Perfume Review: 4160 Tuesdays Urura’s Tokyo Café + A Breath of Spring in Winter Draw

   sara mccartney 4160 tuesdays

Sarah McCartney, perfumer and founder of  4160 Tuesdays Perfumes

4160 Tuesdays is an Indie British brand founded and fuelled by the wild imagination of Sarah McCartney. In her interview for Çafleurebon last year, I reviewed Sunshine and Pancakes. Sarah told us a little about her creative process and the rationale behind her off-beat approach to fragrance. Now it's time to have a closer look at one of my favourite perfumes from her expansive collection, Urura's Tokyo Café.

3_cup_cafe mayumin

Credit: 3 cup cafe by Mayuminhttp://mayumin.net/ 

The perfume was inspired by the Green Ginger Café in Tokyo and its owner Urura, with whom Ms. McCartney hosted an event some years ago. Urura translates as 'breeze in the cherry blossoms', so with this beautiful imagery Sarah created a perfume containing notes of Rose, Violet, Geranium, Raspberry Leaf and Tangerine, with a resinous base of Opoponax and Tolu Balsam. It opens like a lovely, fresh rose, petals unfurling in the daintiest of pinks.

5_bloom mayumin

Credit: Five Bloom by Mayuminhttp://mayumin.net/

Atop is a sparkling citrus, which feels very bright and airy. Almost as soon as those petals have opened a slightly more aromatic accord appears, herby and green. The perfume is now dappled with shade between the rose bushes. This is most certainly not a rose-centric fragrance though; the floral bouquet is seamlessly woven together with crisp greens and sharp tangerine, creating an image of a flower garden gently swaying in a summer breeze.

MAYUMIN illustration

Credit: Floral Illustration Mayumin http://mayumin.net/

From beneath, sweet Myrrh stains the green and pink with umber tones. Here it gives the impression of a great splash of strong green tea, saturating the base of the scent with a resinous solemnity, as if the breeze has momentarily dropped and the sun stepped behind a cloud. It is cooling and pleasant to experience the resin balanced by the green goodness of geranium and rose. It has all the atmospheric depth that incense can bring to a fragrance, without any of the smokiness. Urura's Tokyo Café creeps slowly across the skin, like forest mosses. For the longest time it doesn't change, seeping colours across my wrists, olive green, deep umber with tiny pink blossoms opening like stars here and there. For all its depth it stays translucent, like gouache, projecting with amazing vibrancy. Only after about an hour does the perfume start to shift, Opoponax resin turning warmer and the sweet/tart crunchiness of raspberry leaf is powdered softly in violet.

sakura mayumin

Credit:  Mayumin  http://mayumin.net/Cherry Blossom-sakura

It is at the very end of this perfume's impressive life that I can imagine lying under the aforementioned cherry blossom branches, as the notes all blend together and sing me softly to sleep. It has wonderful balance, clarity and structure; it flows beautifully from the skin, last for hours and is undeniably alluring. 4160 Tuesdays is renowned for making fun, flippant perfumes with wild and wonderful names, but look carefully within the ranks of brightly coloured bottles and you'll find some seriously precious treasures. Urara's Toyko Café is one such fragrance. It manages to be both bright and moody, floral yet resinous and green. It's the one to go for if you like your scent understated and feminine, with an unusual depth of character. This is one of Sarah's most beautiful perfumes in my opinion. Accidental or not, she's created a masterpiece here.

Disclosure- fragrance from my own collection.

Susie Baird- contributor and editor of Epiphany.

Note: The use of Mayumin's art is unrelated and is not an endorsement. If you are interested in seeing her portofolio please click here

Art Director: Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief. Mayumin Hosoya is a former fashion designer, who transitioned into fine art. Her works show the lives and beauty of women in moments of joy. They spoke to me personally

4160The Sexiest Scent on the Planet. Ever. IMHO won  ÇaFleureBon Best name for a perfume in out Best and Worst of 2014

4160 tuesdays Urura's Tokyo Café

Thanks to Sarah McCartney of 4160 Tuesdays we have a 100 ml  bottle of Urura's Tokyo Cafe for a reader in the EU , USA or Canada. To be eligible, please leave a comment with what you enjoyed about Susie's review, where you live and if you have a favorite 4160 Tuesdays perfume. Draw closes January 21, 2015

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume

 

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36 comments

  • Tami H. says:

    I Love the part about bright & moody, it fits this scent perfectly. I live in the U.S. Thanks for the draw!!

  • Lillian Holloway says:

    Thank goodness there are bright florals. Some days I just want to put on a fantastic pretty thing. I have a high appreciation for Sarah’s work but still haven’t encountered all of them. With spring right around the corner this would be brilliant. In the US, thank you.

  • Das says:

    The most compelling part of the review was the phrase “understated and feminine, with an unusual depth of character”. While I like a good unisex scent for office wear, my favorite perfumes are always what I consider feminine and elegant, and always modern (rather than classics).
    I live in the US. Haven’t tried anything from the 4160 Tuesdays line yet but it’s on my list for this spring.

  • minteacup says:

    I enjoyed the color associations in this review – some fragrances strongly evoke colors for me, too. Olive green, deep umber, and pink?! Yes, please – this fragrance sounds like it could be right up my alley. I’m in the US, thank you for the draw! I haven’t tried anything from 4160 Tuesdays yet but I am hoping to sample some soon.

  • FearsMice says:

    I had wondered about the back story: was there really an Urura? with an actual cafe in Tokyo? Thanks to Susie, we now know! I’m in the US, and haven’t tried anything from the line — but manyl sound very appealing. Thanks for the draw.

  • Tiffanie says:

    A perfume that evokes “a flower garden gently swaying in a summer breeze” sounds fabulous. Thank you for the thoughtful review. 4160 Tuesdays perfumes and Sarah McCartney are so intriguing. I hope to try one her of fragrances some day but have not yet had the chance. I live in the US.

  • orsetta says:

    i love the image of slowly creeping forest mosses, very evocative 🙂
    i would love to try this – i am in the EU.

  • AMDB10 says:

    I enjoyed the part where Suzie mentions that when you wear this perfume you can imagine lying under the cherry blossom branches and falling softly to sleep.
    A scent both understated and feminine, with an unusual depth of character.
    I have not yet experienced any of 4160 Tuesdays perfumes but I hope I am given the opportunity to do so.
    Lovely review, lovely pictures. Thanks for the draw.
    I live in EU.

  • sunnlitt says:

    This was a wonderfully written review!

    I like how she descries the scent as dappled with shade between the rose bushes. The imagery is very joyful.

    I have not tried any of the 4160 Tuesdays fragrances.
    I am in the U.S.
    Thanks for the draw.

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    whenever I think of Japan, I think of Cherry Blossoms thus it is only fair that Urura’s Tokyo Cafe reminds one of the petals of pink flowers. I have not yet tried any 4160 Tuesday creation. thanks for the lovely draw. I am in the US.

  • taffyj says:

    I like how Susie finds the serious treasure in a fragrance that is more than just fun. Wonderful review!
    Sunshine and Pancakes is my fave!
    Love Sarah’s creations!

    I am in the U.S. Thanks for the draw!

  • alica says:

    Susie´s description of the new fragrance is extremely impressive, I can almost visualize it. I don´t know any 4160 Tuesday works but actually would like to try them. Thanks for the drawing! I am in EU, Slovakia

  • Severinka says:

    I have noticed 4160 Tuesday on the shelves @ Scent Bar and took a note to try some on my next visit.
    I appreciate the review for interpreting the flower melange and the stages of perfume development – it also kind of goes along with the change of seasons, sakura blooms in spring, while the air is still quite fresh & brisk (at least, in Kanto), and the summer in Tokyo is extremely hot and humid.
    I live in the US – thanks for the opportunity to explore the new line!

  • Connie says:

    It sounds like a very uplifting perfume- and lying under blossoming cherry trees with a soft breeze sounds very appealing, particularly in this cold. My favorite scent from 4160 Tuesdays is TSSOTPEIMHO. I’m in the US.

  • Cynthia says:

    What a beautifully descriptive review. I like the idea of insence without smokiness. I have not yet tried anything from this line. I’m in the US

  • gulchatai says:

    Very lovely review! I like the colour aassociations. The fragrance looks very beautifull, I’d love to try it!

    I’m in USA.

  • jiminy says:

    I love how we are taken through each stage of the composition’s life. The base sounds crazy with myrrh and raspberry!

    I have yet to try any of the 4160 Tuesdays collection.

    I am in the US. Thanks for the draw.

  • Ferris Êgoïste says:

    Baird’s reviews are so poetic. “Urara’s Toyko Café is one such fragrance. It manages to be both bright and moody, floral yet resinous and green.” I cannot wait to try this new scent. My favorite 4160 scent is The Sexiest Scent Ever. Im in the US

  • Fannis says:

    The association of Japan and Urura’s Tokyo Cafe along with cherry blossoms sounds amazing. The image that this smell evokes of someone lying under the cherry blossoms while relaxing till falling asleep, I enjoyed the most.
    I live in EU and I haven’t experienced any 4160 Tuesdays perfume.

  • Joyce says:

    I enjoyed the soft tranquility from the review. I kept seeing soft silky fabrics and feeling them on my skin as I was reading. very delightful. I have never tried any of Sarah’s perfumes but I would love to, especially after this review. The name is so evocative as well. I am in the US

  • Amy K says:

    The base notes of this one sound so nice. Flowers over non-smoky incense…mmmmmm. My favorite 4160 Tuesdays fragrances so far has been What I Did on My Holidays, and I’m in the US. Thanks!

  • Mujo says:

    “From beneath, sweet Myrrh stains the green and pink with umber tones. Here it gives the impression of a great splash of strong green tea, saturating the base of the scent with a resinous solemnity, as if the breeze has momentarily dropped and the sun stepped behind a cloud” what a lovely poetic description this is…. I wish I could write like that!

    I’m not familiar with 4160 Tuesdays yet, but I love the funny names of the perfumes. I’m in the Netherlands.

    Thanks for this wonderful draw!

  • Sandi L says:

    Susie fabulous job of painting a memory with words! Loved this review. Bright, moody, floral resinous and yet green.. Understated & feminine and with a voice and smell to be remembered. I adore Paris 1948 cus I have this thing for oakmoss 😉 I am in the US and thanks for the great review and draw.

  • Sun Mi says:

    I think this line is just fascinating: Urura’s Tokyo Café creeps slowly across the skin, like forest mosses. It sounds really interesting, especially that it stays translucent despite it’s depth. I’d love to try this one, I’ve yet the opportunity to try any 4160 Tuesdays scents yet. Thanks for the draw, I’m in the US!

  • Amber says:

    All the imagery in the review was so evocative, you can’t help but want to smell what the word picture describe! Really lovely writing! I’ve read about 4160 Tuesdays but has not sniffed them yet so would love to put this one under my nose! I’m in the us.

  • Joan Mansbach says:

    This sounds like the ideal fragrance for a real girly girl and that’s me. The review itself was a breath of fresh air. The description of the way the flowers are woven together evokes real feelings of spring, watching the new buds raise their heads, relaxing in the park, enjoying the caress of the spring breezes. I love the composition of the scent. After the gray days of winter and its bone-chilling temps, I’m so ready for spring. I’m in the U.S. feeling hopeful.

  • silvrolive says:

    I find Susie’s description of the development of the scent interesting, including the colors that the scent evokes.
    In the US. Thanks fir the draw!

  • DavidK says:

    The impression I get from this review is of a fragrance that has tremendous lightness and playfulness, but is still grounded and complex. The art direction is gorgeous as well!!

  • Joker says:

    I really enjoyed to read this article. I think it’s a very interesting and fine perfume. I would like to try it.
    I’m from Europe.

  • Lyubov says:

    This review is so vibrant, that I am instantly urged to rush outside and sing, and dance…in spite of the foggy day outside!
    Moreover, I liked the imagery of flowers popping here and there on my skin describing the lasting power, and the development of the fragrance.
    When I heard the name Urura’s Tokyo Cafe for the first time, I thought: “Coffee in Tokyo? Might be well mixed with matcha extract!”
    I have never tried any of Sarah MacCartney’s wittily named fragrances, and I thank you for the chance! I am in Bulgaria (EU).

  • Cami says:

    I don’t know 4160 Tuesdays at all but based in this review it is now a brand I must try
    I love the flow of art and words
    I do long for a breath of spring
    Thank you
    Is the line carried in the US?

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    I enjoyed Susie’s review and experiencing, through her lovely words and imagery, the progression of notes in this fragrance. It sounds beautiful and so much more than just “cherry blossoms”. I live in the US and have not yet had the pleasure of wearing a 4160 Tuesdays perfume.

  • Mary K says:

    I think the description of the notes for this one and how they all appear (pink rose slowly unfurling, flower garden swaying in the breeze, the green scent of the geranium coming through) sound very nice. I think Sunshine and Pancakes is a nice perfume from this house. I am in the US. Thanks for the draw!

  • Omer m says:

    I have noticed I buy many candles with a note of cherry blossoms. Whether it’s the main accord or just to balance out the sweetness but its presence certainly entice me. I too would love to lie under the cherry blossoms tree. Susie also had me at her confession about this is the most beautiful perfume created by Sarah.
    I haven’t tried anything from this brand yet but hear good things esp. About sexiest scent ever.
    Thanks USA

  • Carol W says:

    This really told a story for me. I could imagine the scents as described. I think the combination of notes would make it so amazing, I would love it. I’m in the US.