Thé Matcha 26 opens with a jolt of something genuinely unusual — there's a sour, almost sharp quality right out of the bottle, where the bitter orange and raw matcha accord announce themselves with a...
Enthusiasts consistently single out Thé Matcha 26 as one of Le Labo's best offerings, even among those who find the house's more famous fragrances overhyped — it tends to win over skeptics of the brand.
The opening sour or sharp phase is a known and discussed element; most who stick with it consider the dry-down the real payoff, with a noticeably different and warmer character in the base.
It's regularly compared favorably to Maison Margiela Replica's matcha-themed fragrance, with the Le Labo version widely considered longer-lasting and better balanced.
Performance divides opinion slightly — longevity gets strong marks and it performs well on fabric, but sillage is modest, making it a skin scent experience rather than a projecting one.
At its price point, value is the sharpest point of debate: fans acknowledge it's difficult to justify at over $200 for 50ml, even when they genuinely love it.
