You may not hear references to Yohji Yamamoto fragrance rolling off the tongues of fellow fragrance lovers very often, but there are a few out there. The original Yohji was released in 1996. Since then, four more fragrances have been released under the name; one in 1998, one in 1999, and two in 2004 (these were male and female versions of the same scent, Yohji Yamamoto Pour Femme and Yohji Yamamoto Pour Homme). Unfortunately, all of them have been discontinued, so you'll have to look a little harder than normal if you decide you want to try one.
Yohji Yamamoto's Roots
Tokyo born Yohji Yamamoto got his career started in the late 1970s, eventually earning the Mainichi Fashion Grand Prize in 1986. His scents are considered "progressive" and are recommended for daytime wear.
The Air About You
Yohji Yamamoto scents seem to offer an air of elegance and sophistication to all those who wear it, both male and female. From the not-too-sweet vanilla to the coffee and rum tones in the perfumes and colognes, there's nothing childish about these scents. They seem to attempt to be clean, yet mysterious; never cloying or overtly sweet.
The Base Notes
Yohji (for women): A little vanilla, a little amber, and a little green, this one is an odd combination that somehow just works according to reviews. Considered a spicy oriental, it also has fruity, sandalwood, coumarin, musk notes. This one was the original Yohji Yamamoto fragrance and came out in 1996.
Yohji Essential (for women): This one came out in 1998 and is a mix of caraway, grapefruit, white freesia, raspberry, patchouli, and amber.
Yohji Homme (for men): Can you get much more masculine than coffee, rum, cinnamon, leather, and licorice? Those are the scents that make up Yohji Homme, a scent that came out in 1999 in a sleek, sophisticated bottle.
Yohji Yamamoto Pour Femme (for women): This one's made up of the smells of cardamon, chamomile, mandarin, and coriander. It debuted in 2004.
Yohji Yamamoto Pour Homme (for men): This one was described by one reviewer as "arrogance in a bottle" and they meant it in the best way possible. It, like the pour femme version, came out in 2004.
Where to Buy Yohji Yamamoto Fragrance
As mentioned above, all the Yohji Yamamoto fragrances have been discontinued. That doesn't mean you can't get them, though!
Perfume.com can offer you Yohji Essential Foaming Gel in the 6.7 oz size for $29.48, and the shower gel in the same size for $21.98. Unfortunately, they don't appear to have the actual perfume.
Strawberry Net has Yohji bath pebbles and foaming gel. The pebbles will run you about $18.00 and the gel costs $39.00. What a luxurious bath you can have!
Perfume Country has Yohji Yamamoto body lotion ($34.99 for 6.7 oz), shower gel ($24.99 for 6.7 oz), and solid perfume with a brush ($24.99 for 1.2 grams). The perfumes are out of stock at the moment.
Fragrance X has Yohji Essential shower gel, 6.8 oz for $14.95.
Imagination Perfumery has Yohji Essential shower gel for $14.99.
Sites like BizRate.com, DealTime.com, MySimon.com can help you not only find what you're looking for, but find the best price on your fragrance as well.
Final Thoughts
If you're looking for a sophisticated scent that combines sometimes unexpected notes, you should at least try to have a whiff of a Yohji perfume or cologne.
The fact that it's hard to find is a blessing and a curse. You can wear something no one else is wearing if you do get your hands on it and find that it works with your body chemistry. You never know when the supply of a discontinued fragrance, however, will dwindle to the point of no return; impossible to find.
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