In This Article
Cultivated since Antiquity throughout the Asian continent, shiso is at the same time a food plant, an aromatic plant but also a plant with medicinal and olfactory virtues. The essential oil from shiso leaves is therefore a natural raw material of choice in perfumery thanks to its green, almond or spicy facets depending on its use and its variety.
Shiso, the sacred plant of Asia
The name of shiso is derived from the name of the plant in Chinese zǐ sū because contrary to what one might think, shiso was cultivated in China before being brought to Japan. Indeed, the cultivation of different varieties of shiso was initiated in ancient times in China while its import in Japan dates from the third century.
From the same family as mint and thyme, shiso has perfumed many Asian dishes since the dawn of time with its delicate flavors. But shiso is also used in traditional Chinese medicine for its dermatological properties which act on the skin as a soothing and healing remedy.
Arrived in Europe thanks to the Japanese cuisine trend, shiso now adorns some of our dishes with its green and fragrant leaves. Of course, the perfumes which wish to obtain an Asian atmosphere use the note of shiso to bring a fresh, exotic and aromatic note in original fragrances.
Travel to Asia thanks to the shiso note in our perfumes!
The shiso note has a relatively recent use in our bottles of Western perfumery. However, this aromatic note from Asian countries makes it possible to offer a fragrance powerful perfumes which have the merit of creating a note that is unlike any other. We can therefore note that each perfume containing shiso presents a different olfactory palette.
Shiso appears in different olfactory families: oriental for its spicy aromas where woods, ferns and citrus use it for the freshness of its grassy and deliciously exotic note. On the other hand, shiso appears as well in masculine scents as in mixed scents.
Regarding oriental fragrances, Etat libre d'orange and Thierry Mugler respectively used the note of shiso in their perfumes Son of God, Rice and Citrus released in 2012 and Cuir Impertinent released in 2015. La a note of shiso appears among the top notes of these two juices, for Mugler shiso is associated with anise, for Etat libre d'orange, shiso is paired with precious aromatics and bergamot.
Regarding the hesperids, let us of course cite Eau de Shiso by Roger & Gallet which has created a vibrant tribute to the pretty aromatic by offering it a sparkling, rich and velvety bottle of woody notes. The shiso is of course in the spotlight as a top note associated with citrus fruits. Tom Ford's Mandarino di Amalfi citrus plays these same head chords on shiso to create flowery and aromatic chords.
When it comes to woods and ferns, shiso appears in large designer bottles such as Terre d'Hermès PARFUM, TOKYO BY KENZO or even ckIN2U him by Calvin Klein. Shiso is for its three fragrances among the heart notes associated depending on the juice with sometimes very original raw materials such as cocoa or chilli for Calvin Klein.
Shiso is therefore a raw material in perfumery that allows many olfactory accords thanks to its multifaceted scented trail. We regret, however, that shiso appears very little in women's perfumes when it could bring, like Cartier's L'Heure Folle (X), an exotic and fresh touch to fruity notes by example
