What Is French Avenue Essence de Matcha a Dupe Of?

French Avenue Essence de Matcha is a clone of Le Labo Thé Matcha 26 Eau de Parfum. Fig, tea, citrus and woods are the connection. Essence de Matcha adds apricot, osmanthus and sandalwood to that theme, giving us a few useful differences to look at alongside the shared notes.

Why Thé Matcha 26 is the reference

Le Labo describes Thé Matcha 26 through matcha tea, fig, vetiver, cedarwood and bitter orange. Tea and fig are at the center of the idea, with citrus and woods around them. It is an interesting combination if you like green notes with a softer, fruitier side.

Essence de Matcha starts with orange, lemon and fig. Its middle lists matcha tea, apricot and osmanthus, while sandalwood and Atlas cedar form the base. Tea, fig, citrus and cedar run through both descriptions, so the comparison goes well beyond the word matcha on the label.

What changes in Essence de Matcha?

The apricot and osmanthus are the details we would notice on the French Avenue note list. Osmanthus is often used for a fruity floral effect, which makes it an interesting partner for apricot here. Together, they suggest a fruitier direction to explore within the tea and fig theme.

The woods give you another point of comparison. Essence de Matcha names sandalwood and Atlas cedar; Thé Matcha 26 names vetiver and cedarwood. We would pay attention to how that balance feels when sampling, especially if the woody part is what draws you to Le Labo in the first place.

Who should consider it?

We would put Essence de Matcha on the shortlist for someone interested in fig and tea with a fruity middle. The name gives you the starting point, and the full note list gives you the rest: orange, lemon, apricot, osmanthus and woods all have a part in this comparison.

Our take

Thé Matcha 26 is the right scent to compare with Essence de Matcha. The shared tea, fig, citrus and cedar make that clear. We would choose between them by paying attention to the apricot and osmanthus in the middle and the balance of sandalwood, cedar and vetiver, rather than expecting every part of the two perfumes to line up.