Imari Rouge by Avon

I loved it and was surprised by it; I found it on sale at 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 stay. Imported ones do last on me, so this is a real find. It comes out very strong and potent, maybe due to the patchouli; it reminds me of Cher 18, the one that 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’s not, and I appreciate that. Both are persistent, but I prefer Corset: it’s sweeter, softer, powdery, and not invasive. Rouge is more invasive, perhaps because it’s not my style. I like wearing it occasionally, but I recommend it for winter and night; 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 the incredible quality at this price.

I like it; it smells deliciously like apple. I wear it in autumn and winter. It’s very different from the first one, which I also love, and distinct from the classic Imari. This one is sweeter.

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

Okay, okay, okay, 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 favorite there for the price and quality. The perfume isn’t a new scent; I detect touches of Kriska Alegria with its caramelized apple, but matured with the Imari line’s touch. It has that recognizable smoky note from the first version of Imari Seduction and Imari Elixir (the Jewel of Jewels!). The marked patchouli, combined with iris, dries down to that powdery 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 caramelized apple that mentally transports me to that perfume as it dries. In the end, it turns into a vintage lipstick or makeup vibe.

Launched in Argentina for the 16 campaign. The magazine says it smells of red roses, pink pepper, patchouli, and vanilla. I didn’t test it on skin, just sniffed it in the magazine, and it reminded me of Luna Intense, which is very similar to Givenchy’s Play Intense for Her. I own both, and when comparing them to the one in the magazine, I noticed similarities. To reiterate, I didn’t test it on skin. I think the connection lies in the fact that Imari Rouge and Luna Intense share patchouli, roses, and vanilla, while Play Intense matches Imari Rouge on pink pepper and patchouli.