The Story
Why it exists.
Gallivant's Tokyo launched in 2018, the seventh in their city-inspired collection. Founded by Nick Steward, Gallivant creates fragrances that capture the spirit of destinations,not tourist landmarks, but the feeling of wandering through neighborhoods at specific hours. Tokyo is inspired by early morning walks through the city's back streets, electric cables overhead, everything surprisingly quiet and tranquil. The creative brief centers on kōdō, the Japanese Way of Fragrance,where incense and wood create a meditative ritual.
If this were a song
Community picks
Midnight City
M83
The Beginning
Gallivant's Tokyo launched in 2018, the seventh in their city-inspired collection. Founded by Nick Steward, Gallivant creates fragrances that capture the spirit of destinations,not tourist landmarks, but the feeling of wandering through neighborhoods at specific hours. Tokyo is inspired by early morning walks through the city's back streets, electric cables overhead, everything surprisingly quiet and tranquil. The creative brief centers on kōdō, the Japanese Way of Fragrance,where incense and wood create a meditative ritual.
What makes this composition distinctive is the bold citrus-spice contrast. Yuzu brings tart, almost bitter freshness while hinoki provides distinctly Japanese character rarely found in Western perfumery. The wasabi note is the real statement,sharp, green, and confrontational. Combined with incense smoke, it evokes temple ceremonies and izakaya kitchens simultaneously. This tension between electric brightness and smoky calm is what makes Tokyo memorable.
The Evolution
Tokyo opens with a jolt,the wasabi hits immediately, green and electric. Within minutes, yuzu and bergamot join, creating an aromatic burst that commands attention. Around the 15-minute mark, the heart arrives: hinoki wood spreads calmly, incense smoke weaving through. The florals,iris, rose,bloom softly in the background. By hour three, the drydown takes over: vetiver, sandalwood, and amber create warmth that lingers. On fabric, the entire structure holds and fades slowly over 8-10 hours. That patchouli base? Still there the next morning, barely perceptible but undeniably present.
Cultural Impact
Tokyo translates the Japanese kōdō ceremony,Way of Fragrance,into an accessible Western format. The wasabi note is immediately recognizable to anyone who's experienced real wasabi, creating an instant cultural bridge. The fragrance sparked renewed interest in hinoki as a perfumery material.
The House
United Kingdom · Est. 2017
Gallivant is a London-based independent fragrance house founded by industry veteran Nick Steward, channeling wanderlust into unisex eau de parfums inspired by the world's most compelling cities. From Brooklyn to Berlin, Tokyo to Tel Aviv, each scent captures the spirit of urban exploration, inviting wearers to pause, wander and discover. Small-batch, handmade in Britain and France using carefully sourced materials, Gallivant offers perfumed escapism for the curious explorer.
The Creator
Nicolas BonnevilleGallivant, founded by Nick Steward, creates fragrances inspired by cities rather than ingredients. Each scent captures a feeling, a time of day, a specific neighborhood vibe. The collection includes Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Istanbul, London, Berlin, and others,each a love letter to exploration.
If this were a song
Community picks
This fragrance sounds like walking alone through a city that hasn't fully woken up,electric green brightness giving way to contemplative smoky depth. The wasabi opening is that first moment of shock, then the incense and woods settle into something meditative, like background music in a quiet temple district at dawn.
Midnight City
M83
