A bitter, earthy trend has been sweeping through the perfume world as of late. A number of perfumers are heeding matcha’s call, blending accords of the powdered green tea into their creations in various unexpected ways.
As flavour-forward as matcha is in drinks and food, it makes for a surprisingly versatile note in fragrances. Some perfumers decide to put the green tea under the spotlight, creating a direct, photorealistic translation of the powder in fragrance form, while others give it a subtler role, a supporting character providing fresh earthiness in the background. Even the matcha-forward fragrances contain multitudes, with some bringing us the sweet creaminess of matcha ice creams and lattes, and others drawing out its zippy herbal notes for a lighter scent. Ultimately, whether you can’t go a day without a matcha latte or whether its grassy taste holds no appeal for you, there is merit to diving into the world of matcha perfumes. Read on for our roundup of seven notable matcha scents.
Penhaligon’s Fortuitous Finley
Matcha is not the star player in this new Penhaligon’s fragrance, with that honour going to another green gourmand note—pistachio. While the salty pistachio and layered leather notes are the most noticeable components of Fortuitous Finley, the matcha middle notes bring a much-needed earthiness to the table. The nose behind this fragrance, Caroline Dumur, was strongly inspired by the majesty and mysticism of the Middle East, so an Asian ingredient like matcha may seem an unexpected choice, but the varying woody and spicy notes come together perfectly.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Acqua Media Cologne Forte
Many of the perfumers on this list have gone the way of creamy and sweet, giving us the olfactory version of an iced matcha latte. Not this time—the matcha accord captured by Maison Francis Kurkdjian in this woody, citrusy fragrance is fresh and zippy. Matcha is a quietly significant base note in this bright fragrance, which aims to capture the balance and refinement of water, wood, and light.
Le Labo’s Thé Matcha 26
Le Labo’s smooth, minimalist fragrances have become a cult favourite for a reason. Think of your coolest friend, the one who seems to be quietly in-the-know about every trend before it happens—they’re probably wearing Le Labo. The French-born, New York-based perfume house’s take on matcha is every bit as effortlessly stylish as their famed Santal 33 and Another 13. Le Labo describes Thé Matcha 26 as a skin scent, with the earthy matcha tea accord brightened by bitter orange and rounded out with creamy fig and vetiver notes.
Bvlgari’s Au Thé Vert
This fizzy, bright, citrus fragrance is perfect for those who are curious about dipping their toes into the matcha perfume trend but remain slightly sceptical regarding its earthy and bitter side. Bvlgari keeps things light and simple by blending a green tea accord with bergamot and bitter orange blossom. The fragrance’s clean and uplifting take on green tea makes it easy to wear and easier to love, perfect for summer days.
Armani’s Thé Yulong Eau De Toilette
Armani’s Thé Yulong Eau de Toilette resides in the same camp as Bvlgari’s Au Thé Vert, in that they offer crisp and bright takes on green tea. Perfect for those who prefer a lighter take on tea scents, Armani’s offering is inspired by the Yunnan region of China. Thanks to notes of guaiac wood and ambrette, it also brings us a layered smokiness that is unconventional for most tea and matcha scents.
D’Annam’s Matcha Soft Serve
If d’Annam isn’t already on your fragrance radar, take this as a sign to familiarise yourself with the niche Vietnamese brand. They are quietly and steadily making a name for themselves by championing Asian and Vietnamese ingredients in their perfumes, predominantly with a gourmand twist. Their take on a matcha perfume channels a vision of matcha ice cream. The result is powdery and sweet but not overly sugary, with notes of milk, vanilla, and waffle cone softly blending with matcha accord.
Theodoros Kalotinis’s Matcha Ice Cream
Niche Greek perfumer Theodoros Kalotinis also chose the sugary gourmand route for his take on matcha. Launched earlier this year, the fragrance is part warm and sugary, thanks to notes of waffle cone and vanilla, and balances out with bright citrus and a clean, clear matcha accord.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA Singapore.
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