear, but not at all common. The only downside is that I don’t think it smells expensive if that’s something you care about.

Biggest disappointment I’ve ever had from Xerjoff. It smells like a $20 Lattafa vanilla fragrance.

Got a 50ml today. Box and bottle are top niche quality. As for the smell-coconut,i only smell that. Performance on this fragrance is horrible 1-2 hours max as a skin scent. I had a lot of fragrances but never had such a weak one. This fragrance is good more for the summer because it's light,inoffensive and has that tropical coconut smell. Very overpriced for that performance,it is supposed to be EDP,but is worse than EDC.

Just so you know, I don’t sleep around. This is the only perfume I go to bed with. It’s calming and relaxing enveloping you in a vanilla ice cream cloud of sweet dreams.

For me this starts out very woody with strong resinous incense. I actually don’t like the beginning because it is too masculine but very soon it becomes powdery and smooth, and the sharp incense / resin diminishes. The woods are cool and dry as other reviewers have said, and together with the powdery notes, they create a reflective mood. At this point the sweeter vanilla and the very subtle floral notes come in and this is where the perfume for me becomes exceptional. It is a bit like many perfumes, (Tam Dao, Eau Duelle, Bois de Farine) but quite unique. It is completely unisex. Longevity is 8+ hours sillage moderate.
EDIT on wearing this again in cooler weather, the opening is much gentler and the woods blend more smoothly. It’s actually going to be one of my staples for the trans-seasonal time, going into autumn. It is super-comforting and relaxing for home and weekends.

powder; this is basically serious powder with some light florals and light vanilla; baby powder

I got a sample of it, so first impressions. Opens with a blast of vanilla and coconut on me, very pleasant quite natural smelling. It lasts about 15 min and then becomes dry and powdery, with incense and some vanilla. It’s an interesting scent although becomes quite simple/linear on my skin. Still, it’s memorable enough for me to consider a full bottle each time I spray…but then after a couple of hours I’m not so sure I need another take on vanilla from xerjoff…
Update: Had to come back to update this. There’s a note in Shunkoin which I absolutely detest, basically smalls like burnt rubber. No idea what it is but would suspect olibanum or wood? It shows up maybe 30 min after first spray and stays. So in summary: opening is nice but dry down…no thanks :(

I've never smelled a fragrance so dry and dusty as this one. It's got a sweetness to it. Wearing this, when I close my eyes and just breathe in the fragrance, the same picture comes to mind every time. I'm standing in the middle of a vast, dark desert, staring up at the stars. There's a cool breeze, and it's just peaceful.

I don't get fruity or tropical notes like others seem to. This is sweet sand.

Testing my vintage sample vial from 2012.
This is a peculiar fragrance.
It starts off sweet, like tropicalfruits: i can clearly detect banana, coconut and a creamy nutty avocado.
What ruins it is the cherry note: it smells like kids cough sirup; wouldn't say this is a cherry blossom as they list it, but a synthetic cherry flavour.
Then you get a powdery calming orris and a lovely vanilla, these notes stay for a good while and you get them into drydown.
It then morphs into a dry, peppery wood, with smoky incensey notes and a hint of tobacco. There is also a strange, waxy artificial bitter almond note that is weird and unpleasant to my nose. (For that synthetic note alone, for me it's a pass).
All these notes are not listed, of course.
These dry, masculine notes are playing table tennis with the sweet notes found at the early stage . Strange.
I would not associate it with meditation, but yes, it gives you a sensation of well being.
Xerjoffs are luxury perfumes, well executed but surely overpriced for what they are (of course, the presentation is top notch but aren't we all about the juice?).
To me it leans more masculine although it is a sweet vanilla perfume all round.
Very modest sillage, poor longevity.
Nice to try, but you can live without it.

I smell the characteristic flou texture of heliotrope, such as the one found in Frederic Malle Eau d’hivert. The powdery quality of Shunkoin is so light and ethereal that it more closely resembles fog or mist. The vanilla/amber accord gives me the sensation of coconut cream pie and occasionally key lime pie. This is a beautiful fragrance in my opinion. It surrounds me like a cool morning mist as I climb the quiet steps of an old temple. It makes me feel centered in a peaceful space of inner calm.

I love powdery fragrances with iris/orris and so I blind bought Shunkoin expecting to love it. The cherry blossom note, however, ruins it for me. For some reason it reminds me of cutting in to a fresh bell pepper and all I can smell while wearing this is powdery bell pepper.

Shunkoin is a soft, fluffy, cloud-like vanilla with delicate layers of powder combined with the gentle sweetness of Jordan almonds. It reminds me of the lovely smell of the pastel colored Jordan almonds that come out during Easter. I find the vanilla note in Shunkoin to be prominent, which makes it smell more like vanilla powder rather than makeup powder. Everything about the vibe of this scent is soft and cozy and it puts me in a happy mood 😊

As other reviewers have mentioned, there is a sharp green note in the opening that I do not like. I think it may be the olibanum note, but I'm not sure. Thank goodness it completely disappears in about 20 minutes.

On another note, I agree with the comparison to L'artisan Jour de Fete. I have a bottle of Jour de Fete and have been using it sparingly since it's been discontinued, so I'm very happy to have discovered Shunkoin as an alternative. They are not dupes as Jour de Fete is not as powdery as Shunkoin, but they are similar enough that I no longer have to fear the day I run out of Jour de Fete. If I had to sum up the differences, I would say Jour de Fete is Jordan almonds + wheat and Shunkoin is Jordan almonds + vanilla powder.

I sprayed this and Allende on paper (separately). I feel like Shunkoin could have potential on my skin, while Allende was...no. Shunkoin definitely has powdery vanilla vibes with a touch of floral and maybe spice (resin?). It doesn't seem bitey like my new bottle of Kenzo Amour, but performance on the skin will really tell.

ETA: There is something too musky in here that puts me off. No thanks.

Shunkoin is powdery, vanilla, creamy, and absolutely dreamy. I just love it and can't stop sniffing myself. It has great sillage which I appreciate given the high price. I'm new to Xerjoff and this was one of two fragrances I recently sampled. This one is definitely quality and I'm very impressed. I know it's expensive, but this is something men and women can wear every day so you'll get your money's worth.

A cool powdery breeze.

The opening is an off putting tea and maybe cherry blossom. It settles into a powdery resinous wood and then the orris comes out and its cool smooth powdery wood. The vanilla is there but to me never really makes itself known on my skin. I only get a punch of orris in the drydown and much of the scent is very second skin powdery.

Edit: The opening is cherry blossom and then its gone. I think the off putting is actually tea and olibanum.

Love! Its beautiful.. I spray & cant smell but yet when I go out & my hair is blowing or I'm moving around I get whiffs of this lovely scent. It's my favorite xerjoff so far! Not overpowering headache inducing...its sensual very sexy fragrance!

I totaly agree with kristen-marie that this is very powdery and it is sweet but not in your face, i can't smell anything else exept powder and cosmetics. like a face powder this one smells of course these perfumes are my favorites so i really like it but i can not sence any other notes as many people can smell. Nice perfume i would love to have another bottle when this one will finish.

When first applied, there’s a very bitter note of tea that’s quite abrasive and seems like it was thrown in there to make this more unisex. Luckily that fades quickly, leaving a very dry, powdery sandalwood with a dollop of vanilla. I do get a faint whiff of white pepper and coconut, which reminds me of La Mia Perla. This is actually very much what I had imagined it to smell like, based on the notes. It is dry, yet somehow creamy. I sense something buttery akin to orris lying underneath all the notes. As another reviewer mentioned, this smells “starchy” and slightly sweet. I’d consider this a cosmetic-boudoir type fragrance- but from another time and another place. Like a geisha applying powder to her face. I don’t quite get the meditation thing they were going for, but it does have an Asiatic feel. Shunkoin is a non-gourmand vanilla— well done, Xerjoff!

I’m always a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I love vanilla. Especially a high quality vanilla, when it’s blended well, can be my heaven on earth. That’s what Shunkoin is to me.

Shunkoin has three distinct phases, what you get in the beginning does not stay to the end. Usually I don’t care about that kind of thing, because if I like the opening I can stay with it if I’m enjoying myself. But here, each stage is breathtaking.

I agree with others, the opening smells like almonds and coconut milk, even though neither note is listed. It’s pretty strong but lovely. Yummy vanilla and powder (orris root?), make up the middle. A creamy sandalwood and a smidge of incense round out the base. Not a single note is out of place. I love each phase. Combined with excellent performance, I’m swooning.

Part of my embarrassment is self imposed, as I think of vanilla as a beginner note but I can’t help it. A trusted seller off eBay is where I found my bottle. Shunkoin is fast becoming one of my favorite perfumes.

Very powdery, like old school face powder compacts. Does not smell clean to me either the powder is too intense. If you like powder and sweetness this is for you.

First impression on this perfume following initial sprays.
I can describe it as powdery, creamy, sweet, and a bit floral. There is a lot of boozy vibe at the beginning too.
I have many perfumes and I tried many more, but this one is quite unique.
I'm not sure about "meditation" thing, I would call it "out of shower" clean concoction.
I can't smell any wood or tea leaf as per note pyramid, the whole perfume is taken over by vanilla, oris root, white musk powder, and a hint of cinnamon.
Its unisex, maybe leaning feminine.
Projection and longevity are average so far, but I tend to compare to best mode frags anyway.

How is it possible? How can something this sweet, lulling, powdery and gentle avoid being too cute or cloying? How can an apparently 'girly' scent so loaded with powder and vanilla and flowers still be truly unisex? And how can a fragrance with such a definitively fluffy pink aura so seduce me - usually a sucker for the darker, spicier, edgier side of sandalwood? I honestly don't know. But YES IT CAN. Shunkoin is a stunner - gentle, mild and conciliatory but still full of character.

Count me in as part of the coconut club, because for me, too, it seems to be playing a huge role, making everything in this rather delicious pyramid even powderier and sweeter still. Is it really there, or is it just an impression of coconut built from the contours of everything else around it and the often-nearly-coconut smell of some sandalwood? I don't know that either - and don't much care. The orris adds even more dryness, frankincense a tinge of something more adult. Overall it's soft and clean, rather than greasy-feeling, and the vanilla is kept tied down just tightly enough to stop it rampaging all over the top of everything else.

Pretty linear, and with no great surprises, but so startlingly good that this consistency is bonus. Never overbearing or choking, but its sillage is expansive and generous - Shukoin can get you compliments from people more than an arm's length away, but even fragrance-phobes don't seem to object to it. And the longevity is downright astonishing: it survives an easy 9-11 hours even on my ravenously dry skin, and on fabrics can linger for well over a week after the first wear (so don't saturate any expensive garments with it unless you're sure...). All that adds up to it being good value for money - even at Xerjoff RRP, which is pretty scary at first glance. At discount, a barnstorming bargain.

I tried this expecting to hate it - or at least scorn it for being too sweet and girly - and then fell for it immediately. Have heard from several male wearers who feel the same way. Seriously impressive stuff, then. It is far more capable, wearable and lovable than I ever imagined. A genuine crossover hit!

A soft powdery Oriental with a prominent tea note. The perfume opens wit the central tea note surrounded by slight hints of cherry blossom. The heart is mostly orris and olibanum. The perfume settles into a dense powdery base of sandalwood, vanilla and cedar. The unisex slight feminine leaning perfume has moderate sillage and very good longevity. This is a very pleasant but not particularly exceptional scent. Enjoy!

Bit disappointing knowing what this house is capable of.

Boozy opening that then leads to extremely dry sandalwood that I'd describe as dusty more than powdery with a very tiny bit of cherry blossom and vanilla in the background (that do get stronger through the dry down).

Extremely light, super dry wood. Pretty boring.

Well. I know I have a weird skinchemistry. Shunkoin does not get along on my skin at all. A mix of a very sharp note, can't place it - almost pure vodka and Shalimar -not a nice mix at all. On right person I gues the powder/vanilla is great, but not on me.

Less sweet than expected, very dry on me. I see the resemblance to L'Artisan Parfumeur Jour de Fete and by extension to Jeaux de Peau on some level, even Bois Farine. May warrant several testings but I'm not convinced the first time around.

this is the first of the JTC line that I cant decide whether I like or dislike, I know I definitely don't like the opening, for some reason Almond is way too strong and simply reminds me of squashed beetles give it 30 mins and the almond starts to not be so profoundly up front and settles into the semblance of a fragrance rather than a bottle of almond essence for cooking purposes, which again I hate. Longevity is not great, along with projection. I have 2013 batch, not a keeper for me and also a blind buy, I honestly don't know if this fragrance even knows what it wants to be, 50 ml bottle of confusion is what I seem to have, but am really happy to see other owners find a place for it in their wardrobe.

I get soft and creamy vanilla and almond. Maybe vanilla pudding. The dry down reminds me of a toned down Serge Lutens Jeux de Peau, without the sweet licorice. This is in my opinion easier to wear, but also more pricy. It definitely got a Play-doh vibe.

Shunkoin, absolutely delicious! This could read as a lovely powdered, creamy, delicately floral scent. But one couldn't be blamed for taking this as a light gourmand:

I pick up coconut too, milky and soft with a sweet nuttiness like almonds. There's also a hint of spice like cardamom. It's just like kheer -- an Indian rice dessert, creamy, light and aromatic. Or soft pistachio nougat.

I don't get the meditative reference either, unless you consider gorging on milky desserts to the point of euphoria a spiritual act.

To me, this smells like Dolce Acqua and D'Ambrosia had a baby....and this baby is beautiful! Sillage and longevity is amazing. Bought a full bottle.

Honestly....my first nose reaction........coconut *blink* Whatever my nose misinterpreted, this is one of the most phenomenal fragrances I own. YUM!

This is by far the most beautiful, creamiest vanilla I've ever encountered!

We all have a certain notion as to the appropriate scent of certain things, and this is not, in any way, the way I thought meditation "should" smell. There's nothing I perceive as oriental - no spices, no tanginess. Yet all this doesn't matter at all. You may name this perfume "Shunkoin" or anything else that pleases you, but I refer to it as "sheer bliss".
This is such a good scent, that I can spend hours on end indulging myself with frequent sniffs of my wrists and delighted sighs.
Vanilla has the lead role here, but it's the entire cast that makes this show so enticing - fine sandalwood and orris root create a creamy background and the powdery notes keep this amazing concoction veiled and tender.
It's not your regular gourmand, yet you will feel embraced by whipped sweetness.
I think I'm in love...

رائحة جوز الهند المحروق على الرغم من عدم تواجده في المكونات خلابة ناعمة لكن ليست بالشكل النسائي الصرف ينفع للرجال للإستمتاع الشخصي فوحان وثبات رائع

Wow! This fragrance has taken my understanding of vanilla fragrances and totally shaken them up. I expect a double vanilla, thick, dark coloured liquid like essence when I think of a good niche vanilla. Shunkoin has a much more delicate hand though, leading me into the composition very steadily.
I mean this fragrance is sweet but very cleverly engineered not to be cloying or curdle with spices out of place in what is quite a sheer and milky context.
There's a greenness to the opening which is not unlike that papyrus/sandalwood thing I don't like. This can only be the tea judging by the notes listed here and in combination with a very subtle powder note from iris or orris root. This becomes more apparent as the fragrance goes on. Another thing which surprises me is a lovely almond and coconut smell, a natural partner for vanilla but can go very wrong, the handling here is with care and quality, all hallmarks of Xerjoff.
I really like this scent I have to say, if you like powdery understated vanilla then you've come to the right place. Also despite being a very subdued scent by nature it lasted very, very well on my skin to the point I was surprised even suspecting that it got stronger than when first applied.

Oh wow, Shunkoin is phenomenal. I love the concept behind the "Join the club" line of Xerjoff (Wish they had named it something a bit less gimmicky, but the concept is still solid!), and I definitely get the meditative vibe they were going for here.

The opening needs to settle before you make your judgements! In the first spray you encounter something mildly resinous, bitter, and bordering on expensive incense, - a combination of vanilla, sandalwood, olibanum, and wood. The sharpness fades away quickly into the most heavenly, creamy-powdery zen suede-vanilla-puff of all time. So rich and dense, something like if you could translate the taste and texture of rice pudding/custard into perfumery - that's Shunkoin.

The scent is not a true (read: Not liquid sugar by any means) gourmand though. Layered on top of the sweet vanillic creamy notes are warm, dry, powdery bits - and something still crisp, bringing clarity to the fragrance (Tea, without a doubt). When you bring the mildly resinous opening into play, the whole drydown is reminiscent of the smell of a sweet cigar.

Sillage is soft, longevity is stellar. Shunkoin does not disappoint - instant new favorite! I've been wearing it every day since I acquired a bottle! (Could potentially become my signature if the bottles came in bigger sizes/were more accessible to purchase). Very versatile, lots of compliments, and it actually *is* quite calming & comforting to wear.

Okay, so I just received a sample of this beautiful scent. It is a wonderfully soft, delicate vanilla and powdery almond with a slightly bitter green opening which is probably from the tea note. The dry down is simply a fluffy soft scent that comforts and soothes. I was afraid it was going to end up smelling like baby powder but thank goodness it doesn't. I also don't really get the cherry blossom thing they were going for. The scent hints at it in the opening but ends up taking a left somewhere and gets lost in all the powdery vanilla.

Let me preface with: I REALLY enjoy this! It's a lovely gourmandish vanilla fluff with amazing longevity and decent sillage with even a very light application.

That said, I do not get the 'meditative' vibe they were going for! On me this smells exactly like those all-colors-of-the-rainbow hard shelled easter egg candies in the US, which are filled with a harder than normal 'marshmallow' like center, with almost a grainy sugar texture. Smells JUST like those at the opening!

It's very yummy as the vanilla and sugar stay and the slightly cherry blossom tones arise more. Next I do get a playdohy vibe, but I still really enjoy that. Also a bit more powdery (just the softest fine powder cloud, very gentle, not at ALL what I used to think of as 'powdery', more 'fluffy') as orris blends with the nila and cherry flower.

REALLY enjoy it! Came close to adding to my (small) want list, but found other vanilla puff scents I enjoyed more (with more depth). Very high quality and great power here for such a gentle idea of a scent though! Though if I'm going to shell out this much $$$ for a Xerjoff I'll probably invest it into one of their Ouds which are their forte, in my opinion.

[10.29.14, from a luckyscent sample]

Yes, I get the coconut too; it's very present to my nose. This is one for the powder and sweet vanilla lovers, with subtle undertones of cherry and, like I wrote, coconut.

Unfortunately for me, Shunkoin turned to Play-Doh on my skin within an hour. Sweet-ish powdery fragrances are often difficult for me to wear, however.

Lovers of the aforementioned notes will definitely want to check this one out, regardless of my reservations. It is beautifully made for its type, and the materials smell very natural.

First impression only - this smells like incense. It makes sense to me that this scent was modeled after 'meditation', because that is what I get out of it - incense.

This XERJOFF fragrance is a high quality and undeniably addictive scent with an incredible lush, nutty, creamy vanilla with hints of sandalwood. The sweetness is very subtle while maintaining its milky and luscious nature all throughout. The aroma surrounded me like a silky smooth veil, comforting yet opulent. I adore everything about it -- the luxurious bottle and presentation to the scrumptious juice inside.

SHUNKOIN ... oh, you heavenly gourmand! It was love for me from the initial spray to the very last traces of the scent ten glorious hours after.

Blind Brought This Because Of Great Price And Lets Just Say WOW.

From The Start You Get A Coconutty & Milky Vibe,
But Once This Dries Down (Approx 15mins) You Will Feel Like Eating Yourself.
The Coconut And Milk Smell Give Way To A Deep Creamy Rich And Sweet Vanilla That Last For Hours !!

This Gives Me The Same Warm / Comfort Feeling That Lubin-Korrigan Does But This Is A Lot Cleaner And Not As Dark And Mysterious As Korrigan.

After having the opportunity to sample the entire Join The Club line at Osswald, it is safe to say that Shunkoin is easily one of my favorites. This is noticeably a vanilla-based fragrance, but it has this culinary richness that I have not smelled in a fragrance until now. The vanilla is warm, smooth, and somewhat sensual. It isn't necessarily classy, but it has a playful, gourmand quality. This is a very edible-smelling fragrance. The blend of notes gives off a milky smell comparable (as weird as it may sound) to that of oatmeal. At the same time, this fragrance has a balmy, play-dough like quality (most likely due to the orris root) that doesn't hinder the versatility but promotes the uniqueness. There is a hint of almond in the background that richens the composition while the powdery nuance gives this fragrance the impression of being a skin scent (please don't be fooled as it is not). My favorite thing about this fragrance is that it retains its sweetness but at no point ever becomes too powdery. Also, to touch base on the listed cherry blossom note, there is nothing in this fragrance that smells distinctly floral nor fruity. Whatever concentration of cherry blossom is contained in this fragrance is transparent to my nose. There is also a creamy richness in the base that I would like to attribute to sandalwood although I would disagree that this fragrance, at any stage of its development, smells particularly woody. Overall, this is a heavenly blend of notes and a unique take on vanilla. More Than Words was my first purchase of the Join The Club line, and this is more than likely to be my second. Sillage is moderate and longevity is great.

The descriptions of the JTC fragrances have been a little misleading thus far, to me. Shunkoin is definitely in the comfort scent category, but it has a very coconutty, beach-y quality to it. It is almond, vanilla and lots of coconut (all my family kept commenting on the "coconut"). Similar to Hilde Soliani or Profumum upscale gourmands. Pretty bottles, I wanted to much to love this one, but it gets a little overwhelming and I eventually ended up scrubbing it off. Great longevity and projection, perhaps a little too much.

EN
Relax just for a moment. Immerse yourself in the aroma of sweet dreams of Meditation Club Shunkoin. Close your eyes and you'll hear the melancholy song of bamboo along the black winding river. Your weightless boat, caught by invisible stream will take you away from the loud and bustling metropolis and the gate of the Shunkoin Club will hide you from the eyes of curious crowd. Here, in the world of peace, time flows backwards, here you are happy, like children. There is no more beautiful aroma like early morning breeze and there is no more precious drink like a sip of dew on leaf of magnolia. Enjoy this feeling! This is the moment of infinite bliss. Don't waste it in vain.

IT
Rilassati solo per un attimo. Immergerti nell'aroma dei sogni del Club Shunkoin. Chiudi gli occhi e ascolta il malinconico canto di bambù del fiume nero e tortuoso. Una barca leggera, trascinata dai correnti invisibili ti porterà lontano dalla metropoli tumultuosa e vivace ed il cancello di Shunkoin Club ti nasconderà dagli sguardi indiscreti della folla. Qui, nel mondo della pace e del silenzio, il tempo scorre all'indietro. Qui sei felice, come un bambino. E non esiste aroma più bella di quella della brezza di presta mattinata. E non esiste alcuna bevanda più preziosa di un sorso di rugiada su foglia della vecchia magnolia. Goditi questa sensazione! Questo è un momento di beatitudine infinita. Non sprecarlo invano.