Imari Avon for women

I just came home with a 1 oz spray bottle of Imari from an antique mall in town. In the store, and without spraying, I would have sworn this was a chypre. Got a big hit of oakmoss, so I was pretty excited.

I got home and sprayed a bit on the back of my hand and got just a split second of bergamot and aldehydes, and then within seconds a strong hit of fruit that was gone almost as fast. Then baby powder and incense.

I like baby powder and love incense, so this is fine with me. I wish the opening would have hung in a bit longer, I was enjoying that fruity opening that disappeared so fast.

I like this one but then, I like Orientals. I've always loved Samsara and Opium. I'm not normally an Avon wearer but this one is nice. If the perfume is too much, try the body cream. I got mine at a discount place and it smells great. Not too overwhelming and just perfect for colder weather.

I'm sure we can all agree that this particular fragrance has Chypre Dna in it's bones. An odd release for Avon considering the year was 1985. At that point in time i was under the impression that perfume houses had moved more towards Florientals and Chypre/Oriental hybrids. Regardless of it's pedigree, this scent continues to turn heads, for better or for worse.

Imari starts with a sticky herbal paired with an extremely old fashioned aldehyde. The type of opening found in fragrances of the 60's and 70's. I think the opening, being the most prominent part of the whole fragrance, is what confuses me the most about this fragrance. There is also a shrouded sort of woody fruit smell, that is very strange because it also comes off quite whimsical.

To those who are fairly new to perfumes this scent is going to smell of old woman and with that in mind if you're new to scent, stay away from this. With slightly more experienced noses, this will be appreciated and understood for what it is. An awesome Chypre Floriental/thing that needs to be in every perfume-enthusiasts collection eventually.

Imari is, by now, a classic Avon fragrance so I am surprised that so many claim to dislike it. When I wear it, I feel happy. Lately, I have been wearing the lotion to bed. It puts me in such a good mood! It has a sweetness that is tempered by the woody components. It is one of my favorite Avon scents and one of my all time favorite fragrances. I do not recall having smelled a similar scent so I can't compare it to anything but if you would like to try it, it comes in a small, inexpensive bottle. Or try the lotion when it is on sale. Even better, ask your Avon representive for a free sample. I hope you like it as much as I do.

My favorite Imari is Satin, in the white bottle. It's quite pricey now, when you can find it. Satin seemed to be a softer, lighter fragrance than Imari. Avon needs to reintroduce some of their fragrances. It's always the ones you like they discontinue. :(

This smells different and unexpected, and quite unusual. I would describe it as aldehydes and incense. There's a soapy freshness mixed with smokey incense that is appealing to me. It's strong so it's easy to use too much but with a light application, it defintitely has an old school glamour about it.

Imari has been around in USA for many years. So I understand the young ladies, whose mothers or grandmothers used that, saying it's an old lady's scent. In fact, when you first meet Imari,you may fall in love with it. This actually is what happened to me and for a certain period of time Imary became my signature fragrance. Then I lost my Avon rep and several years later, when I found the Avon site, Imary was in my first order. To me,it is a very nice scent ,the dry down is amaizing,as a golden rose.

Whats not to like? I actually ordered a bottle to see how 'horrible' it was! It was on sale and sounded like it was right up my alley - warm woody incense-y thing. I think it's just fine! I have Carons that I hate worse than this, I have sampled niche fragrances that are MUCH worse than this.I don't think its like Tabu at all.I like it! So there!

By far one of the worst fragrances for women that i have ever smelled; with all my respect this is just baby powder dilluted in alcohol, terribly cheap smelling and annoying.

55/100

Imari is it Ambiguous or Androgymous? everyone has there own interpretation of what the mind preceives of what a scent should be, She is neither Girlish nor Womanly, Imari avoids the sweet naivete of candy notes and airy florals She is a deep and worldy Woman who takes no nonsense nor sugar-coateed Sentiment from no one.

The Scent of Imari opens with the note of Aldehydes dry and musty like dust on old leatherbound book forgotten from age then dries with Irises gives off A metallic smell like freshly carved ivory Piano Keys newly played while the thinly covered dust float slavishly in tune to the music under the beams from a Venetian blinds in the Early Morning light,

Imari dries Warm and Spicy due to the presence of Incense descreert enough not to overpower yet definde to make it's presence known, The incense note is also a thinly Disguised metaphore of Dimly lit
street filled with rustic stores of exotic antiques and old Opium Dens
and a Pagoda that silently hides between the house of vices incense burns quietly thoughout the night with the scent of sandalwood add to the nocturnal side of Imari.

The Note of Musk starts the Finishing of Imari very prominate it seemed to drown out the other notes ie
Vanilla amber and ceder But the Sandalwood holds it's own and adds a fiery woodish twist to Imari The Musk IMHO is my favotite note It has a Mannish quality and make the scent a bit Androgymous almost masculine if you left out the Tuberose A Man can wear can wear this, So what is the question Is it Ambigious or Androgymous My Answer whould Be mostly Androgymous it's Blurs the line of Feminine and Masculine,

My Final verdict This is not a scent for young Girls it's a scent for a confident Independent woman who knows what she wants out of life and aware of her Sexuality and know how to use it.

this has been discontinued in our country and imari seduction is now in its place well it was a good fragrance warm and perfect for winter. i luved its dry down and not its top notes.

This is dry, stale baby powder on me. It smells 'old' and firmly rooted in the 80s. More than one spritz is headache-inducing.

Here's how I've discovered it works, though: I use one spray low on my body, usually behind the knees or belly, then apply a usual amount of something syrupy sweet and youthful (Demeter Sticky Toffee Pudding; Paris Hilton Can Can; Harajuku Lovers Wicked Style Love, etc.) elsewhere. The two seem to meet at a middle ground and create a non-cloying gourmand with a complex woody oriental base. Acceptable!

Why would I work so hard to use something I dislike? Stubbornness and a DIY attitude.

This smells really good and reminds me the 80s when my aunts used to visit us from Portugal and they smelled quite similar to this one. I love travel back to those days.

Imari starts off with aldehydes which can be smelled till it settles down. Here's how it covers its journey from the spark till base. The beginning is a mix of aldehydes and some spicy notes which is quite pleasent and can be easily predicted that it's going to work well on the skin. As soon as the top notes join the heart, floral notes emerge which smells more of an accord and there you can detect a bit bitter note too. So this is somewhat like aldehydes, florals and a hint of bitter note which probably comes from galbanum. Time for the base to complete the fragrance :). This is where it becomes powdery. The base is really rich and I am sure to say that to make it smell like powder, sandal has been added with a generous hand. Vanilla has been added for sure in it and since the amber note itself is an accord so that's where the richness come.

On the whole, Imari is an elegant fragrance and should be worn with a light hand. It is best enjoyed in the evening and will also prolong the lasting power. I wore it last night and it's now morning and can still smell it.

Thank you Chris v.v for this surprise gift.

Hm . . . IMARI is a feminine comfort scent. At the beginning it's fresh and sweet with a tiny bit of spice. Then the powerful powdery note comes in with the flowery notes, and that slowly fades down into a nice musky, woody base, still with some soft spicy tone though. It is warm, welcoming, fresh and comfortable. It does not make a special statement or an identity about you. It just simply says 'I am a woman and feel good and comfortable in my skin today.'(Not sexy, classy or happy etc.) It is great for office, causal daytime or yoga class especially during winter or autumn season. However, I think it is for a more mature woman (or wiser type of woman), who knows what life is about, and appreciates it with respect and love, and can take a break from it with this scent on, saying I am just watching today, I do not want to stand out, just enjoying the show of life while I am passing through today. It is a really nice, complex scent and lasting power is great. No wonder that is on the market more than 25 years . . .

i hate the smell, smells like rotten baby powder (not that thats possible, but if baby powder could rot, it would smell like this) blaahhh, dissapointed, i wonder if the other avon perfumes are as craappyyy

it goes on like bug spray. a very strong, fake, chemical smell. a headache in a bottle. i don't find this feminine at all. its too harsh. even when it dries down it has that zing of OFF bug spray. this reminds me of a heavy oriental. not a fan.

OMG! Teya is short form of my granddaughter's name.

As for Imari, I can take it or leave it. Prefer to leave it since I almost never wear it. Doesn't make a statement about me when I've worn it.

i really dont like this perfume. blahhhh, it smells like what rotten alcohol would smell like mixed with heavy baby powder. blaahhhhh,

Yes, it does indeed smell wonderfuly on others, meaning women - it's tenderly warm, exciting, arousing
evoking desires misteriously infused with longing for
perfect romance, touch, embrace...my all times female favorite, perfect adorement for a full-bodied and hot-blooded femininity, uff...

From the AVON website:

Imari is a Chypre.
A romantic fragrance which begins with an infusion of tart fresh bergamot harmonized with a feminine accord of floral aldehydes and a light hint of juicy peach. The heart of this creation captures the exotic mystery of the orient through the skillful enhancements of incense, floral spicy osmanthus flower, Moroccan rose and balsamic ambered tones of myrrh and iridescent benzoin. A floral clarity is accomplished but the lavish use of white lily with Jasmin flower essential for an evocative richness. The back note is a crescendo of creamy East Indian sandalwood, white musk, oakmoss and the resplendence of precious gardenia. A nuance of vetiver and a hint of patchouli with tincture of orchid vanilla bean contributes richness and persistence to this most enchancing floral scape.

2. Where does the name "Imari" come from?
The name "Imari" comes from a type of Asian porcelain that was extremely popular in the palaces of Europe.

I never cared for it on myself-but it smells wonderful on others. My second oldest sister wears this exclusively, when she wears perfume, and uses all the body products. I personally prefer Yria by Yves Rocher.

Both are oriental floral and incensy, but not too rich!

@JonCologneSplash: Around February they will be releaseing Imari Mystique. It is an oriental floral with white woods and black honey! I smelled it in a rep preview book and it smells better than Imari or the Seduction flanker, perhaps it is a reissue of the Imari Velvet...

anyone remember VELVET IMARI, I bought this for my wife, then girlfriend about 10 years ago when we were still in HS...ahh memories..this is awesome stuff hard to find

I like the Imari body lotion more than the Odyssey or Sweet Honesty perfumes. I'm glad I didn't buy the perfume. These days, I prefer light perfumes.

Beautiful, spicy, warm. Perfect for autumn and winter. This perfume smells much more expensive than it is.

Imari is a very strong scent you dont have to spray a lot of this on to get noticed

Well it seems to agree with me and my body chemistry. It is a rich exotic scent not for everyone. On me its ultra feminene and long lasting to be sure. It is a classic that still has it's fans to this day. In this world today where fruity scents abound this is definatley a more stronger spicy alternative. Plus it dosen't hurt that it's super affordable. If you like this scent then it's a really good value for the money.


P.S. Did I mention that Imari is a MAN MAGNET. It sure is on me, men are EXTREMEY attracted to the sexy fume. Bargin basement price for a one of a kind long-lasting fume such as this. I'm gonna stock up on a ton of these even in this economy it's still VERY afforable. A must try if not buy. A tir: I only buy the purse spray it has the same amount of perfume as the big bottle but for a fraction of the cost. Also the smaller bottle has a lid and is so much easier to carry in my purse runs about $4-$5 for 30ml or 1 ounce when on sale which it is alot.

Spicy goodness. Really like this perfume. Long-lasting.

Imari is a deeply creamy,floral woodsy fume,The bergamot in the beginning may put some off but when the orris root and ylang ylang blend with it,its beautiful.Love the satiny dry down,amber,vanillaand cedar for a lil kick.A beautiful autumn scent.great to wear with boots and a long shawl.not too sexy just a lovely scent.

I had a roommate who wore this in the early nineties, and never had the balls to tell her how awful it smelled. It made me want to not hang out with her... it offended me that much. It's very synthetic smelling, plasticky even. I have other fragrances that I love with the same notes, but this one was either blended badly or the quality was poor. There are some great synthetics out there, but they don't seem to have been used in this. I'm guessing the LOTV note is the main culprit that makes this go "off." Not a crowd pleaser, by any means. If you do wear it, I'd try to avoid the vicinity of anyone who hasn't specifically told you they like it.

traditional, classical 80's perfume, very close to Tabu by Dana

I call this one "Stinky." I love almost all of AVON's perfumes but NOT this one. It smells like bug spray.

I'm not surprised that Imari is a scent from the 80's. Scents back then were intended to be intense, lasting and rich.

The powdery aldehydes are dominant from the very beginning. However, they are not sharp since the spices and resinous, bitter galbanum balance out the chemical-like quality that aldehydes sometimes portray.

I can't say that Imari is particularly unique seeming that there was a huge trend for aldehydes during the 70's and 80's, therefore there are many fragrances that smell similar. However, there is something truly likable about Imari.

It is true that this fragrance is likely to appeal to the more mature woman, although it must be said that as a young woman in my early 20's, this fragrance could be worn easily by anyone of any age, including myself.

Imari isn't very sweet or flowery, to my nose it is mostly musky, clean, warm and powdery. It is one scent that really should be applied in small quantities, seeming that I made a mistake when I first wore it, of spraying way too much and smelling like a harsh overdose of talcum powder.

Unfortunately the lasting power wasn't very impressive for me, lasting no longer than 3 hours, which was a huge disappointment. I only wish that Avon produced more fragrances that last as well as smell good.

I had it long time ago, its a very feminine fragrance. Romantic...

Wow, I didn't realise it has adelhydes - Im' going to have to sniff it again as it's been 20+ years since I wore it

Imari who does not have it....This came out the same yr my son was born and I recently acquired another bottle. I agree with drdonna when you layer it, that's when it has its charm. The shower gel and lotion are heavenly not costly but gosh you feel luxurious when you apply it!!!

Have any of you heard of l elephant?this is was imari is close to in smell.L elephant is expensive andhard to find.Not for the faint of heart>it is different>it is long lasting and definately different>It is strong,powerful,full of different notes,enough to suit anyone.strong,confident,and someone who stads out in a crowd.Have heard it reminds some people of opioum but I hate that scent And love this one>

I think this is a great perfume.It is my favorite from avon,the only thing that I do not like is that the gorgeous and ergonomic bottle is not available in latin america,please Avon bring it to latin america with the powder,shower gel,body lotion and shimmer gel and the beatiful softeners.

I just tried this today, and honestly I am neither in love with it.. nor do I hate it.

The top notes are a bit overpowering at first, but after that it is pleasant enough. Kind of reminds me somewhat of Avon's Timeless in someway but with a twist... Also the drydown for some reason reminds me somewhat of Revlon's Charlie, the original one? It isn't exact - they just have to share something that I am finding similar...

I do smell the aldehydes in it which I find nice since I love aldehydes.. I do like many of the notes - the Ylang Ylang, Lily of the Valley, and Tuberose.. and all of the bottom notes with the exception of cedar - I am not really a fan of cedar in my perfume.

I love incense as a general rule in my house, especially various forms of Sandalwood and Frankincense so the incense smell people are talking about I do not find at all bothersome.

My husband is also neutral on this smell as well, and being he is from the Middle East he tends to like rather different smells than the norm & incense and Ouds are his favorites.

Overall not hideous like some make it out to be, but nothing really sexy in my opinion either. I do like the aldehydes though... ;-)

This smells like an eccentric herbal doctor's apocathery

Should not be given as a gift. Very easy one to dislike. lots of incensey, earthy, dearthy, rooty scents. Not fruity, not sweet, not flowery. Kinda bitter scent. I see it as unisex. lasts about 3 hours (on me).

ugh - hate it... in my place it's only worn by the old women or lower class people - no offense but it's oh so cheap smelling - i had migraine and was heavily nauseous after smelling it from the very first time until now...

this is truly my favorite fragrance for evening. it is very sophisticated. i don't care for the cologne spray, just the shower gel and body lotion. they are dynamite. and you can always pull out a little bottle of the lotion if things get too quiet!

IMARI I LOVE . IT'S SENSUAL SMELL IS SOFT AND ROMANTIC. IT DOESN'T COVER YOU WITH SMELL . IT EVENLY COVERS YOU WITH AROMA. IT LAST ALL NIGHT AND WHILE YOU WISP AROUND YOU FEEL LIKE A REAL WOMAN.

It's cheap smelling an incense-y. I don't like it at all :/

Love it! It goes on strong at first then dries down to a spicy creamy vanilla.My 11 year old loves it on me. I will definitely buy it again but think it's not for everyone. It really has to work with your body chemistry.

I first smelled Imari from my grandma when I was a little girl. She had just about every perfume known to man. I used to go in her bedroom and try on just about every scent that she owned. I definitely remember Imari as a child. It was really strong, but it smelled great. Quite a few years had passed since I smelled it again. I recieved a bottle from my cousin as a gift. This time when I smelled it, it was still strong and I didn't like it as much as I used to. The scent is really spicy and smells heavily of incense. I'm not opposed to spicy fragrances, but this one doesn't do it for me. I definitely wouldn't buy this for myself. It's a bit too spicy for my liking.

First of all im a guy...girls please drop this one smells HORRIBLE!!! kind of like talc mixed with musk incense an wood...where i live they simple call it ¨cheap whore cologne¨( with no offense but im not lying)

Does anyone know if this fragrance is the is older / American version of Avon Treselle toghether with Imari Seduction for Treselle Seduction. The Seduction bottle / packaging designs are very similar.

I remember when i was barely in my teens,my mom's bestfriend used to lived with us before, she wore this perfume,and i really loved sniffing her perfume everytime she sprays it..this is really a very nice and captivating perfume..but now that im a young adult, im not sure yet if i would get this perfume or add this as one of my collections...

Rich is the right word for it. A bit heavy and incensey to me.

Imari is an old favorite of mine - I still remember how it seemed such a rich and sophisticated scent when I used it. It has been a number of years since I have used Imari - looking at the notes, I wonder it if might not be time to give it another try ...