Tea and matcha notes in perfumery

Green tea, black tea, Earl Grey, chai, matcha… Tea has a thousand faces, and perfumery loves every one of them. Fresh and invigorating, smoky, milky or spiced: there's bound to be a cup for you. Here's everything you need to know, no jargon.

What is a tea note?

In perfumery, a tea note evokes steeped leaves, steam rising from the teapot or a cup cradled in both hands. It's often fresh, slightly bitter and green. It brings lightness and a real sense of calm.

Tea rarely goes solo. It pairs with citrus, jasmine, milk, spices or fruit. Each pairing tells the story of a different ritual.

How do you put tea in a perfume?

Natural tea leaf extracts do exist, but they're expensive and sometimes temperamental. So perfumers usually build a tea accord, using natural and synthetic materials:

• green, slightly bitter notes for the leaf;
• citrus notes (bergamot, lemon) for freshness, like in an Earl Grey;
• a sheer floral touch, like jasmine, for delicacy;
• smoky notes for black teas;
• milky, sweet notes for chai or matcha lattes.

Natural and synthetic work together. That's what makes the accord true-to-life and long-lasting. We explain why in No more fragwashing.

The many faces of tea in perfume

• Green tea: fresh, aquatic, slightly herbal.
• Black tea: darker, woody, sometimes smoky.
• Earl Grey: black tea lifted with bergamot, zesty and chic.
• Chai: black tea, milk and spices (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger). Warm and comforting.
• Matcha: Japanese powdered green tea. Green, plant-like, slightly bitter, often softened by a milky, matcha-latte-style note.

Matcha, the star of cafés and perfumes

Matcha is a powder made from ground green tea leaves. It's whisked into hot water or milk. In just a few years, it has gone from Japanese tea ceremonies to coffee shops all over the world, and then into our bottles.

In perfume, it brings a soft, creamy green, very different from classic green tea. Gentler, more gourmand. Perfect with vanilla, red berries or pistachio.

Iconic perfumes

• Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert, Bulgari (1992), Jean-Claude Ellena: the pioneer of tea in perfumery.
• Green Tea, Elizabeth Arden (1999): the fresh green tea that became a best-seller.
• Tea for Two, L'Artisan Parfumeur (2000), Olivia Giacobetti: a smoky, spiced tea.
• Replica Matcha Meditation, Maison Margiela: matcha as a zen ritual.

This list is far from exhaustive: tea has inspired countless creations, from the freshest to the darkest.

Where can you find these notes at Versatile?

No pigeonholes here, just plenty of cups:

• Culot Thé: tea, jasmine, citrus, apricot and a hint of wasabi. An invigorating tea time, in roll-on or spray.
• It's a Match-a: milky matcha, blueberry, pancake, pistachio. Brunch in a bottle, in roll-on or spray.
• Oh My Chaï: milky chai, cinnamon, cardamom, a smoky touch. A spiced break.
• Accrodisiaque: a bolder matcha, with dill, blueberry, rose and leather.

To smell the difference between all these cups, nothing beats our Discovery Boxes.

FAQ

Is a tea perfume fresh or warm?

Both! A green tea or an Earl Grey is fresh and invigorating. A chai or a smoky black tea is warm and enveloping. It all depends on the notes that go with it.

What is a matcha perfume?

It's a perfume built around the smell of Japanese powdered green tea: green, plant-like, a little bitter, often softened with milk and vanilla.

Does tea perfume last long?

Tea notes are often light. To make them last, choose an extrait, which is more concentrated, or layer it over a warmer base. Our tips are in our layering guide.