The 2020 limited edition Sakura tea from Mariage Frères: "To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the new SAKURA 2020 blends a magnificent green tea with a flowery aroma of cherry blossom sprinkled with delicate rose petals. Seductive, the cup swaddles the palate in never ending smoothness. The superb emerald canister is decorated with a shower of dazzling fuchsia flowers to evoke the magical poetry of cherry blossom season." 80g for €26.
If you read any quantity of perfume writing, you probably know that the Japanese have a reputation for loving light, almost-not-there perfumes. Notes in such Japanese-beloved/Japan-inspired scents are often citrus-y — or watery: water lily, lotus, cyclamen, tulip and the like. The perfumes I’m writing about today are made by companies based in Japan; I was curious if they would fit the “supposed” Japanese scent target.
[by perfumer Satori Osawa: listed fragrance notes of melon, bergamot, galbanum, magnolia, iris, jasmine, tuberose, rose, ylang-ylang, chamomile, miso, kogashi-shōyu (‘burned’ soy sauce) , beeswax, sandalwood, cedar, mitarashi (sweet soy sauce)]
Read Hana Hiraku’s list of notes and you’d expect a powerhouse. Hana Hiraku certainly has one of the most interesting openings I’ve smelled in ages: a combo of realistic muskmelon, ramen and thick soy sauce (a salty-sweet delight). If the perfume stopped right there, I’d be a customer ASAP. But Hana Hiraku still has some interesting developments in store…
From Par Avion Tea, Color Changing Unicorn Tears Green Tea. "From the Color Changing Collection, Unicorn Tears Tea is delicious color-changing green tea with rose hip and natural flavors. All you need is water for it to turn a deep midnight-colbalt [sic] blue. Squeeze a lemon and it transform into a rich violet. Enjoy its delicious magic morning, afternoon or evening." With green tea, rosehip, blue pea flowers, blue cornflower petals, hawthorne fruit and natural flavors, $17 at Saks.
A limited edition holiday tea from Palais des Thés: Le Thé Merveilleux. "As holiday lights twinkle in the night and tables laden with festive delicacies beckon, Le Thé Merveilleux bursts with flavours and emotions, blending green tea with sweet notes of caramelized almonds and pistachio. Le Thé Merveilleux is an ode to the most wonderful night of the year. This taste experience pairs perfectly with seasonal sweets and treats!" $21 at Palais des Thés.
A pretty tin of rose bud infusion for Teapot Tuesday: "This carefully-sourced infusion from The East India Company draws on only the finest rose buds available, resulting in an enchanting variety which will you transport you directly to the awe-inspiring mountains and deserts of its native Iran. After being meticulously dried using only traditional methods, the result is a perfume-like scent which is balanced by the herbal sweetness, guaranteeing the strongest possible taste with every brew." 50g for £40 at Harrods. (Or, for about $9 you can get about 100g of dried organic rose buds on Amazon, without the tin, and without transporting you to awe-inspiring mountains, etc. and etc.)