The Matcha 26

I think the name of a fragrance should be an introduction to how you would IMAGINE a scent. The bitterness comes from the citrus skin, the sweetness comes from a lactonic note, and the grassy feeling comes from the vetiver. Nothing is matcha but everything reminds me what matcha tastes like. Bitter and herbaceous when taking the first sip, but it leaves a sweet and fresh trace when you swallow it. Thé Noir 29, on the other hand, is deep and smokey, with a gourmand dry fruit touch. I've smelled many tea fragrances that actually smell like mate, whereas matcha effuses a young, light-weight, and herbal aroma, which is a completely different olfactive impression from mate. If scent had a color, Thé Matcha 26 is a light wash of muted wasabi green. It opens with crisp citrus, which is reminiscent of Bergamot 22 if you smelled it from a blotter. After a few minutes, the fig-sesame accord floats to the rim of your "teacup". The nuttiness is an interesting take of the fig, quite unusual among many fig-dominated fragrances. So, the performance of the first 10 minutes is more like a cologne. But with the scent developing on the skin, the creamy matcha latte accord appears and it is indeed long-lasting. It brings me back to the culture I grew up in. A culture where tea is served in a simple way, without syrup, whipped cream, or any Starbucks toppings. Even if "matcha" is a marketing jargon or an attempt to cater to Asian aesthetics, I totally buy it. From the purchase in October last year, I have been reaching this fragrance the most among my collection. This is beyond falling in love at first sight. This is a commitment.

As someone who leans more "intimate" in scent selection, this is equally inoffensive as it is interesting. After having purchased Another 13 for my wife some time ago (her sig scent), I was looking for something similar for daily wear— soft enough as to not fill a room, but noticeable enough to get hit (or rather, kissed) with the scent every now and again throughout the day. I first tried this in store, sprayed it on my wrist, and was shocked that nearly two days later I could still smell it clinging to the cuffs of my puffer jacket. Side note: I also sprayed Another 13 on my opposite wrist to see how they would pair, and BOTH scents cling to clothes much much longer than their longevity on skin would have you believe. It's subtle, but it lasts an incredibly long time. So if you're the kind of person who sprays on your clothes, do so conservatively with this, especially if you like to switch up your fragrances day to day. In my experience this hasn't been as overpowering in a room as some people have experienced. It's one of those fragrances that sort of floats around without rhyme or reason, coming and going throughout the day. Similar to Another 13, it tends to show up just as you've almost forgotten about it. In terms of the scnent profile, "Matcha" is less a descriptor of dominant note, and more so a way to describe the overall sum of its parts. This doesn't smell like matcha tea, BUT like ever good cup of matcha, it's noticeably green and earthy, creamy, and warm. Make of that what you will. It's become my most frequently complimented scent and I reach for it 9/10 times.

This is the most photorealistic interpretation of matcha powder I have ever smelled. It is soft, green and slightly creamy. There's a beautiful fig presence right from the start, and to me it's more like a dewy natural sweetness more than fruity. What is also fascinating is how the notes all seem to arrive at once rather than unfolding traditionally. It wears more like an atmosphere rather than a pyramid. Though as it settles, the composition becomes more intimate. On my skin, the dry down is more so like a damp towel that has been used a few times after coming out of the shower. It is clean and slightly mineral, not a soapy or laundry-esque type scent but definitely humid. It is the scent of being freshly bathed rather than being freshly perfumed. The more I wear this, the more I realize how much I love it. It hits this rare sweet spot inside of me, it is not quiet nor loud, but definitely present. What makes me really love it most is that it doesn't feel like costume or aspiration. It doesn't turn me into someone else, it just feels like this clearer, more distilled version of me. More than anything, it makes me feel like I'm living the brutalist chic life that I've chased for so long. Cool concrete and soft daylight, minimal but not cold. It just amplifies what already feels true to me. Overall, this scent is incredibly addictive, and I never thought I'd fall in love with it, especially this deeply. This scent now stays with me and feels impossible to replace. Overall a 10/10 fragrance.

Thé Matcha 26 feels like sunlight on your skin. This is one of my seasonal favorites, especially for spring and summer. When the air gets softer, the grass smells greener, and the sun finally starts doing its job again, this is the scent I reach for. The fig note is the real star here. It’s creamy, slightly green, slightly milky smooth without being sweet. If you don’t like figs, this will not be for you. But if you do? It’s addictive. The matcha adds a subtle, almost airy bitterness that keeps the fragrance from becoming too soft or sugary. It doesn’t scream “tea,” but it gives structure and calmness. Together with cedarwood in the base, it creates something warm, slightly woody, and very refined. Projection is moderate. You won’t fill a room, but people within a meter will definitely catch it. It’s elegant, not loud. Office-safe. School-safe. Park-walk-safe. Date-safe. It’s effortless. Longevity on my skin is around 6–8 hours. Not beast mode, especially not for the €300 price tag for 100ml, but respectable. Is it expensive? Absolutely. Does it hurt? Yes. Would I refill it? Also yes. That’s the thing, it’s overpriced, but it’s also genuinely beautiful. It’s completely unisex. Some people say it leans slightly feminine, but I disagree. A well-dressed man wearing this? Very attractive. Refined. Confident without trying too hard. This is not a loud, attention-seeking fragrance. It’s subtle luxury. Rating: 9/10 Overpriced? Yes. Worth it? Unfortunately... also yes.

My wife bought this while we were dating a few years ago and I still remember her excitement to buy this. She initially smelt this perfume from somebody else as they were walking by and the distinct fresh, clean, creamy scent trail left her stunned. No other perfume could even compete at that time for her. This perfume is fantastic, it has a great scent profile. It opens extremely fresh, but not like the usual freshies on the market. It smells like freshly washed laundry, but not soapy at all. It then dries down into a creamy woodsy scent. It is very heavy on fig, where the creaminess of this scent is driven, and the remaining woody notes are pleasant vetiver and cedar with an underlying matcha tea smell throughout the scent's duration. This easily lasts 6-10 hours depending on weather and skin type. Personally, on my skin it leans towards the 6-hour mark, but on my wife's it lasts 10 hours easily, and on clothes it will last until it is washed. This fragrance has a high projection within the first 5 hours of being sprayed. Afterwards, it has a medium projection, and past the 10-hour mark, it has a soft projection just off the skin. This is a masterpiece fragrance that is super versatile and smells uniquely fresh. It is an awesome signature scent and for its price, it has good value. I must admit that this fragrance does require a level of maceration before its true scent profile comes out, but once it has macerated it is a beast!