Green Tea: Fragrance Profile

1. Overview

• Botanical source: Camellia sinensis leaves (unfermented tea).

• Extraction:

  • Natural green tea absolute exists but is rare and subtle.

  • More often recreated as an accord using aroma molecules + natural extracts (ionones, hedione, tea absolutes, mate).

• Popularized in perfumery by Elizabeth Arden Green Tea (1999), making it a staple in fresh and wellness-inspired fragrances.

2. Aroma Character

• Fresh, herbal, leafy, slightly bitter, airy, and calming.

• Nuances:

  • Herbal-green → leafy infusion, light bitterness.

  • Dewy & watery → clean, transparent freshness.

  • Slightly floral → delicate jasmine/white-flower undertone.

  • Softly woody → dry, grounding tea-leaf drydown.

👉 Overall impression: a fresh, uplifting, and calming note, lighter than black tea, with a clean herbal edge.

3. Chemical Composition (Accord Building)

• Ionones (α- & β-ionone) → violet-tea nuance.

• Hedione → jasmine-like, airy brightness.

• Linalool & geraniol → soft floral-herbal touches.

• Theaflavins & catechins (in natural extracts) → mild tannic bitterness.

• Mate absolute → leafy, herbal tea effect.

4. Perfume Applications

• Mostly used as a heart-to-top note for light, fresh fragrances.

• Applications:

  • Wellness-style perfumes → spa-like, soothing freshness.

  • Citrus-green scents → pairs with lemon, bergamot, yuzu.

  • Floral compositions → adds a watery-green backbone.

  • Aquatic/ozonic perfumes → reinforces airy clarity.

• Blends well with:

  • Citrus (lemon, bergamot, mandarin, grapefruit).

  • Herbal (mint, sage, basil).

  • Floral (jasmine, lily, freesia).

  • Light woods (cedar, sandalwood).

• Perfume examples:

  • Elizabeth Arden – Green Tea (iconic citrus-green tea).

  • Bvlgari – Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert (luxurious tea-citrus blend).

  • L’Occitane – Thé Vert (refreshing herbal-green tea).

  • Maison Margiela – Matcha Meditation (modern matcha take).

5. Mood & Symbolism

• Associated with tranquility, clarity, mindfulness, and vitality.

• Mood impressions:

  • Relaxing & calming → spa-like comfort.

  • Clean & uplifting → refreshing daily wear.

  • Balanced & harmonious → natural, zen-like atmosphere.

 Quick Summary Table

In essence: Green Tea in perfumery is fresh, herbal, and calming, giving fragrances a clean, tranquil, and uplifting aura, often associated with spa-like purity and modern wellness.