High Tea

As with all fragrances, I recommend testing this on skin before making any strong opinions about this scent. My skin doesn’t get along with a lot of scents from this house (they smell amazing on tested strips but questionable on my skin) and this is the first winner! I am not getting the strong orange blossom scent the same way some other people are, and this comes from someone that is very sensitive to orange blossom in perfumes. I get the “essence” of orange blossom very early on in the scent’s life cycle but it’s nowhere near as cloying or overwhelming the way that it is in Prada Paradoxe or Love Don’t Be Shy, so keep that in mind before completely writing this scent off. It’s more light and tart than heavy and sweet. On me, it’s creamy, soft, and feminine - during the dry down I catch whiffs of a tea note even though it’s not listed as a note anywhere. Even though I wouldn’t label this as a true gourmand, I can smell the notes that would give off the impression of sitting NEAR a bakery vs IN a bakery. Like if you were to walk by a patio table at a bakery where someone has a plate of macarons and an iced tea and the wind pushes its scent in your direction. Overall it’s VERY pretty and I can’t wait to buy a full size bottle!!

High Tea opens like golden hour in a sun-drenched garden party. Zesty orange and freesia meet the buttery sweetness of a madeleine, instantly cozy but elevated. At the heart is warm milk (light, soft, and nostalgic—NOT heavy, think more whipped cream than whole milk). The dry-down is where the magic lingers. Amber and sandalwood wrap you in a creamy warmth that feels like Sunday morning in silk pajamas. I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s giving minimalist luxury, comfort with a twist, and quiet confidence. Think dessert, but make it chic. I will add that the inclusion of a chai biscuit note nods to the richness of Indian cuisine, a vital, beloved thread in the fabric of London culture. ♥

Every newer scent I try from Brown Girl Jane hits just right on me and I love the pale pink bottles even though some people are not into that design. Kind of gives an 80s vibe to me. Anyway. This is the 4th one I've tried. (Have the purse spray.) On me? High Tea is blooming freesia, spiced orange and sandalwood-amber warmth coming through after the dry down. I don't get a "millky" note, and wouldn't say this has a "madeleine" note - because it is a touch spicier than those yellow vanilla cookies of Proustian fame. Moderate sillage, moderate longevity on my skin. Lasts longer if I put an unscented lotion on first then spray. Is that a thing? Beautiful.

I don't understand people calling this a gourmand and I think that it's leading people astray. This is a soft, ultra-feminine floral amber. If you are wanting photo-realistic cakes, sweets, and chia tea.....this is not it. This takes those notes and elevates them into a sophisticated fragrance. I get a very prominent orange blossom, which I absolutely love, mixed with gentle sweet, spiced chai and vanilla. You definitely notice the powdery softness of the freesia and the milky note. The drydown is ambery and a creamy sandalwood. This is a gorgeous scent for when you want to feel feminine and pretty.

I definitely see the Paradoxe and Born in Roma comparisons. This is such a great fragrance. It is a bright, it is sweet, a little creamy, and has a lot of modern floral. It is super feminine, pink, and flirty. I don’t get Chai tea from it, but I do get a jasmine or oolong kind of tea from this. The amber warms everything up. It is well blended, but can still pick out the parts. This would be a great signature fragrance. It is year round, day, and night. I could see most ages wearing this perfume. It isn’t old nor is it juvenile.