VOID: interpreting the memory of tea
In SPUR’s 2024 expanded interview with To Summer co-founder Shen Li, VOID, identified in Chinese as 空境研茶, provides a precise example. Shen describes bitter and sweet aspects of Chinese tea alongside an interest in the value of a fleeting encounter. The scent is presented as an interpretation with an emotional idea, rather than a literal bottle of brewed tea.
Earlier in the same conversation, Shen explains that the founding team had not found the Chinese tea scent it wanted. She recalls research with Lahu tea growers and tea-picking women in Yunnan. SPUR’s interview preserves the founder’s account of that research; it is useful testimony about her design intention.
Separate the story from what you smell
The interview gives a useful starting question for a shop visit: which part of tea is being interpreted? Ask a staff member to show a tea-related scent, then see whether your own description matches the explanation. You may notice a dry impression, sweetness or a texture you cannot easily name. You do not have to reproduce the brand’s vocabulary to have an informed response.
If testers are available, label the blotter with the exact product and format. Return to it after a little time instead of immediately comparing a long row of fresh sprays. Note what changes for you and what remains. This is a way of keeping your own observations distinct from an evocative product name.
Check the format before choosing
A room fragrance, candle and fragrance intended for the body have different uses. Confirm what the actual product is designed for and follow its instructions. A scent you enjoy in a spacious shop may be more than you want in your own small room, so consider the place in which you would use it.
Ask the brand which tea-related scents and formats are available at the store you plan to visit. Before buying, check the instructions for the exact product and any restrictions on taking it home by air.
A second way to explore tea culture
Reading the interview alongside a tea-house visit produces an interesting comparison: a drink understood through brewing and a scent understood through composition. Neither has to stand in for the other. Give each its own time, and notice where your associations meet or diverge.