EauMG celebrated its seventh anniversary last month. I was too busy to make a big fuss over it but yeah, I’ve been writing about perfume for over seven years. And during these seven+ years, I’ve also been looking for the perfect “tea” fragrance. When I received samples from the niche brand, Masque Milano, I immediately went for Russian Tea, a smoky tea fragrance.
Russian Tea opens as sharp mint, raspberry leaf tea and fresh geranium. This opening is bracing, so sharp like being hit with a sudden cold wind. These cool notes eventually meet smoke – smoky lapsong souchong tea.The first hour of this fragrance comes on strong. It projects, it’s noticeable – it’s probably what the kids these days are calling “a beast”. Russian Tea wears as smoky tea and sharp, dry woods that eventually becomes “softer”. Russian Tea is an animalic, birch tar leather with sweeter woods.
Am I still looking for the “perfect” tea? Yes. I like Russian Tea but not for its tea. I like it for its sharp, almost chemical workshop quality. I see it more as a smoke or leather scent than a tea scent. So, let the search continue!
Notes listed include mint, black pepper, raspberry, black tea, magnolia, everlasting flower (immortelle), leather accord, incense, birchwood and cistus-labdanum. Launched in 2014. PERFUMER – Julien Rasquinet
Give Russian Tea a try if you like smoky or leather-y scents. Or if you like perfumes like Parfums d’Empire Ambre Russe, Annick Goutal Duel, CdG Synthetic Series Tar, Tom Ford Tuscan Leather, Blood Concept O and/or Chanel Cuir de Russie.
Projection and longevity are WAY above average.
The 3.4 oz bottle retails for $215 at Twisted Lily and LuckyScent. Samples are also available for purchase.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Smoky lapsong souchong and leather with an aggressive opening. I look forward to trying the other ones by this line.
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*Disclaimer – Sample provided by the brand. I am not financially compensated for my reviews. My opinions are my own. Product pic from Fragrantica. Marisa Mell from fanpix.net
Congratulations on the 7(+) Victoria. I would be interested in hearing about the tea fragrances you sampled so far at some point. Perhaps it’s just too difficult to create, a bit like coffee notes; it either becomes too literal or too far removed? It sort of needs the perfect partner. I’m still searching for the ultimate coffee perfume, as well as too many other notes to even think of it 😉 recently I’ve tried for roses once more. Roses turn sour on my skin, so it’s a lifetime project I think.
Thank you!
I feel like I’ve tried them all! I know that is an exaggeration, but I do feel like I’ve tried most of the better known ones. They are still as you describe coffee ones, too literal or too far removed. Speaking of that, I’m still looking for the “perfect” coffee scent too!
You’ll find “your” rose! Luckily, there are so many roses out there and many different interpretations of a rose soliflore. I remind myself that the search is most of the fun anyway 🙂
Congratulations on seven years of wonderful perfume writing!
Thank you!
I always want to try this one since I read “Russian tea” and my mind goes ooooh! But then I back off when I read that it has leather. Worth a sample, I guess?
I say it’s worth sampling 🙂 It smells good but I do think of it as more of a leather than a tea fragrance.