Zebra Mildliner Fragrance Series Review: Scented Highlighters from Japan
, by ZenPop Japan, 7 min reading time
Zebra’s new limited-edition Mildliner Fragrance Series pairs six beloved colors with subtle scents like matcha, sandalwood, and citrus. Beautiful floral-patterned barrels make them a treat for collectors, though the scent is only faint during use. Find out if they’re worth adding to your stationery collection.
Zebra Mildliner Gets a Scented Makeover
Zebra’s Mildliner is one of the most beloved highlighters in the Japanese stationery world. Known for its gentle, mood-matching colors, smooth ink, and minimal bleed-through, it’s a go-to tool for journaling, note-taking, and creative projects.
In June 2025, Zebra introduced something completely new: the Mildliner Fragrance Series — their first-ever scented ink collection. As soon as it was announced, stationery lovers everywhere began asking:
- What do they smell like?
- Are the scents natural or artificial?
- Can you actually smell them while writing?
- And most importantly… are they worth adding to your collection?
The ZenPop team managed to get our hands on a set, and here’s our honest review.
What Is the Mildliner Fragrance Set?
The Mildliner Fragrance Series is a limited-edition release pairing six existing Mildliner colors with unique scents designed to enhance the writing experience.
According to Zebra’s press release, around 72% of women in their twenties and older report feeling relaxed and comforted when everyday items have a pleasant fragrance. Scents are believed to help shift moods and provide moments of calm. By adding fragrances inspired by those favored by adult women, Zebra aims to bring small, soothing moments into daily life through one of their most popular stationery tools.
The lineup includes:
- Green – Olive Green
- Wood – Mild Beige
- Cotton – Mild Soda Blue
- Citrus – Mild Sherbet Yellow
- Flower Bouquet – Mild Dusty Pink
- White Bloom – Mild Cool Grey
Each pen features the same ink color as its regular Mildliner counterpart, but with scented ink and a special floral-patterned barrel design.
How Do They Smell?
Here’s how we ranked the scents by strength and clarity:
- Green – Strong, authentic matcha/green tea aroma
- Wood – Distinct, warm sandalwood tone
- Cotton – Light and airy, like fresh laundry
- Citrus – Refreshing, candy-like citrus
- Flower Bouquet – Sweet floral fragrance
- White Bloom – Floral-cotton blend, quite close to Flower Bouquet
Overall: They all smell pleasant, but Citrus, Flower Bouquet, and White Bloom can feel quite similar in scent.
When do you notice it most? The fragrance is most apparent when you open the cap and sniff the pen directly. During normal writing or highlighting, the scent is subtle to the point of barely noticeable — especially once the ink is on paper.
How Do They Look?
Visually, they’re beautiful. The barrel design features delicate floral prints that make them stand out from the regular Mildliner range.
Color-wise, there’s no change from the standard Mildliner shades which means if you already own these six colors in the regular line, the only differences are the scent and the limited-edition body design.
How Do They Perform?
Functionally, these write exactly like a standard Mildliner:
- Smooth application
- Minimal bleed-through on most paper
- Dual-tip design (broad chisel + fine point)
The scent does not affect ink quality, but it’s worth noting that you won’t smell much while actually using them. Sniffing the ink on paper doesn’t help much either, you’ll mostly just smell the paper.
Also, while most people don’t write with their nose really close to the pen, it’s hard to imagine how you’d truly enjoy the scent during normal writing or highlighting.
(And yes… during testing, we may have gotten a bit of ink on our noses trying to sniff them up close. We don’t recommend it!)
We also have a comprehensive guide talking about why Zebra Mildiner are one of the best highlight markets from Japan, take a look if you are interested in knowing more!
Are They Worth Buying?
Yes, if you:
- Are a dedicated Mildliner collector who wants every edition
- Love floral-themed stationery designs
- Enjoy stationery with unique sensory elements
Maybe not, if you:
- Already own these six colors in the regular Mildliner line
- Don’t care much for scented stationery
- Are looking for a strong, lasting scent during actual use
FAQ: Mildliner Fragrance Series
Q: Do the Mildliner Fragrance highlighters smell while you write?
A: Only faintly. The scent is strongest when you open the cap and sniff directly, but during normal writing, it’s barely noticeable.
Q: Are the scents natural or artificial?
A: The scents are designed to evoke natural inspirations like matcha, sandalwood, or fresh flowers, but they are synthetic fragrances.
Q: Are these colors new?
A: No, all six shades already exist in the regular Mildliner lineup. The differences are the scented ink and the limited floral-patterned barrel design.
Q: How long does the scent last?
A: The scent stays detectable in the pen for a long time, but on paper, it fades quickly and is often overpowered by the smell of the paper itself.
Q: Is this a must-have for Mildliner fans?
A: If you love collecting Mildliners or enjoy stationery with small sensory details, yes. If you’re looking for strong, lasting fragrance while writing, probably not.
Final Thoughts
The Zebra Mildliner Fragrance Series is a charming, limited-edition twist on a stationery classic. While the scents are gentle (perhaps too subtle for some), the floral designs and collectibility make them a delightful addition for Mildliner fans and those who appreciate small, sensory details in their stationery.
If you’re curious, it’s worth picking up a set while they’re still available, just keep in mind that the experience is more about aesthetic and novelty than a dramatic change in performance.