Imari 2015

Another delightful surprise from Avon. I bought Imari after receiving a travel size version for Christmas. I fell head over heels for this soft and powdery wonder. I can't say it is a passionate scent for me. To me it is another comfort scent that is worn for my own pleasure. I enjoy the powdery rose of this immensely. My only complaint is that I wish it were stronger. Still love and enjoy it.

I much prefer this newer version of Imari. The original was too overwhelming for me. This newer version is weaker, but in a good way. No overwhelming flowers/spices/incense mix. Instead this newer Imari is a soft, powdery-amber with a hint of flowers & incense. It's not a sweet scent which makes it easy to wear day or night. It's also season less.

There are many perfumes I simply appreciate, and there's the one that defines who I am. This is that perfume. Complex is an understatement for Imari. It's deep and mysterious, like an old library, with the patchouli and amber being the stand out notes here. But it smells timeless, not old in the sense of outdated.

Personally, aldehydes are my kind of notes since they represent the layers of the perfume in a very clean way. The floral notes are well-equipped with the beginning of citrus-aldehydic notes. It smells quality and dignity. It is a good option for work offices.

The original Imari was Avon's no 1 scent worldwide ( they used the name Impromptu for the U.K. and Europe, it was discontinued for them in the mid 90s). It was still available for the rest of the world in the original packaging and original scent until 2015. It was still their no1 fragrance, until the reformulation of 2015. For the 30th anniversary of Imari Avon reformulated the fragrance making it lighter and fresher, changing many of the original fragrance notes. They also designed new packaging for it. Since the reformulation in 2015 it was re-issued all over the world again as Imari, but it has now been discontinued in Europe, Asia and Africa. Today in 2025 the reformulation is only available with Avon in the U.S. Canada and a few South American countries. The original was a much stronger, richer deep fragrance. Top notes are Aldehydes, Galbanum and Bergamot; middle notes are Orris Root, Tuberose, Ylang-Ylang and Lily-of-the-Valley; base notes are Sandalwood, Musk, Cedar, Amber and Vanilla. The reformulation is fresher, lighter and doesn't wear as long. Top notes are Aldehydes, Bergamot and Italian Lemon; middle notes are Iris, Rose and Jasmine; base notes are Patchouli, Amber and Vanilla. Personally, I like both versions. Side by side comparisons. I have original on left hand and todays version 'reformulation 2015' on the right hand... Original starts off woody, aldehydes and deep. Reformulation starts off citrusy, aldehydes and light. Original stays warm with incense coming forward and stays deep, heady and somewhat flat. Reformulation has no incense, it warms slightly and still has a sparkly tone to it. After a hour the original opens up, allowing the florals to come through. It still smells warm, rich, powdery and comforting. The reformulation gets a little more similar to the original, but still smells watered down and fresher compared to it. The reformulation therefore is like a Jour de Imari version. On the street I asked 20 people to smell them both. Only one liked the original, all the rest preferred the reformulation. So Avon's logic to reformulate seemed ok at the time, but it has back fired with all the loyal Imari original customers who had made it their best seller.

I bought this several years ago and thought it was a bit harsh when I first had it. Now that I'm trying it after several years away, it smells softer and more mellow; I'm not sure if that's just my taste changing, or if a bit of dust on the bottle did it good. The oddest thing happened when I pulled it out of my perfume cabinet today; I realized that it smells exactly like my cat, who smells amazing. I adopted him two years ago and hadn't smelled this in awhile at that time. I couldn't describe what he smelled like to people who asked (and didn't have the pleasure of sniffing the back of his kitten neck themselves), aside from saying "soapy, and like perfume". Well, here it is; a soapy, powdery, slightly floral perfume. Now that he's a bit older, he doesn't smell as strongly as he did as a kitten, and some days doesn't smell like anything at all... But now I can relive those sweet snuggly kitten memories with Imari.

I am only going by memory of the "old" edition, and fragrance "taste buds" change with time (both interpretation & preference) so this may be an incomplete comparison. BUT--I really like the 2015 version! It's less vanilla-sweet and more bitey galbanum & aldehyde, which I prefer. I'd previously tested it (back in 1994?) and found it too powdery-sweet-boudoir for my taste. This version is more bracing, and the amber is more earthy than sugary which I like. To me this is both a very womanly,sophisticated smell and somewhat androgynous. This fragrance is for someone who's secure enough in their identity that they enjoy playing with expectations a bit, and don't feel a need to "sweeten up" their bearing. It's not my usual type of scent but it's really growing on me!

I get a cozy scent with an uplifting hint of citrus. It is an evening scent for me, while at the same time being comfy and approachable; more cashmere than black dress formal. No associations for me with other older generations (unlike Timeless which hauled me straight back to 1970's classrooms where every teacher, male or female seemed to wear a theme on Timeless). To me the wearer's profile would be that of a modern well-travelled woman with a flowing pashmina heading out into the evening. I can only just tolerate the hint of incense and there are no mossy notes. I like it best in cold weather, where the clean lemon dances with cozy soapy rose. In summer heat the spicier heavier incense comes forward and the citrus falls away, making it less appealing to me.

I haven't had a bottle of Imari in a long time and bought the most recent version. It has a fresh aldehydic and bitter green soapy opening. Later it becomes a warm and powdery woody floral. I remember the original being a little more incensy and balsamic. There is amber in this version just not as pronounced. It's still a very comfy fragrance. I'm happy to have it. :)

I got the original on a hot summer day, went inside my oven hot car, and sprayed myself liberally. I thought I was going to pass out. Disliked it ever since. Should've given it more time. The current one is different, a little sharper and not as pungent and strong. It does smell clean and aldehydic but I can only tolerate it in the dead of winter. Will keep but not repurchase.

Info dump time: Between its initial release and now, Avon has changed the name once (formerly called "Impromptu") and the packaging at least three times. Here are all of the notes Avon has listed for this perfume over the decades: Aldehydes, bergamot, lemon, galbanum, spices, lotv, rose, ylang-ylang, jasmine, tuberose, iris, orris root, cedar, sandalwood, musk, patchouli, incense, amber, vanilla. I do not know if/when it was reformulated, but I'm amazed Imari has all of these elements at play. When I sniff it from the bottle or spray it on myself, it has always smelled harsh, sour, soapy, metallic, and powdery. An abrasive, chemically... Yet unobtrusive powdery floral/vanilla smell of no exact nature. I don't know if Avon have reformulated it. My mother has been wearing it since I was a little girl. Every so often, she walks by and I catch a whiff of a pleasantly smoky, deep woody floral perfume; I know it's this one. For Christmas I have bought her a vintage formulation as a gift. The years of aging seem to help. It smells less screechy, smoother, deeper. More vanilla, orris, and woods. The comments have always been all over the place. Our scent perceptions reportedly vary by up to 30%, and evidently this is one of those bizarre edge cases. It doesn't remind me of anything else. Certainly not any of the Chanel perfumes. Imari, forever an enigma. Only God knows what the whole thing smells like.

At first spray I enjoyed wearing Imari but in a short while the smell made me feel nauseous, it's not about how strong or weak the concentration, it's how it smells and I am still trying to identify what causes this. Within the hours I needed to remove it and am afraid to try it again. I put on another fragrance and my nausea went away immediately. It's hard to describe how his smells on my skin, wet iris with powdery rose which gives the feel of a timid wimpy weak handshake. Lucky you if it works well on you

Old fashioned spicey oriental. Like most perfumes that smell kinda 70's/80's, this has great longevity and sillage. However, this is of an era that for many will conjur up their older relatives and so won't be sexy. My husband hates it :( Having said that, I like it. No notes stand out for me, which I also like; a proper blend into a whole. I never smelled the original so I can't compare. The box and bottle are ok, nice little motif. For some reason I LOVE the name.

As I just told a friend TODAY who sent me some Imari.....Imari is (to me) the scent of a decaying old woman who sleeps in a dusty cedar chest and wears a 50 year old wig that has never been washed and applies loose face powder on top of loose face powder daily :-O I could not get it off fast enough. To me, a hate! So sorry Imari lovers. Now, I do like Imari Elixir if one wants a sweet, fruity scent that has surprising longevity!!!

Ultra feminine and smells exactly like Avon, which always smells like my friend's mother's bathroom, hairdryer perched precariously in that wicker stand over the toilet that absorbs every scent that has ever gone through the room. Very soapy, floral, powdery, musty even, I'm not getting any citrus.

This is the scent of nostalgia: like grandma's closet mothballs, elderly aunts gossiping around the table on a lazy Sunday afternoon, and old bathroom soap that have dried up and gone a little crusty around the edges.

Honestly, I think it smells way too powdery. Absolutely hate it, smells like that one, mean elderly woman in her 70s.

thick sweet like amber. licorice but not. animalic lemon

Hate it. Way too much sillage. It smells more like over sprayed cologne to me, and I don’t know why. Very smoky, gross and not feminine at all.

This is one of those love or hate perfumes. When I first smelled this a few years ago I hated it. Like truly hated it, thought it was the worst perfume I'd ever smelled. It was in my dad's house, it belonged to his ex wife who I also hate but I took it anyway coz I'm a perfume addict. I judged it way too fast. This was when I didn't really know that much about top notes and dry downs etc. It's the opening that smells like a cheap, old fashioned, almost men's aftershave, mess but if you give it a couple of seconds it settles into a nice classic sort of perfume. It could pass as a Chanel if you were blind sniffing it. It's basically Allure with aldehydes and patchouli. It smells very much like Allure in the air. Very aldehydic citrusy opening that settles into a woody patchouli base. Just a very typical old fashioned Chanel type of dna, I can definitely see why people voted for Coco and Allure as this smells like. There's not much more I can say about it. It won't be for everyone but I can appreciate and even love these kinds of perfumes now. So when I remembered I had a bottle of this in a drawer I hunted it out and was quite pleased I'd taken it when clearing out my dad's house. For how cheap it is you would think it cost much more. It's probably the perfume I've changed my opinion on so drastically, from absolutely hate to really like.

I have and occasionally wear the vintage version Imari. It's considerably deeper and more powder and incense heavy than the liquid in the bottle shown here. Apart from this difference, the current release remains recognizable - having the same soapy-musky-softly-spicy aura. Honestly, seems UNISEX to me. Dated? Perhaps. This is time travel to the 80's, in which we find things not so loud and heavy as remembered. ;) If you keep in mind that many Avons are cologne strength, you will be better prepared. I enjoy Avons for quick pick-me-ups and after bath splash and bedtime tuck ins! They are COZY scents, in a way that a most familiar blanket becomes more comforting than a plush new one. A vintage lover? Please do yourself a favor and just grab the vintage. A newbie to Avon? Sample the current release. It has the same DNA but with considerable less 'oomph'. Imari is a classic for a reason. For me, even when I love other Avons even more, it's a true pleasure to smell the past bloom on skin in the present. Ahhh, almost bath time... and time for a good spritz of Imari!

This is just same Imari fragrance repackaged. I know its been around for a long time and favorite of many but I can't stomach it at all I would describe it as spicy oriental and while some fragrances in that category I can appreciate(if not wear myself), this is a scrubber for me. Its very dated to my nose, too heavy and too spicy. Some older fragrances withstood the 20, 30, 40 years etc , the test of time so to speak-like the Fracas or Opium or Chanel 5 etc but this is just not it. I don't classify fragrances according to wearer age but this smells "old". I mean I like lot of heavier fragrances but this one was one of the worst I ever smelled. Sorry, not for me. PS I noticed that several people compared it to Bottega Veneta perfume-sorry, but its not even close. ITs TOTALLY different fragrance and those two smell nothing alike. Veneta is not really spicy but floral oriental with leather note. Imari is spicy oriental

Imari is an elegant, slightly dry, very "classic" smelling perfume that is so well-blended I have trouble identifying the notes. I get the aldehydes and then a powderiness that is probably the iris, and then there's -- to my undiscerning nose, at least -- simply a dry and fragrant richness underneath that doesn't quite smell like anything in particular except maybe a beautifully mixed potpourri. It's a bit like a less complex, less spicy version of Chanel Coco, and is also in the same ballpark as that other Avon classic, Timeless. It also strikes me as a kind of more ladylike, drier, and restrained version of Calvin Klein Obsession and the original Moschino, with its mix of bergamot/citrus, flowers, and amber. If you're a fan of classic aldehydic spicy floral chypres from the 1980's and before, you will probably enjoy this lovely juice as I do.

First off, the bottle looks way cheaper than the photo suggests. I’m not all about the bottle but it could be a little better. I’ve given this a few tests to be sure I’m not missing anything and I think it really is as I felt the first wear. It smells clean, and masculine to me as it smells like Palmolive shaving foam from the late seventies!! I find it really difficult to identify notes because of this as it’s so familiar as a smell in its own right. I would totally disagree with a description of it being ‘warm’. Clean; yes, warm; no. I put this on in the evening after I get my pyjamas on, it has a cool clean feel that’s nice for bed. The only other scent I can compare it to is TheVelvets by BPAL. Very similar.

This is simply a repackage to celebrate 30 years of Imari. The fragrance is the same Imari from 1985, just in an updated bottle. From the press info: Three decades ago, the seductive scent of a rose inspired one of our most successful fragrances. Enticingly rich, Imari was just the beginning of what would evolve into an iconic fragrance collection. Today, Imari is celebrating with a new look. Imari Eau de Toilette Spray Where passion blooms 30th Anniversary: Celebrating 30 years of sensuality Experience the power of Imari with notes of sparkling citrus, opulent jasmine and addictive vanilla for long-lasting sensuality.

07.02.17 So after wearing it,not the perfume i prefer the most,initial smell is heavy while am a fruity lover Can smell the citrus and an after note of dark roses and followed by the other scents You can feel its a seductive perfume right from the beginning. While i live in a tropical island and that its summer...cant tell it stays longer,not on my wrists and clothes. While i wear it i can vision that topless black dress on a sexy woman seducing her man after a dinner to welcome the desert.. perfect for valentine lol I would gives this another chance at night and in winter... keep among my perfume collection.

I have to admit I'm a bit confused. I own two vintage bottles of the original Imari that date from 1995. That version is a strong green chypre with a prominent galbanam note, no rose is even listed in the notes. Now this 2015 version claims to be some rebirth of a fabled rose fragrance? I just put in my latest Avon order with my rep and they had a imari set for $9.99 so I ordered one. I hope for my collections sake this smells different then the two bottles I currently have. I wouldn't mind a rose/patch vibe, sounds lovely. When I get my order next week I will compare and maybe post a review of my findings.

I tried a sample today of Imari - and this is Classic Old Hollywood - Black Tie... very elegant and sophisticated. It reminds me of Marlene Dietrich. Rich, sophisticated, deep resonance - similar to Marlene's voice. ------- The perfume would be a "special occasion" fragrance for me -- it blends a bit heavy with my chemistry for it to be an every day fragrance. But I read a number of reviews on the shower gel and body lotion - and this may be a better way for me to enjoy the fragrance. It is very elegant. Again - "Black Tie - Formal" comes to mind!

I had my doubts about the reformulation of my beloved classic. I prefer the old bottle but it is a little dated and I suppose they are aiming at a younger market. I am pleased to say the strength is still there and this lasts all day. This is the original imari with perhaps a stronger rose note and a hint more powdery vanilla. I find it a bit sweeter than the original less warmth but lovely nonetheless. Not the same however and I will only seek out the vintage maroon bottles from now on. Another classic has been lost to reformulation.

Very mysterious and feminine. I usually like perfumes based on how feminine they make me feel and this is one of those go to fragrances and is incredibly alluring and mysterious. This really is one of *the warmest* fragrances I have ever worn. It's perfect or any weather is not over-powering at all and very inviting. Usually when I purchase "oriental" noted fragrances they're heavy and too perfumy, not this, it's luscious and can be worn by younger and more mature women.

Powdery, clean, fresh, soapy......ooooh nice. Smells like you just came out of the shower clean and GORGEOUS. However, the original was a lot headier, and what I can remember, more floral. This is mostly a clean scent. Longevity? Well, it doesn't last too long. So to counteract that, an unscented lotion before application. I will update accordingly, as I have just got this. Here we go again on another fragrance adventure. So far, I just like it.

I ordered this a few days ago and it arrived today. While the smell has been more or less the same, the brochure listed this new one as 'Eau de Cologne'. I'm confused. Is this really a new version, or just a repackaging?

Although I am a frequent Avon shopper, I did not realize this was a reformulation...just thought it was a new bottle. Now I am intrigued by the reviews here and will have to give it a try.

Such a huge veriety of avon's fragrances all around the world,while here in America we have repackaging of the old one."Thank you" Avon!

This is very nice. Inoffensive despite the patchouli. I got this for £6 gbp

This is not powdery at all and it's 100% male fragrance.