Is Genmaicha natural or synthetic?

A fantasy or concept note, not a single material.

Genmaicha

AccordGREENS, HERBS & FOUGERESgreen · warm · nutty

HeartPyramid

3/5Strength

24hTenacity

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

Camellia sinensis (green tea) + Oryza sativa (roasted rice)

Fantasy/Concept

Definition

Green tea and popped rice. Genmaicha smells like a Japanese teahouse in winter -- grassy-vegetal sencha married with toasted grain, warm and nutty over a clean, astringent base.

GREEN WARM FRESH NUTTY ROASTED

BROWN RICE TEA POPCORN TEA GENMAI

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

3/5Strength

Medium

odour strength

Tenacity on blotter

24hours

1 h6 h24 h3 d7 d400 h

Producing countries

Japan

Scent

Two notes in one: grassy, clean green tea and warm, toasty roasted rice. The green quality is lighter and more transparent than matcha, with a vegetal astringency. The rice quality is nutty, faintly sweet, with a popcorn-like quality from 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline. Neither dominates -- the charm is in the alternation.

In PREMIEREPEAU

DISCOVERY SET7 × 2 ml →

The Full Story

Genmaicha is a Japanese blended tea: bancha or sencha green tea combined with roasted brown rice (genmai), some kernels of which pop during roasting. The result is a tea with a split personality -- the clean, grassy astringency of green tea sitting alongside the warm, toasty, nutty sweetness of roasted grain.

The accord in perfumery captures This contrast. The green tea quality is built from cis-3-hexenol (grassy freshness), light doses of methyl salicylate (astringent snap), and ionones (dry, slightly violet-like tea character). The roasted rice quality uses 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (the molecule responsible for the popcorn/basmati/toasted rice aroma), maltol, and furfural. The two layers should remain distinct: the beauty of genmaicha is the contrast, not the blend.

Functionally, genmaicha works as a heart-note modifier providing both green freshness and toasted warmth simultaneously. This double character makes it unusually adaptable: it can lean fresh or gourmand depending on supporting notes.

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

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

No standardised extraction of genmaicha exists for perfumery. The accord is reconstructed by blending green-tea materials (cis-3-hexenol, ionones) with roasted-rice molecules (2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, furfural, maltol).

Formula: Complex mixture — L-theanine C₇H₁₄N₂O₃, catechins, 2-acetylpyrrole (toasted rice)
CAS: 68916-73-4 (Camellia sinensis extract — green tea)
Botanical: Camellia sinensis (green tea) + Oryza sativa (roasted rice)
Appearance: Brown to dark brown liquid
Odour strength: Medium
Lasting power: 24 hours
Synonyms: BROWN RICE TEA POPCORN TEA GENMAI

IFRA status

See note

Not subject to an IFRA Standard (51st Amendment)

Physical properties

Note: Genmaicha = Japanese green tea blended with roasted brown rice; no standard essential oil

In Perfumery

Genmaicha is a dual-character heart-note accord combining green tea (cis-3-hexenol, ionones, methyl salicylate) with roasted rice (2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, maltol, furfural). Its simultaneous freshness and toasted warmth make it adaptable across fresh-green and gourmand compositions. The note provides a Japanese cultural reference and works alongside matcha, yuzu, hinoki, and rice steam accords.

Role in the formula

01modifier

02signature note

03lifting agent

04volume builder

05freshness

Available as

synthetic accord fantasy note