The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Exclusive №18 TEA LOVER arrived in 2016, composed by Valerie Nesterova for her unisex numbered collection. Its idea is plainly stated in the title: a fragrance built around the character of tea rather than the sweet, perfumed shorthand used by many tea-inspired scents. Green Tea and Mate provide the aromatic spine, while Jasmine lends white floral brightness. Mandarin Orange adds a crisp edge, and Rice alongside Puffed rice gives the composition a light, grainy sense of warmth. Nothing about the release needed decorative mythology. The name does the work, then the notes make the case.
The unusual part is the balance between tea and grain. Green Tea and Mate bring leafy, aromatic dryness, but Rice and Puffed rice keep that dryness human-scaled, suggesting steam, warmth, and something freshly prepared. Jasmine prevents the composition from becoming too austere, while Mandarin Orange introduces a small flare of citrus. The result bridges white floral, green, fresh, aromatic, and fresh spicy moods without turning into a literal cup. That measured contrast gives the scent its easy unisex character.
The evolution
The opening feels immediate and crisp, with Mandarin Orange lending a quick citrus glint before Green Tea and Mate pull the composition toward a greener, more aromatic center. Jasmine then adds the clearest floral turn: clean, white, and gently creamy rather than heavily powdered. Rice and Puffed rice work as soft interruptions, keeping the tea impression from becoming severe and introducing a subtle grainy warmth. As the hours pass, the sharper citrus recedes first. What remains is a close, blended impression of green tea, jasmine, and rice, with Mate providing a dry herbal edge. Moderate projection carries the scent through the day, settling close to the skin like a shirt you keep reaching for. Its balanced, easygoing character has earned a loyal following among enthusiasts who appreciate fresh, tea-led compositions.
Cultural impact
№18 sits within Valerie Nesterova Exclusive Perfumes’ deliberately numbered niche catalogue, where scent functions as a personal wardrobe piece rather than a mass-market signature. Its tea-and-rice profile suits wearers who prefer a fresh floral-green composition with quiet distinction and a clear material idea over ornate storytelling.
The House
Valerie Nesterova Exclusive PerfumesValerie Nesterova Exclusive Perfumes is an independent niche fragrance house founded by Russian perfumer Valeria Nesterova. Trained as a chemist and perfumer at ISIPCA in Versailles and Grasse, Nesterova composes every scent in her line of numbered releases, which span editions from №05 through №23 and draw on botanical, gourmand, and molecular concepts.
The Creator
Valerie NesterovaNesterova builds with a chemist's precision and a storyteller's patience. Her work tends toward clean, articulate structures where individual ingredients remain legible rather than dissolving into abstraction.
