Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Eau de Camélia Chinois is a hesperedic tea fragrance inspired by Chinese teas. I rather liked this idea and was looking for a summer fragrance a few years ago and purchased a sample. I know you’ve heard this before but why do all green tea scents go “plastic” on my skin?
Eau de Camélia Chinois opens as a fruity green tea with something that reminds me of the peel of a Jamaican tangelo. The scent is sharp and bitter. Some fragrances hit me as if they are in soft focus and impressionistic; Camelia Chinois is too sharp and too in focus in my opinion. Rub some Vaseline on that lens, girl, please. Eau de Camelia Chinois is green and dry. The heart of Eau de Cameila Chinois stays sharp-green with a recognizable basil with citrus. There’s a vintage 1970’s feel to this heart – think those “sport” scents for ladies. And then it goes all plastic-y tea on me just like all green tea perfumes go on me. BUT on paper it smells wonderful. It dries down to a very faint sandalwood.
Notes listed include camelia, tea leaves, exotic fruit, green notes, grapefruit, bergamot tea, basil, fir, musk, and sandalwood. Launch date 1997.
Give Eau de Cameila Chinois a try if you like dry, green perfumes. Or perfumes like BLOOD Concept A, Caron Yuzu Man, L’Artisan Parfumeur L’Eau de L’Artsian, Miller Harris Citron Citron, Tommi Sooni Jinx, and/or original Oscar. Eau de Camelia Chinois is unisex. And it’s one to try if you dig those dry vintage-y juices or hesperedic fragrances. I don’t recommend it for those that get that same “plastic” from green tea that I do.
Eau de Cameila Chinois has average projection and below average longevity. It wears like an EDT. Because of this, it’s probably better for warmer weather. Or for day wear.
Eau de Camelia Chinois retails for $130 at MiN NY.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Sharp, dry, green citrus. You really don’t smell too much like this being made anymore. It has a retro feel; however, I don’t want to wear it alone. I like sharp, dry and green when paired with florals. When I want something like this, I’ll wear the gorgeous Tommi Sooni Jinx. That one doesn’t go plastic on me. Saying all of that, that’s me. As far as a citrus green tea goes, this one is very sophisticated reminding me if Elizabeth Arden Green Tea had a PhD and was raised by a mother that always made her sit up straight.
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I prefer to NEVER think of those sport scents for ladies!
I rather like those sporty 70’s scents from Estee Lauder and even Jean Nate fits into that category. However, I always wondered which sports they were intended for as those scents are STRONG. I hope it’s for outdoor sports…
[…] This French perfume house was founded in 1976 by perfumer, Jean Laporte (he later went on to found Maîre Parfumeur et Gantier). Launching the classic Mûre et Musc in 1978, the brand put itself on the niche perfume map. In its […]