Imperial Rouge

To Buy or Not to Buy?

This fragrance suits a youthful spirit, someone drawn to bold, attention-grabbing scents. Picture the guy who likes to be the center of attention without necessarily cultivating an aura of mystique. He favors crowded clubs and carefree summer nights; a fragrance as uncomplicated and forward as his intentions. It's for the guy who chooses exuberance over nuance, and isn't afraid to command the scene.

How it Smells

Imperial Rouge announces itself with an enthusiastic, almost shrill, blast of candied green apple – less orchard, more carnival. The mint note struggles to cut through the sweetness, resulting in a slightly medicinal opening reminiscent of green cough drops. As it settles, the tonka bean emerges, but it lacks the creamy depth of a true tonka; instead, it's a flatter, slightly toasted almond accord mingling with a fuzzy ambroxan cloud. The promised geranium is barely a whisper. The drydown is dominated by a vanilla that leans synthetic, with a cedar backbone that smells distractingly like pencil shavings. Where the original possesses a seductive smoothness, this one has a rough, almost unfinished quality.

Performance Reality Check

Imperial Rouge demonstrates robust longevity, clinging to skin for a solid 6-7 hours. Projection is initially quite loud, easily filling a room within the first hour, then retracting to about an arm's length for the remaining duration. I tested it during a moderately active day, and the synthetic vanilla became somewhat cloying in warmer conditions.