Philtre Ceylan

It about time I reviewed this amazing fragrance. I really enjoy Atelier scents overall, and this is one of my favorites. Atelier is known for doing realistic citrus scents, and while this is part of their Oriental Collection, it does contain some citrus. Black tea is joined by cumin, spearmint, and lesser notes of citrus, cardamom, and papyrus. PC begins with a spicy tea tempered by the spearmint. That alone is intoxicating to me, but after about 1.5 hours the spearmint has subsided along with most of the citrus, and a green note emerges to play with the tea and cumin. I haven't really smelled anything like it before. It does have hints of parts of other scents I enjoy, like déclaration and Bvlgari PHE, but this is much more harmonious than any of those, and is very well blended I get great longevity (10+ hours) with decent sillage. It turns to a skin scent after 2-3 hours on me. It is unisex, but it definitely leans more masculine than feminine (cumin and tea mix). Definitely something I believe every fragrance lover should try. It may not be your cup of tea (pun intended), but you will have a deeper appreciation of the world of fragrances if you do try it.

This is an objectively beautiful and unique fragrance. However, the fragrance on my skin smells like I’m masking sweaty body odor with a black tea-based fragrance. The initial spray, the cardamom is strong, the cumin is there too and becomes stronger as it dries down. The two spice notes are heavy and dominate over other notes. The tea notes are there, they lean more to black tea, there’s a slight smokiness tomorrow. Overall, I wanted to love this fragrance, but it isn’t for me due to the resemblance to body odor from the cumin and cardamom.

One of the best tea scents I've tried. I love tea for two and this has a strong black tea like that does but instead of the toasted smokiness that has, this one goes for a more zingy bergamot route which takes it into a (slight) earl grey tea realm. Mint wasn't a big note on my skin, mainly the straight black tea so I don't get much overlap with MM Russian Tea like others seem to get in the "reminds me of" section. I personally get great longevity also, not as long as something like Gold Leather but a decent 6 hours of it being noticeable which is in line with Tea for Two.

VERY realistic cup of black tea: freshly brewed Ceylon, no milk or sugar. Astounding how spot-on Atelier got this! It's not the most interesting fragrance - one note, really - but if you're looking for nothing but black tea then you'll be pleased.

Philtre Ceylan is a part of Atelier Cologne's Collection Orient which also includes Mimosa Indigo, Poivre Electrique, Tobacco Nuit and Encens Jinhae. Philtre Ceylan comes across as one of the most authentic renditions of black tea one has encountered in a while. It begins with an ethereal cardamom laced citrus that immediately transforms into an accord of black Ceylon tea. This is different from other black teas including Darjeeling, Assam and other flavoured black teas such as Earl Grey. The aroma is robust, slightly smoky, slightly sweet, dewy, and closer to that of brewed tea than dried tea leaves. The cardamom and a hint of cumin support this tea accord; however, spices are kept to an absolute minimum so that the tea is the focus, and the composition never veers into masala tea territory. This phase is long lasting and linear, till eventually the tea and spice notes diminish a bit as an enveloping, semi-sweet guaiac wood joins the other elements to add a nuance, and to form the final dry down of tea and woods. Philtre Ceylan possesses good longevity on skin of about eight hours, and is discernible throughout before fading away towards the end. However, the sillage is also soft to moderate, though perceptible, and forms a soft cloud around the wearer. Philtre Ceylan is easily the standout among Atelier Cologne's Collection Orient, and a general highlight in its catalogue. While it is somewhat pricy for what it is, it also fills a gap given the relative dearth of quality fragrances focussing on black tea. Anyone missing Coeur de Vetiver Sacre's brilliant interpretation of tea will be advised to consider Philtre Ceylan. However, personally one finds Coeur de Vetiver Sacre to be best reserved for summers, while Philtre Ceylan is an attractive proposition for an autumnal scent. 3.5/5 (positive)