The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Andab is a fragrance from Teabalater's Quintessence collection. Its composition is built around a core of warming spices, woods, and resin, creating a scent with notable depth and warmth. The opening introduces a lively contrast between bright citrus, aromatic spice, and deeper woody materials. As the fragrance develops, cardamom, grapefruit, nutmeg, cinnamon, cashmere wood, sandalwood, and jasmine contribute different textures to the composition. Leather, myrrh, labdanum, oakmoss, and patchouli give the later stages a darker, resinous character. The result is a layered fragrance that moves from fresh brightness to warm spice and rich, earthy drydown.
What's distinctive here is the structural contrast between the brightness of the opening and the gravity of the base. Grapefruit and cardamom create the first impression of lifted, aromatic sharpness, while nutmeg and cinnamon add a low, smoldering heat that keeps the composition from reading as a clean citrus fragrance. Cashmere wood and sandalwood bring a smoother, denser quality beneath the spices, while jasmine adds a soft floral texture that does not dominate the overall effect.
The evolution
The fragrance begins with a lively spice mixture in which cardamom and grapefruit provide brightness and lift, while cinnamon adds warmth beneath them. The opening is aromatic and gently sharpened, with the citrus balancing the deeper heat of the spice notes. Cashmere wood and sandalwood gradually become more noticeable, giving the composition a fuller texture and a soft, woody foundation. Jasmine contributes a restrained floral layer, working alongside the woods rather than becoming the main focus. As the scent settles, leather introduces a darker material character, supported by myrrh and labdanum. Oakmoss and patchouli add earthy, bitter, and resinous qualities to the drydown, while the initial citrus brightness becomes less apparent. The result is a warm, woody, spicy composition with a pronounced base.
Cultural impact
Andab offers a warm, spicy fragrance profile built around leather and resinous materials. Its composition moves between bright citrus, aromatic spices, smooth woods, soft jasmine, and a darker base of leather, myrrh, labdanum, oakmoss, and patchouli. This combination gives the scent a distinctive character that is easy to explore through its contrasts. The opening is lifted and aromatic, while the later stages become warmer, earthier, and more textured. For those who appreciate fragrances with layered drydowns, Andab provides a clear study in the relationship between fresh notes, spice, woods, and resins.
