Sumo wrestlers (and samurai and geishas) all used scented hair oils to gloss and assist maintain their complicated hairstyles in place. J-Scent (a Tokyo-based perfume producer) describes its Sumo Wrestler fragrance* like this:
The scent of bintsuke (hair oil) subtly floating from dignified sumo wrestlers. Eucalyptus and anise give this fragrance an fragrant scent, and the notes of violet and heliotrope flowers creates a powdery scent, which is the attribute of bintsuke. Final notes, musk and the mixture of patchouli and sandalwood arrive. This scent represents the ability and beauty of a sumo wrestler, mixed with the mild heat inside, like that of an incense.
Sumo Wrestler is a stunning scent that conjures (the dearly departed) Crown Perfumery Eau de Russe. There is a “chilly” citrus peel-eucalyptus accord up prime, then comes orange blossom combined with anise and cinnamon, and a real heliotrope aroma. Sumo Wrestler performs up the pampering facets of the sumo wrestler: his stress-free bathing ritual, his shiny (dressed and elaborately styled) hair, his powdered physique. Sumo Wrestler has a classic vibe, with amber-scented “talc” within the dry down. It is on my to-buy checklist for autumn.
J-Scent Sumo Wrestler is out there in 50 ml Eau de Parfum for $80 (a discount) at Luckyscent.
*Listed perfume notes of orange, eucalyptus, anise, orange blossom, cinnamon, heliotrope, violet, jasmine, labdanum, patchouli, sandalwood.
Word: prime picture is Kunisada Sumo Triptychon by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865) [cropped] through Wikimedia Commons.
