Miller Harris's "Celadon" and "Tea Tonic" fragrances add a touch of mature sophistication / A guide to men's fragrances

"Attractive" perfumes have always captured the attention of men and women everywhere. Perhaps the first requirement for such a perfume is freshness and cleanliness. Aya Aso, a talented editor and essayist, guides you through the many "attractive" perfumes available, showing you which ones are sure to impress and add a touch of sophisticated confidence that goes beyond mere attractiveness.

A refreshing feeling, a moment of relaxation

　I thought I'd try a slightly more lighthearted topic for a change, like "Men's Perfumes That Attract Women."

　No matter what, the keywords that go viral are still the direct ones like "attracting the opposite sex." It seems the public remains interested in this area. It will probably take some time before we reach a point where people think, "No, fragrance is for yourself."

　Now, when it comes to the many "attractive" perfumes out there, the defining characteristics are freshness and cleanliness. Occasionally (or rather, as has always been the case), dubious pheromone perfumes pop up, but we'll exclude those for now. That leaves citrus scents like grapefruit and bergamot as the top candidates for a surefire hit. However, here I'd like to introduce a fragrance with a "tea" theme.

　First, there's Bvlgari's green tea fragrance, "Eau Parfumée Thé Vert." It's a classic, a long-selling product for over 30 years. Also, Kilian Paris, which I introduced in a previous column, has "Imperial Tea," a jasmine tea fragrance, and Le Labo's "THÉ MATCHA 26" is also very popular.

　Among them, my top recommendation is Miller Harris from the UK. Their classic citrus fragrance "Tea Tonic" is a bottle I can recommend to everyone, but the fragrance I would like readers to try this time is called "Celadon." It's refreshing, but sweeter and more elegant than "Tea Tonic." And best of all, it's less likely to be worn by others.

"Celadon" is a fragrance inspired by Cao Xueqin's classic Chinese novel "Dream of the Red Chamber," evoking the image of "jade-colored celadon" shining in the fantastical light of the moon. The first thing the nose encounters is a refreshingly fresh, almost grassy, ​​herbal scent and green notes of tomato leaf. This is followed by layers of homages to Chinese culture, such as cardamom, magnolia, smoked tea, and mate tea. It's already so literary! Furthermore, the subtle inclusion of rose and tuberose, a delicate white flower said to have aphrodisiac effects, is another reason why I'd list it as a "perfume that attracts." The fact that moss was blended to represent a moss-covered celadon bowl is also a wonderful display of fascinating trivia.

　A mellow sweetness wafts alongside the green notes. This unexpectedness is the charm of "Celadon," and I think it adds a touch of sophistication and confidence that only a mature man can possess, rather than just being merely "attractive." However, because it's so refreshing, be careful not to apply too much. It's just right when you can barely smell the fragrance yourself.

Author Profile

Aya Aso

Beauty editor/essayist and copywriter. Raised in Tokyo. Over 30 years of experience in the beauty section of women's magazines, she has served as deputy editor-in-chief of "25ans" and "Fujingaho" (both published by Hearst Fujingaho) and "VOGUE JAPAN" (Condé Nast Japan), as well as editor-in-chief of "etRouge" (Nikkei BP). Her hobbies include beauty, finding delicious food, watching depressing anime, and engaging in other niche activities.