Sushi Imperiale

Sushi Imperiale is so very, very complicated. This isn't an everyone thing - this isn't an everyday thing - THIS is as individual as they come. At first, I didn't understand why this was named Sushi. However now, during my 2nd time wearing it, I totally understand. You know that sweet yet salty smell Sushi has because of the seaweed wrap? Think of that - and then imagine that smell teaming with whatever herbs and spices (including sweet spices) used in the rice filling part of the Sushi. Think AROMATIC rather than Gourmand - and there's the Sushi element. And I don't eat Sushi, but damn I love the smell. Star Anise, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, fresh Pepper meet Patchouli, Vetiver, delicate florals and vanilla - then they briefly mingle with the citrus notes which are not overpowering in anyway, they exist just enough to give everything else a little bit of extra shine. It's sweet yet salty, spicy yet fresh, floral yet in NO way girly, feminine yet masculine...AMAZING. Both men and women could get away with this - but I'm guessing this one is either going to love your body chemistry or hate it, so I would never recommend blind buying with this particular perfume. Verdict? Amazing longevity & projection, great silage and one of the most unique, exquisite perfumes to ever sit on my skin. This is timeless in the most original way! Update 27th Oct 2013: I never put perfumes into categories in terms of gender myself (I believe ALL fragrances are unisex personally) - however I've had three different people now ask me what aftershave I'm wearing when I have this on LOL. To men, it smells masculine - and to women, it seems to smell masculine as well. To me, it still smells of unique, exquisite perfume wearable in any weather (Definitely not just in cold weather, it's a humid Spring day here and Sushi Imperiale smells like it was made for this weather).

Sushi Imperiale is an excellent warm spicy citrusy perfume with aromatic, powdery, woody nuances and a hefty amount of vanilla in the base. It was my third favourite scent that I have tested from Bois 1920 about two summers ago while on a holiday in Florence. I clicked with it instantly because it reminded me of my beloved Carlisle from PDM. I am not saying here that Sushi Imperiale is a dead on dupe for PDM but it’s in the same scent profile. And it’s so much more affordable, I got it recently during a sale. It’s such an exquisite blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, mandarin orange and vanilla with a sparkling duo of lemon/bergamot, black pepper and smooth sandalwood. The magic of Sushi Imperiale lays in the quality of the oils used and the masterful way they are blended. Even though it has a very citrusy, fruity, aromatic opening, the heart and base notes make it more appropriate for cooler weather wears. It’s such a warm, comforting, cozy perfume with an amazing longevity and moderate sillage. Considering that it has a mix of fruits, mix of soft spices, sandalwood and vanilla, I think it can be suitable for all seasons, although it’s not my first choice to use during summer hot days. Maybe during summer nights.. One thing is sure: I love it so much and I will use it interchangeably with Carlisle without having to think about how much it costs to repurchase, like I think when I wear Carlisle.. This Florentine house has outstanding perfumes that for some reason don’t get much attention. If you want to wear something different than everyone else, try their creations. Some of their older releases are currently cheaper than most of the designers perfumes. And smell more sophisticated...

First of all I was going to blind buy this fragrance until a very generous Fragrantica member sent me a sample (big shout to alunwill) so I got to sample it and I foolishly thought I could predict what this smelled like from the notes, reviews and just my expectations. Needless to say it didn’t smell the way I’d imagined, I’d say it was much more powdery than I thought. This fragrance reminds of four fragrances, the opening of a little sharpness citrus and sweet spices instantly brought Caron L’anarchist to mind except much more pleasant, sweeter less challenging without all the musk and metal. This is a far more cozy experience which then got me thinking about Costume National Homme but without the cherry and actually very different but stylistically similar. Then comes the drydown and much more masculine woody powder Boucheron Jaipur Homme and then finally and probably most obviously, Yves Saint Lauren Opium pour Homme. The cinnamon star anise and powdery, creamy old skool combo with something like carnation in there makes it very similar and I love Opium, so it’s not a bad thing at all. This is definitely sweeter the creaminess is vanilla which makes it different and slightly more upbeat. I’ve got to say I’m not put off by any of this, not what I expected but I loved it anyway. The smell reminded me of a friends mum when I was a kid, she was a bit of a hippy and into aromatherapy and more worryingly homeopathy, anyway Sushi Imperial put me in mind of the smell of their house sometimes. The lasting power is very good and it’s clearly of excellent quality.

If you have trouble understanding the name behind this scent, try smelling real, freshly seasoned sushi rice! Sushi is as much about the rice as it is about the fish and fillings. You may see the similarities. Sushi Imperiale opens with a smooth sourness that reminds me of warm sushi rice, soft and sticky short-grain rice that has been generously seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. I can only imagine this being the steamy smell of a king's personal kitchen making sushi rice on a cold winter's day. A path from the kitchen leads to the king's dining room, adorned with the finest embroidered rugs and gold accessories. Truly luxurious and addictive. Sushi Imperiale smells velvety, wealthy and powerful. The scent profile is mostly citrus, supported by sweet tonka and anise. I believe the anise and nutmeg keep this a cool-spicy scent, despite the warm notes you see listed. I get more lemon than any other citrus note, and the spices are very well blended with no sharp edges. If you don't know the smell of sushi rice, Sushi Imperiale can also be described similar to a room-temperature lemonade, cider (with lemons instead of apples), or hot toddy. Despite the citrus, this is not a bright or fresh scent; it has weight and can be worn into early summer. This scent is certainly very interesting, and as someone mentioned below, is slightly (slightly) reminiscent of Coco Chanel, though Sushi Imperiale smells much more modern and smoothly blended to my nose.

This was love at first sniff. Elegant, gentlemanly (to my nose this is masculine scent), classy, versatile, it's one of my best spring/summer scents. It shines though in mild warm weather. It's not for very high temperatures. Rich blend, exotic, spicy, citrusy and it's strong stuff. The biggest surprise was its performance. Much stronger than many modern edp & edt. The opening is very pungent then it calms to a moderate sillage & projection. It smells better in the air so do not stick your nose on the spot to sniff it. It's a strong scent. Dominant notes are nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, mandarine, star anise, mild vanilla & lemon, faint jasmine and sandalwood. I also get tiny traces of linden blossom but this could be a mind game from the exceptional note combo. There's also something bitterish with semi-watery edges at the background. I do not get anything edible as some reviewers say. No apple cider for me and definitely is far from being a gourmand. It has the same structure, the same philosophy as Boucheron Jaipur Homme and some similarities with Yves Saint Laurent Opium Pour Homme but it does not feel old school or classic. Definitely it's not for school boys but anyone above 30 yo would be OK. Highly recommended if you want to smell different from the other people. Nowadays this smell is uncommon and exotic. Btw read the review of EmilyTheStrange. Quite interesting.