Kierin NYC Sunday Brunch Review (Mathieu Nardin) + Invigorating Tea Draw

June 29, 2019June 29, 2019

Kierin NYC Sunday Brunch (Photo: Despina Veneti)©

Kierin NYC was first presented at ÇaFleureBon through a piece written by the brand’s own President, Mona Maine de Biran (co-founder of the company along with her husband, Didier Maine de Biran, and Chris Rosasco), for our Çafleurebon Profiles in American Perfumery Series. Reading it, I was intrigued by Mona’s life philosophy and experiences, as well as delighted with the brand’s ethos which combines both environmental awareness (cruelty-free, vegan, non-toxic, recyclable and sustainable fragrances), and social consciousness (diversity and inclusion are essential to the brand’s founders).

Mona Maine de Biran of Kierin NYC, Mathieu Nardin of Mane and the four Kierin NYC fragrances (Photos courtesy of Kierin NYC)

My delight was enhanced after actually testing all four Kierin NYC scents, Sunday Brunch, 10 A.M. Flirt, Santal Sky and Nitro Noir. Created by Mathieu Nardin of Mane, the fragrances are modern, straightforward, vibrant, and high-spirited compositions that defy age and gender. Of the four scents it was Kierin NYC Sunday Brunch that emerged as my personal favorite due to its euphoric aura and its most convincing, addictively enjoyable Earl Grey tea accord.

“Lemon Tea” by Vitaly Urzhumov©

Although the use of tea as a main note is a relatively recent phenomenon (it all started in 1992 with Jean-Claude Ellena’s hugely influential Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert for Bulgari, whose unexpected success led many other brands to include tea-based scents in their collections), there are already several fragrances featuring – interesting to remarkable – tea accords (to name but a few: Bulgari Eau Parfumée au Thé Blanc/Thé Rouge/Thé Noir/Thé Bleu, Elizabeth Arden Green Tea, Hermès Osmanthe Yunnan, M. Micallef Ananda Tchai, L’Artisan Parfumeur Tea for Two and Thé Pour un Été, Parfums de Nicolaï Fig Tea, By Kilian Imperial Tea, Masque Milano Russian Tea, Mona di Orio Bohea Bohème, The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea, and Roger & Gallet Thé Vert and Thé Fantaisie). Concerning Earl Grey tea notes in particular, along with Earl Grey from the Japanese brand Édit(h) (whose fragrances I tried at an exhibition last year, but are still impossible to purchase outside Japan) Kierin NYC Sunday Brunch features the most realistic note of the beloved bergamot-infused black tea I’ve personally come across.

Kierin NYC Sunday Brunch (Photos/Collage: Despina Veneti)©

The disarming charm and universal appeal of Kierin NYC Sunday Brunch lies in its simplicity and harmonious balance between the slightly smoky black tea note, the sweet and luminous bergamot, and the zesty and invigorating lemon (with just a touch of non-indolic jasmine added to enhance the impression of tea, and smooth out any sharp edges). Apart from the listed notes there are also hints of petitgrain, mild spices, as well as a clean-musky undercurrent. Overall, Sunday Brunch is a rather linear fragrance, with more than fair performance considering how fleeting citrus notes usually are (especially in warm weather). And although the fragrance doesn’t really evolve much, enjoying its exuberant, breezy, vivacious aroma of lemon-enriched Earl Grey unaltered for 3-4 hours is nothing short of a delight.

“Space Fruit: Lemons II.196″ by Andy Warhol (via Christie’s)©

Energetic and calming at the same time, Sunday Brunch evokes more than the familiar pleasure of enjoying a highly aromatic cup of tea: it exudes friendliness, bringing to the wearer feelings (or memories) of cosiness and comfort. I actually tested the fragrance during a family brunch while visiting Greece, and it worked as a lovely mood enhancer; it pleased everybody in the room, and made the occasion even more memorable. An instant pick-me-up and a formidable energy booster, Kierin NYC Sunday Brunch offers uncomplicated, pure joy.

Notes: Italian Bergamot, Lemon, Earl Grey, Jasmine.

Disclaimer: I’d like to thank Kierin NYC for my bottle of Sunday Brunch. The opinions are my own.

– Despina Veneti, Senior Editor

Thanks to the generosity of Kierin NYC we have a draw for a full 50ml bottle of Kierin NYC Sunday Brunch for a registered reader in the USA, AND a discovery set of all four fragrances: Kierin NYC Nitro Noir, Sunday Brunch, Santal Sky and 10 a.m. Flirt for a registered reader in the USA, Canada or EU. You must register here or your comment will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what you enjoyed most about Despina’s review if you enjoy tea fragrances, which you would like to win (the discovery kit or the 50 ml) and where you live. There are two winners. Draw closes July 2, 2019

We announce the winners only on our site and on our Facebook page, so like Çafleurebon and use our blog feed… or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.