Smoky Soul
Marc-Antoine Corticchiato's soul of tea: Sri Lankan black tea given a smoky shading by Java vetiver, with osmanthus, an apricot-like fruitiness and a trace of seaweed.
Perfumer: Marc-Antoine Corticchiato
Smoky Soul is built around Sri Lankan black tea extracted with supercritical CO2. Titled The Soul of Tea, it is Marc-Antoine Corticchiato's attempt to capture a weightless moment and the grace of the materials. In the composition, Java vetiver essence gives the tea a smoked character, bringing out facets of burnt, hot wood; osmanthus absolute melts into it, and patchouli essence tempers the whole.
Indian black pepper deepens the spicy, dark side of the tea, while an apricot-like fruitiness accompanies the osmanthus, leaving a soft sweetness and a carnal warmth inside the smoke. A trace of French seaweed absolute heightens the mossy, savoury, mineral notes of some Chinese teas.
The photographs are by Tuul & Bruno Morandi.
