A Rather Novel Collection Hamarikyu Gardens by Marypierre

This is a nice, refreshing summer scent for me. I normally wear gourmands, orientals and chypres. This was given to me and I was pleasantly surprised. It's not perfume that's going to knock anyone's socks off, by any means, nor will it get you noticed for leaving a trail of sexiness behind you. But if you'd like a scent that's slightly off-base in the refreshing category, this just might be for you. I'd suggest you might be a tea-drinker, tho, because this is a fragrance that does depend heavily on that note. First spray gives intense bergamot, which I love. It lingers for awhile until the green tea kicks in. I never thought I would enjoy the scent of green tea in a perfume, but mixed with the bergamot and the amber, it's a pleasurable steaming mix of refreshing tea that mixes with my skin to a delicious scent. Every now and then I get a hint of lemon to add to this brisk and energizing scent. Good for summer days, or when you'd like to wear a perfume out of the norm that's light and brisk. Lasts about 4 hours with minimal sillage. There are days when I want a perfume that isn't heavy, that doesn't make a big statement, that doesn't leave a huge trail behind me. But I always want to wear fragrance. I'm addicted to perfumes. This is one that fills that category. It's downright pretty. It's first spray is zippy and full of lemon. It reminds me of iced tea when the temperature isn't so hot. Heat brings the bergamot and amber out. It's rather linear as the notes of a not too sweet ice tea swirl around each other...lemon, amber, bergamot and tea. Refreshingly different, but not like a body splash refreshing would be. This is still a perfume that smells like tea, green tea to be exact. Each note comes out to play, after all, there are only a handful in Hamarikyu Gardens. Simple and to the point.

A quite likeable summertime scent in the Anthropologie limited edition "tea in a book" series, Hamarikyu Gardens adds a light citrus touch to the green tea featured, boasting sweet lemon, bergamot zest, and verbena as notes. The opening is not overly citric but more like a small wedge of lemon has been squeezed into a large glass of tea. Normally I don't add adulterants to green tea, my favorite variety of which is sencha, but this is more of a darjeeling green, it seems to me, so the combination works well. The drydown is ever-so-slightly sweet, and quite light and unobtrusive. This is a nice and refreshing but not very bracing citrus tea scent, perfect for people who usually shun citrus colognes. I do not smell much of the alleged "green roses" or saffron said to be present in this composition, but it is a very smooth blend. The longevity is so-so. This is a "here today, gone tomorrow" creation (no longer available, as far as I can tell), and its short life on the skin perfectly reflects that marketplace evanescence.

This is an invigorating yet soft citrus and tea scent. The citrus in this scent reminds me of an amp'd up version of the waxy, wet, plastic and transparent citrus in Hermes Jardin Sur Nil which also lasts quite a while. The fairly natural citrus is the main element of this fragrance which makes it a good summer wear. The waxy citrus lasts long and after it rests a bit the softer notes of green tea, rose buds and violet leaf become more noticable. It is a simple, bright and natural scent. It's quite wet/humid from start to finish. Even though it is mainly a citrus scent it manages to last for around 5 hours on my skin and 6-7 hours on my clothes. I'm not a huge fan of the 'Rather Novel Collection' - some of the scents feel 'forced' with heavy citrus while others are a bit to sharp and/or chemical sweet/stale - this one is the most natural of the series.