Name: Imprevu Coty
Brand: Coty
Rating: 4.3 (186 reviews)

Description

Imprevu by Coty is a woody chypre fragrance for women. Launched in 1965, the nose behind this composition is Bernard Chant. The top notes include aldehydes, bitter orange, bergamot, coriander and neroli; the heart reveals lily-of-the-valley root, carnation, rose, ylang-ylang and jasmine; while the base notes settle on oakmoss, leather, woody notes, sandalwood, vetiver, ambergris, benzoin, patchouli and musk.

Selene August 3, 2017

It took Coty a quarter of a century to bring back this fragrance that once captured every eye, complete with its catchy jingle sung by Liza Minnelli; the brand was back in its prime. By the late 1960s, Imprevu was Coty’s best-seller, but its star power didn’t last long and began to fade. Twenty-five years later, the classic scents from the line regained popularity, pushing Imprevu from the top spot and consigning it to oblivion by the early 1990s. Beyond that, a decade has passed, yet its composition remains worthy of analysis. Sparkling aldehydic floral chypres, with hints of resins, sandalwood and citrus, were all the rage back then. From the very first splash on the skin, I detect the aldehydes: bitter orange with bergamot and a subtle semi-oriental base. On the skin, the violet, magnolia, touch of rose and jasmine bouquet stands out, all wrapped in an intense green moss. At the base, leather and sandalwood are key to defining its personality. Many attribute this fragrance to Bernard Chant; I’m not sure if that’s true, but his influence is clearly evident. The leather, violets and moss remind me of Jolie Madame, while other aspects evoke Aramis, though Imprevu has its own distinct signature. Over time, the resins, amber and patchouli take centre stage, while the citrusy touches of leather and violet persist. An interesting 1960s floral chypre; it could serve as a modern revival of its first chypre perfume.

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Selene August 3, 2017

It took Coty a quarter of a century to bring back this fragrance that once captured every eye, complete with its catchy jingle sung by Liza Minnelli; the brand was back in its prime. By the late 1960s, Imprevu was Coty’s best-seller, but its star power didn’t last long and began to fade. Twenty-five years later, the classic scents from the line regained popularity, pushing Imprevu from the top spot and consigning it to oblivion by the early 1990s. Beyond that, a decade has passed, yet its composition remains worthy of analysis. Sparkling aldehydic floral chypres, with hints of resins, sandalwood and citrus, were all the rage back then. From the very first splash on the skin, I detect the aldehydes: bitter orange with bergamot and a subtle semi-oriental base. On the skin, the violet, magnolia, touch of rose and jasmine bouquet stands out, all wrapped in an intense green moss. At the base, leather and sandalwood are key to defining its personality. Many attribute this fragrance to Bernard Chant; I’m not sure if that’s true, but his influence is clearly evident. The leather, violets and moss remind me of Jolie Madame, while other aspects evoke Aramis, though Imprevu has its own distinct signature. Over time, the resins, amber and patchouli take centre stage, while the citrusy touches of leather and violet persist. An interesting 1960s floral chypre; it could serve as a modern revival of its first chypre perfume.

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