Keiko Mecheri • Ume • Fragrances

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*TOP REVIEWER* Gother on 2/18/2013 10:06:00 AM more reviews by Gother

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Violet    

Umé is one of my favourite KM fragrances and I own a full bottle of it. I reach for it when I need something both fruity-sharp/uplifting and Creamy/comforting. It has a complex quality to it, given by the incredibly mastered mixture of fruits (plum, tangerine and bergamot) with soft woods (oakmnoss, mahogany and patchouly). But the most astounding is, as usual, Keiko Mecheri's signature note, osmanthus, which is absolutely and clearly detectable above anything else: I love all of Keiko Mecheri's osmanthus creations and I especially love this one. I find it classy and comforting as well as dynamic and and youthful at the same time.

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bohi on 8/25/2010 5:30:00 AM more reviews by bohi

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Medium   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I am surprised by how low ratings Ume gets. It is one of my recent finds and it got me at first sniff. This delicate fragrance is centered around Japanese plum which oscillates between smelling like a delicious ripe fruit and plum liqueur. I detect some soft white flowers and some woods and spices. It is sparkling and creamy-soft at the same time. Very special and uplifting, definitely on the to-buy list.

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*TOP REVIEWER* hera54 on 6/14/2010 7:26:00 PM more reviews by hera54

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This fragrance is NOT for me. I got this as a sample with my purchase of Keiko Mecheri's Peau de Peche.

I find Ume to be strong, offensive, oriental & amber like. I couldn't stand having it on my wrist that I had to wash it off. Ume makes me think of strong fragrances like Opium, or Amarige Givenchy, or Gucci Rush which I get headaches from. It smells like strong incense, sweet & cloying.

Do not get this if you're a fan of sheer, clean, citrus/ floral fragrances like me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* fivezero on 6/1/2010 1:22:00 PM more reviews by fivezero

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

This was fairly one dimensional to me, just dried plums and a bit of syrupy headiness. I also discovered I am very allergic to something in it; my inside arm reacted very badly after I had this on for about three hours. I ended up washing it off then. I did end up with a "cute" heart-shaped rash due to the bend in my arm, haha. Regardless, Ume is not a scent I found especially interesting. (I am not rating the fragrance any less due to my allergy; it's hardly a normal thing that is likely to affect anyone else.)

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*TOP REVIEWER* Mac789 on 12/17/2009 3:51:00 PM more reviews by Mac789

Age: 44-55   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Ume is a misunderstood incense scent that features a light note of hinoki wood under a salty plum. You may know these Japanese treats from an Asian supermarket; they are addictive and strange to Western tastes. Thanks to a persimmon note that is coupled with the plum, Ume gets pegged as a fruity scent, but to my nose the woods are much more in evidence.



A strange and "perfumey" mid-note almost sends Ume into the danger zone for me; it doesn't seem to belong with the sparseness of the developing base. This treatment of jasmine and osmanthus seems conceptually off when the opening strikes such a decent fruit/wood chord. A petite green note (given as "peach tree leaves") subtly enhances the fruits, although the effect is less fruit on the vine (or tree) and more picked fruit arranged on similarly freshly picked leaves; there is a sensation of a leaf releasing its scent in the way a leaf does when plucked.



Mahogany, which always strikes me as a bitter wood, is more present than the hinoki in the base. Also given as a note is a "Mousse Poivree," which I fear is something meant to be edible. A minor pepperiness kicks in towards the end, adding some lift without an actual pepper note being present. Such an effect works well with fruits and also with rose and is seen in a number of other fragrances.



Ume is not a juicy fruit/floral scent. On me it is dry and aromatic more than it is pulpy and sweet. Both persimmon and plum notes remain to the last, but one must press one's nose against the skin to notice them. I find it quite unusual and appealing in its distinction, but it feels more like a "character" scent to me, one destined to be worn in certain moods or at certain times of the year. Received wisdom that fruity/florals are not serious perfumery or worthy of serious consideration should be rethought here, and yet I suppose that incense fans won't find enough of a smoky statement to appeal. Mecheri gets points for that salted plum note and the way it is worked into the woody foundation.

Minus the digression into the floral heart, the rest of the structure feels correctly spare.

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*TOP REVIEWER* rnornan on 1/1/2009 5:38:00 PM more reviews by rnornan

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I don't hate this, but I can't see myself wearing this much. i have a sample, and when I first put it on I smelled a fruity rose with a bit of spice. It is reminiscent of Crabtree and Evelyn's Nantucket Briar but with more spice. I don't see it as extremely fruity, oddly enough, b/c that is what most other reviewers are reporting. More I get rose, and continue to get rose upon drydown. It is a smidge reminiscent of Lancome's Mille et Une Rose and Bond Westside.

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*TOP REVIEWER* pook555 on 10/8/2008 10:41:00 PM more reviews by pook555

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

Toothachingly SWEET fruit. That's my description for this scent. Very generic, fruity, and very very sweet. Like the reviewer below, I'm glad I got a sample first. This smelled like Crazylibellule and the Poppies #129, which I also own, but with a grapefruit note in there. I'm not sure if I like this more than that one, but I'm still deciding if I'm going to keep the Crazylibellule at all, so with that being said, if you like your fragrances sweet (think Pink Sugar or Escada), you might like this. I like Pink Sugar too, but this is sweeter and more fruity. It's not terrible, just very sweet and not one I'll be buying.

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*TOP REVIEWER* hollyc01 on 9/5/2008 9:48:00 AM more reviews by hollyc01

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Thank God I only got a sample. This is sharp, cheap and fruity (in a bad way). Think lifesavers, not even sure what flavour. Iccck!!! If you want to try fruit and flowers, consider Hanae. Still not my cup of tea but much, much nicer than Ume. Back to the drawing board Keiko!

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PuffyPeony on 6/11/2008 4:25:00 PM more reviews by PuffyPeony

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

While Ume is a fruit fragrance I don't find it sweet at all. It's plum but a very dry and spicy plum. It borders on masculine. I really like it. It was quite a surprise for me since I was expecting a typical fruity floral. Ume is a sophisticated, woodsy, spicy dry plum. It's interesting. I can't really compare it to anything else because it's unique. I like it a lot. It's a great scent and I like to wear it occasionally.

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*TOP REVIEWER* snarkyharper on 4/3/2008 10:23:00 AM more reviews by snarkyharper

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

This fragrance is not my usual style at all; I was surprised by how much I liked it, as I normally don't care for fruit notes. The beginning is an unusual spicy fruit, with a slightly salty edge. Unique and nice enough, but the drydown is where Ume really shines. The slightly spicy, beautiful wood with just a whisper of the lingering plum is memorable. This would make the right woman a wonderful signature scent, you would certainly not be forgotten!

I already own too many fragrances, so I will not be buying Ume. I will keep my sample to refer to in the future when I am once again shopping for bottles. I have a feeling I will be revisiting this.

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*TOP REVIEWER* SensualSusanna on 3/27/2007 7:03:00 PM more reviews by SensualSusanna

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I was very eager to try Ume as it has notes of plum that I love in fragrances. However, it was way too fruity and odd smelling for my liking it. I couldn't detect any singular notes. In fact it had a bit of a 'Hawaiian Punch' smell that was interesting and salty, but I don't want to smell that way.

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*TOP REVIEWER* veruska on 6/19/2006 10:40:00 AM more reviews by veruska

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

this scent starts as a deep floral fruity bot not cloying concotion.the drydown however it's jaw-dropping.it's a great array of precious woods so i think i'm going to have another round,soon.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ECMac25 on 6/7/2006 9:29:00 AM more reviews by ECMac25

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

If you are a lover of fruit-laden floral anything, you'll most likely enjoy "Ume". It's definitely on the crisp side. I don't think of plums though-- rather green apple, cinnamon, and a hint of artificial peach. As this dries down it smells almost identical to BRANDY --- not the drink, the perfume. Although this is much much brighter in comparison. I don't mind sampling it, but it's not warm enough for me & reminds me too much of room deodorizing products (ie. Glade Spring Potpourri, Country apple...etc. candles & sprays).

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perfumeslut on 5/30/2006 6:55:00 PM more reviews by perfumeslut

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Not a sweet feminine fragrance in the least, so with that said I think I will pass on this fragrance that reminds me somewhat of a men's cologne. If you are a foody sweet fragrance lover you will not like this! Loukoum by KM is the winner in this line by a land slide.

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*TOP REVIEWER* AnythingVanilla on 5/4/2006 6:39:00 PM more reviews by AnythingVanilla

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair, Cool   Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

This scent is very fresh. Good for an everyday scent. I like it! I just don't love it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* dancingoutlaw on 4/15/2006 2:14:00 PM more reviews by dancingoutlaw

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

From Luckyscent: Unexpectedly decadent, this intoxicating meditation on umé, the Japanese plum, marries sweet and salt, fruit and spice, ethereal lightness and velvety richness. Inspired by the opulence of Parisian couture houses’ takes on Orientalism in the Art Deco era, Umé captures that extravagant mood of experimentation and daring that set the standard for glamour for decades to come. Japanese plum, persimmon and the delicate apricot-like osmanthus blossom provide a succulent sweetness that dances a breathless tango with deeply alluring Oriental moss, woods and spices. An unforgettable fragrance that would have suited Josephine Baker herself – marvelous and unique.

Ume notes
Persimmon, peach tree leaves, hints of bergamot and mandarin, Japanese wisteria, peonies and camellia sasanka, South Sea jasmine and Chinese osmanthus, Hinoki wood, Cambodian mahogany and Mousse Poivree.

Luckyscent has some great writers, and from reading the description and notes this sounded to me both marvelous and unique. Avon Far Away is what sprang to my mind, as a friend of my mom's used to wear that and gave me half a bottle when I was a kid. Ume is somewhat similar to LT Plaisir, too, but not as nice in my opinion. Kind of sweet, kind of musky, not necessarily boring--but nothing I would call special. $80 for 2.5 oz at Luckyscent.

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*TOP REVIEWER* staci01 on 4/6/2006 4:51:00 AM more reviews by staci01

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Other, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Other    

I am in love with this fragrance! Put this on today and had to keep my nose from sticking to my wrist!
Very very sweet as I'm finding that alot of KM's fragrances are and that IS a good thing! Smells like it has chocolate in it but I did not read that in the note listing. Sweet and woodsy and light.
The only part I found odd was that when I smelled this I thought that I'd smelled it before. I hate saying this and I feel as if I comitting some kind of sacrilege BUT it smells creepily close to Avon's Extraordinary.
Other than that a great fragrance!

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