The Matcha 26 Le Labo for women and men

As someone who is completely obsessed with Matcha Meditation from Margiela, I find that Le Labo's The Matcha 26 is like its more sophisticated, older sister. She exudes cleanliness and organization, opening up with a pleasant soapy note. Over time, she evolves into a fragrance reminiscent of dry, uprooted grass with a hint of something sweet (like sticky rice) yet roasted. The complexity of the notes is so refined that I can't quite identify any of them specifically (although I don’t detect any fig, for sure). I can't stop smelling my wrists like a maniac though ! I wouldn't have had the chance to experience this amazing fragrance if my friend hadn't gifted it to me for my birthday, as I've been eyeing it forever.

No matter how corny this may sound, I believe this scent truly embodies who I am as a person; which is invigorating.

My favorite le labo, in fact one of the only two le labos I like beside the Poivre. Just a great elegant sweet fig scent with the most delicious dry down. Projection could be better, but longevity is pretty good on shirt.

Adquirí una botella de 25ml en una casa de inspiración llamado atelier essence por 6dlls, es muy relajante, delicado hasta sensual sin ser hostigoso. Algunos los describen como olor a ancianos pero también me da muchos cumplidos cuando está recién aplicado. Imagino una casa de madera en el bosque con mucha humedad, donde comen frutas y beben té mientras llueve.
Mi pareja me preguntó ayer por qué me puse su perfume vetyver de loccitane, mientras llevaba matcha.
Estoy por terminarlo y conseguiré una botella más grande.

I have heard from this fragrance just recently and knew it wouldn`t smell like Matcha. So I had no big expectations. The scent is in my opinion nothing to remember, nothing to deep, it is a nice green, clean, fresh scent with some softness. I could tell there was something fruity involved, with some soft earthy undertones, but nothing I could point my finger on. The scent for me is ok, nothing I`d spend 200 to 300 € on as it does not stand out much enough.

I really wanted to love this scent, but I just cannot bring myself to do it after repeated attempts. Le Labo fragrances are very hit or miss, and I guess Thé Matcha 26 just doesn’t “match-a” my taste or skin chemistry. On me, this smells immediately spicy and there’s something extremely abrasive about it, which just becomes more and more off-putting the longer it lingers.

With its list of notes, I should, in theory, adore this. I love fig-based fragrances, green earthy notes, and I like the scent of matcha. But I’ve tried this fragrance multiple times, and all I get is woods and spice. It smells like spicy Christmas…whatever that means, I’m not even entirely sure TBH. But I am sure that I need to give up on this one.

Le Labo describes this fragrance as “introverted and deep by nature, Thé Matcha 26 is a skin scent, something meant for, and only those individuals lucky enough to be very close to, the wearer.” To which I ask, skin scent? FOR WHOM, exactly?! This ain’t no skin scent - this is a spice bomb that holds its wearer captive at gunpoint and teabags your nostrils like it’s conducting a water-boarding interrogation. Alright, Le Labo, I’ll tell you what you want to know, just make the spiciness stop!

PS – for those who don’t know, it’s Thé Matcha, not The Matcha ("thé" as in the French word for "tea"). While it might be pretentious to dole out language lessons, we are still talking about the French here.

In five words or less: This matcha isn’t a match.

I do not like Le Labo fragrances - I've never found one that I would buy, and I'm really not a fan of smelling them on other people either. I'm sure it's my nose, because I cannot smell a single note that people are describing in the comments.

I will say that at first spray, there is a distinct creaminess and an intriguing dry vetiver underneath it all that made me hopeful that it could be one that works on my skin, but alas - it gets sour as time passes and the combination of that and the earthy vetiver is very reminiscent of body odor.

There is a distinct Le Labo DNA that comes across as hot plastic. With Santal 33, it's plastic mixed with pickle, and with Thé Matcha it's plasticky sweat. I think this brand and me will just never get along, but I still think it's worth testing if there's a fragrance counter near you.

Edit: I found a fragrance that reminds me of this but does it so much better. Avocado Toast by DSH perfumes is an incredibly creamy fragrance that has hints of greeness and earthy grain notes. To me, it's a sister to Thé Matcha (not the same, but comparable) without the grating synthetics.

really subtle and nice. smells almost like a gentle body cream. I really like it for summer, but am conflicted if it's worth the price point. does not smell like matcha tea but it smells calm and clean and creamy like how I would expect someone who often drinks matcha latte would smell.

Sweet, woody and creamy, I don’t smell this in the cold, but in the sun and warmth it fades beautifully and silently into the skin. A quiet scent but relaxing and calming, and yes it does last for a good while.

I don’t really smell the matcha or maybe I’ve just had the wrong type of matcha :pp but I really love it for what it is!

Confused by the ”weak performance” comments. Wore one spray of it and still smelt it from almost a feet away after six hours, then after taking a shower was still able to pick it up. Smooth and uplifting, overall great scent!

Do not put this on at the house! That’s right this is a beautiful, creamy, airy and light scent. It is adorable, and I cannot get enough of it particularly the opening and not to mention that beautiful creamy dried out. However, you will only enjoy this for an hour or two and people around you will be able to enjoy it at most an hour after you spray it on, so here’s what you need to do put some on when you first get dressed take a bottle or a decant with you arrive at your location put the car in park unbuckle your seatbelt gather all your things and then spray yourself on the neck right before you go in And only then will you get that recognition for the next hour from someone else after that it becomes a totally intimate scent between you and your skin . And that’s not a stab at the fragrance. I love it , IJS this is how this fragrance rolls.

Beautiful creamy fig scent with a burst of orange that takes on almost a sweetart candy quality. I’m not sure this smells like matcha, but it is unique; fresh and creamy/woody/fruity all at once. I only wished it lasted longer than a couple hours.

This fragrance starts out with a very strong orange and cedar smell. Once it dries down, the matcha note starts popping out. It’s a very green and earthy kind of smell that’s combined with the near-overwhelming sweetness of the bitter oranges at the same time. There is an awkward phase at the beginning where I can’t really tell whether I like it or not, but it doesn’t take very long for all the different scents to start balancing out nicely and smell like a real sweet matcha!

I was a bit confused at how I couldn’t smell the fig at all, but after reading a bit more into the fragrance I realised they’re using the scent from the fig leaves and not the fig itself! Which is interesting. I think it works out well for this perfume.

The sillage is pretty similar to Noir 29, except the moderateness only lasts for about an hour instead of two before it shifts to sitting very close to the skin. The longevity is also moderate.

While I have been looking for a green scent to add to my collection, The Matcha 26 is too earthy on me, so I likely won’t be getting a full bottle for this one, but I’ll make good use out of what remains of my tester!

The fig scent here is not from the fruit but rather the Fig leaves which gives it a sharper and creamy scent. Maybe that is why you aren’t getting a lot of “Traditional Fig Scent”

Tea/matcha is something that hard to pull off in fragrance IMO. It could smell very synthetic, not prominent or not longlasting
This one didn't even smell like a matcha on first spray and dried down to a fig note.
Longevity is less than an hour, and overall SPL are poor
For this price point, i'm suprised this perform even worse than Replica's matcha meditation omg

A beautiful cup of matcha. It is sweet and photorealistic. It is so light and relaxing perfect for warm weather use for men and women. It does carry the Silver Mountain Water DNA and as much as I like this scent I must admit better tea fragrances exist. Lasted surprisingly long. However, you have to truly love this fragrance as it is pricy.
Scent: 9/10
Performance:6/10
Price: 7/10
Overall: 7.3/10

Great scent with a longevity of less than 30 minutes. I use a dupe from Perfume Parlour that is an extrait and lasts and projects (it's an identical clone)! Ideal for Springtime. As I've been wearing this a lot lately there is definitely a woody cedar note that is prominent in the drydown that I didn't notice before. Opening with citrusy matcha fades quickly.

really really beautiful unisex fragrance - this does just smell like sweet matcha. I love this, although personally I think in terms of matcha fragrances I would opt for Margiela's Matcha Meditation as it is sweeter and I tend to lean more towards gourmands. This fragrance is sweet but more fresh, and is perfect year round but seems like it would be beautiful for spring. The sillage is lovely and not offensively strong, and it lasts a few hours but is one you would have to reapply throughout the day.

almost an exact copy of masque milanos lost alice, just a bit creamier. go for lost alice if you like thé matcha its like half the price

a pleasant woody scent that doesn’t really smell anything like tea. it is completely unisex. something in the opening was not my favourite (smelled a bit like a bathroom cleaner) but that part quickly faded and left a lovely wood and milky smell. lasting power was weak considering the price.

Strong citrus (orange) and wood scents. Slightly earthy, learning more towards green tea than matcha. Orange is very overpowering and shines through, from top to base. Some milkiness from the faint figs. Agree with the "skin scent" comments.

First Le Labo scent I’ve tried & based on the notes, I thought there was a good chance I’d like it… it’s a no from me though. All I get is the sharp bitter orange and wood on my skin, and I’d say it leans masculine. My boyfriend also didn’t like it enough to justify the cost

Did not enjoy the lactonic, creamy and powdery scent to it. Next time I will find a green tea scent without the lactonic undertones

Is the matcha in the room with us? Because I am not smelling it. It honestly reminds me of a reed diffuser I used to have, and frankly didn't really enjoy. Overall I wouldn't say this smells like something you'd get from a high end house; it smells like wood shavings and fig.

A delightfully lactonic fig skin scent. I drink matcha daily and have experimented with different grades. I'm sorry, there's no matcha here. Nor do I think of matcha as being particularly fragrant to begin with. But this is a wonderful fragrance. I am a fan of creamy, lactonic fig as opposed to fresh, green fig. This feels like a modern composition to me. When I smelled this, I thought maybe I should give up my dream of finding a decadent signature fragrance, as regulations and trends seem to be phasing out that once-abundant style. Maybe I would embrace wearing a gentle skin scent and a new era. This perfume is perfectly modern, a quiet cocoon for the wearer.

One of the worst releases I can remember. Smells nothing like matcha tea. Basic Basic Basic.

Just picture a cloudy, foggy day in Japan and you're soaking in a soothing onsen with a cup of hot tea. For my cool girlies, this scent is the perfect addition to your collection! At first, I was disappointed that it wasn't as matcha-forward as I expected; however, as a fig lover, I ended up really enjoying this regardless. It's fresh, citrusy, and green with the matcha lingering in the background in an earthy and herbal fresh way. When I wear this, I feel relaxed, focused, collected, and grounded.

This smells almost identical to Cedar Violet by Aerin. Surprised no one has put that in the “smells like” section. It’s pure violets and Cedar to me. That’s all I smell. I’m shocked violets aren’t in the note breakdown.

Winter's icy grip loosens as the sun's gentle embrace welcomes the vibrant arrival of spring. The world fills with a spectrum of hues, painting a symphony of colour and renewed vitality. The plants begin to bloom, the animals begin to come alive, the wind begins to dance, and Denny begins to wear Thé Matcha 26. This blended masterpiece captures the essence of spring flawlessly, each whiff sweeping you away to a realm of blooming beauty and serenity. The soft notes of ripe figs and creamy matcha relax each nerve in your body, while the woody undertone grounds you in mother nature. The sharp but complimenting citrus leaves vestiges of bergamot and lemon with every step. Each element fits seamlessly, it truly is perfumery done right. 10/10

Le Labo’s tea fragrances remain on top for me. Thé Noir is one of my all time favourite fragrances, so I had to give this a try and I wasn’t disappointed. A creamy sweet fig note, juicy but not overpowering orange, fresh greenery, and the slightest, subtle smokiness from vetiver.

I said that I love Thé Noir because it’s sweet, fresh and smoky all at the same time. So is Thé Matcha, but in a totally different way. No, you don’t get a lot of matcha, that note fleetingly hangs around in background, but I don’t even care.

Bitter orange strikes first, rich and juicy. Deeper and livelier than typical citruses. Against the cedar, the warm orange is amplified and creates a soft, inviting tea accord. Far from matcha, but the same comfort of creamy tea is here; something cozy and relaxing, and natural. The dry cedar binds everything together. Vetiver is absolutely present and I can feel its green and sparkling character. Something about it is almost spicy, but less pepper and more ginger; almost cinnamon. I'm surprised more people haven't perceived it this way! The bitterness keeps the orange out of sticky sweet territory. Instead, this is soft and approachable, and relaxed enough for daily wear. A remarkably fresh but grounded vibe.

Very, very fig. Really, it's the entire tree, not just the fruit. I suspect they put 'Matcha' in the name only to take advantage of the skyrocketing popularity of matcha. Something in this doesn't sit well on my skin, and I get an unpleasant sourness after a few hours. But my skin turns everything earthier, so I had to jettison this.

Years back, there was a candle at Target, called Leave Your Worries Behind, from Happy Place. Its scent was fig tree. This smells almost exactly like that candle; and that's not a bad thing. I must have bought that candle ten times before it was discontinued.

I love this fragrance. This fragrance is light and airy love the fresh opening and I can see where people feel like this is Santel 33’s little sister because you definitely get a whiff of that for a brief moment midway through the journey of the scent, but then it dries down to something beautifully soft musky and citrus all at the same time.got my bottle at Saks and I went to the restroom and sprayed some on before I drove to the airport to catch my flight. When I got on the car rental shuttle the driver said man that cologne you have on is smooth. Crazy cuz I have to say this doesn’t seem like it projects as far as some of my other stuff, and it’s definitely not as strong and overpowering as Amouage but often times throughout the day I get whiff of it and I don’t know if anybody else is getting it but fir reals it doesn’t even matter all that matters is I can smell it, and it is so satisfying when I do. definitely unisex and I can’t see why this wouldn’t be a crowd pleaser unless you just allergic to citrusy things.😋‼️

As a tea connoisseur, I was extremely excited to try this fragrance. I grew up drinking green teas and eating matcha-flavored products. As an adult, I stock my cabinet with a wide selection of green teas: matcha, genmaicha, hojicha, etc. When I sprayed this scent, I was hoping for a kind of distilled "eau de green tea", but instead, I was overwhelmed with a strong, almost sickeningly sweet smell that burned my nostrils (the fig, I think). It was sharp, pungent, and reminiscent of overripe flowers/fruit, or perhaps of wet wicker furniture left to mold. It somehow reminded me of plastic or play-doh. These notes lasted for 1–2 hours. After that, the dry down revealed more of the matcha notes, and when I closed my eyes and concentrated, I could imagine that I was inhaling the scent of a hot cup of matcha in my hands. However, there was also a cloying sweetness reminiscent of Nishane's Wulong Cha (the fig?) as well as a wood note reminiscent of Santal 33 (the cedar?). These notes for me were undesirable, and the play-doh or plastic impression never entirely went away. Overall, the dry down was not offensive, but it also wasn't particularly pleasant. This perfume lasted at least 8 hours on me.

When I think of matcha, I think of clean, grassy warmth. The appeal of a high-quality cup of matcha or green tea is in its simplicity. Because I strongly disliked the fermented/overripe impression, and because I found the sweet and woody base notes distracting, I'd rate this a 4/10.

A nice scent. I get more a woody, fig and slightly creamy scent. I don't really get matcha.
More a skin scent however and a moderate longevity.

This is currently my #1 favorite perfume… based on scent alone I give it a 10/10. However it’s definitely more of an intimate skin scent and lacks in sillage and projection. This is perfect for those who are looking for an inoffensive, soft natural scent of matcha and fig. It’s creamy, slightly green and literal perfection to my nose!! I find myself resperaying throughout the day because I crave this scent and want to smell it again and again!! It’s true love for me- but there is also a nearly perfect dupe for a fraction of the price called Eau de Matcha by Montagne. But if you’re willing to spend the $$ Thé Matcha 26 is worth every penny!! It has my heart!

Bought this after receiving a sample as I found I could not stop huffing my wrist after I wore it. Initially I thought it was a little too figgy and dusty and found it to be uninspiring. After about an hour I kept catching the scent and found I kept sniffing my wrist. Lovely. Fig in spade, lovely balance of notes which means the fig is not overly fruity - has a dry quality about it like old books and pencil shavings - delightful.

I ordered the whole Le Labo doscovery set and this one was the first one I tried. So disappointing. From someone who loves matcha and powdery things, I expected to get at least some of it. And then fig - sounded incredible. But it opened with bitter orange, fully destroying all hopes of fruity powdery tea, then leads to cedar wood. Overall the experience of a bitter orangey wood. I really hope the other smells of Le Labo are better

not getting matcha from this. it's a soft, powdery fig scent that's pretty clean, could be a good everyday or post-shower scent if you're willing to buy a fb. longevity is all right (started to smell pretty faded after 5hr) but it's more of a skin scent that doesn't project much. i enjoy it; it's a relaxing scent, akin to being in a nice spa.

Definitely fig forward. I've seen many reviews call this the softer little sister of Santal 33 but I don't see the connection at all, other than the underlying musk that Le Labo uses in all of their frags. I think of The Matcha 26 as somewhat sweet but not necessarily gourmand. It's more linear than some of my other Le Labo scents. I think it's a great summer scent and since I bought it on a visit to Brooklyn it's come to remind me of that city in the summer.

Dusty bookshelf was the first thing that came to mind when I sprayed this.
The 'matcha tea' note is like dry powdered milk to my nose. Baby formula maybe?

Energised by a little kick of orange in the back, but not enough to bring this fragrance to life.
Some gently sweet, gently vegetal fig adds some individuality to the overall effect.

An antique woodiness underneath adds even more dust to the dust.

Simultaneously unique and boring.

VERDICT: Not offensive, not appealing.

I feel like I would really like this on someone else, but for me it was too sweet and cloying and very loud. I also don’t get much of a true matcha note. Maybe just doesn’t work for my skin!

I spray this as soon as I get out of the shower because it starts out with a sharp citrus green smell and I don't particularly care for it, and then settles into something warm and creamy. It smells nothing like matcha but it's what I'd choose for a cold snowy day while I'm drinking a matcha latte, just a calm warm comfort scent.

This is my favorite Le Labo scent I've tried.

For reasons I can’t explain, this scent gave me anxiety attacks on both occasions that I wore it. It also lingered on the coat I was wearing after I had put it on and the next time I wore the coat I also got an anxiety attack even though I had already given the perfume away and it had been days since I wore the coat and perfume.

100 percent not matcha scented. HOWEVER, was pleasantly surprised with my purchase. Once applied the initial experience with the fragrance is calming, yet harsh and pungent (in the best way possible) after about 30 minutes Matcha 26 relaxes into a softy sweet and creamy sent with undernotes of nature.
Ended up gifting it to my girlfriend because the sent was a little feminine for myself. She loves it

I loved it, but I couldn't really feel the matcha in it when testing it. Smells citrusy, clean, nice enough to purchase it for myself, but then I remembered why I liked it so much. To me, it smells very much Jo Malone's "Wood Sage & Sea Salt", which is one of my to-go's for daily perfume. I already have a bottle of that one, but I'd gladly purchase this one when I'm finished with Wood Sage. They seem very similar to me, in my skin!

This is a great year rounder scent for the days where you just want to smell clean and fresh. Every time I wear this with Another 13 I get compliments (not fetching for them, it just happens 😅)

I don't get the matcha here, mostly herbal woody, slightly sweet fruity, which is nice, but not for my taste. I'm definitely not the target audience.

doesn't smell like matcha at all. New signature scent

This perfume has the depth and complexity that you expect from Le Labo — at first, it’s creamy and woodsy and has a loose tea leaf aromatic quality. A little goes a looooong way. On me, I find I get self-conscious about how strong it smells and it dries down a bit too soapy on me.

I'm not sure this is a matcha/fig scent as much as it is a woody/cedar scent. It's probably going to remind you of a generic woody house scent, candle, or something you've encountered before.


Side notes:

It's a very likable scent, and is definitely quality for what the scent profile offers. It's just not that interesting of a scent and you've probably encountered this scent profile a dozen times prior.

just don't get fooled because this thing is almost nothing but fig imo. i do like it though, it's an intimate scent consisting of fig (mostly) and wood, with underlaying notes of citrus and tea. i can see this being an everyday scent and it has really decent longevity (but close sillage). i got a sampler, and although i do like it, i don't feel i would get a full bottle considering the price point. other than that this is a solid fragrance, good to use on gloomier days

This is drinking a matcha latte, lightly sweetened, in a white high-quality, heavy robe at a very expensive spa. You’ve just exited the sauna, had a massage, and you’re lounging in front of a large window facing tall bamboo trees. I had an experience like this at the Muckross Hotel Spa in Ireland- I’ve never been more at peace.

The longevity is phenomenal. My sample has actually gone quite far and I’m usually an oversprayer. I can’t wait to make this my new signature. The fig is prominent, not dominant. It’s fig dusted in beautiful hotel-lobby powder.

Could a masculine man where this??

the perfect every day scent and i always getting compliments when i wear it!!!

My go to cloudy weather scent.

The woods, bitter orange and matcha temper the ripe sweetness of the fig, creating a dreamy, cloudy haze of calm.

A warning to the not so lucky few who have ISO E sensitivities: Although it's not listed in the notes, there definitely seems to be some in here. It’s certainly not as nose-watering and headache-inducing as it is in Another 13, however.

This is a fig lovers dream. I personally smell no orange notes on my hand. It’s perfectly unisex. There is nothing “earthy” about this scent. It’s a little sweet, tea / fig based scent that’s is very pleasing to be around. However, the price point makes no sense after smelling Montange Eau Matcha. I sold this bottle and got a bottle of that for $40. Smells so amazing. Literally the same scent / performance for a fraction of the cost. I was so impressed with this I ordered 6 bottles of various fragrances I love. All with the exception of the Aventus clone, they are all 98% identical, it’s wild.

As a NYer, this brand is the embodiment of this city. Overpriced and more of a status niche than actual quality. But it fails in terms of being a status symbol as it isnt quite that high end of a brand. $322 for a "skin scent" that they openly put into the description LOL. Doesnt even smell anything like green tea.
If you have $300+ to throw away go buy Amouage, Nishane or FM.
If you want quality get PDM, Xerjoff.
If you want practicality get a bunch of Manceras and designer frags.

This isn't particularly a 'matcha' scent but it's a beautiful sweet 'clean' dream!! I cannot wait to one day get my hands on a bottle as this brand is so pricey.

A solid fig and tea fragrance. While matcha is meant to be the overruling component, it doesn't really appear to me, nor does it come across as a dense, earthy matcha. A fresh and clean-cut scent is what I get. Performance is alright, but it becomes a skin scent over time.

smells better and better the longer it dries.. sweet and fresh, perfect fragrance for springtime!

it gives a more fruity/woody opening. Not an earthy matcha.

On my skin this smells spicy and very musky, and just a little bit creamy. I wish it was a more sweet and lactonic… it turns a little sour on my skin.

Not a fig, not a matcha, neither here nor there.
I am looking for a creamy, rich, realistic matcha scent - please drop me a note if you have come across one.

It is ok, not special , but not horrible.
Overpriced.
Freshy with powdery accords , like mixing a little bit of almond milk with matcha and some cheap citrusy body lotion.

The most comforting and soft cloud of pure zen. Delicious, creamy fig/matcha goodness. Calm in a bottle.

Lingers in the air weeks after I've opened the cap of my sample, but lasts 2 hours tops on my skin. The only time I'd ever justify buying a bottle (and that would be for bedtime use only, to put me to sleep) is if I randomly fell upon some large sum of money. It's a skin scent for sure - don't expect anyone to catch a whiff of it unless they've got you crushed in their arms.

Thé Matcha and Wood, Sage & Sea Salt - two beautiful scents with the sillage and longevity of a breath of air.

smells like cat pee

Sadly, although I love le labo, this one was a major miss. It smells bitter on my skin but lacks the herby sweetness of matcha. Doesn't last long on my skin - I think this one is worth testing before buying

Doesn't smell like matcha at all to me, but all the same I love how soft, airy, and clean (almost soapy, but not quite) this scent is. I suppose it does smell a bit herbal but it's mostly natural, woody fig, creaminess to me. It's so comforting. Pretty decent sillage in comparison to other Le Labo scents which tend to be intimate/skin scents on me; my coworkers noticed it on me.

This is a stunning green tea scent. A clean, slightly powdery (but never too much!), refreshing matcha delight, a tea aroma that’s not sharp by any means. It sits close to my skin, quite an intimate scent and very comforting. This is one of those fragrances that just had me go ‘yep, this smells like me’ when I first tried it in an Amsterdam perfumery. I see this being in my collection for many years to come.

This fragrance is divine. It opens with a burst of citrus and a hint of green but dries down into a soft and creamy dream. On me it creates a beautiful scent bubble that lasts 6-8 hours. I will never be without a bottle in my collection.

Starts out fresh and woody and dries down to the best matcha latte scent I've been able to find. Milky, fresh, and airy. Creamy without being sour or overwhelming. Sits close to the skin, but I was able to smell it all day when I sniffed my arm.

I was a bit disappointed in this fragrance. It was recommended to me because of how much I love Father Figure by Phlur, and they are nothing alike. This fragrance is cool like mint and reminds me nothing of matcha or tea, for that matter. I also don’t smell fig, which I associate as mildly sweet and fruity. I’ll give it another go in a couple of weeks to see if anything changes.

This is heaven!!!! So creamy, sweet, fresh and airy. I am definitely buying a big bottle. Smells like an expensive clean girl. Not too bitter and perfect in all the notes. Blended very well, I literally rolled my eyes when smelling!

If you're a MATCHA lover like me, debating whether or not you should buy this perfume. I say go for it. I'm talking to the REAL matcha lovers, not the basic kind that think you can only have it with oat milk. This is a beautiful, fresh, clean matcha perfume. Nothing in your face.

It's being out on the country on a nice chilly day, no wind, just perfect. Sitting around an open flame, your better half putting a pot of water to boil while you just watch.. It's ready, he grabs an enamel steel mug and pours in some hot water. He opens up a packet of green tea, adds honey and lets it steep while he mixes matcha in a separate mug. Grabs ice from his YETI cooler, puts some in a mason jar, pours in the green tea, then matcha, a bit of cinnamon, a lice of orange, and stirs. He hands it to you, along with fresh cut figs, and a kiss. "Thank you baby" You say to him, smiling in admiration.

That's what it smells like to me. Fresh figs & an iced matcha green tea with honey, an orange slice and cinnamon. On a bright chilly day. It's refreshing, energetic but warm at the same time. I love it alone during the day, if I go out at night, I do layer with coconut. (It performs better, in my opinion) Turning it into an iced matcha coconut latte with cinnamon. But much more sophisticated, cozy, and incredibly sexy! One of my favorites from Le Labo. BISOUS

to me this opens quite powdery and green but dries down more creamy and woody. i heard someone say this is a cool, clean girl scent but someone told me i smell like a fancy grandma so i guess it's pretty subjective?? longevity is decent (i could still smell it very faintly after 7 hours) and sillage is moderate leaning intimate, although i get whiffs of this when i move around throughout the day. i really wanted to love this but unfortunately i only like it (⇀‸↼‶) enjoyable but not for everyone!

I think that the le labo price tag is only worth it with a few of the core collections, and only 2 of the city exclusives. This is one of them. It has a warm, creamy feel that I haven’t been able to encapsulate in any other fragrance. It’s light and bright while also being cozy and warm. It feels like being wrapped in a blanket on a cold morning. In my opinion, this is 100% FBW

one of my most expensive perfumes, but i can justify it because i love it so much. i smell the fig sometimes when i sniff the nozzle, but not really on the skin. the first spray is bright green floral and citrus with a slight creamy sweetness. this is where i smell the fig the most before it disappears completely. i actually don't get "airy" at all; if anything, there is a deep velvety musk (other commenters have noted this is probably iso e), on which the refreshing matcha-orange scents blend on top of. it dries down on me and the brightness turns slightly sour and the cream powdery scent dries into something more sweet and woody, like if old books had a fruity quality instead of a dustiness. i have also sampled santal 33 by le labo, and while i understand the comparison, to me, the matcha 26 is far more modern and leans softer and more feminine to some while santal 33 is harsher, louder, and truly unisex. the smell dissipates very quickly outdoors, so don't waste this scent spraying it on outer layers of clothes. wear it sparingly and directly on the skin, and let the scent transform over the day, so that when someone is within arms length of you they will pick up the most subtly complicated sweet scent.

I really like this. It opens quite green, herbal and woody but dries down to a figgy, softly spiced dry down. I feel like this is a good white t-shirt scent for daily/office wear. It is like a soapier, more minimal version of Parisian Musc by Matiere Premiere. And a softer, less spicy, more daytime appropriate little sister to my beloved The Noir 29. It captures the savoury nature of matcha, smells like a woody almost salty musk, in the same wheelhouse as Eau Papier by Diptyque, and suitable for the same occasions. If this scent was a colour it would be green, not as vivid as matcha green but a pale peppermint green.

Might just be my new signature. It’s meant to be a skin scent I think but on me a projects moderately as I get whiffs of it randomly throughout the day. Pretty long lasting too if you’re indoors all day. I would think this fragrance would struggle in the cold or outdoors. Nevertheless this is such a refreshing scent. Full bottle worthy for me.

So weird, I started getting pickle vibes in later stages of the dry down. I’ve always heard of people complain about pickle juice in Santal 33, which I don’t get, but I’ve never heard anyone mention it from The Matcha.

Overall, I find the scent too harsh for my nose, perhaps the strong fig note, borderline headache inducing. But I put up with it cause it’s my wife’s favourite ☺️

Smelling this in the bottle, I thought it would hate it, but smelling it on a tester it’s surprised me. However spraying it on my skin it reads more masculine, and I wouldn’t wear it myself.

I have no major complaints but I agree with the review below that this smell is green and woody. I don’t get tea or earthiness from it.

yeah, not getting matcha at all, unfortunately. it doesn't even really read as green or woody to me, either. sprayed about ~4 hours ago, and it's dried down to just a really soapy smell. :/

Personally not a big fan, it is pretty similar to their Santal 33, but 33 is more of a straight ride, base notes from the start to the end. 26 is much stronger, with a hint of fruitiness in it, It gives me a headache towards the base note for some reason, also I think the name is kind of misleading, I am Asian myself, so I am familiar with the smell of matcha, match 26 doesn't smell anything like it, it doesn't have that clean, fresh tea smell matcha has, it's rather sweet and woody. Definitely buy samples before you purchase this fragrant

This one is a wonder for me, it wasn't a love at first sniff. I usually hate woody notes, and I found Noir too bitter for me, I love matcha and this one doesn't smell like Matcha at all, it is way more citrusy, but this is just amazing. I fell in love with it, it is absolutely out of my usual taste, I usually can't stand earthy woody tones, but after the first hour, it becomes so beautiful green fresh and citrusy, a bit powdery and much subtle and real, that I just love it. The only problem I have with it is the price.

In my opinion, Le Labo's "signature" is in their blending -- camouflaging the notes their fragrances are named after in skillful or unexpected ways, rather than showcasing them front and center. This can sometimes be misleading to those who are not familiar with the house. Santal is a blast of dill, labdanum is powdery civet, patchouli becomes Memphis bbq and so on...

The Matcha 26 is no different, but it is absolutely lovely. Opening is a clean floral green tea which settles into a creamy, sweet fig and cedar base. Like other reviewers have mentioned, there definitely seems to be some Iso E here even though it is not listed. You can smell it very clearly after a few hours -- cozy & airy.

If I could go back in time, I would definitely purchase this over Santal 33 as it is overall smoother, creamier, and more refined and luxurious.

I smelled this in store without knowing the notes first. It smelled nice enough on paper, so I tried it on skin.

I've been looking for a fig fragrance. Philosykos was was beautiful, but too green for it to feel like it was for me. Thé Matcha is so creamy, and I like that it's more of a skin scent. My nose tends to be sensitive, and I headache easily with most fragrances, tending to spray my fragrances for four sprays and nothing more. My boyfriend can spray his cologne strength fragrance, and I'll smell it from across the room. I'm a fan of cedar base notes.

I get creamy fig for the first half of the fragrance, and the bitter orange helps balance out how strong the fig is on initial spray. I don't get matcha until about halfway in, where it's still not the main event, but best supporting actor. I get the touches of creamy earthy bitterness of the matcha that balance out the fig. I think most wouldn't classify this as a sweet fragrance, and I don't like sweet fragrances at all, but there's just a touch of sweetness from the fig that is perfect for me.

I tested this in store at noon, and am writing at 8:30 PM. I still smell the fig when I press my nose to skin, and though gone now, I got whiffs on cinnamon once the 6 hour mark hit. This fragrance really has multiple stages of development on me, and I can't wait to smell it again.

Don't believe the olfactory pyramid, this is one of the best blended creamy perfumes you'll find.

It holds together different and almost opposing facets: an interesting bitter orange opening (with a hardly perceptible green accord of matcha tea laid on it) and a very creamy wood base.
Some might resemble this creaminess to some of the milkiest sandalwoods out there (TF santal blush), but it does go much deeper (and more natural) than that, with a deliciousness that reminds you of the fruity tobacco base of other le labo's The Noir. Other than sweet tobacco and buttery sandalwood the accord smells simply creamy in the most light whipped-cream sense, never too gourmand but very much in a segue from the dribbling fruit core: a gorgeous lactonic fig.
This delicious cental fruity accord is often used by le labo with different inflections: nightly and sexy in The Noir, fresh and elegant in Bergamote and properly ripe and creamy here.
Describing it as a pure fig would be far from the truth (nothing like the photorealistic one in Philosikos-diptyque).
Rather, it's that irresistible le labo fruit blend, here rendered as a very pulpy late summer fruit concoction: definite ripe peach, hints of delicious plums/prunes (+ cherries maybe?) and a good dose of rich juicy figs.

The pulpy fruit core - which is never overpowering (see: pulp byredo) - magically connects and envelops the deep creamy finish with the citrus opening, for a mix which is energizing and comforting at once, but most of all simply exquisite.

Worth a try, regardless of your taste.

9.1/10

*DUPE ALERT* I got a small sample of this as an influencer I like put it in their top 10 fragrances so I wanted to try it, she said it was the ‘fresh’ fragrance in her top 10. I was very keen on this as a green tea fan and I’ve had my fair share of grassy-green matcha’s. Anyway, this was almost a complete replica for Maison Margiela Replica, Bubble Bath; the differences between the two? Bubble Bath lasts longer, a touch more coconut (although I do find the coconut in Bubble Bath barely noticeable anyway) and Bubble Bath has a more soapy element (despite being modern and clean), however I could barely tell them both apart. If you have Bubble Bath in your collection you need this just as much as you need an umbrella in the desert. It’s an ‘Okay’ from me as I’d rather save my money and purchase Bubble Bath!

Creamy and cozy. The creaminess is somehow “green” rather than anything heavy like whipped cream. Extremely wearable—creamy yet fresh—a quiet but dignified scent.

Woody, a little sweet, and clean. I love this scent! I get about 4 hours of good wear out of it with low-moderate sillage. This, to me, is a perfect fall scent. I wish LeLabo wasn’t so expensive because I already have 3 on my want list, this one included. Perfectly unisex.

i've been battling a cold recently, so by all means take this review with a grain of salt. but overall i think Thé Matcha 29 is lovely! like others have mentioned though, it's just not really giving... matcha. to me, it has a similar fruity/figgy DNA to Malin & Goetz Dark Rum, but then it takes a more herbal, grounded turn. they both have that clean soapiness to me, with a slight hint at citrus. Thé Matcha is just slightly more masculine-learning with the deep base of cedar and vetiver, whereas dark rum remains pretty light and sweet throughout.

this scent definitely reminds me of a grassy jasmine green tea (i swore that i smelled a pretty profound jasmine note, but maybe my nose deceived me, haha), but it definitely doesn't give me the earthy, rich notes of a matcha powder. not to say that it isn't gorgeous in it's own right, just a misnomer :)

last time i sampled a matcha fragrance it left me wishing for more astringency and more androgyny. thé matcha 26 by le labo has both in spades. what it doesn't have, regrettably, is a lot of matcha.

the citrus and the bitter-herbal vetiver create an impression that reminds me of slightly oversteeped green tea with lemon peel, but i don't get the grounded earthiness that is particular to matcha. though fleeting, i think replica's matcha meditation did a better job in conveying that specific matcha character. i also don't get a lot of the sweetness from the fig; to me this is downright green and woody and masculine-leaning. i like the cedar base, though: it's warm and comfortingly solid, a soft heart underneath a sharp exterior.

another reviewer pointed out that this smells like iso e super, and that was the eureka moment for me: that's exactly it! that sour, almost brutalist note that somehow reminds me a little of old electronics, which is nearly a weird enough scent association to make me enjoy it — but at the end of the day i'd still rather wear something else, unless i'm in a rather ascetic and/or masculine mood.

smells like green soap and boring

such a nice clean blend of all my favourite notes in perfume. actually a bit mad at how much i love this on my skin because nothing can justify this price to me. after revisiting the store to try it multiple times i noticed it lasts pretty well especially on my clothes. i don't get much sweetness or creaminess at all...on me and turns into a very clean, powdery skin scent that i love. a friend who smelled it on me has now also became obsessed with the matcha 26 lol and despite looking for a dupe for a while nothing has come close yet

The fig/matcha accord is rather sweet and fluffy and dominate for an hour or so before gradually vanishing into a base too similar to Santal 33.
Enjoyable but short-lived, and maybe boring.

I wanted something creamy tea like freshly luxury delicious "green " fragrance well this one its more than what I wanted! It's giving me the feeling like I sitting in a match tea house in Japan in a country side and savouring a delicious creamy match tea with fig and tangerin aside served with honey..delicious

Love the opening. It's so creamy and warm, slightly sweet. I have the lotion and tested perfume. I think it's mmy fav green tea perfume in the first 30 min. Then when it dries down it is a bit too mossy, like greens going bad. It's a shame. Wish it could just stay milky and matcha like. Also cit's not very long lasting. 2 hours tops.

I don't get matcha, but I adore the creamy cedar fragrance bomb that envelopes me when i first spray it.

I love the wear down and it has a comforting vibe, though on certain days it feels a bit too heavy for my liking. It smells like a high-end soap on my skin by the end of the day. Depending on my mood, I either find myself craving this or gravitating towards a more airy, fresh fragrance.

EDIT: there is absolutely NO sweetness to this at all, so the drydown becomes very masculine to me, and very umami in a not good way.

Very green, not sweet at all. Definitely smells like floral fragrant green tea, and iso e super. VERY strong iso e vibes in the beginning, and they stick around. In fact, this scent gives me a headache. It’s pretty strong for how mild its inspiration is!

completely pickle smell to me. i've tried very hard to find anything else in it and i can't. and i HATE pickles. very disappointing. i was really looking forward to the matcha + fig combo.

I love this, it’s perfection but… unlike the rest of Le Labo’s high-performing range, this just doesn’t last. Sometimes it my skin which drinks-up fragrance, so I made sure to spray this on my clothes. I sprayed 8 times and in the first hour my boyfriend commented that I smelt really nice, but after that it had become a close skin scent and it fades away unnoticed into oblivion. Such a shame, as Matcha 26 has all of the hallmarks to be my signature scent - it’s bamboo-woody, gently figgy without being too fruity, it’s not pickley like 33 or 29, it has a soft-spice-sophistication, the matcha is comforting as it encapsulates the warmth of the frothy green cup itself, it’s just perfectly zen-like, it’s atmospheric and unassuming like an innocent summers day from an idyllic childhood.
If Le Labo ever makes The Matcha 26 intense version, I’d have found my most perfect scent.

love it, however, dry down takes the santal 33 direction, almost identical.

Very nice, this in my skin smells very similar than moonlight in heaven by Killian without the tabaco note that my husband mentioned, he thought that I started smoking, because of this, while I love moonlight in heaven, it put me off from wearing it, I got two samples so I will probably buy a full bottle

when I got the chance to visit le labo in san fran I was initially only interested in making a beeline towards another 13 (which I did and I loved, but that’s neither here nor there), but when I smelled the dry down of thé matcha on paper, I was instantly captivated. this is such a beautiful scent—I agree with other reviewers that it’s fairly linear, but there’s also a lot of complexity brewing underneath that consistency if that makes sense.

I personally do get a lot of the matcha smell—another user mentioned high quality matcha bringing in a sort of umami note, and I totally get that. this opens on the greener end, but once this dries down on my skin and ESPECIALLY on my clothes, an almost savory undertone begins to develop. the sharpness of the citrus and vetiver is so beautifully cradled by warm and creamy notes, and it really does start to take on that intimate warm skin quality.

it surprising to me that this is classified as a skin scent—for me, this projects far, lasts an entire day on skin, and has so far lasted an entire WEEK on a hoodie I wore with it. I’m fairly pleased with the performance!

I think the more heady, umami quality pushes this just barely into not a safe blind buy territory. I almost hesitate to say this because I don’t want to scare others off from what is really a lovely fragrance, but something about this almost evokes…mustard? to my nose at least! key word being EVOKES—I can’t say it actually smells like mustard to me, but rather has a similar quality of being simultaneously tart, warm, and a little naturally sweet. I’m wondering if it’s just because of those sharper notes pulled down by something warmer and creamier, and that’s the first association my brain made for whatever reason, haha! but anyway, do keep in mind this is a LOVE review—I definitely don’t want to scare anyone off! just try before you buy, is all.

Ooh this is lovely. A truly unisex , creamy, woody and fruity (citrus & fig) fragrance. The matcha facet is not as prevalent.

It’s like the summery cousin of Gris Charnel.
Overall it’s refreshing and delicious without doing too much. Performance isn’t too bad for this scent family.

To my surprise, most people don't find this to be a depiction of matcha at all and instead pick up on other notes. To me this is a matcha, but not in it's purest form, it's a matcha in a high quality bubble tea- for frame of reference to Londoners, Kova Patisserie's Dirty Matcha Boba.

It is a very creamy and sweet matcha which I go to smell the bottle just to relish the scent even if I decide not to wear it on that day. The very first time I smelt it on Christmas 2021, I actually somewhat disliked it. It smelled weird. However, just 5 minutes later it became addictive and has continued to be addictive up until now.

It remains intimately on you for a long period of time and moderately projects. I believe I became slightly anosmic to it though as I could smell it much more intensely from a distance when I first received it.

From the varied reviews on the notes, I don't think this is blind buy appropriate but it has been a very pleasant perfume for me personally.

If u liked BDK - Gris charnel the edp , you will def like this , only difference is gris charnel is smockier, but all bottle worthy

A musky woody matcha that does not project big. Very linear. I don't pick up any fig.

This is The Noir 29 without rose absolute. A very comforting fig, by the way.

this smells like im sitting at a wood kitchen table with fruity tea early in the morning with the sunshine coming through the window. Next to me is a bowl of pithy citrus and toast with fig jam
on it. The morning should feel relaxing and comforting, but its a morning where you have work, so instead the zing of before work anxiety is going through you. I wish the cup of tea in my hand was milky matcha, and my citrus bowl wasn’t so strong smelling, and that I could enjoy this moment longer as its very fleeting.

Really really really love it at the first time . Matcha note just exist a little bit ,not really clear .
M26 have opening with Citrus , exactly is the bitter orange, but its through very fast. Just about 2-3 minutes , i found Fig note . And after that is the play of Fig and Cedar .
I think it have same vibe with Thé Noir 29 , but its more creamy , more softer . Smell very chillllllll.

LONGEVITY is OK , not bad . more than 7 hours and up in my skin
SILLAGE : skin scent ! You can smell its form other people if you stand near them.
You can use it in Spring , Summer and Fall

Totally , Thé Matcha 26 is one of favourite in my LeLabo collection. I really really love it.
If you finding a strong matcha note , its not suitable for you . But if you finding a soft matcha with Fig and Cedar , its really gooddd for you.

This is great. Unisex and soft, but with that great woodiness that Le Labo does so well in its most popular scents. I can't help but prefer rag & bone's Genmaicha. This is very similar, but Genmaicha has a much more pronounced green tea note and seems to last a bit longer. Both great for spring, and both deliver the same core DNA.

LMAO at Le Labo calling it a skin scent

Whenever my friend smells amazing and I ask what it is... it's always this scent. It's sometimes more citrusy, sometimes more fig, sometimes more creamy and summery, it changes even if it's light and subtle. As much I wish it projected more, there is a time and a place for softer sillage, this scent works for it.

calming, feminine, fruity fig scent with powdery matcha and hidden woods beneath. I adore the smell but this fragrance is very weak. Le Labo even classifies it as a “skin scent”, which in this case just seems like it means it’s less potent.

the first sprays are so airy that they feel like a dry down and after a scant few hours it completely disappears. a shame because I am obsessed with the smell, but I can’t justify a full bottle when it’s gone in an instant. for now, I wear my 10ml decant to bed because my SO loves it. the intimate projection makes it perfect for these situations

The matcha accord in this is beautiful. I think most people are familiar with matcha being green, bitter, earthy, etc. but good matcha such as Uji Hikari Cultivar matcha can smell of Unami, floral, citrusy, smooth, and sweet. I personally believe Le Labo did an amazing job capturing a good ceremonial grade matcha scent. The first 10-20min you get a good burst of citrus. The fig ads a smooth floral and green, but light sweetness. The backbone is woody but not over powering! Overall Matcha 26 is a light and comfy scent that embodies the spirit of a good Uji matcha that makes me feel calm and grounded. Although it is a lighter scent, it last about 6-7 hours.

After going for citrus-dominant scents for a while, I’ve found my new signature scent! 🙌 I’ve been intrigued by tea notes ever since I received a perfumed napkin sample of Molinard Thé Basilic and decided to purchase a full bottle. I tried other tea perfumes like Elizabeth Arden White Tea which was not as nice.

The warm fig and matcha and cedar notes in this with orange are subtle and create a Zen, comforting effect, light enough to suit my tastes. Unisex leaning on feminine. Good for all seasons. I will be asking for a full bottle of this for my next birthday. I would say this is a lighter version of another fig scent I adore, Figfever by Hermetica Paris that is heavier and for wintertime.

Same days the opening is quite bitter, some days greener. Fig is green and rounded but never major player. I feel that the scent is more beautiful on clothes than on skin. If you like Rose 31 or The Noir 29 you will like this too.

I’m coming around to really liking, and maybe even loving this fragrance. Like several other reviewers, I smell almost nothing but fig on my skin, and that led to a sense of initial disappointment with it. I really wanted the Matcha tea to reign supreme, or at least be as present as the fig to make it more interesting and in keeping with its description on the website. That said, I do like the way this fragrance dries down on me rather quickly into a creamy yet bright-but-not-sharp figgy richness. (Is that due to a soupçon of the bitter orange and cedar that I’m maybe perceiving? 🤔)

Now that I’ve adjusted my expectations to something far less complex and mysterious than it claims to be, I’ve come to appreciate the fact that Thé Matcha 26 performs well on my skin with its solid longevity, linear performance (which is a plus in my opinion, as long as I like what I’m smelling!) and sillage that leans more toward intimate. I’m now considering adding this to my small regular fragrance lineup. A little goes a long way for me, so I’m getting a good, long run out of the sample I ordered from the company, and I find myself reaching for it again and again and liking it more each time.

If you’re a lover of figs, I’d recommend giving this a try. In spite of Le Labo’s vibe that borders on the embarrassingly pretentious, they did manage to do justice to this lovely fruit by rendering it into a pleasing, if not straightforward, skin scent. Furthermore, the sticker shock is thankfully softened by the fact that a tiny spritz packs a good wallop, in the very best of ways.

I can see how this would be a great, creamy tea-based perfume for some...but I think I'm discovering more and more that tea is just not something that meshes with my body chemistry. When I first sprayed Matcha 26, I couldn't smell anything at all. I sprayed my arms about 10 times and finally a scent started to register. The overall scent is fresh and creamy with a teensy tiny hint of wood. It's nice, but...low key, it kind of smells like deodorant? A nice fresh deodorant, but not something I'd personally pay $200+ to smell like.

My recent trip to the Le Labo store in Brooklyn was a memorable experience. As I explored the fragrances, one particular scent caught my attention and blew me away. The Matcha 26 was so refreshing and captivating that I decided to purchase a tester on the spot, and a week later, I invested in a full-size bottle.

While some consider this a spring/fall scent, I believe it's versatile enough to wear year round. On it's own, the fragrance's fig, green tea, and cedar elements shine brilliantly, creating a fragrance that's perfect for fall, summer, and spring. During the colder months, the woody notes stand out, but what I love to do is layer it with Santal 33 to create a warmer interpretation. Blending the leathery/sandalwood notes from Santal 33 with the bright, bitter orange and delicate, creamy fig notes from The Matcha, creates a scent fit for a crisp winter.

Despite this scent's sillage being labeled as intimate, I've received compliments from people standing a few feet away. It's a beautifully subtle and versatile fragrance that never seems to overwhelm and my girlfriend loves it just as much as I do.

I just tried it and can say: a long lasting and noticeable perfume

I love this perfume. It is sunny and bright but also calming at the same time. Unexpected love for me. It lasts very long on clothes and skin and the dry down is very zen. Woody and citrusy.

P.S. if any know who's the perfumer is, I would really appreciate the info!

I tend to prefer "beast mode" fragrances but I was looking for something subtle to wear to the office. One of my coworkers has Another 13 so I wanted something similar-ish and I think I found it with Thé Matcha 26. It's more of a skin scent, so far it's been 3-4 hours since I put it on and I continue catching very pleasant whiffs of it. It is very creamy, a little bit lactonic. The fig in it reminds me vaguely of Diptyque's fig which is also creamy. You could say it's like a sweet matcha latte

Oh my gosh... I have to save up my money to buy the full bottle!! Tried the sample, its just 1 spray on my neck and i immediately fall in love! Last very long for me. Smells so good, clean, fresh and sophisticated <3

This is my favorite Le Labo and has become my signature scent. Especially on days where I just need a comforting smell. It sits close to the body, but on my skin it radiates. One whiff and it throws your mind into a meditation state and calms your senses. That’s kind of amazing to do without any of the typical “meditation” notes you can find in perfumery. The matcha in this is unique and beautiful, earthy but not too much so. The fig is creamy and non-offensive. The other notes just marry those two notes together perfectly. This one is a lifetime keeper.

strawberry kiwi capri sun but grown up. The fig notes are strong, maybe it's my body chemistry but all I smell is juicy juicy juicy. the wood doesn't come out until about an hour after spraying when it's mellowed out. I like this quite a bit post shower but I don't see myself wearing it anywhere else. Maybe I will change my mind in the summer, I could see wearing this by the pool?

On skin creamy, slightly musky, vetiver warm and ethereal. Almost lactonic scent with delicate aroma of figs.

On the paper matcha tea is clearer and more pronounced- pity I can't smell it more on my skin either.

I was testing Parisian Musc recently and I smell similarities but the comparsion would be more convinient for Thé Matcha, which is lighter, effortless. I mean it in very good sence: this is not so artificial: just graceful, balanced fragrance.

I really like it. Clean and noble. As introvert I found a strong sympathy for this quiet scent.

I’m getting lots of citrusy/soapy vetiver with a splash of creamy, sweet fig in the background. Def a summer scent. I really like it, and can see myself buying the roll on oil. I think the projection is decent. I can smell it on my wrists from my keyboard position.

It is a modern and not so complex version of Bvlgari Black.

I smell a burst of fig, citrus and fresh matcha, which isn’t too bitter but slightly green, in the opening which I love. Then it dries down to mostly bright cedar with remnants of the first mentioned notes. I honestly don’t get the Santal 33 and smell-alike comparisons. This is very woody but still not the pickled wood chip that people get in Santal 33, because there are fruity, aromatic facets preventing that. The fig is more fresh-fruity in the beginning to me, maybe with the help of the citrus, but it does become a little creamy. Never being harsh, they’re soft around the edges while still adding freshness. Very calming.

Projection quickly closes in as you wear, but a little more than intimate. Like the lower range of moderate. Somewhere in between. This also has moderate longevity to me at the moment. I do feel like it would get lost in the summer heat since it’s not as bright, but I’ll have to wait til next summer to confirm since it is winter now. However, I see this being perfect for spring and early fall. The Matcha 26 leans a little more feminine but can pass as unisex in my opinion.

The matcha derives of a powdery green slight earthy undertone which is very calming. I slightly detect the orange but it quickly vanishes away as its a pretty light scent, I would say the fig is there not to sweeten the fragrance, but to add its creamyness to the dominate matcha.

Thé Matcha 26 ✽✽

Expensive skin scent. While the smell of powdery matcha is itself rather pleasing, it’s barely noticeable.

Got a vial of this to test. I was very surprised! Not at all grassy, there’s a note in it that reminds me of Maison Margiela Bubble Bath. Cozy and sweet but clean.

This fragrance is nice enough, but it really should have been named Figuier 26 or something, because it's a straight-up fig fruit, leaf and cedarwood/vetiver scent. There's a fresh, woodsy greenness to it-- not the decidedly powdery, bitter, earthy, matcha tea-greenness. Every now and again I pick up a coconutty aspect, which is often the case with fig-forward compositions IMO. It reminds me a lot of Libertine's Eros Fig, minus the more sensual, warm, honeyed base notes. So I consider this to be a cooler and more aloof fig offering, with pretty good lasting power, and therefore pretty much on-brand for Le Labo overall (minus the naming mishap).

This layered with Another13 gets me tons of compliments. Even through masks.

To my nose it has a touch of the same woodiness of Santal33, with a creaminess from the matcha and fig notes. A little green, and pretty fresh. Unisex, but leaning slightly feminine to my nose. This is an easy reach.

did not like it at first and smells like grinded lotus leaves but with hot weather, it is so unique. a bit gentle, a bit pepper like, a bit matcha all combined together, this is le labo 26. wonderful

I don’t know if this is just me, with my post-covid damaged nose but..I feel different batches of Le Labo smell slightly differently to each other. I adored The Matcha in August when I smelt it, definitely had a green freshness. Today all I got was Cedar. I have experienced this with Rose 31 and Another 13 (which I adore so can forgive slightly) so now my faith in Le Labo is starting to get a little shaken.
I cannot smell it after 6 hours wear. No silage after one hour and now it’s totally disappeared.

Wow! As soon as this hit my nose I recognized the scent of thai basil very prominently. I will let it dry down....but the initial burst is very specific. After a while I get the spicy and the green notes very clear. Beautiful scent, and very well crafted. Not sure it's something I would wear though. A matter of taste quite simply.

This one has more cedar than cedrat 37 and vetiver just amps the overall nature of fragrance to dry woody.
It has a very weird note of candle wax which is very unusual to anything i have tried.
If anybody smells this in air they are going to think they are smelling a woody candle nearby or some sort of room spray but no one would think its your expensive cologne.

Wow what an amazing smell as it is so cool, fresh, and citrusy ! I have been researching green tea notes to gift my mom and even though it is very expensive, I think I will go with this one even though I do not smell green tea, however I do pick up on green herbal elements. She is more sensitive to strong scent so I think this will be perfect because this is light airy and super fresh.

Creamy citrusy matcha tea… nice, very nice.

As a personal preference, I wished the fig had been dialed up just a smidge… still, this is a deliciously clean scent.

The Matcha Tea is soft and airy… the Bitter Orange is not bitter at all, just tangy and citrusy… the Fig, although distant, is sweet and lactonic… and the Cedar is quaintly enveloping the whole fragrance… the rest of the notes are not distinguishable on their own, but surely encompassing the rest.

Quite similar to Imagination from Louis Vuitton just with matcha instead of black tea.

Longevity is around ten hours… projection is moderate the firsts couple of hours, then it becomes intimate… completely unisex, and wearable in spring and summer, preferably during daytime.

Again… very nice creamy citrusy matcha tea perfume.

Kind 0f chemical-y. but nice

creamy, woody, comfort in a bottle. performance is great at least on my skin ^-^

So the notes are totally my vibe, and it is indeed a very pleasant smell. Unfortunately for me there is something a little coconuty about the dry down on my skin, which I am unfortunately not the greatest fan of. Still, the scent is pretty - like a warm hug

For me, it begins fresh, sweet, aromatic, and green but quickly devolves into a soapy, bright, and bubbly sweetened shredded coconut. I wish it had a bit more earthy or nutty vibe that I associate with the experience of drinking matcha. Overall, a bit sweeter and sharper than I had hoped for but still a pretty scent. I imagine this would be a great spring scent for someone. It wears pretty close to the skin and lasts fairly long. Perhaps a fragrance for the clean girls?

This smells like expensive french green tea soap.
People say thet get creaminess, for my nose is smells like bubbles of that soap.
This was a blindbuy based on all the rewiews. And there is none similarity to Gris Charnel or Parisian Musc. Pure soap.
And longgevity for this price is just a joke.

This is definitely more fig than green tea or matcha (which is what I was expecting) but I like it because I like fig. Even though this is made up of mostly woody and fruity notes it smells fresh and clean to me, almost aldehydic. If you’re looking for a sophisticated unisex scent with good performance, this is it, but if you want to smell like a sweet matcha latte from Starbucks this is not the one for you. As other comments have said, this captures the green “essence” of matcha more than the grassy & slightly sugary scent that has become popularized. Pacifica Mediterranean Fig is a cheap dupe of this although it’s been discontinued…

This smells amazing but I don’t think it’s the best on my body. Definitely interested in the candle version.

Not sweet pulpy fig but more of a fig leaf, fresh, green but fruity, without the sugary sweetness. I get a light coconut or coconut water too. Not too much matcha, but there is a subtle powderiness and greenness to it. Really natural,realistic, earthy, fruity, fresh green scent.

** 200 samples for swap UK - let's swap in 10+ bundles - check my custom shelves and get in touch! **

This is just wonderful. Its so soothing and comforting and I loved it straight away. Out of all of the le labo fragrance samples I've tested, this is my firm favorite.

Some people have said that it doesnt have lasting power. I find that even though it sits close to the skin, it really does last hours, even on my dry old skin.

I like to wear it to bed or when I'm chilling out around the house with a nice cup of tea and a book. It makes me feel happy and calm.

I love this, it's an incredibly comforting and relaxing scent and feels very versitile. I have been wearing it through some really hot days now and it holds up very well, but it also has a kinda autumnal vibe. It's heavy on the fig as others have mentioned but I don't find that the matcha note gets lost in the mix. It's very herbal to my nose and gives off a unique and complex feel.

Best perfume ever! Clean, sweet and woody tea scent. Very impressed by the longevity and projection. Considering buying the 100ml for my birthday. Samples and 15ml is always sold out and now I know why. Highly recommend for everyday wear year around. 10/10

So here's the story: I fell in love with Gris Charnel BDK a while ago, but I couldn't imagine wearing it in the heat of the summer, so I decided to wait with the purchase until autumn and look for something more summer-appropriate instead. And I came across Matcha 26 - to me, it's a perfect summer substitute of Gris Charnel. It's significantly less creamy and sweet, but the fig and tea notes make them similar - I feel those two scents would make a perfect perfume capsule wardrobe to alternate between as the seasons change.

The fig opening is stunning, later it stays more on the woody-vetiver side, giving a beautiful, calming vibe that sits close to the skin. The drydown reminds me more of a japanese tea house rather than of matcha itself, but I still feel the name depicts the vibe of the scent very well. I can feel this on my hair and clothes for more than 24h - which is quite impressive.

cucumbery, powdery, sweet. a little green and very smooth.

To me it's smells like fresh cucumber. If you after fresh,green scents this one is the one.
It doesn't hit my taste as I'm sweet gourmand lover.
It is a scrub off for sure , very long lasting .

This isn't a matcha fragrance.... It's a FIG + musk + cedar + ISO E Super fragrance ....

So yeah this is so addictive. Amazing signature scent vibe tbh. Sweet bitter bright but still subdued. Got a compliment on the first day. I want a big bottle. ;)8.5/10

Mostly mossy & woody with some fig mixed in. It's a fresh, calming scent... unisex, but very slightly leans masculine in my opinion. It reminds me of matcha powder once it dries down (after about 3 hours of wear). Overall a tranquil fragrance that promotes focus for me. Something I wouldn't necessarily wear outside, but maybe during my time working remotely at home.

the bitterness and the essence of matcha, not purely the smell of matcha itself, are stretched out and blended around with complimentary scents. nothing identifiable emerges as this woody green, cloud sinks into the skin.

this isn’t a matcha fragrance ironically, but if you like the smell of matcha, this will be perfect for you

Le Labo is a funny brand really, I'm not one to dismiss them off hand because I feel little connection with what they're doing, so a new release always has me interested.
Matcha seems to have been trendy in haute cuisine a few years ago and fragrance tends to follow suit. Le Labo are also notorious for not delivering the obvious from the name of their perfumes, another thing to bear in mind.
First impression for me is a likable, but also slightly forgettable scent. It's like a slightly bland, rice dish to me. Apparently the opening is fig, I'll go along with that but it's not the classic fig accord in Philosykos or Armani if that's what you're expecting. I like the light infusion of the matcha accord/element, because does, just about, evoke that, but through a soapy, laundry filter.
It's not wholly satisfying, nor is it disappointing.
I'm always crying out for something different and when I get it I'm still not happy, I'm just a whiner.
This might be the kind of thing that slips under the radar for a few years then all of sudden it's a new Santal 33. Inexplicably popular. Ya never know.

This is far from a skin scent. Performance is amazing- lasts at least 10 hours and can still smell on clothes for a full 24-48 hours. It is such a lovely creamy and sweet fig, with a hint of woods. This stays pretty linear throughout wear, and I absolutely love it. Most of Le Labo dries down to their specific musky barely there skin scent but this stays solid throughout. VERY similar to Essential Parfums Fig Infusion. I prefer LL though.

I've had this sample for MONTHS and it has made such a small impression on me that I still can't think of anything to say. It's not bad. It's just there.

It’s so good!! nice and cozy smell. I smell strongly bitter orange right after I spray, with matcha and woody note at the background. After 10 min it gets smoother, creamier from fig and cedar. Vetiver don’t bother me at all.

The scent is similar to BDK Gris Charnel (may be the fig and tea notes) but different. On my skin, Gris is sweeter, softer, creamier and more juicy. While the Matcha 26 is still creamy but dryer, more of woody and earthy tone which is ok for me (who love the sweet fragrances)

The sillage is amazing!! It gives a nice trail. I got compliments on the first day I put this on, and my co-workers loved it. Projection is around 3 hrs, and then become closer to the skin but I can smell it though. Moderate longevity on my skin about 6 hrs, quite long lasting on clothes about 8 hrs.
Absolutely UNISEX

I do like this much more than The Noir but I don't adore it, let's say I am very much 'in like' with it! Its so warm and cosy and versatile. You could wear it at any point in the year, and both day and night. It's sexy but in a very subtle way. The fig is the dominant smell but it's a light green fig, and the matcha grounds it and makes it more earthy. The orange peeks out and gives it more complexity and stops it being cloying or overly sweet. It's really lovely. I feel massively comforted by this smell.

I cannot tell clearly the note, but I totally love it. You can do some everywhere anytime. So far another 13, 29 noir and 26 matcha is my most favorite

I cannot stop smelling my arm. This opens extremely similar to Diptyque Phylosikos EDP. That creamy fig note, it is so so good. Light, calm and so inviting. It's pretty linear so I cannot detect much after the dry down, and I am 100% great with that. Longevity is not there, but I really don't mind spraying it again during mid-day. It is that good. The only confusion is why it is named the matcha, there is no hint of green tea whatsoever. If you are looking for that green tea note, try Maison Margiela Matcha Meditation. The opening is a very clear green tea with a dry down to light airy jasmine.

A tea fragrance with musky and woody undertones. It’s enjoyable to the right person. I throughly enjoyed it on my skin. My sister in law wears this fragrance but it’s not flattering on her skin. I also believe this scent leans a touch masculine.

Earthy matcha and creamy fig with a touch of orange. It's a very cozy smell. I wish it wasn't so expensive. It's a very soft scent that becomes a skin scent within a couple of hours. I bought a sample size at the store. If anyone lives in Houston and wants to split a bottle lmk. I have a decant kit.

I really enjoy this but i find it a little hard to distinguish some of the notes - the 'matcha' if it's there is so fleeting i can't tell if i am just following the name and tricking myself into thinking its there. It kind of pops up very briefly but is mainly very blended in. For me its predominantly a citrusy scent - which I usually firmly dislike but here I really enjoy it. Its not a light 'fresh' citrus, its rich and oily. It reminds me a lot of a farfalla essential oil called caresse (used to be called cuddle) which contains iris, vanille, mimosa, mandarine, rose, sandalwood, or also some lush perfumes in their essential oil heavy bio shop feel.

I managed to discern the fig better after reading Eddie Bulliqi describe is as a 'puree' in his article - its sweet and a little earthy rather than the greener fig or fig leaves of fig classics like philosykos, premier figuier etc. I used to have philosykos and I currently have a small sample of gris charnel and this one has little to do with either imo.

I like vetiver and the musk in the base, and i think it's this in combination with the other notes that is making me consider buying bottle or a decant. I wish it wasn't so expensive, and 'achingly fashionable' as pennypencil put it so perfectly because I'm not 100% whether I really couldn't find anything else like it or if i'm just being sucked in. Leads welcome!

Totally in love with this perfume now that we’re in spring. I got complimented wearing this, and I love wearing this on the day where I want to feel fresh and calm.

Was not really keen on trying this one as I don't like to drink matcha tea. The shopclerk gave me a tester and I am so glad he did. I have a love-hate relationship to Le Labo, something always puts me off from buying. The Matcha 26 was a surprise, I love all about it. It's cozy, light and beautifully balanced. Could last a little longer though.

Fig and tea perfection from Le Labo. On first sniff this is a warm, spicy but green tea scent, drying down to a creamy, leafy, modern musk. I'm reminded in style of fragrances like Green Tea by Bvlgari and Cartier's Declaration (in how they are piquant but fresh), also melded with the fashionable musk we've seen in Santal 33 and Parisian Musc. Wonderful on any age and any gender, and in any season, these trendy-cum-arthouse-Brooklyn-pitched fragrances still do it for me. Anyone would appear interesting in this fragrance. This one promises to be a big hit for the brand, I'm sure; and though it is hip and trendy, it also has a grounded, matcha tranquility that makes me forgive it for being so achingly fashionable.

The opening reminds me of Jo Malone Jasmine & Mint (not sure if that one is still being produced). Dry down is mixture of JM Jasmine Mint, and JM Grapefruit— it is clean and soapy. The bitter orange note is a bit too much for me, I wish they used a different kind of citrus. This fragrance is very unisex but I see this as a very clean, subtle, earthy fragrance for a man. Not for a night out, but perfect for a morning coffee date.

Thé Matcha 26 is by far my favorite scent from Le Labo. After falling for 11 11 by Lake and Skye, I feel like this perfume is far more than a skin scent. On my body chemistry this perfume lasts for hours and projects decently well. It’s no beast performer but that’s not what I’m looking for in a peaceful calming scent. A warm soft woody perfume that is made interesting with bitter orange and a light milky sweetness from fig. The Matcha 26 makes me want to light a candle at 5 am, drink matcha instead of coffee, and do yoga. (While I agree that it does not smell blatantly like matcha) This perfume is a vibe that I can’t get enough of. Looking forward to it coming back in stock.

LOVE. Love love love love this beautiful scent 💚 fell at first sniff and got a FB which I treasure. Just had a bad day, took a shower, put this on for myself, and feeling so much better. just gorgeous, happiness and serenity in a bottle.

Why make a perfume that you can barely smell?

I was so disappointed since I absolutely love how this perfume smells. Unfortunately is just a skin smell and I find that my clothes smell stronger than my skin. I smell it on my sweatshirt but not on my wrist? Ok, I could spray it all over my clothes and my bed pillows, but for this price!? Nooo :(

Otherwise, it smells heavenly, I love the freshness of the Bergamote, creamy sandalwood and the fig notes, it's just dreamy. I was really hoping this was my scent for this summer but I couldn't make myself give 165€ for 50ml :( Maybe 100ml makes more sense since I'd need to spray 5-6 times and have the small 15ml one in my bag to refresh it during the day.

This definitely smells better on the skin but I get 0 matcha, I instead get a very clean fig smell that seems pretty one dimensional. The more I smell it the more it smells like a scent that a boogie hotel lobby would have.

UPDATE: I've worn this a few times and its MORE than a skin scent. When I walk up on someone they can smell it. My boy was in the hallway coming to my office and said he could smell my fragrance. On my skin it lasts at LEAST 8 hrs. I will add that I probably spray more on my skin than the average person, but with a smooth scent like this you can get away with spray a lot because it not a heavy scent.

smelled this at a brick and mortar and it was FANTASTIC! could've just been because the brisk Seattle fall weather had a certain scent but smelling this in the store reminded me of a gust of fresh wind after a summer rainstorm but with a more sweet aftertaste, like fresh dandelion or another earthy (hence matcha-y) floral scent. i would like to try it again!

I cannot figure out what I think about this one. The first time I smelled it on tester paper, I was overwhelmed by a strong chemical in it that I really didn't like. But I love tea scents and I usually have great luck with Le Labo so I asked for a sample to take home to try and give it a a chance. I waited a few weeks and finally wore the sample for a full day recently and I can say now that I don't hate this, I may even like it, but I'm really not sure about it.

To me, the fig in this is the strongest note, I really get very little citrus at all and no tea until the dry down and I think that this could have been named Figue 26. The top notes are a creamy and woody fig that comes off sweet to me (a similar sweetness to the fig in Thé Noir 29) and there's also a spiciness to this like from a chai latte. The dry down is smokier from the vetiver and is where I can start to associate matcha with this, but the undercurrent of fig stays. This one really does give the feeling of a lighter Thé Noir 29 and it's like they could be paired together in a collection, one for summer and one for winter. However, I like Thé Noir 29 much more because I find that this one seems to give me a headache sometimes. This sits close to the body, but I can smell it when I move my arm and it lasts around 8 hours on me.

I smelled this scent a few months ago and instantly feel in love with it. The only thing holding me back was Le Labo saying on their website that it was a skin scent. I just bought the scent yesterday, today is my first day wearing it and my boy at work said he instantly smelled me when I walked up to him. This is fresh, fruity, tea slightly woody vibe. I think most people would like this. It's not real masculine, but I'm a guy and love it. I'll give you guys a update on how the scent wears.

The opening note reminds me heavily of Replicas "Autumn Vibes", because of the strong woody scent. The dry down is sweeter and where the matcha starts to make itself shown, leaning towards a unisex scent that lays slightly more masculine. I personally wouldn't wear this because I'm not a fan of cedar/woody type smells on myself, but something like this on a candle I would love.

The opening note actually reminds me of when you blow out a wood wicked matcha candle that's been lit for a few hours, where you can smell the smokey/burning notes from the wick cooling, whereas the dry down is like when the candle is being actively burned showing much sweeter/calmer notes.

I think the name of a fragrance should be an introduction to how you would IMAGINE a scent. The bitterness comes from the citrus skin, the sweetness comes from a lactonic note, and the grassy feeling comes from the vetiver. Nothing is matcha but everything reminds me what matcha tastes like. Bitter and herbaceous when taking the first sip, but it leaves a sweet and fresh trace when you swallow it.

Thé Noir 29, on the other hand, is deep and smokey, with a gourmand dry fruit touch. I've smelled many tea fragrances that actually smell like mate, whereas matcha effuses a young, light-weight, and herbal aroma, which is a completely different olfactive impression from mate.

If scent had a color, Thé Matcha 26 is a light wash of muted wasabi green. It opens with crisp citrus, which is reminiscent of Bergamot 22 if you smelled it from a blotter. After a few minutes, the fig-sesame accord floats to the rim of your "teacup". The nuttiness is an interesting take of the fig, quite unusual among many fig-dominated fragrances. So, the performance of the first 10 minutes is more like a cologne. But with the scent developing on the skin, the creamy matcha latte accord appears and it is indeed long-lasting. It brings me back to the culture I grew up in. A culture where tea is served in a simple way, without syrup, whipped cream, or any Starbucks toppings.

Even if "matcha" is a marketing jargon or an attempt to cater to Asian aesthetics, I totally buy it. From the purchase in October last year, I have been reaching this fragrance the most among my collection. This is beyond falling in love at first sight. This is a commitment.

cozy, I get sesame in the dry down. This perfume smells how I imagine cool girls with a Jane Birkin cut who lived in the Mission circa 2008 smelled.

I was hopeful with this when I read the notes. The first spray attacked straight to my face. Later on to me it smells dry or cardboard and rancid or dill-pickles. Gave me a headache. Hard pass

A calming soft woody/citrus scent, very easy on the nose with fresh citrus and nutty cedar, the fig is green and dusky, reminding me a little of Premier Figuier. It's beautifully balanced, wearable by just about anyone I'd say as it sits in a very neutral place gender-wise.

I can see that this will be popular in these stressful times - one to wear at home to soothe the senses. One to wear anywhere really as it's not likely to offend even the most anti perfume person. It makes me think of someone in thick soft wool socks padding around some sort of Scandinavian wood-built cabin - contemporary, clean and calm.

Big like!

Not bad. Very nice calming type scent. I don't know if people will even smell this on you though.

I was not impressed at first. And then I fell in love. This perfume is calming...Nostalgic even. It takes me back to a time I was a kid. It brings me peace. I don't know why that is. I have never smelled anything like it. To me it smells like...a very sweet and fresh pear. Mixed with Musc. I can smell the musc but it just feels so warm and fuzzy without being overwhelming. It does not project much, and I am certain you won't get compliments on it. But people will love you and think you are dependable.

Strong semi bitter opening, almost harsh floral, then a heavenly matcha green with a bit of clean soapy pulled by a luminous vetiver.
Adictive and wearable.

Nice interpretation of matcha. To combine it with fig notes just make thing much creamier. I think the matcha here play more like a back role, but its there throughout every stage of the fragrance's life. Striking the line right in between masculine and feminine making it perfectly unisex, interesting take on matcha just as one can expect from the quality le labo offers. Moderate longevity and low sillage nevertheless.

-Opens slightly gourmand with a bitter matcha note.
-Has a nice woody dry-down (Reminiscent of Korrigan by Lubin)
-Finally a new 2021 launch that's worthy of checking out. (-)

In the far drydown I get hints of MFK Lumiere Noire Homme peaking out. Pretty mesmerizing

I LOVE this scent! I can't stop sniffing my arm when I wear it. It's citrusy and creamy and spicy and delicious. My only frame of reference for what matcha smells like is definitely not the authentic stuff - but from what I can smell I don't really get much matcha from this fragrance. But I honestly don't care, I love this scent. Def new signature scent worthy.

Update - I've noticed a few people have voted that this is similar to Gris Charnel and Parisian Musc which is super confusing because I barely smell any similarities with the 3 besides the fact that they all have fig. Also this is advertised as a skin scent - I disagree. This projects arms length, lasts on me for hours, lasts on clothes even longer, and is really not my personal description of what a skin scent is.

I really enjoy Thé Matcha 26. I have tried it in the store and got a sample, and I am now considering getting a full bottle although I have more perfumes than I need... In the Le Labo line, I would place it somewhere between Santal 33 and Baie 19... Not sure why when looking at the notes, may be the woody, earthy, green accords.
The performance is also better than I expected considering the 'skin scent' and 'introspection' mentions from Le Labo. Longevity is decent and it projects well enough for an office environment.

I blind bought this fragrance because of the notes. Not a safe blind buy to be honest. However, I absolutely love the opening. It has a very strong citrusy opening to me. I can definitely smell the matcha as it dries down. As time went on, I started to smell the vetiver, which began to smell very leathery/smoky to me. I love this scent for fall!

Oh my god, this one so good a really nice scent so calming and BEAUTIFUL.
Yesterday was a rainy day and I was wearing THÉ MATCHA 26 and what a beautiful dreamy day I really enjoy every second with this, Wow BIG LOVE.

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The naming methodology of Le Labo is simple:

if a certain note is in the name, then you most definitely will NOT find it on the first try. Or the second.

Le Labo's latest release THÉ MATCHA 26 also follows the rule: I guarantee you, it has NOTHING to do with matcha, rather, it's a crowd-pleasing fruity fragrance, but not those run-of-the-mill brain-dead cheapies. (NOT smell very expensive either, and not worth the exorbitant price, as ususal)

Main Notes
Fig, Mango, subtle maltose syrup

Smells Good? 7.6/10 Smells Interesting? 6.5/10

Scent Description

It opens with fresh figs tainted by somewhat soapy citrus, also edged with a slight minty coolness (this can't be the so-called "matcha", can it?).

Then the watery fig swiftly gets rid of citrusy notes, and slides into the arms of Le Labo's trademark "mango" accord, which never appears in their note pyramids: this is not the scent of juicy fruit pulp, but an uncut, intact, fully-ripe-but-not-overly-so mango skin. It's rich and soft, in the same vein as THÉ NOIR 29.

A creamy hint from base ooze up —— this subtle creamy-maltose syrup tone gave the mango a golden brown hue, but never overwhelms it. At some point a granular sugar sweetness is exposed, but fortunately not too much.

The perfume changes little up to this point, it simply soft down and disappears.

A perfume that has no obvious trace of matcha in it's composition. Right off the nozzle, you will get the classic post-esteelauder era lelabo template from Noir which is a crowd pleaser especially in Eastern Asia. It then mellows into a Santal cross with Gaiac after 10mins or so, very much like walking into an offshore Japanese brand selling cheap pens and cloths in shops built with the interior design theme of Sandal wood called Muji. Having the entire Lelabo collection at home, this perfume isn't something new or ground breaking for me. It is still a nice scent to wear but don't expect any matcha despite the name. I had to buy a matcha cake to compensate.

Very quiet yet long lasting on skin/clothes with little projection. Perfect if/when working from home!
Also let's stop that urban legend that says it is Colette 34 repackaged or reformulated. This is simply not true - where are the 8 ingredients missing then? (26 vs 34). Most importantly, I have both. Colette was my sig in 2017 when it came out and maybe the fig is similar at the opening for 2 min but that's about it. If anything!

When I saw this come out I immediately had to get a sample! I am a big Le Labo fan and I drink matcha every day... target audience reached. Overall this is a nice perfume but I won't be getting a full bottle. To me, this would be if Le Labo Santal 33 and Jo Malone Earl Grey & Cucumber had a baby. At first spritz this smells very nice and has a little sparkle to it, more citrusy. It wears down to be very soft and close to the skin with more of that santal and tea scent. My sister agreed too - the first spritz smelled so good to us but then the dry down just wasn't our taste.
However, I like this matcha scent WAY more than the Replica one, which I was disappointed by. The Replica one is much more white chocolate leaning. This one is better, but maybe I just don't like matcha perfume as much as I love drinking matcha!
I could see this being a good signature scent for the right person. It's a gentle skin scent that isn't too strong or threatening, and would be good for all seasons.