Basenotes › Directory › Fragrances › Eau De Cologne Impériale by Guerlain, 1853

Eau De Cologne Impériale by Guerlain, 1853

Eau De Cologne Impériale by Guerlain, 1853 + add a photo
35 reviews
97% Positive Reviews
Rated #239 in Fragrances
FragranceX.com$47.71See It »
Perfume EmporiumSee It »
StrawberryNET$84.00See It »
Write a Review

Member Reviews

Posted
By chopwet
Truly lovely and refreshing but you'd need to spray it on every 10 minutes to get that effect. It doesn't last for any longer than that, but it's not supposed to. I get a citrus blast and then a cedar flash and then the show is over. Great.
Post Comment
Was This Helpful? 

Posted
By Red Theodora
Well....... it looks like I'll be the first member of the female sex to write a review on Imperiale. To begin with Imperiale while now marketed as a masculine, was originally worn by both men and women. Just the same as the other cologne that Imperiale reminds me of - 4711 Echt Kolnish Wasser. I love 4711 so it's not surprising I think Imperiale is wonderful as well. I love a good citrus and herbal mixture. Imperiale also shares another trait of 4711, it has very minimal longevity. But it's lovely while it lasts.
Post Comment
Was This Helpful? 

Posted
By dougpettey
Wonderful, shiny, morning sunlight fragrance that, as someone noted before, will get you from the bathroom to your dresser where you can then apply the fragrance of the day. I wish I had kept the bottle when it was finished. What a wonderful rememberance - and yet... I cannot see myself wearing it now. I am not that young man any more. Somewhere between this exhuberant innocent youth and the wakes-up-gritting-his-teeth, steel grip handshake, 70-hour work week corporate head that is Lauder for Men, I will find the right scent for me.
Post Comment
Was This Helpful? 

Posted
By WillBell
This is an eau de cologne which I spritz on after a shower during the warmer months of the year to feel fresh and complete. It is not a fragrance to weat for other people....it is my own after shower splash. It is a beautiful citrus -- light and airy --and it makes me feel even cleaner after my shower and shave. Thumbs up all the way. It wears off completely in 15 minutes to half-an-hour, just in time for me to apply the eau de toilette I want to go out of the house wearing. Thank goodness it comes in the 500 ml and 1000 ml size. I apply it with abandon. Imperiale is just grand
Post Comment
Was This Helpful? 

Posted
By degustibus
Thumbs up for its perfect iteration of the EDC genre, although I agree with those who point out that you'll have to be as rich as Napoleon to be able to use enough of it. It is lovely but fleeting.
Post Comment
Was This Helpful? 

Posted
By Guerlainboy
A brief encounter... However, one you will wish to re-visit time after time. This exudes pure quality and is genuinely unisex. Despite its heritage it somehow seems contemporary and invigorating, in fact it does this better than many modern fragrances that aspire to do exactly that. Frequent applications required, but then why wouldn't you? Its sublime.
Post Comment
Was This Helpful? 

Posted
By MHV
Worth having, but it's even worth more getting it from a discount place. Cologne is by definition fleeting, and you will need Imperial means if you buy it new and want to use it the Imperial way. Yes, it's something that's fun drowning yourself into, just like Bonaparte did with Farina's cologne. I wish the alcohol therein was unadulterated because I'm sure it could make a great drink! (Eau de Cologne was indeed drunk until Bonaparte forced manufacturers to put on the label their ingredients. From then on, Cologne makers labeled their product "for external use only" and used adulterated alcohol.) I drown myself in it after a good bath, bask it its smell for its short duration, and put on another Eau de Toilette once it's gone. I also like to use it when I'm feeling yucky or sick. It focuses the brain on something bright and nice, soothingly.
Post Comment
Was This Helpful? 

Posted
By mrclmind
Eau de Cologne Impériale is one of the oldest EDC's on the market, and in my opinion one of the finest. Like many EDC's, Impériale is a "top note" fragrance. It's basic character is based primarily on an extremely fine bergamot, neroli and lemon accord. There are slight undertones as well, but you have to really smell carefully to find them. The undertones include petitgrain, lemon verbena, a mild lavender and some slight tonka and wood in the base. People who complain about this having no longevity are not familiar with this genre of fragrance. A classical eau de cologne is based on the idea of a refreshing splash. This is the oldest fragrance type with the characteristic of being fresh and natural. Natural fresh notes are made from fine essential oils with extremely high volatility. This means that the fragrance develops very quickly and is finished. If you want the experience to continue, frequent reapplication is necessary. Top Notes: Bergamot, Neroli, Lemon, Verbena, Orange Middle Note: Lavender Base Notes: Tonka, Cedar
Post Comment
Was This Helpful? 

Posted
By odysseusm
This is a beautiful, classy EdC cloud. It has lovely and refreshing citrus notes, followed by light wood and hay (from the tonka). Orange blossom lingers in the mix for a respectable period. Dont get lavender as a distinct note. The tone and longevity are appropriate for this sort of of classic scent. One could bathe in it, and certainly re-apply many times a day.
Post Comment
Was This Helpful? 

Posted
By bbBD
To review Imperiale as one would review a contemporary fragrance misses the point entirely. One can hardly apply current standards of review to a perfume pushing 150+ years old. Imperiale is a true historical artifact and a glimpse into perfumery past. That it remains in production is a nod to the grand history of Guerlain and its place as the matriarch of French perfumery. It will not last very long on the skin, it does not contain any exciting or novel citrus/floral accord, and it is not going to replace your current favorite citrus cologne of choice. In fact, the next time you enjoy your favorite cologne you can thank it's great-great-grandfather Eau de Cologne Imperiale.

So how does one enjoy Imperiale? It so happens that Imperiale was my father's 'signature scent'. Years after I became interested in fragrance I made an uninformed comment along the lines of "well it doesn't last very long." My father explained that he doesn't want to small like any fragrance all day, but rather splashing on Imperiale after a shower was his morning 'wake up refresher' - part of feeling clean and awake and ready for the day. Given its bright and bracing lime-centric citrus topnote blast this makes perfect sense to me. Thumbs UP.

Show more
Post Comment
Was This Helpful? 
See All 35 Reviews
Edit Cancel Save Changes History

Facts and Details

Eau De Cologne Impériale by Guerlain, 1853
By:
Description:

Details:
DetailValue
Top NotesBergamot, Neroli, Verbena, Lemon, Orange
Middle NotesLavender
Base NotesCedarwood, Tonka Bean
Launched Date1853
GenderNeutral
PerfumerPierre-François-Pascal Guerlain
AvailabilityIn Production
ByGuerlain
Bottle Designer
Models:
Model Name/TypeMPNEAN/UPC
Links:
Edit Cancel Save Changes History

Guide: Eau De Cologne Impériale by Guerlain, 1853

Start a guide on Eau De Cologne Impériale by Guerlain, 1853!

Where to Buy It

FragranceX.comImperiale Cologne by Guerlain, 3.4 oz Eau De Cologne Spray for Men at FragranceX.com$47.71See It »
Perfume EmporiumCroscill at Perfume EmporiumSee It »
StrawberryNETGuerlain Imperiale Cologne Spray 100ml/3.3oz at StrawberryNET$84.00See It »
Basenotes › Directory › Fragrances › Eau De Cologne Impériale by Guerlain, 1853