Imari (Original) 1985

Finally, a day cool enough to wear my Imari again. I forget how much I do love this fragrance until I put it on and let it settle and develop; a sniff from the bottle does not do it justice. This fragrance does have a masculine vibe—which I love. It also comes across as a more “mature” scent, also just fine by me (I’m in my 30’s, for what that’s worth). As I revisit this fragrance, I realize that it in many ways exemplifies my favorite notes. Galbanum—I only recently realized that this is a common denominator in some of my favorite fragrances, and part of what gives that warm, strong, masculine sense. Bergamot—another favorite, another slightly masculine note; herbal-y, rich yet crisp. Sandalwood—almost a guarantee that I will adore a fragrance, this also gives warmth and depth. Musk—not a ‘white musk’ here, but also not a dirty or overly complex musk, either; well balanced. Yes, there is cedar here, but thankfully not too much....and yes, there is that strong, pinchy chemical note of aldehydes, but I’m OK with it here and don’t find it too overwhelming and think it provides balance. Amber—yes, I sense it’s there...but blended so well with the other warm notes, and not typical; this is not a vanilla-centric amber, but a spicy, earthy, golden amber. Orris root....not strong in this composition, not to my nose...but like the style of amber, I think the orris is giving an earthiness. The lily and tuberose...the vanilla and ylang-ylang....my nose doesn’t pick these notes up at all, unless to say they are there keeping the overall composition from being a completely masculine scent. I love how Imari develops on my skin. I love that it is complex yet well integrated; it is warm, rich and opulent without relying heavily on vanillic-amber. It is somehow spicy, without any spice-notes (it seems that cloves , ginger and cinnamon should be listed as notes...but they are not). It is somehow smoky, like hardwood or mesquite burning in the corner of a cozy room—but not overpowering, not tobacco-like, and without a true incense note. Imari is like a deep, dark, red Rioja—smoky, well oaked, rich, mature, smooth and multidimensional, with each sip, each sniff, bringing a new sensory gift.

I remember the mysterious red bottle my mother owned, & I was not allowed to play with! What a pretty bottle, curvy like a woman, daring in red. I think the scent is a good match as well. Rich, deep, and voluptuous, Imari is one of those classics that will give you a distinct halo, and the quality of this perfume is not lost. I believe I have purchased a vintage set. It smells exactly as I recall on my mother, & it is indeed very strong! Luckily for me, the galabdanum that's present in many chypres, greens & orientals gets along with my skin famously, so this rich composition sings for me! Please note, dear reader, That I am in the midst of a binge through the house of Amouage, so it is obvious to all that i love robust perfumes! just a personal preferance. This is my comfort "Oriental." When Amouage is too complex, or the AG Orientaistes Collection too heavy, this is the perfect scent to reach for, and it is reached for often! It brings to mind an oriental/green composition for me. Resins, smoke, a leather hint perhaps.. fiercly green galabdanum in a massive dose & beautiful Sandalwood give this perfume a sexy bottom! I would advise fellow resinous, exotic, and sensuous perfume lovers to fall into this huge success from the Avon line. I've heard the reformulation is lighter, more powdery & delicate, which I could definitely see suiting some. Ill stick with the old powerhouse that competes with Opium & Samsara thanks! And she does indeed hold her own. Here is Cinderella! Nobody knew this hidden beauty was coming to the ball! And oh, no.. The bitch wore RED!

So, l have had a hate-love (yes, in that order) relationship with Imari. About 10ish years ago, l was gifted a 1oz bottle (dated 2002) of Imari. When l first smelled it, l HATED this fragrance so much; it just smelled so masculine, harsh and l thought it just smelled like men’s deodorant from the 80’s 😖. I moved out of my parents’ house, and this fragrance literally sat on my dressing table, forgotten and abandoned for 10 years. I happened to visit, the other day, and came across Imari, again. I’ve recently renewed my love for Avon scents and own Far Away, Far Away Sensual Embrace, Candid, Sweet Honesty, Odyssey, Night Magic, Timeless, Rare Pearls, Rare Gold, Soft Peony Musk, the new version of Topaze, Haiku, and Imari Blossom, so l was curious about Imari. I took the lid off and smelled and l was still instantly reminded of harsh 80’s deo...BUT! ...l got up my curiosity and courage, sprayed some on my skin, and O. M. G!!!! This scent instantly changed into this feminine spicy, yet soapy and clean-turns-powdery (I also weirdly smell a little coconut *shrug* ) aroma that l absolutely couldn’t stop smelling! I then sprayed it all over my body, went to bed and slept like a bebby! I have absolutely no idea if my body chemistry changed, or if my olfactory senses have matured and changed to appreciate more complex fragrances, but I’m totally head-over-heels in love with Imari! I started loving Youth Dew, also, so l wonder if that opened my mind up to the possibility of loving Imari, too... 🤔

Vintage face powder, Elnette Hairpsray, Cigar smoke and spicy Incense in the best possible way. Wonderfully cheap and suprisingly sexy for a cheap cologne. This is really one of the few Avon scents that works with my chemistry. Layer with the body powder or skin softener for best effect it really enhances the powdery vintage feeling of this fragrance. For some reason this is a man magnet despite it's cheap as chips price tag and bad reputation; everytime I wear it I get compliments from men about the exotic smell. I first found this when I was 15 and I was in love with it. This even comes in a body spray which smells very true to the perfume and will only set you back a couple of dollars! I love this, it's very grounding for me to wear and makes me feel comforted and serene and I can wear it summer or winter without a headache unlike anything else I own. It's my go to whenever I cannot decide to wear, great for casual or work days and I even wear it to bed when relaxing. The icing on the cake is how easy this is for me to buy and how affordable it is. I am pretty sure that a lot of people know me from this scent, it may not be my most favourite or the most gorgeous scent I own but it has travelled the years with me and is still sitting in my perfume drawer 15 years on.

I love this perfume and think it is one of Avon's best. The newer version is softer than the original but the fragrance is still pretty much the same as the original, in fact, I prefer the modern version over the original which was much heavier and mature smelling. I wouldn't compare this to Chanel No. 5 as it is more woodsy than Chanel No. 5. CN5 is more of a floral. Also, the dry down of Imari is reminiscent of dried flowers pressed between the pages of old dusty books in an attic. This "old" smell is not offensive, it is elegant and comforting, at least to me. It reminds me of my Mom who wore this in the 80's when she sold Avon. I loved the way my Mom smelled when she wore this perfume. It was her signature fragrance for several years until she discovered Tresor. I really like Imari, but I'm not sure if I could wear it as my signature because It was my Mom's. I think it's one of those perfumes that you associate with the memory of someone who wore it because it has been around for about 30 years

The fragrance world is highly dominated today by the sweet fruity floral scents. With that reason I always make sure I pick a fragrance away from mainstream. One reason why I decided to get this fragrance was simply because reviewers claim it to be a 'cousin' of Chanel No.5 & Shalimar. At first spritz it honestly turned me off. For someone who isn't used to aldehyde the opening was right in your face. I decided to put it aside. I gave it another chance and the trick is to apply lightly and waiting for the aldehyde to settle/dry off which is about ten min. For someone who burns incense everyday like me, Imari captures the scent perfectly. A mature, bold and confident fragrance which is a classic. More importantly it evokes and wraps the person wearing this fragrance in an aura of COMPLETE EXOTICNESS. Apply it sparingly so that you wont get overwhelmed by the scent. Not a lot of people know that Avon makes very good, seductive fragrances. This is one.

I agree with reviewers below, thrifting ain't what it used to be, but I've had insanely good luck with perfumes. (My all-time greats being full size unused Cinnabar from 1978, in the box, $10 at Salvation Army, 4 oz Fragonard On the Rocks $3 at Volunteers of America, and a 2.5 oz Lancome Oui $.99 at Goodwill). Today I found Imari in the box, $4.99. a little more than I like to spend on an Avon at thrift, but I thought what the heck. Well I get home and open her up and I see that it's marked as 1985 first edition on the pretty red flacon. Lucky again! Smells great. I can see the inspiration from the late seventies ambers craze, but this holds its own. It actually reminds me a lot of Rive Gauche with a big dose of sandalwood. Be patient people; you never know when your lucky day will come. You just have to wait for thrift store employees that don't know what they're looking at to put it out on the floor! 🤣

I remember when Imari first came out in the mid 80's. It was not exactly an Opium clone, but was in the same type of fragrance category. The 80's incarnation was a bit spicier. I recently ordered a bottle before the bottle change (still in the opaque maroonish colored bottle) and it was a much weaker but still pretty good. So I ordered another bottle, and not only has the bottle changed, the fragrance is just about nonexistent. After the first few minutes you can hardly smell it, and after a couple of hours it is almost gone. And this is with layering the lotion and matching powder with it! Avon seems to have a bad habit of discontinuing or messing with their best fragrances. Soft musk is gone, Imari has been ruined, next thing you know Timeless will be watered down as well. And yet they keep adding to the overly floral sillage bomb line of Rare whatever.

This fragrance is incredibly evocative, conjuring up images of black night and mystery....who is that woman and what scent is circling around her? This is a heavy, but not overbearing fragrance,*perfect* for winter and cold-weather wear. Though, also incredibly sexy so it's very luxurious and acceptable for summer as well. I do love this fragrance. The color used in the packaging is somewhere between a deep cinnamon and some maroon-red. The fragrance is just as rich as the color. To me, this is a very mysterious fragrance; people know that they like what they smell on you, but cannot quite put their finger on what it is they're catching a waft of. The woman who wears this is confident, intelligent and in control, and doesn't give all of her secrets away at once....

Imari Seduction is my favorite perfume, and Imari Blossom has quickly become another favorite. I got a bottle of Imari in the mail today, deciding to give it a try after passing it up at the flea market after a whiff test. At first spray I thought I still didn't like it, then I let it settle on my skin. After about an hour, I caught notice of it while I was walking around the house, and I love it. It's feminine but dark without being overbearing with the musk. It's like an elegant sweater, cozy and mysterious. Another win from the Imari line.

I just came home with a 1 oz spray bottle of Imari from an antique mall in town. In the store, and without spraying, I would have sworn this was a chypre. I got home and sprayed a bit on the back of my hand and got just a split second of bergamot and aldehydes, and then within seconds a strong hit of fruit that was gone almost as fast. Then baby powder and incense. I like baby powder and love incense, so this is fine with me. I wish the opening would have hung in a bit longer, I was enjoying that fruity opening that disappeared so fast.

I love Imari - it reminds me quite a lot of Shalimar and, as others mentioned, a woodier version of Chanel No 5. On me, though, it's more of a floral oriental than a floral aldehyde. I have the Imari body wash, lotion, and dusting powder that I layer on with something like Shalimar, Opium, or Tabu; it blends nicely with any vintage perfume. Like a lot of the older Avon fragrances, this one is womanly and sophisticated. No Froot Loop scent here!

Imari is my signature scent. I have been wearing Imari since I was 18. People actually associate the scent with me. I love the spicy, floral notes that radiate from it. It lingers for days and just gets better. The new formulation was nothing in comparison to this. A good friend managed to find a seller who has a stash of old Imari so I think I shall be stocking up for life. I couldn't live without it.

I was skeptical about buying perfume from Avon because all of them I purchase give me a headache. I was pleasantly surprised with Imari. I got a deal that I got powder, lotion and the perfume for 10 bucks. My favorite way to wear it is after my bath at bed time mainly because my husband LOVES Imari. I even spray it on my pillow! PS This last at least over night on my skin.

Whats not to like? I actually ordered a bottle to see how 'horrible' it was! It was on sale and sounded like it was right up my alley - warm woody incense-y thing. I think it's just fine! I have Carons that I hate worse than this, I have sampled niche fragrances that are MUCH worse than this.I don't think its like Tabu at all.I like it! So there!

This smells different and unexpected, and quite unusual. I would describe it as aldehydes and incense. There's a soapy freshness mixed with smokey incense that is appealing to me. It's strong so it's easy to use too much but with a light application, it defintitely has an old school glamour about it.

Imari who does not have it....This came out the same yr my son was born and I recently acquired another bottle. I agree with drdonna when you layer it, that's when it has its charm. The shower gel and lotion are heavenly not costly but gosh you feel luxurious when you apply it!!!

Old school spicy-sweet smell with a most addictive aldehyde blast! Great on a cold, rainy or snowy night. It almost guarantees good dreams! I have always had it and I always will. Not particularly long lasting, but it is always on sale, so carry with and re-spray. I love it.

Imari is a very warm,spicy and cozy scent. I associate my greatest childhood memories with this scent. Does anyone know if the reformulated version smells the same as the original? I recently purchased one in hopes of enjoying the fragrant memories of the good old days.

this is truly my favorite fragrance for evening. it is very sophisticated. i don't care for the cologne spray, just the shower gel and body lotion. they are dynamite. and you can always pull out a little bottle of the lotion if things get too quiet!

This is an easy one to dislike. lots of incensey, earthy, dearthy, rooty scents. Not fruity, not sweet. But I like it very much. Its calming (powdery and floral) A bit of a bitter scent. I see it as unisex. lasts about 3 hours (on me).

I put this on today and my husband attacked me like a big grizzly bear telling me how great I smelled!!! Lol I haven't worn this since I was a teenager but guess I will have to try it again now that I know it drives him that wild. ;)

I have 1 roll-on version since 2011. When i was young I didnt like it. Last week I gave it 1 more try and now I'm in love with it. Underrated classic for mature women. Not sure if the spray version is subtle enough for my taste.

I used to sell Avon and Imari was a popular choice among my customers. It is a head turning, woody, powdery scent that lingers a good long time. I have worn it myself and I love it. Avon really gets an undeserved bad rap.

I like this fragrance--especially in fall/winter; too heavy for when it's hot outside. It's sophisticated, woodsy, with hints of vanilla and musk. It reminds me of my mother in law (a good thing!) and smells "grown up".

I keep my fragile and pale vintages in a little mini fridge, and the smell that greets you when you open it is wonderful. Imari reminds me of that smell. Aldehydes, flowers, herbs, resins, and spices. Gorgeous.

Has anyone tried the new Imari Blossom (flanker)? I have submitted it to Fragrantica's Database request thread. If you have any information, I'd love to hear your opinion on it. Thank you! xo

I've been obsessed with wearing this as summer winds down. The right mix of soap and spice.

I had it long time ago, its a very feminine fragrance. Romantic...

If you like 1985 Imari, try Avon's Moonwind. Very, very similar.

Imari and Moonwind smell almost identical.

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.

If only this wasn't an Avon fragrance, maybe she will receive more likes or at least some respect from the parfumistas out there. Yes, she might be a cheap drugstore brand, but her composition is nothing short of elegant and could rival those of Chanel no 5 and White Linen, her more famous sisters in the floral aldeyhe category. She bore many resemblence especially to the latter as they are both clean, no nonsense fragrance that a serious, confident woman would wear. Flowers like tuberose and lily of the valley together with bergamot and galbanum creates an aura of maturity and self confidence. Woody notes like sandalwood provides a solid underground structure that gives an impression of strength and serious-mindedness. She is not without a soft side though, for the vanilla adds a softening touch to an otherwise stoic composition. Like a quiet, seemingly snobbish girl that starts to warm up to you when you got to know her better, it creeps up ever so slightly between the lines, but never breaks the overall mood of the perfume. Truth be told she's an acquired taste for me. When I first tried her on I found her to be entirely dull and without character. But then I realize I was in a flightly frame of mind when I tried her. I am more mature now and I feel like it's the time for me to try fragrances like this. I finally had a chance when Avon had a sale and I got her for a measly $5. I was a bit daunted at first, but now it is just thrilling. Maybe it's because of the novelty of the experience, I don't know, but once my bottle runs out, I will definitely buy again. I intend to try the body lotion to layer it with so it lasts longer. Yes, being an Avon and at a cologne concentration it does fades rather quickly that I practically drenched myself in it to gain significant longevity. But don't let that stop you. Bottom line is that Imari is an enduring contemporary classic and every parfumista (especially beginners with limited budget like I am) should try this at least once. It is a classy scent in many ways and I'm sure you gonna lose a lot if you don't.

Imari is it Ambiguous or Androgymous? everyone has there own interpretation of what the mind preceives of what a scent should be, She is neither Girlish nor Womanly, Imari avoids the sweet naivete of candy notes and airy florals She is a deep and worldy Woman who takes no nonsense nor sugar-coateed Sentiment from no one. The Scent of Imari opens with the note of Aldehydes dry and musty like dust on old leatherbound book forgotten from age then dries with Irises gives off A metallic smell like freshly carved ivory Piano Keys newly played while the thinly covered dust float slavishly in tune to the music under the beams from a Venetian blinds in the Early Morning light, Imari dries Warm and Spicy due to the presence of Incense descreert enough not to overpower yet definde to make it's presence known, The incense note is also a thinly Disguised metaphore of Dimly lit street filled with rustic stores of exotic antiques and old Opium Dens and a Pagoda that silently hides between the house of vices incense burns quietly thoughout the night with the scent of sandalwood add to the nocturnal side of Imari. The Note of Musk starts the Finishing of Imari very prominate it seemed to drown out the other notes ie Vanilla amber and ceder But the Sandalwood holds it's own and adds a fiery woodish twist to Imari The Musk IMHO is my favotite note It has a Mannish quality and make the scent a bit Androgymous almost masculine if you left out the Tuberose A Man can wear can wear this, So what is the question Is it Ambigious or Androgymous My Answer whould Be mostly Androgymous it's Blurs the line of Feminine and Masculine, My Final verdict This is not a scent for young Girls it's a scent for a confident Independent woman who knows what she wants out of life and aware of her Sexuality and know how to use it.

I bought myself a bottle of this in 1988, after trying a sample given to me by a student's Mom, who was an Avon Lady; the kind that still rang doorbells and showed up at your house wearing a knock-off Chanel suit. I was around 22 years old, and ordinarily I was pickled in Camp Beverly Hills, but something about Imari reminded me of (in my thinking at the time) Shalimar, or Caleche, or Opium, or Krizia...I really had no idea. I thought Imari smelled elegant and much more costly than any other Avon fragrance to which I'd been exposed. And believe me, I'd been exposed to a hell of a lot of secondary fumes from Sweet Honesty on classmates and Timeless on their mothers throughout high school and college. When I bought Imari, I worked nights at a book store in a mall,and Ysatis was all the rage in the department stores. I had so many bookstore customers asking about my fragrance, I was shocked. I know for sure a couple of co-workers purchased Imari after smelling it on me, and one woman told me Opium was the only perfume she'd ever purchased for herself besides this new Imari. Looking back, I now realize that Imari intrigued me because it had beautiful incense notes. I wasn't able to identify the notes I sensed back then, but I can remember the Imari of those days clearly. It was mysterious and lovely. I'm basically afraid to know what it smells like now, because I'm willing to bet it pales in comparison to its former oakmossy self.

Dear Readers, I was recently gifted this this fragrance by Avon and I have to say I like it a lot. Frankly I don't care cost and brands for I know some audiences will squirm hearing the word Avon . But I have to say sure its not ultra fine quality of French perfumes but Avon has good decency of quality and spirit that its quite fun to wear. Imari ,the perfume: well on its own, its a very warm,balsamic and woody fragrance with touches of vanilla that gives it a lot of lovely female intrigue and exoticism. I saw a few people comparing Imari to the avenue of Chanel in aroma, but I must gracefully disagree since I grew up with all the lines of Chanel's in my lifetime, doesn't smell like Chanel. Although , When it comes to Guerlain on the other hand, yes I do see definitely how Avon got their inspiration in making Imari. In my mind, if Samsara by Guerlain and Old Spice had a baby, I think Imari would be it, it has that exoticism that's warm, inviting and alluring strength that just makes you purr. Imari on my skin: it lasts quite a long while, I delight that I was given this in gift set and I would wear this definitely again, I could see why despite of decades trends that came in and out, Imari will always be Avons Olympian in their fragrance category. If you delight in womanly Orientals with warmth, balsamic strength that creates a exotic creature, Imari is it, makes a good gift .

A warm, softly spicy Oriental with a clean soapy quality in the top and an ambery dry down. It debuted the year I was born, so it may smell dated to some people, but I love 80s perfumes. My mother sold Avon when I was a teenager, so my whole family smelled like something or other from Avon for several years. Imari was my mother's favorite that she would wear to work or to church. So it smelled to me like a middle-aged, middle-class woman in a dress and sensible heels. But now that I'm approaching middle age and exploring fragrances, I find it to be a very serviceable perfume when I want to smell exotic and mysterious and sensuous. It's cheap enough that I can overspray to my heart's content before bed, or throw it in my purse or luggage to enjoy when I'm away from home. And it is a sensuous fragrance. My fiancé loves orientals on me, and the first time I wore this, he couldn't keep his hands off me and said I smelled delicious "like cinnamon"... I don't smell any cinnamon in it but I'm glad he doesn't object to my cheap old lady perfume lol. Good sillage but longevity is poor. It's strong at first, but settles down quickly and fades to the barest hint of skin scent within 3-4 hours. If you like Obsession, Opium, Youth Dew, or Tabu, you might like Imari. The version in the new clear glass bottle smells almost exactly like the one I grew up smelling in the red bottle.

The accords here at Fragrantica are absolutely correct for the current formulation of Imari, which I find to be both interesting and useful for layering. It is a floral aldehyde with a nice blend of incense and gentle greens. The base seems to be that of clean white musk - very inoffensive and pleasant. BUT! I have just had the great good fortune of smelling the vintage Imari, and they are truly different. Oh, the same greens, well blended with incense..... and there the difference begins. The vintage comes off as a far richer blend of incense, with a much "thicker" feel to the opening and heart. Even the drydown is sweeter and more dreamy-creamy by comparison. I can smell cozy powder and old fashioned musk in the base. Now THIS is no floral aldehyde!!!! A refined floriental would be more like it. :) For all intents and purposes the vintage and the current Imari are both lovely. But I would have preferred that Avon name the current version "Imari Light", to clarify the changes that have taken place in it's composition. Bottom Line - I'm still very glad I have the current Imari, since she is a pretty and versatile layering perfume. That said, the rich and comforting vintage version is MY cup of tea. :) Many thanks to the kind and generous Fragrantican who brightened my world with such an elixer!

This smells really good and reminds me the 80s when my aunts used to visit us from Portugal and they smelled quite similar to this one. I love travel back to those days. Imari starts off with aldehydes which can be smelled till it settles down. Here's how it covers its journey from the spark till base. The beginning is a mix of aldehydes and some spicy notes which is quite pleasent and can be easily predicted that it's going to work well on the skin. As soon as the top notes join the heart, floral notes emerge which smells more of an accord and there you can detect a bit bitter note too. So this is somewhat like aldehydes, florals and a hint of bitter note which probably comes from galbanum. Time for the base to complete the fragrance :). This is where it becomes powdery. The base is really rich and I am sure to say that to make it smell like powder, sandal has been added with a generous hand. Vanilla has been added for sure in it and since the amber note itself is an accord so that's where the richness come. On the whole, Imari is an elegant fragrance and should be worn with a light hand. It is best enjoyed in the evening and will also prolong the lasting power. I wore it last night and it's now morning and can still smell it. Thank you Chris v.v for this surprise gift.

From the AVON website: Imari is a Chypre. A romantic fragrance which begins with an infusion of tart fresh bergamot harmonized with a feminine accord of floral aldehydes and a light hint of juicy peach. The heart of this creation captures the exotic mystery of the orient through the skillful enhancements of incense, floral spicy osmanthus flower, Moroccan rose and balsamic ambered tones of myrrh and iridescent benzoin. A floral clarity is accomplished but the lavish use of white lily with Jasmin flower essential for an evocative richness. The back note is a crescendo of creamy East Indian sandalwood, white musk, oakmoss and the resplendence of precious gardenia. A nuance of vetiver and a hint of patchouli with tincture of orchid vanilla bean contributes richness and persistence to this most enchancing floral scape. 2. Where does the name "Imari" come from? The name "Imari" comes from a type of Asian porcelain that was extremely popular in the palaces of Europe. I never cared for it on myself-but it smells wonderful on others. My second oldest sister wears this exclusively, when she wears perfume, and uses all the body products. I personally prefer Yria by Yves Rocher. Both are oriental floral and incensy, but not too rich!

Finally! A cousin to Chanel No. 5 that works on my skin. I've always been a little envious of those that could wear that elegant classic. Because whenever I tried to wear Chanel 5, even when freshly squeaky-clean showered, it turned into a dirty pungent mess on my skin. But I always admired the perfume on others, and even though it was not my regular style, I wanted to be able to enjoy the bottle of No. 5 EDT that I'd been given. But seriously, it was foul on me, completely different than the beauty it was on my friends, every single time I tried it. So I passed along my Chanel bottle to one of them. But here is Imari! Instead of turning acrid on me, it just turns softer, into lovely expensive soapiness. I didn't know I could wear a floral aldehyde. Very exciting! I'm not getting much of the opulent spiciness that others mention about Imari. The aldehydes must be drowning out the woods on my skin, or else I have a different perception of what an Oriental fragrance is. I won't be buying a full bottle because there are others on my list that I would rather own (perfumes that are more "me"), but I might like a purse spray for whenever I feel like feeling refined, elegant and classic. Thank you, Avon, for your wearability!

I have had the good fortune to have been gifted a number of Avon samples by a generous Fragrantican. I would go so far as to say Imari is centered around galbanum, which makes it very astringent. It is powdery, soapy-floral, vanilla-sweet, peppery and faintly woody. I do not detect any tuberose or loud floral. I generally do not like galbanum, but this is soft, so I went for a second opinion. This is falling between good and weird. Critical of much that I wear, I considered this more positive than negative. Side note, men are as, or more generous toward Avon perfumes than women, in my very limited sampling. In the end, I think I will not get a FB of this, though not because of the galbanum. Something about the notes that contribute to the sweet and powdery aspects of the perfume are detracting from the green-ness of the galbanum, which is handled beautifully. However, I suspect the powdery sweetness is why it has been a much-loved scent for as long as it has.

This is my second review. I managed to get myself a bottle of Chanel no 5 recently and can't resist trying it together with this. Both are unmistakably related, with that burst of musky aldehydes at first spray, but C#5 became more lush and floral as time goes by while Imari is more dry and woody. Being an EDP, C#5 also lasts longer compared to Imari, but at only a fraction of the price of C#5, I'm not complaining. My Imari also comes with body care products like a purse concentre and skin softener that I can use interchangably with the original Imari EDC or the C#5. It's a sure way of making the perfumes lasts even longer! Someday if I manage to get my hands on Guerlain's Samsara or Calvin Klein's Obsession I'll try it together with this too. I have a feeling that it's an even closer relative to Imari than C#5 is...

There is really nothing to fear from Imari. It's a soft, lovely, old school woody-floral-soapy fragrance but lacks any of the harshness that may turn some off from such fragrances of the genre as Chanel No. 5 & Van Cleef & Arpels First. The first spray has a definite bite from the galbanum, but in moments Imari is a delicate, musky aldehydic fragrance with very mild tuberose and creamy sandalwood. I also smell bergamot, lily of the valley and that signature old school, powdery & barely there vanilla. Although I can't see it being a love for everyone, I'm surprised at so many dislikes. I find Imari very easy to wear and still quite similar to the version I recall from the late 80's / early 90's. It's just perhaps a bit too nostalgic, but I'm glad I bought a bottle (for $5 on Ebay!) and experienced it again.

This review pertains to the cream and powder version of Imari. I was expecting this to be spicy and a tad masculine, but on me, it is powdery..which I liked. Not powdery in a baby way but powdery in this nostalgic "1987 lotion-that came-in-a- tan-bottle" at Granny's kind of way. It was like a less leathery version of Timeless and a sharper version of Night Magic. Everyone here is reporting of the spray's strength, and that may be what turns them off. I think if you put on a tad of the cream in the winter with some powder, it would feel nice and reminiscent of perfumed anointing oil. When I was a kid, the priest anointed my head and for some reason, when I smell Imari, it reminds me of it.

1985 Imari Edition. Green, fresh aldehyde slightly rooty, earthy, spicy floral that isnt austere or strong for the green genre. Its woody earthy freshness along with sandalwood keeps it mysterious. It isnt related to Opium (except if someone thinks sandalwood makes it so ?) or even Coco because its just too aldehydic and green with the bergamot and galbanum to be an oriental in its opening. This is great for someone: -That likes a basalmic earthy feel but not a lot of oakmoss in their Chypres -Florals that dont stand out too much -likes Ylang to add body to their perfumes -light chypre Charlie blue is similar.

Avon spray perfumes have excellent sillage....a little TOO excellent! However, do not give up on Imari if you think the spray perfume is too strong. If, like me, you like powdery and woody scents, give Imari Perfumed Skin Softener and powder a try. Go ahead and slather on that classic Vaseline Intensive Care lotion in the yellow bottle, put on your good old Powder Fresh Secret deodorant, and then apply about a dime size of Imari Perfumed Skin Softener and sprinkle a little of the powder on your shoulders. With this method you will have just the perfect amount of inoffensive classy vintage vibe.

For reference, this review is strictly for the original 1985 version of this fragrance (NOT easy to find), and not the updated version or any of the gazillion flankers. It's probably the nostalgia--my grandma sold Avon, so wore this as a teen--but I really love this perfume. It is certainly mature smelling, especially initially (probably not teen-appropriate when I was wearing it, but hey, it was the late 80s/90s), but gets softer with the drydown. For that reason, I'd relegate it to a datenight/evening fragrance. Projects well and is long lasting.

i have a bottle that is from 2005, according to the box. it opens with a lot of sandalwood and orris along with aldehydes. somehow not what i was expecting but i like it a lot. i have recently acquired several vintage avon musky scents and this one goes along with them though it is a bit stronger. a pretty woody orris perfume. there is a tiny hint of lily, tuberose and vanilla. overall this an orris-y sandalwood. really pretty! glad i finally got to try this because i've been wanting to for a long while.

Imari has been around in USA for many years. So I understand the young ladies, whose mothers or grandmothers used that, saying it's an old lady's scent. In fact, when you first meet Imari,you may fall in love with it. This actually is what happened to me and for a certain period of time Imary became my signature fragrance. Then I lost my Avon rep and several years later, when I found the Avon site, Imary was in my first order. To me,it is a very nice scent ,the dry down is amaizing,as a golden rose.