Creative Universe is the brainchild of Beth Terry, who started out as a creative director in the fashion industry before turning her sights to perfume:
When she decided to create her own fragrance, she immediately knew what it should smell like. "I wanted tea in a glass," she said. "That was a childhood memory because my grandfather used to drink tea in a glass. It always looked so appealing to me." (via Women's Wear Daily, 6/9/2000)
The result was Té, which was launched in 1996 and features notes of bergamot, green tea, celery, grapefruit, ylang ylang and clove.
Of all the green tea fragrances I have tried, Té comes closest to replicating the smell of the real thing. It starts with sweet citrus; the citrus and the sweetness evaporate as it settles into a relatively dry green tea accord. The celery strikes an odd note in the early stages, but as the fragrance dries down, it lends a vegetal touch which realistically mimics the aroma of tea leaves. There is the vaguest hint of spice, an even vaguer hint of florals, and the slightest touch of creaminess.
Like the Bvlgari Green Tea, it is a casual scent, but I would call it smooth rather than crisp or bright, and relaxing rather than sexy. It is an Eau de Toilette, and it wears like one: you'll need to refresh every so often. The price is quite reasonable at around $65 for 130 ml. I have never bought a bottle simply because I can't imagine using 130 ml of anything, and I do wish they would come out with a smaller size.
For buying information, see the listing for Creative Universe under Perfume Houses.
An aside for tea fanatics: I would love to know what kind of tea Beth Terry's grandfather was drinking. Té reminds me of one of my very favorite oolongs: Huan Jin Gui Superior from Wayne Tea Salon. It is a very lightly oxidized tea, close to a green tea in taste, with floral undertones. The name translates to "Golden Osmanthus", and it smells more like Osmanthus than many teas which have actually been processed with the flowers. It is expensive but worth it, and the tea leaves can be re-used at least once. Someone should use headspace technology to capture the smell of a freshly opened bag.
I may be the Evil Twin and all, but I am your fellow tea and tea fragrance lover.
I also wish they could replicate the smell of a freshly opened tea bag. Mmm
As for Te…I was extremely excited to learn about it from your review…till I read the word “celery”. Te and I are not to be.
You can call me the evil triplet, then, I love tea (corrrection – caffeine-infused liquids) and will be looking for this, and well-prepared to be disappointed. I don't think anything will dislodge my big love for L'Artisan, tho.
Ick! Were I the Devil, instead of just merely evil, people who drink hot tea out of a glass shall be consigned to a special corner of Hell — I saw a clip once of some restaurant that held an upscale tea-time but they served tea in somelier glasses and made the people swish the tea and slurp it. Ueber-snobs! Tea has no viscosity and the color is not indicative of anything.
I want the captured smell of a freshly roasted, newly opened bag of 100% Kona beans.
NST, you know you've converted me to tea scents. And I really like all of Beth Terry's fragrances. They are both fresh and original—a kind of hard achievement. One of my daughter's stole Vita from me last summer.
Oh just try it anyway, LOL! Once it settles it smells almost woody, maybe closer to celery seed than celery.
Now I have to confess that I have several glass tea mugs. I don't swish though.
This scent doesn't compete with the L'Artisan…they are too different. Creative Universe Element of Surprise is very similar though (citrus, tea, jasmine) and I'll review that one of these days.
L, I think she has another one coming out soon: Element of Desire. Don't know when it will appear though.
I haven't tried any of the CS scents, and it sounds intriguing. But really, I have to thank you for the tip on the tea – I think I'll really enjoy that, and it's not too obnoxiously priced or anything. Sounds heavenly.
Is this something “un homme” could wear! (swish! swish!…Russians drink tea from tall glasses all the time as do the Moroccans, Egyptians, etc!) My fav. tea is discontinued: Comptoir Sud Pacifique's “The”.
There is an Italian eau de cologne that smells EXACTLY like fresh black tea…it is addictive and a 200 ml bottle lasted me but one summer…so you know the strength was weak…but the smell was great. I'll find the name for you…since it IS cheap and still available. K
Honestly, K, if you buy the tea & don't like it, I'll buy it from you. I reorder it regularly. If you like green tea in general, I'd think you would love it.
I don't see anything feminine about it personally, so I don't see why not.
Didn't know the CSP was discontinued, that is too bad. The Comme des Garcons Tea got discontinued too if I remember correctly.
Is the Italian one Speziali Fiorentini (or something like that)?
Speziali Fiorentini brand does sound right…comes in a squarish bottle with a gold top…in a hard plastic “box”. I need to get a bottle for summer…a good pick-me-up. K
This website never ceases to provide paths to beautiful things.
I am both a tea and coffee drinker, and am lucky to have a spot in my town for both, but I will shop Wayne Tea Salon as well.
My favorite greens are China. I find them a little less astringent than Japan green. My husband brought me several black and green teas from China when he was there on business a couple of years ago. Only touble is…the lables are in Chinese, so I have no idea what they are.
But they were beautifully packaged in embroidered bags, and they taste good. What else matters?
Thanks for yet another good link (and another way to indulge).
Elaine
E, I drink mostly Chinese teas too, but do like a few Japanese, especially Gyokuro sencha & Genmaicha (the one with the popped corn), and Sakura (cherry blossom tea) when I can find a good one. At this point, tea is almost as much of a money drain for me as perfume.