Poudre Impériale

All of the "smells like" recommendations are a bit perplexing to me...I can see why some folks might connect some of the notes in this to the notes in these other fragrances, but I feel like I'm perceiving something totally different. If anything, the opening evokes to me the citrus/cumin combo of Cartier's Declaration, but even that is a stretch. Nonetheless, this is a lovely, incensey, floral, animalic, woody musk. The bite of pepper in the opening complements the citrus well. The floral core feels like a jasmine-sweetened frankincense. The coumarin and resins in the drydown aren't overpoweringly sweet, but cut some of the citric lemony scent of the top and mid. I'm reminded of the beautiful jasmine/incense combo in Secrets de Sophie as well, but where that scent skews sweeter and more overtly a floral bouquet, this remains dry, aromatic, and it has an animalic edge to it. Don't let the poudre in the name scare you (if powder scares you).

PI is a wonderfully spicy, powdery, woody, resinous and classy little cool weather number. It's peppery opening makes me sneeze, but then the cardamom and citrus kick in and from there it just gets smoother, a bit sweeter and deeper. Heliotrope does its powdery thing, here. The other florals are extremely well blended and add a subtle green/floral/freshness. But, this baby is all about the spices, woods and resins. The drydown is clean white musk bordering on soapy. But, the vanilla saves it from this, and keeps the delicious spices wafting. Sillage is at least arm's length for the first 3-4 hours on my skin. More than a skin scent for another solid 4 hours. Lasts even longer on clothing. Absolutely unisex. It reminds me of, Boucheron's, Iris d' Syracuse. But PI offers more spiciness.

Beautiful scent, if you love spicebomb and rehab you should love this one too , but if you have one of them maybe you don't need poudre imperiale it might be redundant in your perfume collection. The lasting power is not so great on me so i prefer spicebomb for that reason . I don't get any similarities with feminité du bois by the way 3 months later i 've changed my mind, i'm obsessed with this scent , i 've just ordered a full bottle ! don't ask me why , i'm still thinking everything i said before.. love is love

This entire line is quite fascinating, truly evoking a rococo style. I will own them all one day, just for how scenic they are.

I have a very specific memory associated with this scent: making gingerbread at my grandparents house in the winter as a kid. Something about the scent of the dough, the powdery flour and my grandpa's spicy cologne is mixed together in my memory in a very similar fashion. Even though it is not necessarily a scent I would wear every day, it is still special to me and captured a memory I didn't even know I had until I smelled it.