There is a point in every fragrance lover's life when they smell something and think — how did they do that? d'Annam Matcha Soft Serve is that kind of perfume. It does not smell inspired by matcha. It smells like matcha. The grassy bitterness, the creamy milk underneath, and eventually a whisper of vanilla waffle cone in the dry down — all of it is there.
This article covers everything you need to know about d'Annam Matcha Soft Serve, why it became one of the most talked-about niche fragrances of 2024, and which matcha perfumes on Amazon are worth your money if you cannot get your hands on d'Annam's bottle directly.
What Is d'Annam Matcha Soft Serve?
d'Annam is a Vietnamese-American fragrance house founded by Nick Hoang. Their second collection, Memories of Japan, was released in late 2024 — and Matcha Soft Serve is the standout of that lineup.
The perfume was crafted by nose Anh Ngo, and the brief was simple: smell like a matcha soft serve ice cream from Japan. Not a matcha latte. Not a green tea candle. A photorealistic soft serve — earthy, grassy matcha with cold creamy milk and a toasted waffle cone base.
They got it right.
Notes: Ceremonial-grade matcha, milk accord, vanilla, waffle cone Type: Eau de Parfum, unisex Released: 2024 Longevity: 4 to 6 hours on skin, wears close to the body Projection: Soft — this is a personal scent, not a room-filler Award: Honorable Mention, Independent category — 2025 Art and Olfaction Awards
How Does Matcha Soft Serve Actually Smell?
The opening is the best part. Pure, slightly bitter, ceremonial-grade matcha — not sweetened, not diluted. Fragrantica reviewers consistently call it the most photorealistic matcha note in any perfume they have tried. One reviewer said it smells like standing in a shaded matcha field in Japan during spring.
After about an hour, the bitterness softens. The milk accord comes forward — creamy, cold, just slightly sweet. This is where it starts to smell like actual soft serve rather than raw matcha powder.
In the dry down, a faint vanilla waffle cone note appears. It is quiet — you have to look for it. And a translucent floral note, almost like lily of the valley or honeysuckle, reveals itself underneath everything.
The result is a fragrance that is earthy, elegant, and a little polarizing. People who love real, unsweetened matcha tend to love this completely. People expecting a sweet, creamy dessert fragrance can find it too austere.
Best for: matcha lovers, green tea drinkers, gourmand fans who want something unusual Not ideal for: people who want heavy projection or sweetness
Best Matcha Soft Serve Perfume Alternatives on Amazon
d'Annam is primarily sold through niche retailers. If you want a matcha fragrance available directly on Amazon with fast shipping, these four are worth considering.
1. Le Monde Gourmand Thé Matcha EDP — Best Overall Amazon Pick
Rating: 4.1/5 (380+ reviews) | Price: $28 | Size: 1 fl oz
Le Monde Gourmand built their entire brand around edible, dessert-inspired fragrances — and their Thé Matcha is one of their most popular. It leans more floral and amber than d'Annam's version, making it sweeter and easier for people who find pure matcha too bitter.
Green tea opens with a brightness that settles into amber and soft florals. It is the more approachable, wearable version of a matcha fragrance — less photorealistic, more enjoyable for everyday wear.
Scent: Green tea, floral, amber Lasts: 6 to 8 hours Best for: Daily wear, office, people new to matcha fragrances
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2. Atralia Matcha Latte EDP — Best Gourmand Matcha
Rating: 4.5/5 (188+ reviews) | Price: $24.10 | Size: 3.4 fl oz
If d'Annam's Matcha Soft Serve is the purist's matcha, Atralia's Matcha Latte is the dessert lover's version. Vanilla, toffee, and tonka beans sit alongside the matcha note — making it richer, warmer, and significantly sweeter.
The reviews are excellent for the price. At $24.10 for a 3.4 oz bottle, the value is hard to argue with. Longevity is strong — several reviewers note it lasts well into the evening from a morning application.
Scent: Matcha, vanilla, toffee, tonka bean Lasts: 8 to 10 hours Best for: Gourmand lovers, fall and winter wear, sweet scent fans
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3. DKNY Be Delicious Latte Matcha — Best Budget Matcha Fragrance
Rating: 4.1/5 (35+ reviews) | Price: $32 | Size: 1.7 fl oz
DKNY entering the matcha category is a sign of how mainstream this scent profile has become. Be Delicious Latte Matcha is the most accessible, most recognizable name on this list — and at $32 it is priced for everyday use rather than collection.
It does not aim for photorealism. It aims for pleasant, easy, and wearable — and for a lot of people, that is exactly what they want from a matcha fragrance they are going to wear five days a week.
Scent: Matcha latte, light gourmand Lasts: 6 to 8 hours Best for: Budget buyers, brand-conscious shoppers, daily wear
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4. Le Monde Gourmand Chai Épicé — Best Warm Tea Fragrance
Rating: 4.3/5 (1,000+ reviews) | Price: $28 | Size: 1 fl oz
If what draws you to matcha is less the green and more the warm, slightly earthy depth — Chai Épicé is worth trying. It is not a matcha fragrance, but it lives in the same gourmand tea family that Le Monde Gourmand does better than almost anyone on Amazon.
Spiced chai, warm wood, and amber make this a cold-weather fragrance through and through. The kind of scent that feels right on a grey October morning. With over 1,000 reviews at $28, it is one of the most proven options in its category.
Scent: Spiced chai, woody, warm amber Lasts: 7 to 8 hours Best for: Fall, winter, evening wear, people who prefer warmth over freshness
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5. Vera Wang Embrace — Best Green Tea Matcha Alternative
Rating: 4.4/5 (1,800+ reviews) | Price: $17.93 | Size: 1 fl oz
Not every matcha lover wants the earthy, grassy intensity that comes with a photorealistic green tea fragrance. Vera Wang Embrace Green Tea & Pear Blossom is for the person who wants the clean, fresh spirit of green tea without the bitterness.
It opens with a bright, slightly sweet green tea note that pairs naturally with soft pear blossom. The result is light, easy, and genuinely pleasant — the kind of fragrance you reach for without thinking on a warm morning. Over 1,800 reviews on Amazon tell you this one has been around long enough to earn real trust.
At under $18, it is also the most affordable option on this list.
Scent: Fresh green tea, pear blossom, soft musk Lasts: 6 to 7 hours Best for: Spring, summer, daily wear, budget-conscious buyers
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Matcha Soft Serve vs Other Matcha Perfumes — How They Compare
Perfume | Realism | Sweetness | Longevity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
d'Annam Matcha Soft Serve | Very high | Low | 4 to 6 hrs | ~$120+ |
Le Monde Gourmand Thé Matcha | Medium | Medium | 6 to 8 hrs | $28 |
Atralia Matcha Latte | Low | High | 8 to 10 hrs | $24 |
Vera Wang Embrace Green Tea | Low | Low | 6 to 7 hrs | $17.93 |
Le Monde Gourmand Chai Épicé | Low | Medium | 7 to 8 hrs | $28 |
Is d'Annam Matcha Soft Serve Worth It?
If matcha is something you genuinely love — not just as a trend but as a flavor and an experience — then yes. There is nothing else quite like it in perfumery. The photorealism is real, the construction is elegant, and the fact that it received an Art and Olfaction Award in its first year says something about how the fragrance community received it.
The caveats are honest: projection is soft, longevity is modest at 4 to 6 hours, and the price point puts it out of reach for casual buyers. If any of those are dealbreakers, the Amazon alternatives above deliver genuine matcha character at a fraction of the price.
But if you want the best matcha perfume made — d'Annam is it.
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Final Thoughts
Matcha perfumes have gone from niche curiosity to one of the most searched fragrance categories in 2024 and 2025. d'Annam started that conversation with Matcha Soft Serve — a fragrance that does something most perfumes never attempt: it smells exactly like the thing it is named after.
If you want the real thing, track down d'Annam through Luckyscent or their official site. If you want matcha character with Amazon convenience and fast shipping, Le Monde Gourmand at $28 or Atralia at $24 are both worth your time.Either way — matcha has arrived in perfumery, and it is not leaving.