Fresh, green and contemplative, it evokes a mossy forest floor after the rain, with juicy figs, oakmoss and sacred woods. Mousse Arashiyama was created in 2021 by Maxence Moutte.
The garden behind Mousse Arashiyama
Mousse Arashiyama: A Woody-Moss Fragrance, Like a Japanese Forest After the Rain
Mousse Arashiyama is a woody and green, genderless Eau de Parfum, evoking a silent walk through a mossy and damp forest in Arashiyama, near Kyoto. Its oakmoss accord, aquatic notes, fig, and incense create a mysterious, earthy, and almost meditative atmosphere.
Conceived by perfumer Maxence Moutte, this creation invites contemplation, serenity, and a gentle form of spirituality, as if the forest were directly transferring its energy to the wearer.
Key Information
- Fragrance Type: Green Chypre
- Smells like: A mossy and damp forest, between undergrowth, fig tree, and wafts of incense
- Garden: Arashiyama Gardens, Kyoto, Japan
- Intensity: Strong, with a marked presence
- Benefit: Energy, grounding, connection to nature
- Signature: A contemporary green chypre, between oakmoss, sacred woods, and aquatic freshness
Olfactory Pyramid
- Top notes: Bergamot, incense (olibanum), mastic
- Heart notes: Aquatic notes, fig accord
- Base notes: Oakmoss, vetiver, cedarwood
Formats & Commitment
The Mousse Arashiyama bottles are mechanically openable.
- Formats: 15 ml, 50 ml, scented candle, scented steems / diffuser
- Main natural ingredients: Mastic absolute, incense essence, cedarwood essence, oakmoss absolute
- Clean beauty: Refillable bottles, organic alcohol, no colorants, no preservatives, no UV filters, cruelty-free
What Does Mousse Arashiyama Smell Like?
Mousse Arashiyama opens with fresh and crystalline bergamot, immediately enveloped by the resinous accents of mastic and the meditative swirls of incense. From the first moments, it feels as though you are entering a temple buried deep within a Japanese forest, where the air is humid and filled with silence.
The aquatic notes and fig accord bring a sensation of dew, water-soaked leaves, and still-green fruits, as if brushing against branches above a moss-covered ground. In the base, oakmoss, vetiver, and cedar create a deep, woody, and slightly earthy foundation, evoking roots, dark trunks, and the freshness of the earth after the rain.
The Arashiyama Garden, Source of Inspiration
Arashiyama, in Kyoto, is famous for its bamboo forests, temples, and shaded paths that follow rivers and moss-covered hills. It’s a place where nature, water, and the sacred meet, conducive to slowness and meditation.
Mousse Arashiyama translates this universe into a fragrance: a Japanese undergrowth where light filters through the leaves, where moss holds moisture, and where the incense swirls from a nearby temple blend with the scent of damp earth. It’s a garden of contemplation rather than one of display.
"My memories of the moss garden in Arashiyama, Kyoto, and the extraordinary quality of the oakmoss we had in our laboratory at Le Jardin Retrouvé, sparked my inspiration for Mousse Arashiyama. A poetic and peaceful garden with velvety touches of green moss, pale-trunked trees reaching towards the sky. Oakmoss, vetiver, cedarwood, incense, and mastic."
MAXENCE MOUTTE
Behind the Scenes: Laboratory, Oakmoss, and Mood Booster
Mousse Arashiyama was first created in the laboratory of Le Jardin Retrouvé: while working on Yuri’s formulas to make them compatible with modern regulations and clean beauty principles, Maxence Moutte discovered an exceptionally beautiful quality of oakmoss. This raw material immediately transported him to Japan, to the Arashiyama gardens he had visited.
He began by creating a candle around this oakmoss/aquatic/fig/incense accord, then a diffuser. The success of this olfactory ambiance led to the transformation of the formula into an Eau de Parfum, launched in 2021. Subsequently, Mousse Arashiyama received a “Mood Booster Energizing” certification, highlighting its ability to transmit a form of energy and vitality inspired by the forest.
Why Mousse Arashiyama Is Different
- A true contemporary green chypre: centered around oakmoss, yet illuminated by aquatic and fig notes that make it modern and unique.
- A forest fragrance, not a classic fern: it evokes a damp Japanese undergrowth rather than a barbershop or traditional cologne accord.
- A spiritual dimension: incense and sacred woods provide an almost meditative depth, like a fragrance from a temple hidden in nature.
- A clear wellness focus: designed as an invitation to contemplation and energy, it fully fits into the House’s Mood Booster universe.
‘The damp green scent of Mousse Arashiyama will appeal to those who appreciate solitude rather than attention, contemplation rather than heated exchanges, and silence rather than loud music.’
SERGEY BORISOV, FRAGRANTICA
Who Is Mousse Arashiyama For?
Mousse Arashiyama is for those who love woody, green, slightly mysterious fragrances and are looking for an alternative to gourmand or classic floral scents. It will particularly appeal to lovers of damp forests, moss, vetiver, and dry woods.
- If you love the scent of underbrush after the rain.
- If you're looking for a genderless, elegant yet different fragrance that steps off the beaten path.
- If you want a fragrance that reconnects you to nature, even in the heart of the city.
When to Wear Mousse Arashiyama?
Mousse Arashiyama is ideal for spring and autumn, when the air is still a little cool and there's a craving for green, woody, and energizing fragrances. It also works beautifully in the summer for those who prefer fresh woods over pure citrus.
It’s a perfect fragrance for walks, weekends in the countryside, outings with friends, or simply on days when you need to feel grounded, as if walking on moss rather than concrete.
Mousse Arashiyama in Your Home
Like other gardens from the House, Mousse Arashiyama is also available in a scented candle and reed diffuser, allowing you to transform your space into an intimate Japanese forest.
- Mousse Arashiyama Candle: It diffuses an accord of moss, wood, fig, and incense, perfect for creating an ambiance of focused calm, ideal for reading, meditation, or creative work.
- Reed Diffuser: It installs a continuous presence of damp underbrush and sacred woods in a room, perfect for a living room, office, or relaxation space.
The containers are designed to be kept and reused, in line with the House’s commitment to sustainability and waste reduction.
How to Choose Between the Eau de Parfum, Candle, and Diffuser?
- Mousse Arashiyama Eau de Parfum: To wear the Japanese forest on your skin, like a green and woody armor that accompanies you throughout the day.
- Scented Candle: To transform a living room, office, or meditation space into an enveloping undergrowth, perfect for a reading, yoga, or contemplation session.
- Reed Diffuser: For a continuous background fragrance that gives a room the atmosphere of an indoor garden, between moss, wood, and water.
What Those Who Wear Mousse Arashiyama Say
Many enthusiasts describe Mousse Arashiyama as a “forest in a bottle”: a damp, green, mossy fragrance where you can truly sense the earth, oakmoss, and the shade of trees. Some highlight its mysterious and calming side, like a slow walk through a forest temple.
Others emphasize its energizing aspect: a fragrance that makes you feel like you're breathing better, more deeply, as if leaving the city to enter a dense forest. Many recommend it to those who enjoy green chypres, vetiver, or nature-inspired scents that don't smell like cologne or “car air freshener.”
Clara Feder’s Text Inspired by the Arashiyama Garden
The Japanese have long been aware of the spiritual and health benefits of forest bathing: simply immersing oneself in nature as a counterpoint to the frenetic work culture demanded by modern life. It was the Japanese forest of Arashiyama that inspired Maxence Moutte to create what was initially the Mousse Mystique candle and has since become the Mousse Arashiyama candle, diffuser and eau de parfum.
FAQ
What Does Mousse Arashiyama Smell Like?
Mousse Arashiyama sent une forêt moussue et humide : bergamote fraîche, résines (encens, lentisque), notes aquatiques, figue, mousse de chêne, vétiver et cèdre. Il évoque un sous-bois japonais après la pluie, avec un côté à la fois terrestre et spirituel.
Is Mousse Arashiyama a Unisex Fragrance?
Yes, it is completely genderless. Its green and woody chypre structure suits anyone who loves deep nature and forest scents, without gender codes.
Is Mousse Arashiyama an Energizing / Mood Booster Fragrance?
Yes, it is part of the fragrances associated with an "Energizing" effect: the idea is to capture the energy of the forest (moss, wood, damp air) and translate it into fragrance, to help you feel more grounded and dynamic.
With a strong intensity and a base of oakmoss, vetiver, and cedar, the longevity is generally very good, especially on slightly hydrated skin. As always, the exact duration will depend on your skin, the climate, and the amount applied.
It wears beautifully in spring and autumn, as well as during the slightly cooler summer days. It’s an excellent choice for nature walks, weekends in the countryside, or on days when you need a fragrance to help ground you.
Spray on pulse points (neck, wrists, inner elbows, behind the ears) without rubbing, to preserve the fragrance structure. You can also apply it to your clothes after testing a discreet area. Well-moisturized skin helps to extend longevity.
There is no standard refill available for sale, but the bottles are mechanically openable: you can transfer the contents of a 50 ml into a 15 ml, for example, to refill a travel size or a favorite bottle.
No, the formula follows the Maison's clean beauty principles: organic alcohol, no added colorants, no preservatives, no UV filter, and a skin- and environment-friendly approach.
Discover the Mousse Arashiyama Collection
Comment
Mousse Arashiyama is a poetic fragrance that offers inner peace and reflection, ideal for those seeking tranquility in the fast-paced modern world. Its launch is not only a tribute to nature but also a response to people’s spiritual needs.