20 Curiosity at Immigration

Fragrance Overview and First Impression

Curiosity at Immigration is a perfume oil from The PERFUME OIL FACTORY built around tea, with citrus, flowers, berry and leather in its official note structure. It was formerly named Original No.20 (Black tea). The brand says that its scent and contents remained the same when the name changed. Black tea, the note named in the older title, is still listed in the base.

The full list is broader than a single tea note. White tea appears in the middle and black tea in the base. Tangerine, bergamot and vanilla are placed at the top, mimosa and orris join the white tea, and dewberry and leather accompany the black tea.

A short story on the product page describes a narrator keeping tea, a towel and old CDs in preserved flower jars. Opening a favored jar reveals a profusion of colorful dried fruit from abroad. The jars of dried fruit give the story its unexpected turn.

Perfumer, Brand and Making

The PERFUME OIL FACTORY states that it was established in 2012 and opened its Ginza flagship store in 2016. Its guiding idea is to bring fragrance to the otherwise unnamed days of ordinary life. The brand developed 31 original perfume oils while imagining the different moods and occasions of a month. This numbered fragrance belongs to that range.

The brand describes its oils as carefully composed by perfumers,. For the range as a whole, it says that blending and production are done by hand without alcohol or water. It also describes exploring scent cultures around the world and working through differences in ingredient standards between Japan and other countries.

The brand suggests arranging two numbered packages so that their numbers resemble a date. The number 20 marks its place in the range.

Scent Analysis

The brand presents a pyramid with top, middle and base notes. Each tier brings a different combination of notes.

Tangerine, bergamot and vanilla form the official top tier. Tangerine suggests round citrus fruit, while bergamot offers a brighter peel with a slight bitter edge. Vanilla introduces the idea of warmth and sweetness beside both citrus notes.

The middle tier lists mimosa, orris and white tea. Mimosa suggests a soft flower, and orris can evoke a drier powdery texture. White tea introduces a quieter tea impression alongside them.

Black tea, dewberry and leather occupy the base. Black tea connects the current product to its former name. Dewberry points toward soft fruit, while leather suggests a drier surface. Their shared placement makes the base more varied than the old name alone might suggest. White and black tea appear in different tiers, giving each a distinct place in the composition.

Comparison and Positioning

Gris Charnel by BDK Parfums shares black tea and iris with Curiosity at Immigration. The latter also lists dewberry and leather, while Gris Charnel places fig, cardamom and sandalwood around its shared materials. Someone drawn to tea and iris can compare whether fruit with leather or fig with woods is the more appealing direction.

THÉ NOIR 29 by Le Labo offers another comparison through black tea and bergamot. Curiosity at Immigration includes vanilla, dewberry and leather; THÉ NOIR 29 includes fig, cedarwood, vetiver and musk. Their shared tea and citrus names provide a starting point, while the accompanying materials explain why the two arrangements need not feel alike.

Tea Tonique by Miller Harris also connects through bergamot and a tea theme. Curiosity at Immigration lists white and black tea, whereas Tea Tonique lists green tea and Earl Grey tea, along with birch tar. Comparing the specific teas and their surrounding materials offers more guidance than treating both simply as tea fragrances.

Buying Guide

The current product is an 8 ml perfume oil. The listed price is ¥7,260 including tax. Price and availability can change, so the current listing is the place to check before buying. Anyone looking for Original No.20 (Black tea) can use the present name to find the item; the brand says the scent and contents are the same.

When testing it, consider more than black tea. The citrus and vanilla at the top, flowers and white tea in the middle, and dewberry and leather in the base all offer points of comparison with personal preferences. Tea beside leather provides a clear reason to try it. Someone hoping for an uncomplicated black tea scent may want to see how the other seven notes affect the finished oil.

Wear, Occasions and Impressions

A quiet autumn afternoon, a café pause or time spent reading offers a setting for tea with leather. A shirt and light knit would suit the occasion.

On skin, the practical questions are which of the two tea notes stands out, how much fruit the dewberry contributes, and whether the leather feels prominent. Those impressions, rather than the old or new name alone, are the best basis for choosing it.