Myrrhe Impériale by Giorgio Armani

I fully agree with @JOSESAN: it is exquisite. The opening is animal-gourmand, the evolution is astounding, the trail is brutal, and it is sweet, resinous, smoky, and addictive. Its price is ridiculous, yes, like niche and private line perfumes. When I smell it, I imagine Esther bathed in this fragrance before her wedding to Ahasuerus. @JOSESAN’s description is perfect. I wish everyone would read that spectacular and inspiring biblical story.

Beautiful. It highlights myrrh and amber. Very warm, with smoky myrrh and subtle saffron upon drying. An indispensable masterpiece for lovers of ambered orientals.

The opening of Armani’s Myrrhe Impériale is gourmand and animal; it surprises and disorients me. Fortunately, the dry-down is magnificent and long-lasting. The opening blends unlisted spices: cardamom and turmeric, which smell of sweat, leather, and meat stew with saffron and sugar. It reminds me of the kitchen of an Egyptian palace with spices from Ceylon and Ethiopia. After an hour, the resin appears, a mix of sweetness and wood. I don’t think myrrh is the only protagonist, although it bears that name. It combines with benzoin, vanilla, amber, and sandalwood, shifting from gourmand to mystical and ritualistic. I suspect there is tonka bean in there for that sweetness that brings it closer to Bvlgari or Carolina Herrera. The best part is the dry-down, when it loses its earthly nature and becomes the balm with which Esther bathed six months prior. Excellent longevity and exquisite quality, but 200 euros for 100 ml seems like a joke to me. It is a marketing strategy to sell the dream of a divine nectar to the rich, when it is just a good perfume. One at 60 euros is already worth it, because perfumery remains a luxury and manufacturers take advantage of it.

I have used it again and noticed nuances that went unnoticed. I removed my previous review to post this more updated one after a thorough test. I still think Myrrhe Impériale is masterful, exquisite, mystical, and dreamlike; it makes me feel good, happy, and relaxed. The heart is myrrh, accompanied by less noticeable but important benzoin. The opening is resinous, with pepper and saffron that temper the sweetness, exotic and delicate, balsamic and spicy. Frugal at the start, myrrh dominates subtly, tempered by benzoin and creamy vanilla. Over time, the vanilla becomes powdery, with amber nuances, upon which rests an incensed and balsamic myrrh, sweet and fragile, with a smoky air that makes my mouth water and faintly reminds me of makeup. A wonderful perfume, refined, elegant, sensual, mysterious, and mystical. Longevity of 8 to 9 hours, but it is not potent, with moderate projection. Exquisite for temperate climates and special occasions. A great perfume, but the price is prohibitive. If you can afford it, go ahead; you certainly won’t regret it.

Myrrhe Impériale is warm, elegant, spicy, and mysterious. Upon application, you note tobacco, resins, and amber, giving it an enigmatic air. Minutes later, the incensed myrrh adds a balsamic tone, an exotic but pleasant combination. After a while, it becomes more spicy and warm; in the final phase, it vaguely recalls Spicebomb Extreme. The dry-down is lovely and relaxing. Although it is unisex, I feel it is slightly masculine, though a woman can wear it too. It is not for daily or office wear, but to enjoy during meditation or night outings. Longevity is above average, with regular to low projection. It probably looks better on adults.

Incredible perfume. I have a 5 ml sample and sometimes I put it on my hand just to enjoy it for hours. That sweet myrrh scent transports me to Arab souks, churches, dunes… For me, it is the best in the Privée line along with Rose D’Arabie. 100% unisex and will be in my collection someday.

I adore this perfume for nightwear; it is very strong and sweet. I do not find it unisex at all; I see it more for women. I have not found another with myrrh that smells as good as this one.