The Story
Why it exists.
Kyoto arrived in 2021 from perfumer Alexandra Carlin. The composition features beetroot, Turkish rose, vetiver, and frankincense. The beetroot accord anchors the fragrance with its distinctive vegetal character, while Turkish rose provides a generous, full-bodied floral presence. Vetiver contributes depth with its smoky, earthy quality, and frankincense adds a clean, slightly citrus-like brightness. Together, these notes create a fragrance that combines floral richness with unexpected mineral and earthy undertones.
If this were a song
Community picks
Near Light
Ólafur Arnalds
The Beginning
Kyoto arrived in 2021 from perfumer Alexandra Carlin. The composition features beetroot, Turkish rose, vetiver, and frankincense. The beetroot accord anchors the fragrance with its distinctive vegetal character, while Turkish rose provides a generous, full-bodied floral presence. Vetiver contributes depth with its smoky, earthy quality, and frankincense adds a clean, slightly citrus-like brightness. Together, these notes create a fragrance that combines floral richness with unexpected mineral and earthy undertones.
The beetroot note gives Kyoto its unusual character. In this fragrance, the beetroot works alongside Turkish rose, vetiver, and frankincense to create something that moves beyond a simple floral composition. The beetroot accord provides an earthy, slightly sweet dimension that grounds the rose, while vetiver and frankincense add complementary notes of smoke and brightness. The result is a fragrance with multiple layers that rewards attention, moving between floral and mineral qualities rather than settling into a single register.
The Evolution
Kyoto opens with Turkish rose, generous and heady. The beetroot accord and frankincense are present from the start, adding their mineral and bright qualities alongside the rose. As the fragrance develops, the vetiver and incense notes become more apparent, adding smoke and depth. The composition evolves over time, with the rose remaining present while the earthier notes gain prominence. On skin, the fragrance develops through distinct phases, with the various notes interacting throughout. Community ratings indicate strong longevity for this scent.
Cultural Impact
Kyoto has become harder to find since its 2021 launch, generating strong interest among those who value distinctive fragrances. The beetroot accord has sparked conversation and divided opinion, with some finding it fascinating and others finding it unusual. The fragrance stands apart from more conventional rose compositions, offering something that resists easy categorization. Its specificity has made it sought after by collectors and enthusiasts looking for scents that break from standard perfume conventions.
The House
France · Est. 1961
Three friends — a painter, an interior designer, and a theater director — opened a boutique on Paris's Boulevard Saint-Germain in 1961. What began as a fabric and décor shop became one of the most influential niche houses in perfumery. Diptyque's oval-label candles are iconic, but its fragrances deserve equal reverence: literary, textured compositions that smell like places rather than products.
If this were a song
Community picks
Kyoto smells like standing in a cold garden at dawn, mineral earth, dark rose, a trace of smoke in still air. The sonic equivalent is contemplative, intimate, and slightly melancholic. Music that moves slowly and doesn't demand attention.
Near Light
Ólafur Arnalds
