Ambrosia Imperiale

Not sure why there’s a random Karen in the comments but as a lover of fragrances I quite enjoy seeing lists like the one from JoyousOne because it gives me ideas from others who already have a similar nose as I do. Not to mention that it’s a good list! BR540 is amazing (when it isn’t playing the disappearing act on skin). Valaya has been on my wishlist for a minute now. Parfums de Marly is so hit or miss. I blind purchased both Cassili and Delina Exclusif which I hated Cassili and loved DE. Notes wise I’m almost positive I would love Valaya but yet I still hesitate mostly because I’m busy buying other things first like Ambrosia Imperiale which.. I have not a single regret. I will say I’m not in love yet but with all niche fragrances I’ve found that you need to let them sit for a while before they really give you what you’re looking for. Nishane Ani was a hate at first sniff because I couldn’t stop gagging over the loud ginger but after a month of ignoring it I suddenly began to smell all the other symphony of notes that left me smelling like a vanilla ginger pastry all warmed up and sprinkled with a hint of citrus which to me comes across lemony but my point is I know to give it some time and even from first sniff with AI I can already tell what boozy warm caramelized goodness this will turn into. My only issue is that I have to wait for it. I honestly sometimes hate that some of these fragrances need developing time after first spray because I want to be obsessed immediately and so far the only two fragrances to be obsession at first sniff are Bianco Latte and Akro Bake.. both are worth the immense hype they’ve been getting like it’s chefs kiss how good those are. Navitus is known for fragrances growing more potent and delicious over time so I can’t wait. I am considering going for Mahni Cassonade next but part of me wonders if it’s just another vanilla because while the bottle is beautiful I’ve been hearing great things about Lost in a Dream from Navitus. Not sure which direction I’ll go but I do know that Navitus is slaying the niche game because their juices are top tier quality while not breaking the bank like fragrance du bois likes to..

I was so incredibly excited to order this given I am a huge banana/banana scented/banana flavored anything fan. My expectation before first smell was for the fragrance to be thick, boozy, and syrupy like per the "bananas foster" reference. Upon first spray, that is not what I got at all.... and I was so thankful for it! Instead of a thick dessert like aroma, you're met with a STUNNING banana fragrance that is reminiscent of banana runtz, but not in a bad way. Over time... this banana scent becomes more realistic and sits on the skin SO well. I get the banana scent from beginning to end, coupled with the saffron throughout. Although I thought I wanted a more pronounced gourmand/thick-like fragrance, this is a much lighter and aromatic profile that makes it wearable for everyday use... which again is not what I thought I wanted... but I now totally appreciate. The true magic of this fragrance is in the dry down. This is where the base notes really shine. I get a really rich caramel scent that plays in tandem with the benzoin very beautifully. The rum note basically holds all of the deeper notes together, but its not the most noticeable scent which I appreciate. Again, for me the banana and the saffron are the strongest players throughout my entire wear. Lastly, the ONLY note I think that may deter people initially is the davana. You definitely get a green quality throughout the entire performance, which is presumably this note. It has a sharp herbal/balsamic essence that umbrellas the fragrance which in my opinion, is the sole note that stops this from being fully gourmand. BUT with that said, I grew to love this note in the composition of the fragrance and overtime, you understand why it compliments the other notes so well! - Unique/Niche banana fragrance, never done before - AMAZING sillage/longevity/projection, easily 8+ hours, clothes even longer - AI the Great did an incredible job, I hope she puts out more fragrances in the future!

Given all I had heard about this fragrance I was surprised to find the banana actually feels quite green in the opening. I was expecting it to be more sweet baked bananas with cream and rum. Perhaps its the davana note which I haven't heard of before and if its been mentioned in video reviews I clearly didn't hear that part ! That said its still quite delicious although does remind me a little of those foam banana sweets. Its very bubblegummy too. Also not as gourmand as I expected - even though I am listing various foods as descriptors lol- and I'm not sure if that's because of the greenery or something else. Basically I expected more cream ,sugar and caramel but the green banana is definitely at the forefront. Thinking about it AI the Great doesn't like overly gourmand gourmands and I think she has the balance right here. Its gourmand but still fragrance first and foremost. I would purchase a smaller size bottle if available. otherwise I probably wouldn't reach for this often enough to merit a fullsize. UPDATE - OK - I keep coming back to this one. I want to keep sniffing it and I love the drydown and the scent it leaves on my clothes the following day. I have only used the tiniest amount from a tester and it stays all day on my skin and days on clothes giving constant beautiful wafts of the banana. I wasn't sure of that green banana at first but now its grown on me SOOO much. I LOVE.beast mode frags and this IS one. There's something very moreish about it and I know once this sample is used up I am going to want to smell this again. It has a gorgeous airiness to it which makes it a Summer friendly gourmand. I can smell it on a jacket hanging by the door when I go past in a similar way that you get distant wafts of BR540. Tempted to get a bottle. Torn between this and Amour Infinite - both would add something new to my very small collection. It's original but still very wearable AI the Great? More like AI the Genius.

This is a beautiful adult gourmand. For those who are afraid of the banana note, dont be. The banana isnt prominent. Its like plantain chips or unripe green banana. Its not a Laffy Taffy candy banana. This fragrance takes you on a beautiful long journey. Its not linear by far. I love what the saffron does in here. I love the drydown of the musk. There's nothing like it. Its in my top 5. Its an easy reach. Even when I think I DONT feel like wearing it, once it touches my skin and my nose gets a whiff, my entire body feel the euphoria. I feel so empowered and strong when I wear this. Its not for everyone, but Ive decanted about 5 bottles for ppl. Ppl do overall LOVE this fragrance. I love that a Black woman is the creative director behind this fragrance. I feel like it represents me! As a woman we carry a lot of things in our purses. American Express says never leave home without it. We have to have a purse and id. I ALWAYS have a decant of Ambrosia Impérial in my bag. I NEVER leave home without her. Im ALWAYS excited to share this with someone. My name is Joy, but Ambrosia Impérial brings me so much joy! Whether Im wearing it layered with Notorieta from the Black owned brand Maison De Darius, Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille, Kilian's Apple Brandy on the Rocks, or solo, its always a stunner. I love passing it around at Perfume Exchange dinners and fragrance events so I can see the delight in someone's face immediately once they smell it. This typically graduates from a paper test to skin test rather quickly. Then they pull out their phone to screenshot where they can buy it from. I already loved A.I. the Great BEFORE this masterpiece was released. This just gave me all of the banana rum, vanilla, caramel, whipped cream extra reasons to adore her more! I already look forward to evert single fragrance she will ever release for her entire life!

Oh my gosh I absolutely love this fragrance, I don't see how anyone couldn't enjoy this scent. Upon first spraying it I definitely pick up on the citrus notes in here, I know it has orange in it but oddly enough I'm getting something in here that kind of reminds me of lime but I don't see that listed in the notes. Even though it has citrus in it it's not really what I would consider a straight up fruity fragrance, it's almost like the citrus notes that remind you of Christmas especially with the cinnamon in here. I usually do not like banana in fragrances but that could also be attributed to the fact that I just don't like bananas in general, but as long as it's not the main note I smell in a fragrance then I don't mind it too much. Sometimes I feel like banana can end up smelling too artificial in some fragrances but the take on bananas in this fragrance is more of a creamy banana. I also definitely get the notes of vanilla, caramel, and whipped cream in here and that's what really does it for me. It's like a spiced banana bread topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle. The dry down is amazing and I really get the musk note in this one. The projection and longevity on this is insane too. I sprayed this on my wrists & neck when I went out one night and I could still smell it all the next day, it's like it didn't even fade at all. I could smell it on my sweatshirt for days too. This brand is definitely one of my absolute faves, the Baklava & Vanilla Eclat from this brand is delicious too. If you're usually a gourmand lover or you like musky fragrances like me than this brand is for you, and considering the quality and the longevity of the fragrance then I would definitely say it's worth the price point because a little really does go a long way.