NISHANE
Wulong Cha X
2023
PERFUMER
Julien Rasquinet
Bergamot
Mandarin
Yuzu
Litsea Cubeba
Magnolia
Green Tea
Thyme
Fig
Musk
‘Included in the first ever NISHANE collection launched globally in the year 2015, WŪLÓNG CHÁ has reached a huge fanbase worldwide thanks to the journey it takes the wearer to the serene tea gardens of Far East, where the delicate notes of oolong tea leaves and Mediterranean fig fill the air. The original WŪLÓNG CHÁ has been celebrated especially because of its robust power of refreshing notes. However, WŪLÓNG CHÁ X is designed to mute the sharp edges of the original formula and enhance it with the addition of florals namely magnolia. This fragrance opens with a burst of zesty citrus notes of bergamot, orange, mandarin, and yuzu transporting the wearer to the sunny shores of the Mediterranean. As the scent settles, the heart notes of magnolia, thyme oil and green tea weave a magical spell around you, evoking the tranquil stillness of a teatime. Finally, the base notes of musk and fig provide a warm and grounding finish to this fragrance that will keep the wearer feeling fresh and revitalized all day long. WŪLÓNG CHÁ X is a perfect choice for those who seek a refreshing and uplifting fragrance that can be worn all year round.’ – Nishane
The only thing that I remember from the original Wulong Cha is that I enjoyed it. However, this sort of citrussy green tea fragrance has been done many times, so I never paid too much attention to it.
Based on my vague memory this X variant smells mostly the same, but I don’t remember if the original went as rich in the drydown.
Citrussy, watery, a tiny bit bitter, although not too much. Definitely has a greenish tea vibe that’s really comforting and nice. The quality of this smells pretty great; sometimes this style of fragrance can feel too stripped down and minimalistic, but this is full-bodied for as far as it is possible.
After the juiciness from the opening, the bitter and slightly powdery nature becomes more prominent. Like powdery, earthy. Less of a cup of tea, more of a plant with green leaves, a hint of soil, a mandarin grove in the background. It’s actually nice how long the citruss tinge hangs on.
What surprised me is that it gets pretty sweet, which isn’t always what you want in a fresh scent, but I really like it. Call me crazy, but it’s actually reminding me a lot of the sweetness from a sweet tobacco scent in the later drydown. Especially a hint of Parfums de Marly Herod comes to mind, of course still brighter here with a citrussy backdrop.
Ultimately really nice. I’d have to compare it to the original side by side to see if and how different it is; I don’t remember the drydown being this warm, sweet and different in the original. On its own, hard to go wrong with this one and one of the best Nishane offerings to my knowledge.
