Kai
Kai

It doesn't matter when that started, what came first, the result is the same, generations have the same opinion on how clean and comforting smells like. And clean is something that never gets old. We can discover and experiment all we want, some fragrances are like coming home. Lotions, creams, powders and in this case perfume.

It is not a strong gardenia scent as you might expect. It's a light airy clean floral where nuances of tuberose and jasmine combine to form an abstract suggestion of the gardenia petal, and this merger gives it an pure, ethereal, and yet somewhat soapy character, making it a perfect floral for warmer environments. When tested in colder weather, the soapy green astringent aspects are more pronounced. I also detected a base note of white musk in it; which ironically makes it cheaper smelling.

This is a "just-got-out-of-the-shower" fragrance. It's clean, soapy, innocent, creamy, and fresh. I picture a barefoot young country girl with freshly washed hair, slipping into a sundress, laying in the cool grass, with the afternoon sun warming her freckled skin. Clusters of little white flowers, dandelions, blue skies, and fluffy white clouds.

The simple while floral opening note develops a nice Jasmine and a good, very bright tuberose and whiffs a a very gentle ylang-ylang, but the latter is soon overwhelmed by the other components.

In the drydown soon the main actor enters the stage: the gardenia. Initially only faint in the backgound, it now is the dominant notes blending in with the other players.

I get moderate sillage, adequate projection and six hours of longevity on my skin.

All these floral notes of this spring scent are very bright and fresh and youthful. It is a bit linear, but nice for gardenia lovers, and the ingredients are of good quality. 3/5.

Sweet floral. Tropical. Then, I get a nutty accord. I smell gardenia. Then I think I smell tiare flower - and maybe jasmine. I'm not sure where the nuttiness comes from. A bit too tame for my tastes.

I found it rather simplistic and something that a beginner would wear rather than an experienced perfume enthuasist. Nice, fresh green notes. No sultriness.

Gardenia + LOTV + Tiare '/. 3 = Kai.

Kai is potent, linear and tenacious: good or bad qualities, depending upon whether you like this blend of white flowers. I do, but I'm not sure when -or if- I want to personally broadcast their aromas so loudly.

I have Kai EDP and a tiny sample of the oil. I found it laughable that the little card which came with the oil announced "kai is different on everyone". To me, this fragrance so 'fixed', I think it would be unmistakeable on anyone -or anything- it was sprayed upon.

I can't imagine Kai blending in with a wearer's personal chemistry - it's way too strong and un-human for that. In fact, Kai could be successfully employed to disguise minor lapses in personal hygiene.

Being a floral girl like myself, it is hard not to be enchanted by Kai. I know of many people that have been turned off by this fragrance's simple packaging and primary note of gardenia, but I urge people to not judge this fragrance before you try it. You are depriving yourself of something very special.

The gardenia in this perfume is very green and fresh. In no way has the gardenia been tampered with or made to smell overly sweet or synthetic. Kai is like wandering through a garden full of these wonderous flowers and inhaling their delicious aroma.

I particularly love how soft and creamy this scent becomes when it develops on my skin. Despite its strong floral notes, Kai never smells too mature or dated. On my skin, this scent is youthful, feminine and fresh.

The sillage is fantastic and the lasting power also great. My only gripe is with the price, which I find absolutely ridiculous. I understand that Kai is an exclusive and independant brand, however I believe that more sales would be made if the price was much lower.

Perhaps one day, if I'm rich, $100 for 10ml of Kai won't faze me and I will add this fragrance to my collection.