Talk about smoky!

If you want a smoky note that’s not as overpowering as the Choyas or as intense as Tobacco absolute, then you’ve got to tincture some Lapsang Souchong tea.

All I can say is WOW!  I was not expecting to get this kind of tenacity from tea leaves.  It seems to just hold on to the paper and not let go, but in a softer way than the others.

All three add something dark and mysterious in their own way.  Tobacco is dark in a sweet, vanilla, honey sort of way with that unique pipe tobacco aspect.  Choya Nakh is closer to birch tar rectified, more leathery in quality, very earthy and serious. And Lapsang Souchong tea tincture is smoky but also reminiscent of incense burning in a Roman Catholic church, adding a somber note; also recalls what your clothes smell like after being in a room full of smoke.

I sourced this particular brand from Tee Gschwendner in Germany.  Their Lapsang is organic and packs a punch unlike a couple others I tried that are really blasé almost as if they’re afraid to make it too smoky for fear of offending tea drinkers.  Then I say, don’t make it!  The wonderful thing about Lapsang Souchong, both as a tea (and I’m a serious tea drinker) and a tincture for perfumes is the definite smoky odour, so bring it on.

Here’s what on my list to get from them in my next purchase:

• China Oolong Kwai Flower
• Caramel
• China Pu-Erh Tuocha
• Another bag of China Lapsang Souchong
• Kenya GFOP Milima
• Russian Samovan Tea

The great thing about tincturing teas is it’s so bloody affordable!