The aroma of India's favourite comfort drink has taken on a luxurious twist after Prada launched Infusion de Santal Chai, a new perfume inspired by masala chai. The key notes are Chai latte accord, creamy sandalwood accord, citrus, and musks.
When you apply it, the citrus and cardamom hit first, before the creamy chai latte and spice notes settle in. The sandalwood and musks linger at the base, giving it that woody, milky, cosy feel. So what Prada did was not create a scent of "sweet tea" but more of a woody, milky, cosy interpretation of masala chai, which is very on-brand for Prada.
We all love chai — or at least most of us do. It’s the aroma that pulls you in, and then the first sip that makes everything feel okay. Like, this is exactly what I needed, kind of a feeling. Chai gives warmth and comfort, but the real question is: how do we feel about smelling like expensive chai? Does it intrigue you, or make you go, yeh thoda zyada nahi ho gaya?”
Something millions of Indians sip daily at home now comes in a fancy bottle with a very unfamiliar price tag, instantly sparking conversation. Priced at USD 190, the perfume has drawn both praise for its creativity and criticism for turning an everyday comfort into luxury. Some people even found it funny.
Personally, I find the idea interesting rather than offensive. That said, I do agree it’s on the higher end when it comes to price, so actually buying it is another matter. But since I like sandalwood and musky fragrances, a chai-inspired scent with high notes of citrus naturally makes me curious, and I’d definitely want to sample it.
I remember coming across Chai Musk by Bombay Perfumery some time back, and that didn’t really cause much noise. It's probably because its priced around USD 90. In this case, it feels like the reaction is less about the scent itself and more about the price and the fact that it’s Prada.
When something familiar suddenly comes with a luxury label and a high price tag, people are bound to react.
Would you smell like expensive chai, or does this feel like one luxury twist too far?