Known for its elegant fragrances inspired by gardens around the world, Le Jardin Retrouvé recently launched a new fragrance, Mousse Arashiyama. Originally created as a room scent (candle and diffuser), the fragrance was exceptionally well received and has now been formulated as a perfume by Maxence Moutte, the Givaudan-trained perfumer who works in-house for the brand. Its inspiration is the bamboo forest of the Arashiyama Park in Kyoto, Japan.
Mousse Arashiyama is a mood-setting fragrance. It’s invigorating, arboreal, and centering. I imagine being immersed in a forest, its floor wet after the rain, sitting by an old fountain, the sound of running water lulling and relaxing.
The vibrancy of bergamot and fig and the dark green earthiness of oakmoss combine to create the lights and shadows dancing among the trees. The fig accord smells lush and grassy as I vividly picture the sap running through the leaves, an image that matches the fragrance’s bright green juice.
I get hints of pine needles and dewy violet leaves effortlessly intertwined with the faint aroma of incense burning outdoors. The piney, peppermint-like undertone that blends with the wild depth of the oakmoss and delicate smokiness of the incense smell like damp air by the water in wintertime. I have indeed enjoyed wearing this during these chillier days.
Mousse Arashiyama harbors no sharpness despite its different hues of green. What comes through instead is the softer, rounder character of oakmoss, at once woodsy, green, sweet, and airy. In the dry down, Mousse Arashiyama reminds me of a radiant green chypre.
The notes are listed below:
Oakmoss, bergamot, lentiscus, aquatic notes, fig accord, patchouli, incense, vetiver, cedar.
Read more on Jardin Retrouvé. For another transportive perspective on Mousse Arashiyama, read Samantha Scriven’s review on Çafleurebon.
The fragrance is available as Eau de Parfum in 50 ml, and 15 ml, and 3 ml spray bottles beautifully packaged in either a classic cardboard box or textile pouch. The up-cycled pouches are from the fabric collection of the brand’s founder Arlette Gutsatz. Le Jardin Retrouvé donates 1% of its turnover to a reforestation association.
I’d like to thank Clara and Michel of Le Jardin Retrouvé for my 15 ml personalized bottle of Mousse Arashiyama. This review was written from a 3 ml sample, also gifted by the brand.
Read my past reviews of Le Jardin Retrouvé’s fragrances: Cuir de Russie is my favorite of their creations and Oriental Sans Souci was one of my choices for Christmas 2020.
Picture taken by me.
What a perfectly pitched review! You have described it so accurately. I completely agree with your verdict. It’s so lush and tranquil that you can almost hear a little babbling brook.
I’m so glad it resonated with you! Thank you for stopping by. 🙂