Imperial Garden

Hurrah, my little secret is now on the database! I hope this means that more Avon lovers will be finding unwanted bottles online, because Imperial Garden is an under appreciated charmer. No powerhouse oriental here, agreed. This is more about 70's green florals - back to nature and airy. The sillage is low and overall feeling that of a terrific soap or vintage bath powder. Somehow I am smelling green carnations in the mix, and this feels extremely timeless - almost as though it could be from ANY era before the 80's. Definitely the sort of scent to take one back in time... I enjoy spraying Imperial Garden on hot summer's days, especially as the pressurized sprayer on these old beauties is extremely effective and refreshing. Just don't make the mistake that I did and use it on cloth - it DOES stain. ;) But to use unabashedly on skin you are most certainly encouraged to do! The bottle alone is reason enough to purchase Imperial Garden, but I think soap and vintage lovers will enjoy the scent too. Recommended. :D

I think this is the first time I've tried a fragrance with the note of "mate." I'm surprised how long-lasting this is for an early 70s Avon cologne. I'd describe it as a green earthy spicy floral with carnation as the main player in the floral department. Not a complex fragrance but pleasant to wear and interesting in its spicy character as it doesn't seem to have the cinnamon, cloves, etc. that most spicy fragrances do. I like it when I want to wear a spicy scent in summertime that sits close to the skin.

I got this at a thrift store for $2.50, so I thought why not own it, after all I don’t have any vintage fragrances in my collection yet. for being a 52 year old bottle of perfume I’m suprised, I really expected a lot worse. I would not wear it but still, it’s a clean powdery floral, kinda basic but no where near as bad as some other fragrances from the 70s and 80s.

Wow, this one is REALLY hard for me to get a lock on. I honestly can't tell if I love it or hate it. In the bottle it is intriguing but after I sprayed it on it dried down to a weird, sticky, kind of dirty-sweet scent. I know that doesn't make a lot of sense and likely sounds unpleasant. It mostly was unpleasant but I am willing to keep it in my collection because the bottle, which is a black cat is absolutely fabulous. Perhaps I will give it another try in a few weeks, maybe after the weather changes as hot/summer did not lend itself to my skin chemistry in July!