4
Helpful Review
Soothing Cup of Tea
Over the course of my testing process, Wūlóng Chá Extrait de Parfum has steadily grown on me, first striking me as too simple and unassuming. And frankly, it is pretty simple and easy-going, but that only fuels my liking towards it now.
The opening is a delightful burst of citruses, with the orange dominating and the mandarin orange adding a slightly sweeter undertone. The Litsea cubeba adds this intensely clean herbaceous edge, with a faint lemon-like aroma and floral lightness. Like a refreshing squeeze of lemon into your cup of tea from grandma.
And speaking of tea, that's the star of the show here. As the citruses start diminishing their presence, the oolong tea warms things up with a soothing, complex mix of florals, reminding me of orchids, jasmines, and even a peachy sweetness hidden somewhere. It mimics the scent of tea as a whole remarkably, with the remaining citruses from the start reminding you that tea shouldn't be sweetened with sugar, but enriched with some sourness. Then there's the nutmeg, trying its best to shine through, but ultimately settling with adding just a warm and mild spiciness beneath it all. It's there for sure, but it sticks closer to the bottom of the tea-filled cup.
The base of most Nishanes I have tested so far were particularly lacking, both in presence and development. But I'm happy to report that Wūlóng Chá Extrait de Parfum brings my hopes back up. The combination of the fig's distinct sweet (but not too sweet) fruitiness, and the warm, clean, and slightly powdery musk work beautifully in creating a comforting base. They extend the soothing and warm sensation of the oolong tea and nutmeg long after they're gone. Frankly, the tea vibe disappears roughly around the one hour mark, leaving you with the musk/fig combo. Overall, great quality and blending, although quite a simple development throughout the wearing process.
Now, how long do you get to enjoy this warm cup of tea before it gets cold? Well, coming as a surprise, I got about 7-8 hours of longevity on my skin, exceeding my expectations by a significant margin. Unfortunately, projection is nowhere near as good, with somewhere about one and a half to two feet of projection for the first 30 minutes, then settling closer to a steady one foot projection for an hour more. After that, it gets more intimate (skin scent).
Anyone, anywhere, anytime - that's what I would say about versatility. It's actually one of the most versatile scents that I've encountered. It's fresh and citrusy to fit daily usage, but it's also distinct enough to work at certain events. And if you're one of the more unlucky users that don't get outstanding projection/sillage (like me), then you're safe to add a generous amount of sprays.
Although I don't have much experience regarding tea-like fragrances, I believe that Wūlóng Chá Extrait de Parfum is hard to top. It's simple, yet different. It's soothing and calming. And it's one of the most enjoyable scents out there, purely because anyone can enjoy it. Now, does all of that justify its price tag of $200-$300? Hardly. But it's definitely worth giving a try, and I'm betting you'll find it a hard scent to hate.
Overall Rating: 6.1/10
The opening is a delightful burst of citruses, with the orange dominating and the mandarin orange adding a slightly sweeter undertone. The Litsea cubeba adds this intensely clean herbaceous edge, with a faint lemon-like aroma and floral lightness. Like a refreshing squeeze of lemon into your cup of tea from grandma.
And speaking of tea, that's the star of the show here. As the citruses start diminishing their presence, the oolong tea warms things up with a soothing, complex mix of florals, reminding me of orchids, jasmines, and even a peachy sweetness hidden somewhere. It mimics the scent of tea as a whole remarkably, with the remaining citruses from the start reminding you that tea shouldn't be sweetened with sugar, but enriched with some sourness. Then there's the nutmeg, trying its best to shine through, but ultimately settling with adding just a warm and mild spiciness beneath it all. It's there for sure, but it sticks closer to the bottom of the tea-filled cup.
The base of most Nishanes I have tested so far were particularly lacking, both in presence and development. But I'm happy to report that Wūlóng Chá Extrait de Parfum brings my hopes back up. The combination of the fig's distinct sweet (but not too sweet) fruitiness, and the warm, clean, and slightly powdery musk work beautifully in creating a comforting base. They extend the soothing and warm sensation of the oolong tea and nutmeg long after they're gone. Frankly, the tea vibe disappears roughly around the one hour mark, leaving you with the musk/fig combo. Overall, great quality and blending, although quite a simple development throughout the wearing process.
Now, how long do you get to enjoy this warm cup of tea before it gets cold? Well, coming as a surprise, I got about 7-8 hours of longevity on my skin, exceeding my expectations by a significant margin. Unfortunately, projection is nowhere near as good, with somewhere about one and a half to two feet of projection for the first 30 minutes, then settling closer to a steady one foot projection for an hour more. After that, it gets more intimate (skin scent).
Anyone, anywhere, anytime - that's what I would say about versatility. It's actually one of the most versatile scents that I've encountered. It's fresh and citrusy to fit daily usage, but it's also distinct enough to work at certain events. And if you're one of the more unlucky users that don't get outstanding projection/sillage (like me), then you're safe to add a generous amount of sprays.
Although I don't have much experience regarding tea-like fragrances, I believe that Wūlóng Chá Extrait de Parfum is hard to top. It's simple, yet different. It's soothing and calming. And it's one of the most enjoyable scents out there, purely because anyone can enjoy it. Now, does all of that justify its price tag of $200-$300? Hardly. But it's definitely worth giving a try, and I'm betting you'll find it a hard scent to hate.
Overall Rating: 6.1/10