Is Duck Poo Oolong natural or synthetic?

A fantasy or concept note, not a single material.

Duck Poo Oolong

AccordGREENS, HERBS & FOUGERESearthy · fresh · green

HeartPyramid

3/5Strength

—Tenacity

1Origins

Editorial noteWe own no rights to this material, its name or its trademark. This entry is independent editorial journalism, published under freedom of expression.

Specimen

Duck Poo Oolong perfume ingredient — Heart

Camellia sinensis var. sinensis (Ya Shi Xiang cultivar)

Fantasy/Concept

Definition

Toasted orchid and stone fruit. Despite the name, Ya Shi Xiang oolong smells of roasted gardenias and dried lychee, with a mineral-honeyed depth from the Phoenix Mountain terroir.

FLORAL GREEN EARTHY WARM FRESH ROASTED

WUYISHAN DUCK POO OOLONG DUYUN MAOJIAN

Type: Accord
Olfactive family: Aromatic
Subfamily: Green notes
Cluster: Green leafy notes
Source: olfactory concept — accord evoking Ya Shi Xiang (duck shit aroma) oolong tea with honey, floral, and roasted qualities

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

3/5Strength

Medium

odour strength

Producing countries

China (Guangdong, Phoenix Mountain)

Scent

Roasted orchid and gardenia florals with dried stone fruit (lychee, longan). A mineral-honeyed depth from mountain terroir. Toasted and warm from charcoal processing. Less smoky than lapsang souchong, more floral than gunpowder tea. The stone-fruit and mineral elements are particular.

In PREMIEREPEAU

DISCOVERY SET7 × 2 ml →EXTRAIT DE PARFUMThe seven extraits →

The Full Story

Duck Poo Oolong (Ya Shi Xiang, literally 'duck excrement fragrance') is a dan cong oolong from Guangdong province's Phoenix Mountain (Fenghuang Shan). The absurd name was allegedly coined by a farmer wanting to discourage tea thieves from coveting his prized bushes.

The tea's actual fragrance is extraordinary: heavily roasted orchid florals, dried stone fruit (lychee, longan), a mineral-honeyed depth from the granite-rich mountain soil, and a toasted quality from charcoal roasting. The scent profile is complex and nothing like what the name suggests.

In perfumery, this note is a fantasy accord capturing the tea's particular roasted-floral character. It sits between smoked tea (lapsang) and floral tea (jasmine pearl) but occupies its own territory. The roasting adds a warm, toasted dimension to the floral-fruity base. The note works in tea-themed, Chinese-inspired, and structured compositions.

—

Related: Acronychia Pedunculata · Adoxal · Agave · Algae · Aloe Vera · Aromatic Notes · Asparagus · Avocado

Did You Know?

Dan cong oolong bushes on Phoenix Mountain can live for centuries. Some producing bushes are over 700 years old. Each bush produces a slightly different fragrance profile, and the best teas are sold by individual bush name rather than variety.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Fantasy accord. No extraction from tea for perfumery. Built from orchid-floral materials, dried stone-fruit notes, smoky-toasted modifiers, and mineral-honeyed accords.

Formula: N/A — complex natural mixture (key aroma: nerolidol C₁₅H₂₆O, indole C₈H₇N)
CAS: N/A — natural tea, not a single molecule
Botanical: Camellia sinensis var. sinensis (Ya Shi Xiang cultivar)
Appearance: Pale golden to amber liquid (tea infusion or extract)
Odour strength: Medium
Synonyms: WUYISHAN DUCK POO OOLONG DUYUN MAOJIAN

IFRA status

See note

Not applicable: accord or concept, not a single material

Physical properties

Note: Specialty oolong tea from Chaozhou, Guangdong province. Key aroma compounds include nerolidol, indole, and methyl salicylate. Used as olfactory inspiration, not as an essential oil.

In Perfumery

Duck poo oolong is a fantasy heart modifier in tea-themed and Chinese-inspired compositions. It provides roasted-floral complexity with stone-fruit and mineral depth. Built from floral-orchid materials, dried-fruit notes, smoky-toasted modifiers, and honey-mineral accords. The note bridges the gap between floral and roasted-smoky families.

Role in the formula

01modifier

02lifting agent

03blender

04naturalizer

05freshness

Available as

synthetic accord fantasy note