Spiced Green Tea

Man. Man oh man. I just received a sealed gift set of this from eBay, spritzed it on my arm, and I'm holding back tears at my desk. My first girlfriend wore this - she was my first love, and on my inhale of this warm, comforting scent this afternoon I was immediately and alarmingly transported back to 2004. I was 19, naive, and desperately and passionately in love in the way only 19 year olds can be. When she went away to university, she left behind her empty bottle of Spiced Green Tea so I could sniff the lid and think of her (I did, endlessly). I used to wear YSL Babydoll (RIP) at that time, and what I've give for another whiff of that. Trying to put my emotions aside, this is a beautiful perfume. Beast mode, complicated, or an absolute head-turner? No, not really, but that's not detrimental. Elizabeth Arden is my favourite perfume house, and delicacy is what they do best. I have several of the Green Tea flankers, including the original, and I think they're all pretty much unbeaten on light freshness. The tea note is spectacular, warming and zingy, and this flanker is shot through with a close warmth from the spices. To me, all of the Green Tea scents are degrees of uplifting. They make you feel like you've got your stuff together - not in a powerdressing, bad bitch way, but in that your house is ordered, your laundry is done, you're freshly showered, and all is well. Calming. I've decided I can't divorce my feelings from this. Completely biased, and I was lucky enough not to get a 'spoiled' bottle. Absolutely beautiful in its calm, uplifting simplicity.

Revisiting this one after a long, long while - I threw the last of my vintage bottle out because (as mentioned by others) it did indeed go off, but I loved the fragrance so much I was prepared to try again. So.. freshly sealed pack (tho still obviously dated as it was discontinued a while back) and - BIG smile! - this is still just as fresh and vibrant as I remember it! I know this one is a bit 'marmite' (you love it or hate it) and, like the original Green Tea, it is not the most taxing fragrance ever, but it doesn't pretend to be. To my mind though, this is still an infinitely wearable triumph! It is lightly warm and spicy. Gently fruity and comforting - a light spice with a little zing about it. Projection is good, it lasts and lasts, it makes me feel great, and it lifts my mood - what is there not to like here? I doubt you'll get samples these days, but I picked up my sealed pack for a tenner. If those spices appeal to you, honestly, you could do much worse!

Have you ever felt like you cheated on a school test when you find a special perfume for next to nothing? And even more so when it's an excellent alternative for an expensive niche fragrance that you've been hankering for? Spiced Green Tea is that for me, and is the fraternal twin to Serge Lutens Five O'Clock Au Gingembre. I bought this on thE bay for under $14 for 3.3oz (including shipping!). Slightly sharper and with woody anise instead of Five O'Clock's dry cacao. Neither fragrance has a whole lot of tenacity as far as longevity goes, but at $120 for SL's 1.7oz, I'm very happy with this less expensive option. Bright and citrussy to open with ginger and rhubarb adding an edginess. Then it warms down to a delectable spiced, floral incense with subtle tea and woods. Hot and energetic. I'm loving this all the way.

Really quite fabulous! It can still be found in the UK on some of the perfume websites for next to nothing, and is the deal of the century. Rich, warm, spicy; smells like liqourice to me and has an 'edible' quality. Lasts very well on my skin, and has a coziness to it. Very much a winter perfume for me, but I can wear it any time. I try to ration it as I know at some point I won't be able to find it any more. Get it while you can, ladies (and gents as I think men could wear it too!)

This fragrance on its own is nice, but not all that exciting... however pair it with M Mariah Carey and the combination is divine! UPDATE: Also layers very nicely with Bvlgari Omnia... maybe even better then M...