The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Jérôme Epinette designed Moroccan Tea for And Other Stories in 2014, building a fragrance that draws from tea-drinking traditions across cultures. Mint, citrus, and spice form the opening, creating an aromatic foundation that feels immediate and inviting. Mate anchors the heart, bringing an herbal depth that differs from more familiar green tea accords. Orange blossom and almond round the blend, adding sweetness that balances the herbs without pushing the scent toward pure florals. The overall composition aims for complexity rather than simplicity, layering warm and cool elements in a way that rewards attention.
What makes Moroccan Tea unusual is the pairing of mint and mate. Mint in perfumery usually signals freshness and exit, a fragrance that announces itself and retreats. Mate brings its own character to the composition, herbal and distinctive. Putting them together creates a tension: the mint wants to cool, the mate wants to ground. Neither wins. The orange blossom and almond in the heart add a clean sweetness that softens the herbal notes, keeping the composition approachable.
The evolution
The opening arrives fast. Mint, lemon, a sharp flick of cardamom. The mint cools the air before the citrus begins to recede and the heart takes over. Mate announces itself with its signature bitter herbal note, unmistakable if you know mate, surprising if you do not. Orange blossom cuts through with a clean sweetness. Almond adds a soft nuttiness that keeps the whole heart from tipping into medicinal. This middle phase is where the fragrance earns its name. The drydown begins as the heart fades. Cedar and sandalwood arrive gradually, pushing the mint further into the background until only a faint cool echo remains. Brown sugar warms the base without making the fragrance sweet. Musk holds everything close to the skin. As time passes, the drydown becomes intimate and woody, with the projection settling into a subtle, personal register.
Cultural impact
Moroccan Tea occupies a particular corner of the fragrance landscape. The mint-and-mate combination remains relatively uncommon in mainstream perfumery. For those who encounter it, the fragrance offers a different kind of presence, one that rewards patience and close attention rather than demanding notice.
