Imperial Purple

The Florentine iris is a precious Tuscan flower, exported all over the world, called giaggiolo by the Tuscans and known to the eyes of the world as the lily of Florence. Because of its extraordinary resemblance to the elegant tropical flower, this marvellous flower, also known as the orchid of the poor, grows spontaneously in our region. To admire the flowering of the Florentine iris, it will be enough from late spring to go just outside the city. The intense and persistent scent is reminiscent of violets and literally inebriates the senses. What makes the Florentine Iris unique in the world does not lie in the beautiful flower. The rhizome jealously protects its exceptionality underground. Using almost manual artisan techniques, the latter is collected, processed and processed for sale and export. Imperial Purple, masterfully created by Ane Ayo, takes its name from the iris flower, purple, of course. When I think of Imperial, I can't help but relate it to the Medici family, Imperial implies royalty, and the Medici dominated Florence during the 15th century. Ayo's creation puts the seductive powdery purple flower on the backbone while other elements rotate around it, namely smooth leather and gourmand vanilla. While the formula of dusty green iris bedecked with leather and vanilla isn't groundbreaking, the result here is nothing short of mind-blowing. The scent begins with a floral explosion, a heavy verdant and powdery accord with lipstick-like undertones. Though dominant and intense, underneath is a faint citrus undertone of what I assume is a blend of bergamot and orange peel that lingers for a while. The initial stage is all about dry, waxy, and powdery iris. A sweet and slightly gourmand accord announces the arrival of the heart. On one side, spicy and pastry-like vanilla strives to mitigate the make-up nuance released by the iris rhizome. On the other side, a burnt musty nuance, a bit nutty, balances the scent emitted by the cereals. In the middle of this concoction, I get a dewy, jammy, and dry rosiness tinge, as if rose petals were also present. It is not too prominent and does not turn the fragrance into a rose-centred kind. Unexpectedly, in the dry-down Imperial Purple turns chocolaty and leathery. The former comes from the pralines, while the latter is a smooth suede, not the raw leather we meet in Full Moon over the Desert or Ombré Leather (2018) EAU DE PARFUM, whose powerful animal smell could be disturbing. The fragrance notes include vanilla, which I don't get too much. Instead, the smooth butteriness of the iris is still taking centre stage; other notes do not subside it. When I smell it closely, the leather note is quite distinct. A powdery and leathery accord remains on the blotter many hours and days later. A formal and classy fragrance, best suited for cold weather during the evenings and nights of fall and winter. It may not be as strong as the other pieces in the same series, but both projection and longevity are above moderate. It is similar to iris-based fragrances from the house Dior and Valentino, and the quality is superior to ZARA standards. I'm basing my experience on a bottle I've owned since April 2023.

Zara has been KILLING IT with these Men's Fragrances. Because they are perfectly Unisex and smell Niche. Better than 98% of the fragrances I've been sampling lately from a number of expensive niche houses. Kid you not. I'm not saying these will have the best longevity but so don't so many niche brands tbh. This one smells very Orris (Iris) to me and has something in common with another new favorite of mine - Phlur Not Your Baby. Except this would be a touch more Unisex compared to that one that leans more Feminine. This is a beautiful fragrance, if you like yourself a powdery iris/orris note then go ahead and try this. RECOMMENDATIONS for Other Great Zara Fragrances: Majestic Green is another great one (better version of Xerjoff Italica)... Intense Dark Exclusive is fantastic too, as well as Warm Rich Addictive (this one is a little weaker in projection but still a nice scent)... the Sand Dunes one is really good but doesn't last super long, maybe 3-4 hours (still love it though!)... Ebony Woods is a favorite of mine as well, very unique and has become addictive to me)... Energetically New York is fantastic if you want a lighter (but still present) version of Le Labo 33 (just be aware that some people's body chemistry can make this smell of pickles - personally I don't get that)... and Hipster Oud is a great "baby oud"... I would consider these all to be Unisex! Other ones that are more feminine-leaning: Fields At Nightfall is really good (This Is Her dupe)...lastly Rose Gourmand is good if you don't already own one of the many similar fragrances that's out there (I slightly prefer Roses Vanille though but they're very similar)... Oh yea - and Rose Marshmallow Candy smells very similar to Kilian Love Don't Be Shy. Hope this helps someone!! Go get yo'self some good cheapies!!

Since picking this one up several month ago, I've noticed I have a trend with this one. I find myself wearing it after a shower from working outside doing yard. Between Givenchy Gentleman Reserve Privee and Imperial Purple, these two are perfect fragrances to just enjoy their aura. The Iris, Praline and Vanilla generate that sweet, powdery creamy texture to rest on a base of woods wrapped in leather. Relative to Gentleman Reserve Privee, Imperial Purple feels overall lighter, but more dense in the sweetness. Especially in the opening. If these two were blankets, Imperial Purple would be airy and fluffy, where Reserve Privee would be thick and wooly. Both fantastic for their own reason. And different enough to warrant owning both. Not to mention, Imperial Purples Price is hard to resist. An absolute love from me.

I agree with other who says it has a powdery vib from Iris. On my skin, I don't pick up any leather tones. Instead I felt like it came across with a hint of petetulom vib..not as strong as Dior Fahrenheit. After it settled, I was able to pick some warm woodsy vib. After a good 2hrs, I was able to pick up a sweet notes mixed with green leaf..almost violet vib. I'm able to see why they called this cologne Imperial Purple. Longevity was decent, Sillage could have been better. In all, for the price point you shouldn't expect that WOW factor. All considering, it's not a drugstore cologne either. I'm going to give it a second try, I'm almost ready to buy it..one more sniff to be sure. 6.5/10

Passing by Zara i had the chance to smell this one along with regal white the latter is okay but imperial purple is really beautiful, i loved the iris and leather combination the praline adds some sweetness character to the fragrance. I have Valentino Uomo intense and samples of DHI, i think Imperial purple smells like Valentino more, not exactly a copy but on the same category. I love it so i bought it, and i still have to wear it and update on the performance. The price on this one is really good compared to the price of Dior :) I still have to try magnificent black

Smells really close to Prada l'homme to my nose. Smells fantastic!. Compared to Prada l'homme, this Imperial Purple has a bit of woodsy notes going on, which makes it smell more manly. I don't or almost don't smell leather in it but I guess the leather is making this smell less office clean (which is a good thing, since I don't see using prada l'homme outside office). Making it a really good perfume for date nights and of course still, office. Performance wise, It last all day on clothes and average on skin. So no worries, this is a banger!

This is definitely a play on Dior Homme Parfum but much brighter (not fresher) than Dior Homme Parfum. It's beautiful. Though it's perfectly unisex, I personally wanted to add a masculine touch to the scent by layering with Molecule 02. It HONESTLY didn't make much of a difference (to my nose) ATLEAST NOT immediately but I need to spend more time with it. Zara, you did your BIG ONE with this release. Next, I would like to smell the green one from this collection which is supposedly a play on vanilla/ cardamom.

It’s not Dior Homme Parfum, it’s not even in the ballpark. There’s iris and some leather but this is much fresher and nowhere near as rich or dark, also the vanilla and praline take it in a completely different direction. Neither is it close to the Valentino which is much more cold, powdery, and not as sweet. That all being said this is very nice on its own. It’s sweet iris with a touch of leather and woods. Fairly simple and straightforward. A good versatile option for days, nights, or casual wear.

I've never smelled Dior Homme Eau but I imagine this Zara smells very close. It's a brighter version of Dior Homme, more versatile and more mass appealing. I don't get much leather. It's a simple composition but it's very well made. Reminds me also of Lanvin Arpage Pour Homme, maybe it's just the iris and the color of the juice. I would wear Imperial Purple in about any situation. Now in the spring it's really fantastic.

Highly underrated. I don’t know about batch differences. I bought this when it first released batch 30240. Its a mix between prada l’homme intense and Dior intense. Side by side with prada l homme there is a difference. Prada is a lot more darker and smoother. But this fragrance is still a banger.

The older this fragrance gets, the more blended it smells and it’s more satisfying year after year. The iris used to feel ( not heavy ) but punchy , if that makes sense. But this years the base is more forthcoming to my nose - the vanilla-praline is amazing - Zara you did so good with this.

Seems like once a year Zara comes out with a banger! This being one of them. When I seen the notes of iris, cereal, and praline, I knew I have to get it. What you get is a sweet iris fragrance that smells so damn good. Good job Zara. Also please bring back unexpected fresh and spicy!

The batch number I have is 31160. It has a delicate iris powder feel, and blends well with other notes. It is a very beautiful scent. I bought three bottles online by mistake, and now I am very happy to have three bottles.

If you are looking for a similar fragrance, Tinted Twill by Massimo Dutti is a perfect substitute. It's 90% same, only it's missing the sweet base but still very close. And it's made by the same perfumer.

It's like a light version of Dior Homme Parfum. Lighter iris, lighter leather, lighter woods. They smell significantly different but the general idea is the same, just lighter and more commercial here.

Smells like the inside of a leather purse where make up products are kept, very powdery and well blended. It smells unisex to me I think I will purchase it for me

This, my fragrant friends, is a great clone/inspired by/dupe of Prada L’homme Intense. Prada closes a door, Zara opens a window 🥰

Layer this with Green Lover by Lolita Lempicka or Majestic Green by Zara, you won't regret it!

Zara has been releasing some bangers!!

This fragrance reminds me of the mixed scents that lingers in some high end perfumery... the drawers made of good, waxed wood full of luxury lipsticks, the sofisticated perfumes of the female clientèle still in the air blending with the smell of the expensive, new chamois shoes of their male companions...one of them a bored bad boy in leather jacket with just a spray of old earthy cologne on him...surely he doesn't take himself too seriously as to wear Dior Homme, or does he? I have given this a second chance, my impressions have changed a bit so I am here to write again a fair review. The opening is strong, strong woods with a general aromatic and piney/conifer undertone, which I enjoy a lot. It's a mix of very dry woody notes, with a crunchy feel probably given by the cereal. I think the cereal note is in here just for texture and not as an olfactive presence. It is much earthy too, but I can't quite distinguish what note could give this earthy (a bit turbid) effect. At this stage the scent has an old gentlemen vibe about it, it recalls a bit some old classic masculine cologne, at first this leaved me perplexed. There is nothing makeupy or feminine at all in the opening. The iris that starts to come forward is mesured, has something of lemony, and it is more aromatic then powdery. A little cold too...there is no warmness from praline or vanilla at all. In the middle the strong woody accords dance around some leather notes that smell very much like soft suede, it's not the usual leather of Zara (like in the Vibrant Leather series) or the strong animalic and raspy leather of Zara Full Moon Over the Desert, nor the accords Jo Malone uses for her more leathery Zara creations. I like it very much, it is soft and gentle. Now the scent has become much more unisex, and the iris has finally trasformed itself in to a makeupy one; it is sweet, a little waxy and a little powdery (not pasty like a proper lipstick yet not fully powdery as a face powder). The scent as a whole smells now like a leathery bag full of old makeup items, specially lipstick, some old cipria face compact and above all eyeshadow pencils (there is a bit of that pencil shaving cedar quality)! The powdery part smells a bit like violette too, but it is just suggested, nothing too Guerlain-esque about it. This is the stage I like the most, and finally I can see the resamblence to the various Dior Homme declination, even though I must say in Dior I find the iris much more strong (and of course much more superior in quality and nuances). The initial stage instead smells more like Valentino Uomo Intense, from what I remember about it. The woods in the middle have become even more strong if you can belive it! It is an overdose of woods, very much to my liking! I can feel they are a touch more creamy and mellow now but still the praline and vanilla are nowhere to be found. The dry down has a softer iris that, in this final stage, has become a bit more powdery, less waxy and more diffuse. The leather is different too...more masculine and raw in the dry down, a bit like a leather jacket, it has some animalic touches but it's not full on aggressive, the perfume maintains its armony. Fortunatelly a light sweet vanilla softens things even more. The woods are more light and intertwined with a light amber but still very much central. About the praline note...I don't know what to say...smelling from up close it seems there is none but when I catch whiffs of the perfume in the hair I pick that up...it has that posh perfume-y praline feel similar to La Vie Est Belle, but you don't smell proper sweet praline. I started to notice its presence since the final stage of the middle and all trough out the dry down. If I am right in my assessment then hats off to the perfumer Ane Ayo because she has taken a usually feminine and sickly sweet material and used it in a clever way, taking only the best it has to offer! Do not expect, after reading the notes and the brand's description, a gourmand iris or a strong sweet base. I tested this both on skin, clothes and paper and it isn't that kind of style. Praline acts quite like the trickster in here. Proper closing is given by an aromatic and tabacco-y dry down. A bit soapy too, and still much woody. Performance were good, in line with the others from the same collection, lasting on me for about 5 to 6 hours, dry down even more; projection was a bit lacking though, only first two hours were moderate, after it is pretty much close to skin, but I personally like it just as it is. Overall I find the scent unisex but more masculine leaning...it is kinda a menly version of the feminine Kelly Caleche from Hermes, which too is a "makeup bag" or "leather bag full of makeup" scent, but much dewy and more fresh. I am glad I have given this a second chance, it has enough complexity and nuance, it is not just a "dupe". I think it would fit perfectly on an elegant men, dressed in black but with some quirky touch in his style, maybe an expander on his hear, some tatoo or obscure jewelry. It can be splendidly refined on a woman too...I picture it on someone that dresses with rigid silhouettes and styles herself with some sooty and greasy 20's-ish smoky eyes! IMPORTANT: if you buy this or any of Zara refillable bottles please adjust them tightly to avoid leakage. Do this and there will be no problem!