Lapsang Souchong tea smells like a woodsmoke-tinged campfire wrapped in dark honey and dried fruit. Imagine walking past a bonfire, then stepping into a cosy tea room where the air carries hints of ripe plum, leather, and something pleasantly bitter—like burnt caramel with a whisper of pine resin. It's smoky without being acrid, sophisticated without pretension. The scent has an almost savoury warmth, like toasted grain and dried apricot lingering on your fingertips after handling the leaves.
Lapsang Souchong hails from the Wuyi Mountains in Fujian Province, China, where it's been crafted since the 17th century. The tea's distinctive character comes from its traditional smoking process: freshly withered leaves are dried over pine wood fires, infusing them with woody, resinous compounds. For perfumery, this aromatic profile is typically captured through absolutes or tea extracts that isolate those smoky, fruity, and tannic molecules—though modern fragrances often blend natural tea accords with synthetic aroma chemicals to achieve consistent, lasting scent expressions.
In compositions, Lapsang Souchong functions as a sophisticated middle or base note, lending complexity and warmth. Perfumers deploy it to add depth, smokiness, and an almost edible quality without sweetness. It pairs beautifully with florals (tempering their brightness), spices, and woody bases, creating unexpected elegance and memorability in niche and artisanal fragrances.
Surprising harmonies