Imari Rouge by Avon

I loved it and was surprised by it; I found it on offer on Mercado Libre. Although it’s not my usual style, I admit it lasts incredibly long on my skin, which is amazing considering how hard it is to find affordable fragrances that endure. Imported ones do last on me, so this is a real find. It comes out very strong and potent, perhaps due to the patchouli; it reminds me of Cher 18, which became famous in Argentina recently and I gifted to my daughter, who adores it. They say Cher 18 is a clone of Gaultier’s Scandal, so Imari Rouge would be a dupe too. I feel it’s gourmet. I thought it would be the same as Imari Corset, but it isn’t, and I’m grateful for that. Both are persistent, but I prefer Corset: it’s sweeter, softer, talcum-powdered, and less invasive. Rouge is more invasive, perhaps because it’s not my style. I like using it occasionally, but I recommend it for winter and evening; during the day, I’d feel out of place. It seems more like an Eau de Parfum than an Eau de Toilette. I’m still betting on Avon for incredible quality at this price.

I absolutely love it; it smells deliciously of apple. I wear it in autumn and winter because it’s very different from the original Imari which I also enjoy. This one is sweeter.

I feel it like a patchouli bomb with the sweetness of apple… like a caramelised little apple once the patchouli settles. People compare it to Kriska Drama, Kriska Alegria, and Luna Intenso; I have all three and I think it’s closest to Drama. For me, it’s a great perfume for the price, the best in the line, almost displacing the original Imari which I love. It’s worth it for the price; it has a lot of presence.

Ok, ok, ok, Imari Rouge finally arrived today. I’ve been waiting since it launched; I think they released it first in Brazil because the Imari line is Avon’s favourite there for the price and quality. The perfume isn’t a new scent; I sense touches of Kriska Alegria with its caramelised apple, but matured with the Imari line’s touch. It has that recognisable smokiness from the first version of Imari Seduction and Imari Elixir (a jewel of jewels!). The marked patchouli alongside the iris, when it dries, gives that talcum-powdered aroma without losing the smoky caramel apple. To a certain point, it has nuances of Imari Fantasy; it’s quite sweet but also deep. It reminds me of Amodii’s Parfumo di Donna Intense (Argentina), which shares apple and patchouli notes. Curiously, that also reminds me of Kriska Alegria. I think there’s something in the caramelised apple that mentally takes me to that perfume when it dries. In the end, it turns into an aroma like vintage lipstick or makeup.

Launched in Argentina during campaign 16. The magazine describes it as smelling of red roses pink pepper patchouli and vanilla. I haven’t tested it on skin only sniffed it in the magazine and it reminded me of Luna Intense which in turn is very similar to Givenchy’s Play Intense for Her. I own both and when comparing them to the magazine’s scent I noticed similarities. To reiterate I haven’t tested it on skin. I believe the connection lies in the fact that Imari Rouge and Luna Intense share patchouli roses and vanilla while Play Intense aligns with Imari Rouge on pink pepper and patchouli.