March 9, 2026, by Nina van Hilst

The subtle perfumes from Asia: Japan, Korea, China & Vietnam

General
March 9, 2026, by Nina van Hilst

The subtle perfumes from Asia: Japan, Korea, China & Vietnam

Perfumes from Asia differ from Western fragrances: they are more inspired by nature, tea, flowers, and traditional rituals. And they are often subtler and fresher. But with the boom in Asian skincare and fashion, some brands are becoming quite distinctive and unusual. Flying all the way to Seoul or Tokyo—the meccas of K-beauty and J-beauty—for just that is a dream, of course. But: these wonderful brands are also available in the Netherlands. Here's a nice list of niche perfumes from Asia: Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam.

d'Annam

d'Annam

d'Annam is a niche perfume brand from Vietnam that tells the stories of Asian traditions and landscapes through scents. The name d'Annam literally means “from Vietnam”. The brand has  Scents that remind you of things you encounter in Asian culture. Here are some of the scents where the top note is always approachable and mild, and the bottom note is a bit more .

Vietnam ~ White Rice: the subtle scent of jasmine rice
Vietnam ~ Vietnamese Coffee: a deep, slightly sweet blend of coffee notes and condensed milk

Japan ~ Sakura Snow: a fresh scent of, among other things, cherry blossom en white musk
Japan ~ Matcha Soft Serve: creamy, floral and a hint of vanilla

China ~ Princess of china: a soft fragrance with floral and fruity notes such as lychee, pear, peony and white lotus
China ~ Spring Festival: subtle and warm with notes of citrus, lotus, honeysuckle, sandalwood and musk

J-Scent

J-Scent

J-Beauty, J-Scent—you immediately understand where the name comes from. The brand has a wide collection of fragrances that transport you to unique experiences in Japan. With subtle references like fresh blossoms, earthy notes, and other essences of Japan. A wide collection makes choosing difficult. We've listed a few favorites. J-Scent has the regular line with slightly more subtle perfumes and the deeply line that is slightly richer.

Fruity and accessible ~ Shaft of Light: like a ray of light shining down into the forest. Fragrance notes: citrus, magnolia, gardenia, sandalwood, patchouli, and oakmoss.

Woody ~ agarwoodThe scent of incense around Japanese temples. Notes: orange peel, cedarwood, patchouli, cinnamon.

Unusual ~ Sumo Wrestler: referring to the traditional hair oil of wrestlers. Scents: warm, soft, powdery, and musky. With hints of eucalyptus, anise, violet, heliotrope, and musk with patchouli and sandalwood.

 

EDIT(h)

EDIT(h)

The Japanese brand ÉDIT(h) is part of a company that has been active in Japanese stamp art since 1905 (such as shunikuCraftsmanship is honored with the materials used: from the handcrafted wooden packaging to the washi The wrapping paper around it. The five scents available in the Netherlands:

Jardin des Mots ~ inspired by a hidden green garden in the hustle and bustle of the city with notes of mandarin, ginger, rose, lily of the valley and white musk and cedarwood.

Souchong Journey ~ amber and woody scent with subtle citrus, like the scent of black Lapsang Souchong tea

Cocktail Lane ~ with the energy of a vibrant city cocktail bar. Woody notes of cucumber, grapefruit, and basil with a soft floral note and a base of sandalwood and cedar.

+ Green Velvet +Kagamigoshi

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