It isn’t just me who notices a spike in green tea beauty products every time we kick off the New Year, right? The more I’ve thought about the anomaly, the more I’ve been able to draw connections between the powdered green tea leaves and the high-reaching goals so many of us set for ourselves the second the clock strikes 12 and the Times Square Ball drops. Here’s what I’m thinking—the appearance of matcha in those “new year, new me” social media posts you scroll across for weeks into the New Year is no coincidence.
Matcha and other kinds of green tea provide antioxidants and nutrients to keep you going through your day. Studies show a variety of benefits, including protection of the liver, promotion of heart health, and boosted brain function when consumed thanks to a high level of antioxidants. However, when it’s worn as a fragrance, green tea can help promote calmness and serenity. I’ve scoured the farthest corners of the internet and my fragrance collection to ID the 16 best matcha and green tea scents you should be using well into the New Year.
Key Notes: green tea, freesia, and amber. One of the most centering scents I’ve ever experienced, Thé Matcha takes the herbal notes of green tea and blends them with powdery, fresh flowers and amber for a clean and calming fragrance to get you through even the busiest of days. Try layering it with Le Monde Gourmand’s Miel Bébé Eau de Parfum for added warmth and sweetness. “So deliciously green! Smells like outside in the best way. Super fresh and long-lasting. I like to put some on after my shower and before bed to feel extra luxurious. The scent is easy to layer with other fruity scents. Definitely one of my favorites, planning on getting the entire collection ASAP, my favorite brand by far, so simple and perfect.” — Le Monde Gourmand customer
Key Notes: matcha tea and frangipani. Altogether crisp, powdery, and relaxing, this unisex 4711 cologne spray is an aromatic green fragrance that wins me over time and again. First launched in 2020, the scent combines the freshness of frangipani and the earthy calmness of green tea for an unbelievably unique olfactory experience that lasts for hours with every spritz. “This is 4711, so it’s built around fresh citrus and herbaceous notes—with a floral background and its cologne strength—so expect refreshing and feminine but without much silage or projection. You will use it lavishly. I adore a beautiful frangipani note, and the green refreshing matcha note adds its special connection to nature and plants. It’s pretty and clean and just a little luscious. Perfect light summer treat!” — Perfume.com customer
Key Notes: pear blossom, green tea, bergamot, freesia, peony, musk, and sandalwood. Vera Wang may be known for her stunning designs on the runway, but I’m here to argue that the brand deserves just as much praise for its line of timeless fragrances. Take its Green Tea & Pear Blossom for example. It’s light, bright, and sophisticated and will layer incredibly well with your choice of floral- and citrus-based scents. “This body spray has a scent that is clean, crisp, feminine, and inoffensive. I would venture to say that it is pleasant enough to wear to the workplace and/or school on a daily basis without coming across as cloying. I definitely would purchase this scent again.” — Amazon customer
Key Notes: bergamot, caraway, orange zest, green tea, carnation, amber, oak moss, and musk. A quick search of classic green tea scents online will reveal this Elizabeth Arden fragrance as having established itself as one of the best for over 20 years. Fresh and floral, the Green Tea Scent Spray envelopes its wearer with everything from bergamot and orange zest to green tea and oak moss, making it ideal for everyday wear and special occasions alike. Who doesn’t love a good versatile fragrance? “I literally can’t say enough good things about this fragrance. It’s fresh and light and smells exactly like green tea! It isn’t very sweet, but I also don’t find it sharp, but rather energizing. It won’t overpower or hang around like a cloud, but it definitely has good staying power. I love this for summer or, in my case, all year, as it is always hot where I live.” — Elizabeth Arden customer
Key Notes: Italian bergamot, green pepper, green tea accord, cardamom, beeswax, and tonka bean. According to Bulgari, the Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert fragrance was created with the “elegant roundness of green tea” from the Uji region of Japan in mind. Its bright Italian bergamot citrus notes mingle with the earthy green tea accord at the perfume’s heart to serenade the senses. “Au Thé Vert is their perfect light scent for every day. It starts citrusy and ends with a lingering floral scent that is not [overpowering] or too flowery. I love wearing it in the spring and summer but is deep enough that it can be worn in the winter as well.” — Bloomingdale’s customer
Key Notes: green tea, bergamot, and birch tar. If you’re on the hunt for the perfect matcha fragrance, this Miller Harris scent is a great place to start. Launched in 2015, the perfume strikes a delicate balance between spicy and sweet, all while offering a layer of grounding matcha. While this one is definitely reminiscent of a sun-filled spring or summer day, I can imagine wearing this well into the chillier months. “This fragrance is so unique I always get compliments when I wear it. It’s a quintessentially English fragrance, and I feel good wearing it.” — Miller Harris customer
Key Notes: cardamom, magnolia flower, green tea, and vanilla. As far back as I can remember, a matcha latte has been my drink of choice whenever I need a boost of energy and inspiration, which I’m after pretty frequently as a writer. Nette’s Thé Vanille smells almost exactly like the matcha latte I grab from my favorite café with comforting notes of cardamom and vanilla and hints of matcha lingering where you would least expect it. “[Nette Thé Vanille] is my favorite vanilla fragrance so far. It has a salt accord and notes like matcha tea, turmeric, cardamom, and orris give it an exciting spicy touch. The creamy mineral notes blend perfectly with a touch of matchatea creating a smooth and immediately appealing fragrance.” — Sephora customer
Key Notes: bergamot essence, matcha accord, and moss accord. I wouldn’t be doing my job as a beauty editor if I didn’t drop this Maison Margiela fragrance into my articles whenever I get the chance. Matcha Meditation awakens the senses with cool white chocolate, moss, and cedarwood paired with fresh bergamot and calming matcha, making this the ideal scent for matcha lovers of all ages and genders. “There is something so comforting and unique about this scent. For me, it starts off with a kick of matcha, with a bit of an earthy tone and some citrus, but a few minutes later, it dies down to a comforting warm, milky, sweet scent. I just got it delivered today, and I’ve been putting it on all day. It lasts about two to three hours for me.” — Sephora customer
Key Notes: green mandarin, lime essence, green tea extract, smoked black tea extract, and ambrette absolute. My fragrance collection is filled to the brim with Armani Beauty fragrances for one reason—they never let me down! The brand’s Yulong Eau de Toilette delivers my matcha fix with an aromatic blend of both black tea and green tea, evoking the rich history found within the Yulong Mountains of China. It’s also smoky, woody, and fresh with just a hint of citrus. “I love this fragrance. It opens with a strong burst of citrus and then rounds out into a refreshing tea scent. I find the citrus note actually lingers in the background throughout the day, which makes it even more pleasant to me. I’d say this is a perfect scent for work, summer days, or anytime you’d like to smell like a nice cup of green tea in a garden.” — Nordstrom customer
Key Notes: fig, bergamot, bitter orange, sesame notes, cedarwood, vetiver, and matcha tea accord. Is it surprising that this Le Labo best seller is rounding out our list of the best fragrances to inspire your glow-up? Thé Matcha 26 is infused with creamy and warm notes of ripe fig, woods, and bitter orange to evoke moments of peace during even your most hectic days. Now, you have no excuse not to take a few moments of rest and relaxation before diving back into that to-do list. “Matcha is so unique, and it smells gorgeous. It’s earthy and zen. Works great with my body chemistry. Five stars!” — Nordstrom customer
Key Notes: bergamot essence, matcha accord, and moss accord. “As I fell in love with the matcha eu de toilette, I had to get the candle with the same scent, and it does not disappoint at all. The scent, instead of bitter matcha, is more warm, sweet, and yummy. It burns well, and the scent lasts long. I have been really enjoying using this, a pleasant surprise.” — Space NK customer
Key Notes: bergamot essence, orange flower absolute, matcha accord, cedar essence, and moss accord. “This [smells of] a Japanese tea house room but also very clean and relaxing. The only downside the scent is not as fragrant. The room takes a while to smell like the diffuser, however, because it’s light. It doesn’t give [an] overwhelming smell.” — Nordstrom customer
Key Notes: lime zest, green tea, clary sage, and bergamot. “I absolutely love lime but have yet to find a candle that lived up to my expectations until Lime Matcha. I had had enough of the heavy holiday scents when I decided to finally light this. This is such a beautiful, energizing scent. All the notes are very well balanced, and I love the zest of lime that I get from this candle.” — Nordstrom customer
Key Notes: lime zest, green tea, and clary sage . “Nice clean scent. If you like citrus, you’ll love this one. It isn’t harsh or overpowering, and the matcha brings in a beautiful layer to it.” — Sephora customer
Key Notes: matcha, honey, and cream. “This matcha candle really is so lovely. The scent itself is more like a slightly creamy matcha latte, as others have remarked. It’s a tad sweet, and I’ve been worried that quality would give me a headache with many hours of burn time, but it genuinely hasn’t. Instead, I sometimes leave it burning for longer than intended because it blends well into my background. Calming, clarifying, a green tea note shines through.” — Emme customer
Key Notes: citrus, eucalyptus, parsley seed, Spanish rosemary, matcha tea, birch wood, and patchouli. “Smells sooo good! Burned after a long day, and it was the perfect scent to unwind and relax to. Would be good in bedroom or bathroom. Any room honestly! Love it!” — Forvr Mood customer
