The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Jasmine green tea distilled into a bottle, not just the scent of it, but the feeling of it. The brand is known for narrative perfume, storytelling that shapes every bottle. Imperial Tea, however, offered something different. It sits quietly where the brand's other creations often demand attention. A fragrance that asks to be worn rather than announced, the jasmine tea it honours serves as the heart of the composition. The goal was to stay close, stay refined, stay true to the jasmine tea it was named after.
What makes the structure compelling is what it doesn't do. A green tea accord gives the foundation, aromatic, lifted, refined. Jasmine sambac absolute warms the heart without announcing itself. The fragrance also features Laminaria seaweed, which adds mineral salt rather than aquatic sweetness. Mate brings a slight bitter herbal quality that gives the florals backbone. The combination creates a scent that deepens the green tea with earth and sea, offering a nuanced alternative to more conventional approaches.
The evolution
The opening is bergamot, green tea, and Laminaria seaweed, citrus brightness followed by mineral depth. Clean, not aquatic. Jasmine sambac emerges as the dominant note, intertwined with Mate providing a slight bitter herbal edge. Freesia and orange blossom add soft powdery florals that round out the mid-section. The composition maintains its aromatic character throughout this phase, with enough complexity to hold attention. Then it settles. The base arrives without drama: white musk, moss, vetiver. The drydown is long but intimate, moderate sillage means it stays close to the skin. What surprises is how the moss and vetiver hold the structure when other notes begin to thin. The fragrance doesn't disappear. It withdraws, leaving traces that reward attention.
Cultural impact
Imperial Tea occupies a specific corner in tea-forward fragrance design. The composition centers on a green tea accord that reads as refined daily wear, staying clean and composed rather than making bold statements. The inclusion of Laminaria seaweed sets it apart from straight marine notes, providing mineral salt that adds unexpected depth to the green tea foundation. Jasmine sambac absolute brings warmth to the heart of the scent, while mate and vetiver ground the florals with a slight bitter quality. Wearers describe it as a fragrance that works best when it doesn't try to demand attention, a quiet presence that rewards those who notice.
