Green tea perfume: what it smells like, and 8 to try
A green tea perfume lists green tea among its notes, and all eight we stock also list citrus. Here are eight to try, grouped by what the tea sits next to, from bright citrus to leather.
Eight green tea perfumes by setting
From bright citrus to herbs and water and a darker setting, in the order the guide presents them.
- 1Best overall
Lemon, bergamot and mandarin orange over lily-of-the-valley and jasmine, with green tea in the base; citrus and green.
from €6.213 ml
Read the pick - 2
Bergamot and mandarin orange over green tea and black currant, with musk and galbanum; a niche citrus green.
from €12.243 ml
Read the pick - 3Best for summer
Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic
Clementine, bitter orange and green tea over mandarin orange and basil, with sandalwood and amber; citrus and fresh spicy.
from €8.103 ml
Read the pick - 4
Bergamot, cardamom and lemon over rose and jasmine, with green tea in the base beside cedar; citrus and green.
from €6.483 ml
Read the pick - 5
Bergamot, yuzu and mandarin orange over green tea, magnolia and thyme, with musk and fig; a niche citrus green.
from €12.873 ml
Read the pick
Show all 8 picks
- 6Best green pick
Sage, mint and bergamot over lotus, sea notes and green tea, with amber and vanilla sugar; green, aromatic and marine.
from €7.023 ml
Read the pick - 7Best for winter
Bergamot and saffron over green tea and cedar, with beeswax and leather; leather and woody.
from €12.243 ml
Read the pick - 8Best floral pick
Bergamot, green tea and osmanthus over orchid and rose, with patchouli and musk; floral and patchouli.
from €11.613 ml
Read the pick
In this guide
A green tea perfume is one whose note list includes green tea, and every one of the eight we stock also lists a citrus note. For green tea with bright citrus, try CK One by Calvin Klein. For green tea in a darker setting, try Le Gemme Azaran by Bvlgari. Below, the eight are grouped by what the tea sits next to.
What does green tea smell like in perfume?
The tea itself is a good place to start. Green tea comes from the leaves and buds of Camellia sinensis. Unlike oolong or black tea, it skips the withering and oxidising stage. Wikipedia places its origin in China in the late first millennium BC, from where production spread across East Asia.
How the leaf is handled changes the cup. Chinese green teas are often pan-fired, while most Japanese ones are steamed, which Wikipedia says gives a sweeter, more grassy flavour. Matcha, a fine powder of shade-grown green tea leaves, is a related drink, but it is a different note and none of the perfumes below list it. We also left out perfumes that list another tea instead, such as matcha, white, black, oolong or jasmine tea.
A cup and a perfume note are not the same thing, so read a note list with care. A perfume that lists green tea tells you the note is on the list, not what went into the bottle. In perfumes, the tea tends to be one voice among several. Of the eight perfumes we list with this note, all eight also list a citrus accord, and six list a green one.
Where the note sits matters too. Perfumes are written in top, heart and base notes, and our guide to reading a notes list explains the three tiers. For where a green, citrus or floral perfume belongs, see our guide to fragrance families. In these eight, green tea is a top note twice, a heart note four times and a base note twice.
Quick comparison
| # | Perfume | Label | Main notes | Lasts | Trail | Season | 3 ml | 10 ml | per ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CK OneCalvin Klein | Best overall | Freesia, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley | Summer | €6.21 | €14.31 | €1.43 | ||
| 2 | Silver Mountain WaterCreed | Black Currant, Green Tea | Moderate | Moderate | Summer, Spring | €12.24 | €34.20 | €3.42 | |
| 3 | Aqua Allegoria Mandarine BasilicGuerlain | Best for summer | Basil, Chamomile, Mandarin Orange | Moderate | Moderate | Summer | €8.10 | €22.86 | €2.29 |
| 4 | Eau Parfumée au Thé VertBvlgari | Bulgarian Rose, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley | Moderate | Moderate | Summer, Spring | €6.48 | €18.09 | €1.81 | |
| 5 | Wulong Cha XNishane | Green Tea, Magnolia, Thyme | Long lasting | Moderate | Summer | €12.87 | €39.06 | €3.91 | |
| 6 | Herbal AquaticaMontale | Best green pick | Caramel, Green Tea, Lotus | Long lasting | Moderate | Summer | €7.02 | €21.51 | €2.15 |
| 7 | Le Gemme AzaranBvlgari | Best for winter | Cedar, Green Tea | Long lasting | Strong | Winter, Autumn | €12.24 | €36.99 | €3.70 |
| 8 | FlowerbombViktor & Rolf | Best floral pick | Freesia, Jasmine, Orchid | Long lasting | Strong | Autumn | €11.61 | €35.28 | €3.53 |
Show all 8 picks
Community votes
Green tea with bright citrus
In these four, citrus fills the opening, and voters pick all four for spring and summer days. If that is your season, our summer fragrances guide has more fresh scents to wear.
CK One by Calvin Klein
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Cardamom, Green Notes, Lemon
- Heart notes
- Freesia, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley, Nutmeg
- Base notes
- Amber, Cedar, Green Accord, Green Tea
- Time of day
- Daytime
CK One by Calvin Klein dates from 1994 and is unisex. Alberto Morillas and Harry Fremont are the credited perfumers. It opens with lemon, green notes, bergamot, mandarin orange, pineapple, cardamom and papaya. Lily-of-the-valley, jasmine, violet and rose lead the heart. Green tea sits in the base, beside musk, cedar and sandalwood. Its accords are citrus, green, powdery and woody. Summer and spring are its most-voted seasons, and day wear is its most-voted time.
Silver Mountain Water by Creed
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Mandarin Orange
- Heart notes
- Black Currant, Green Tea
- Base notes
- Galbanum, Musk, Petitgrain, Sandalwood
- Time of day
- Daytime
Silver Mountain Water by Creed is a niche perfume from 1995, and it is unisex. Mandarin orange joins bergamot at the top. Green tea is a heart note, paired with black currant. Musk, sandalwood, galbanum and petitgrain form the base. Its accords are citrus, green, fruity and musky. On longevity, most community voters say moderate. Most voters call its sillage moderate too. For the season, voters most often name summer and spring, and for the time, day wear.
Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic by Guerlain
- Top notes
- Bitter Orange, Clementine, Green Tea, Ivy
- Heart notes
- Basil, Chamomile, Mandarin Orange, Peony
- Base notes
- Amber, Sandalwood
- Time of day
- Daytime
Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic by Guerlain dates from 2007 and is for women. Green tea is a top note here, listed with clementine, bitter orange, orange blossom and ivy. Mandarin orange, basil, chamomile and peony form the heart, over sandalwood and amber. Its accords are citrus, fresh spicy, green and aromatic. Moderate is the majority vote on its longevity. Most voters call its sillage moderate too. Its votes put it most often in summer and spring, and in day wear. If orange blossom draws you, our orange blossom guide goes further.
Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert by Bvlgari
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Cardamom, Coriander, Lemon
- Heart notes
- Bulgarian Rose, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley
- Base notes
- Amber, Cedar, Green Tea, Musk
- Time of day
- Daytime
Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert by Bvlgari is unisex. Bergamot, cardamom, coriander, lemon, mandarin orange and orange blossom make up the top. Bulgarian rose, jasmine and lily-of-the-valley form the heart. Green tea is a base note, beside amber, cedar, musk, precious woods and sandalwood. Its accords are citrus, green, fresh spicy and aromatic. Longevity votes lean towards moderate, with weak next. Sillage votes lean moderate too, with strong next. It is most often voted a summer and spring perfume, for day and office wear.
Green tea with herbs and water
In these two, the tea is a heart note, set among herbs, sea or water, and voters pick both for spring and summer.
Wulong Cha X by Nishane
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Litsea Cubeba, Mandarin Orange, Yuzu
- Heart notes
- Green Tea, Magnolia, Thyme
- Base notes
- Fig, Musk
- Time of day
- Daytime
Wulong Cha X by Nishane is a niche, unisex perfume from 2023. Bergamot, yuzu, litsea cubeba and mandarin orange open it. Green tea sits in the heart with magnolia and thyme, over musk and fig. Its accords are citrus, green, fresh spicy and floral. Long lasting is the majority vote on its longevity. On sillage, most community voters say moderate. Voters most often name summer and spring for it, with day and office wear.
Herbal Aquatica by Montale
- Top notes
- Calabrian bergamot, Herbal Notes, Mint, Sage
- Heart notes
- Caramel, Green Tea, Lotus, Papyrus
- Base notes
- Amber, Australian Sandalwood, Vanilla Sugar
- Time of day
- Daytime
Herbal Aquatica by Montale is a niche, unisex perfume from 2022. Sage, mint, herbal notes and Calabrian bergamot open it. Green tea is a heart note, listed with lotus, sea notes, caramel and papyrus. Amber, Australian sandalwood and vanilla sugar close it. Its accords are green, aromatic, woody and marine. Longevity votes lean towards long lasting, with moderate next. On sillage, most voters say moderate. Summer and spring are the seasons voters most often name for it, and day wear the time.
Green tea in a darker setting
Here bergamot is the only citrus note, and the tea moves into warmer company. It is a heart note in one and a top note in the other, set in a warmer, deeper list, and voters place both in the cooler months.
Le Gemme Azaran by Bvlgari
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Saffron
- Heart notes
- Cedar, Green Tea
- Base notes
- Beeswax, Leather, Woody Notes
- Time of day
- Evening
Le Gemme Azaran by Bvlgari is presented for men. Bergamot and saffron open the list. Green tea is a heart note beside cedar, over beeswax, leather and woody notes. Its accords are leather, woody, animalic and warm spicy. Long lasting leads the longevity votes, with moderate behind it. Strong leads the sillage votes, with moderate behind it. Voters most often name winter and autumn for it, with evening and night wear.
Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Green Tea, Osmanthus
- Heart notes
- Freesia, Jasmine, Orchid, Rose
- Base notes
- Musk, Patchouli
- Time of day
- Night out
Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf is unisex. Green tea is a top note, listed with bergamot and osmanthus. Orchid, freesia, rose and jasmine form the heart, over patchouli and musk. Its accords are floral, patchouli, white floral and woody. Community votes on its longevity lean long lasting, and moderate is their second choice. Its sillage votes lean strong, again with moderate second. Autumn and winter are its most-named seasons, with night, evening and day wear. Our Flowerbomb dupes guide compares it with other florals.
The eight at a glance
| Perfume | Tier green tea sits in | Voted seasons |
|---|---|---|
| CK One | Base | Summer and spring |
| Silver Mountain Water | Heart | Summer and spring |
| Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic | Top | Summer and spring |
| Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert | Base | Summer and spring |
| Wulong Cha X | Heart | Summer and spring |
| Herbal Aquatica | Heart | Summer and spring |
| Le Gemme Azaran | Heart | Winter and autumn |
| Flowerbomb | Top | Autumn and winter |
How to try green tea perfumes before you buy a bottle
A note list only goes so far. A 3ml decant of around 60 sprays is plenty to judge one on your own skin, so compare two on separate days. CK One is €6.21 in 3ml, and it gives you green tea in the base of a citrus perfume. Le Gemme Azaran is €12.24, and it gives you the tea in the heart of a leather one. Wear each for a full day before you decide, and note which one you keep reaching for.
If one stands out, the 10ml decant of around 200 sprays suits weeks of daily wear, while the 30ml of around 600 sprays is the keeper. New to the format? Our guide to what a decant is explains it. And if you worry about buying unsmelled, how to choose perfume without smelling it walks through the steps.
The bigger picture: What does bergamot smell like, and why is it in almost every perfume?.
Frequently asked questions
- What does green tea smell like in perfume?
- In the eight perfumes we stock with the note, green tea sits in a citrus and green blend: all eight list a citrus accord and six list a green one. The note list tells you the tea is there, not how much of it went into the bottle, so CK One and Silver Mountain Water, which pair it with bergamot and mandarin orange, are easy places to start.
- Which perfumes list green tea as a note?
- Eight perfumes in our catalogue list green tea: CK One, Silver Mountain Water, Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic, Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert, Wulong Cha X, Herbal Aquatica, Le Gemme Azaran and Flowerbomb. The guide groups them by what the tea sits next to.
- Is green tea perfume only for summer?
- No. Community voters most often pick six of the eight for summer and spring, but they pick Le Gemme Azaran for winter and autumn, and Flowerbomb for autumn and winter.
- What does green tea sit beside in a perfume?
- Citrus, in every one: bergamot, mandarin orange or lemon appear in all eight lists. Wulong Cha X pairs it with thyme, Herbal Aquatica with sage, mint and sea notes, and Le Gemme Azaran with cedar, beeswax and leather.
- Is green tea a top, heart or base note?
- It varies. In these eight, green tea is a top note in Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic and Flowerbomb, a heart note in four, and a base note in CK One and Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert.
- How can I try a green tea perfume before buying a bottle?
- Start with a 3ml decant, which gives around 60 sprays, and CK One costs €6.21 in that size. A 10ml decant gives around 200 sprays for weeks of wear, and a 30ml gives around 600 sprays to keep.
Sources
Wear it for a week, not ten seconds.
Designer and niche fragrances in 10ml decants, so you can live with a scent before you commit.
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