J’s image of Tempus Vitae® High Tea

Tempus Vitae® High Tea composed by perfumer Hez Binkowitz was born from a shared love of tea and also Tempus Vitae®’s  Creative Director Timothy Hook’s trip to the Azores, on São Miguel Island home to Europe’s oldest and arguably sole tea farm. He gathered a variety of tea samples, aiming to encapsulate their essence in a perfume and shared them with Hez Binkowitz, a self-described tea enthusiast. Hez Binkowitz understands the complexity of teas, each possessing their own aura with subtle and beautifully distinct character.

Tempus Vitae® High Tea perfumer Hez Binkowitz

The concept of Tempus Vitae® High Tea was brewed up over countless weeks exchanging stories and contemplating the cultural importance of tea. They explored how tea can elevate moods, its rituals and its significance in the lives of many around the world. They chose to highlight Earl Grey tea, inspired by the tradition of British High Tea. This shared passion and understanding of tea and the experience around it is beautifully captured here in High Tea, you can feel their passion and understanding of the inspiration as its soft aroma lures you into a day dream as you enjoy a cup of Earl Grey.

Tempus Vitae® Timothy Hooks from a trip to the Azores tea farm and tea rolling equipment. ©Timothy Hooks

Tempus Vitae® High Tea invites you on a mountain journey, serving up a vibrant cup of Earl Grey tea infused with the rich essence of bergamot with a sweet bitter orange teasing out pink grapefruit facets all wrapped in the comforting feel of black tea. Clary sage accompanied by a soft glow of clove gives a beautiful warmth to this rather fresh feeling perfume. Hez Binkowitz captures Earl Grey tea beautifully here showcasing its subtly dark smokiness along with it’s musky sweetness with a whisper of spice and just a hint of tannins that hint at some slightly boozier facets which are revealed in a fuller way later in the evolution. The citruses soften its more astringent side with bergamot being both fresh and softy woody in a rather elegant way. There’s a beautiful over all airiness that makes it feel like you’re high up in a tea fields or out in nature, with soft florals swirling round like a gentle steam rising from a freshly brewed cup.

 

 Azores tea farm ©Timothy Hooks

High Tea has fresh edges that lead you deep into its rich floral and tea heart. There’s a creamy smoothness of sandalwood that conjures milky sensations, while a swirl of honeyed linden weaves its way through the casually complex Earl Grey tea composition. It’s a beautiful smooth linden blossom  feeling like an intoxicating floral is whispering some desires in your ear as you sip on this fresh brew. Some very clever blending here making High Tea feel more than just a tea perfume, there’s a gentle kiss of sweetness from gingerbread that feels like it’s been dunked in the tea, getting it moist before being enjoyed, letting High Tea’s Earl Grey seep into it, keeping it feeling cool as the tonka bean smooths out into soft creamy resins, with just a hint of a dry coumarin feel. Its textures tease with a hint of darkness; while its sweeter side plays more into the flirty fresh allure of the florals. The image of Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe keeps popping into my head, that mix of clothed and nude figures picnicking out in nature, you can feel the cool breeze on the soft sandalwood skin as the delightful linden blossom entices those sitting near enjoying their tea in nature.

Edouard Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe via wiki.

Tobacco gives a subtle darkness to the mix. There’s fruitiness of the bitter orange and bergamot, which evolves into the rich fruits found in burley tobacco, with the teas tannins making you picture rich plump berries and dark juicy grapes. The diaphanous feel is cleverly amplified by a soft woody muskiness, slightly smoky too, keeping that sensation of steam rising from a cup as your enjoy this delicious High Tea out in nature. Iso e super and ambroxan do their cosy magic. Here it gives a soft luxurious feel, while also pushing this elegant soft tea scent out to tempt those around you. That gentle fruity booziness in High Tea plays to this casual elegance, making it feel ethereal, a magic moment that’s stretched out in time. There’s no Mad Hatter to scream “All Change!” High Tea is a much more refined and contemplative perfume, a scent to sit and consider.  Its light airy feel has amazing depth as the tealeaves unfurl throughout the wear to the final dry down. A tea lovers dream.

Notes: Calabrian Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Gingerbread, Black Tea, Honey, Milk, Linden Blossom, Violet, Clove, Green Cognac, Tobacco, Sandalwood, Cedar, Leather, Vetiver, Labdanum, Benzoin, Bois D’Encens, Cashmeran, Ambergris, Iso E Super, Ambroxan, White Musk.

Disclosure: Tempus Vitae® High Tea was sent to J for review, thoughts and nose are his own.

J Wearescentient, Senior Editor, artist & olfactive writer.

Tempus Vitae® High Tea courtesy of the brand.

Thanks to the generosity of Tempus Vitae® Parfums, we have two 15 ml for two registered reader reader worldwide.

UPDATED

To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what strikes you about Tempus Vitae® High Tea  from J’s review and confirm where you live. Draw closes 4/1/2025

Hez Binkowitz’s Profile in American Perfumery here

Please watch Steven’s review of Café du Jour here and read Rachel’s review of Tempus Vitae®  Elixir de Vie here, Lauryn’s review of Tempus Vitae®  Carpe Diem here Ida Meister’s review of Tempus Vitae®  Fête d’Ambre here (which also won a Best of Scent 2022)

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