The Great Empresses of Japan Romea D`Ameor for women

Roméa D'Améor LES IMPERATRICES JAPONAISES is a textured tea fragrance to my nose. However, unlike many mainstream tea offerings, this one seems natural, not scarily synthetic. Light but inviting with a touch of what seems almost rice-like starchiness. Perhaps I am succumbing to the power of suggestion, but this really does smell like Japan to me. Does it smell like the empresses of Japan? Unclear. But LES IMPERATRICES JAPONAISES is definitely a perfume that I'd like to wear in casual settings. Reminds me a bit of Guerlain LES VOYAGES OLFACTIFS TOKYO, and also the bambooishness of Weil BAMBOU, although this composition has a stronger woody note in the drydown and the tea is less dominant as well. Simple, clean and refreshing without being soapy at all, this is clearly a unisex, cologne-ish perfume. 3.26.11

I sampled GEJ/LIJ blind on the "Mysterious Chat" thread(merci, Kterhark!) . Here are my impressions.

I am greeted by a blast of almondy heliotrope (or almond, or both) in the top note. The blend shifts gears *very* quickly: less sweet, more polleny, and yes--a tad plasticy--yet soothing. There is a non-perfumy, dry accord (a dry wood base, not smoky or camphorous, more like cut wood left in the sun, or like hay)[this turns out to be teak and tea, I discover later]. There is something akin to mimosa absolute (acacia/cassie. This note reminds me of the many perfumes marketed as a mimosa but which do not actually smell like mimosa flowers (the fuzzy yellow buds)in the leas. Very nice, but odd. Soft, not sweet, not bitter. Not busy--yet dramatic.

I love this kind of scent. Reminds me very much of Farnesiana, but the Farnesiana I've tried (vintage--just how vintage I'm not sure--this formula has apparently changed many times) is louder and nuttier, more complex, dirtier, and the heliotrope note sticks around forever. The heliotrope in this one wears very close to the skin after the initial onslaught.

Once the scent was revealed to me, I realized that melon must be culprit in that odd and persistent top note. Melon can take perfumes into an unnatural place for me, particularly (I have recently discovered) in this house.

Trying GEJ/LIJ several days later, I am reminded of Bois Farine. Not a note-to-note match by any means. What the perfumes share is a savory gourmand quality, but (and this is unusual) without spice. However, there are no peanuts in GEJ/LIJ.

I am drawn to this peculiar perfume. Thank goodness it lacks the overpowering sweetness of so many from this house.

Advice: A love-it-or-hate it fragrance. Live in abundant samples before purchasing.

Whoa! This scent scared me! I have tried all of the Romea line and I like/love most of them, except this one. It is turning me off! I get a strong, overbearing plasticky scent, that reminds me of a waxy lipstick smell mixed with fresh cardboard. This only lasts for about 10 minutes, then it becomes the powdery iris/rose, but I still don't think this suits me at all. It has a very false feel to me.
A couple hours later it has dried down to a very soft powdery vanilla-iris. It's nice now but I don't like waiting this long to like a perfume and it is similar to others I already have.

Charming ! It has a light floral opening, then settles to powdery..... and sensual. With this scent, a man could kiss your neck all day long without being overpowering and strong... definitely wearable to work !!!! A must try ! :))

Judging by rebella's description, I think they would be just right kind of fragrances for me. I also love the whole theme, names and bottles, so I'm definitely hoping to have a chance of getting one of these for myself.

This is in my opinion the best in the serie, the violet come throug very nice. It has a power the other one´s lack. The only one of them I still can remeber how it smelled. But still nothing I care for much, if I work in an office I could wear everyone of them, because they are easy, pretty and non-offensive.

All of them are longlasting and very nice. If you like sweet and easy fruityflorals I think you must try at least some in the serie.

The only thing wrong about them is that they aren´t my kind of fragrances and I think lack of personlity.