A fragrance cup and tasting cup have separate jobs: smell the emptied fragrance cup, then drink from the tasting cup. Aurioo’s tall and wider shapes give you a way to put that distinction into practice.

Aurioo’s hand-painted Jingdezhen porcelain cups offer several named shapes. Knowing those names makes it easier to select the pieces you want and give each one a clear place in a tea break.

Start with the cup names

The Fragrance and Flared cup listing contains two shapes. The Fragrance Cup is the taller, narrower one, listed at 4.5 cm wide and 5.8 cm high. The Flared Cup is listed at 6.5 cm wide and 5.5 cm high. Both are porcelain with a hand-painted finish.

For this arrangement, use the Fragrance Cup for the aroma step and the Flared Cup for drinking. Choosing Value pack(2) on this listing gives you one of each shape. If you already have a drinking cup you enjoy, you can select the Fragrance Cup on its own.

Interior view of a painted cup from the Fragrance and Flared listing
Interior view from the Fragrance and Flared cup listing. Choose the shape named in the product options.

Here is how the four named options fit into that choice. Capacities identify the variants; they are not suggested pour amounts.

Cup option Listed capacity Role in this arrangement What to select
Fragrance Cup Approx. 40 ml Smell the emptied cup Available alone or with the Flared Cup
Flared Cup Approx. 80 ml Hold tea for drinking Available alone or with the Fragrance Cup
Wide Cup Approx. 80 ml An alternative drinking cup Available alone or with the Low Bowl Cup
Low Bowl Cup Approx. 120 ml Another drinking-cup option Available alone or with the Wide Cup

The Wide and Low cup listing is a separate selection. Its Value pack(2) contains one Wide Cup and one Low Bowl Cup. Neither option includes a Fragrance Cup, so check the shape names before adding a pack to your order.

Pour directly, then smell and sip

Verdant Tea’s Focus on Fragrance guide allows a direct pour between cups. Aurioo’s listings do not establish that these cup rims fit together or form a seal, so keep them separate.

Set your drinking cup on a stable surface with space around it. Put a modest amount of prepared tea into the Fragrance Cup, leaving room below the rim. Once you can handle it comfortably, pour steadily into the drinking cup. Smell the emptied Fragrance Cup from a comfortable distance, then sip from the drinking cup when the tea is comfortable to drink.

Painted porcelain drinking cup tilted to show its open interior
A drinking-cup view from the Fragrance and Flared listing; use the cups separately for a direct pour.

Keep the cups separate throughout. There is no need to balance one upside down on the other. Keep the receiving cup clear of the table edge, and move other pieces out of the pouring path before you begin. Stop if the cup feels awkward to hold; a smaller amount is easier to manage than a rim-full cup.

You can also decide how much attention to give the aroma step. A short pause may be enough. If you keep notes, write what you notice in your own words, even if the only useful description is “faint” or “hard to name.” There is no required list of aromas to find.

Choose a drinking cup you want to use

The Flared Cup provides a drinking option within the same listing as the Fragrance Cup. The Wide and Low shapes give you other choices if you prefer their appearance. Their listed dimensions and photographs help identify them, but do not establish a matching rim with the Fragrance Cup.

Painted porcelain cup from the Wide and Low listing on a blue-gray background
The Wide and Low cup listing offers alternative drinking-cup forms. It does not include a fragrance cup.

For a broader introduction to the surrounding pieces, see Aurioo’s Chinese tea set guide. You can keep this particular setup simple: one fragrance cup and one drinking cup within easy reach.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the Flared Cup as well as the Fragrance Cup?

You need a separate drinking cup for this method, but it can be one you already own. The Flared option is convenient if you want both shapes from the same listing.

Does Value pack(2) always include a fragrance cup?

Only the Fragrance and Flared listing includes that shape. The Wide and Low pack contains two drinking-cup shapes. Choose by the names shown in the product options.

How should I care for these painted porcelain cups?

Follow the listings’ guidance: wash gently by hand and dry before storing. Handle each cup carefully to protect its painted surface. Brush placement, glaze tone and small measurements can vary between hand-finished pieces.