Imperial Purple

Olfactory Experience

Imperial Purple opens with a burst of tangy mandarin, quickly overtaken by an herbal clary sage note that smells a bit like oversteeped green tea. The iris in the heart is there, but it’s more of an iris-adjacent accord – slightly powdery, leaning towards a lipstick vibe but missing the rooty depth of true iris. The tonka and vanilla create a creamy sweetness, almost like condensed milk, while the leather base has a subtle suede quality. It mimics the Valentino DNA well, but loses some of the original's smoothness and complexity. The drydown introduces a lingering synthetic warmth, reminiscent of freshly ironed polyester.

Conclusion

Imperial Purple is best suited for casual evening events or relaxed weekend wear. It’s not loud enough for a club, but could work well for a dinner date or a movie night. Its cozy sweetness makes it a good choice for fall and winter, and performs well in indoor settings. Not something I'd pick for the heat of summer.

The Performance Stats

I get around 5-6 hours of wear from Imperial Purple. Projection is moderate for the first hour, reaching about an arm’s length, then it settles closer to the skin. I wore it during a workday in a climate-controlled office. After about four hours it became a subtle skin scent, noticeable only when someone was standing very close.