I won this in a competition and was pleasantly suprised by the fragrance - it is fresh and sharp and clean but still floral (not too girly and sweet, which I don't enjoy in a perfume).
I would not have chosen this perfume based on the bottle alone as I prefer a very simple shape like YSL Cinema or Narciso Rodriguez. After using it I can appreciate it though - it is quite architectural and looks like a modern building.
It lasted well on my skin and deepened throughout the day - the clean sharpness developed into warmer muskier notes. This perfume is a reincarnation of the original Shiseido Zen and they have done well to make it into a more updated and modern scent.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes clean floral scents that develop into something warmer and deeper. A great one for summer.
Shiseido Zen is a re-interpretation of the old classic Zen which came in a black and gold bottle with a gold grass/reed design. It is a very dense smoky type of fragrance which was very popular with the older crowd. The modern Zen is a very different scent with a few elements of the original mixed in, but I would say it is 75% a new fragrance. This interpretation is more citrusy then the original and is sweeter and less smoky/incense. This scent also sits a lot closer to the skin and isn't a sillage monster. I received a generous sample of this when purchasing other products and whilst I didn't hate it, it isn't the fragrance for me as it is a bit light and not as spicy as I like to wear. The bottle whilst not the most practical is quite attractive - a pearly pale gold square which I feel reflects the Shiseido image well. I would definitely recommend old wears of the original to try before they buy, a lady I know loved the old version splashed out on this one and was very disappointed as they don't smell very similar at all and are at different ends of the spectrum (this one being a lot lighter and fresher as opposed to a smokey incense/spice bomb). So bear that in mind.