Agatha Brown’s second men’s fragrance, Emperor, is part of a male/female duo named Imperial Jade and inspired by the precious green stone. Emperor has notes of iced lavender, black currant, Muscat grape, almond honey, stephanotis, jasmine, Parma violet, orris root, waterlily, heliotrope, blue cedar, redwood, sandalwood, tonka bean, amber, vanilla and musk.
If this sounds delicious to you, trust me, it is. One of the most stunning and intoxicating men’s fragrances I’ve ever come across, Emperor is a sweet, fruity composition that quickly reminds me of the opening notes of Versace’s Versace Man and more startlingly, and overall, Christian Dior Poison. Being a huge fan of Poison, I am thrilled to have found something that I could easily consider calling “Poison for Men”.
Emperor never lets go of its Muscat character. Instead, the composition employs various notes that slowly highlight it as the fragrance develops. At first, I detect honey, and the effect is that of a rich port wine. The scent continues by adding a dry sharpness to the sweetness with hints of woods. Finally, the vanilla, musk and amber, with an appearance by a late-arriving jasmine, carry the last of the fruit notes into the drydown and I’m reminded of Gaultier2 and Thierry Mugler Alien.
Visually, I don’t get jade at all, but rather, partly because of my associations with Poison and Alien, and partly because of the black currant and Muscat notes, I get rich, deep, purple — a dark maroon marble tabletop set on a cedar frame in a dark cool room surrounded by barrels of aging port. The wine tasting for the King will begin at any moment…
Agatha Brown Imperial Jade Emperor is available at agatha.com.
One of the most stunning and intoxicating men’s fragrances you’ve ever come across? Oh wow, I must try this then!
I was teetering on the brink w/ this one after reading your interview w/ her yesterday, but your review has pushed me right over the edge – just ordered it. Dark rooms, wine tasting and honey (which I never can resist in fragrances)…klunk! The IJ Empress is remarkably well composed and has a really interesting richness – this adds to my faith that I'll be happy w/ the men's version. Besides, I'm a sucker for having that color green amoung my perfume bottles and I rarely like scents w/ that color bottle or liquid.
Have you tried the women's? I've been considering purchasing it for months now.
Rain
Colombina – absolutely! This was one of my top 5 finds of the year (along with Jade Empress)
Ivanova – I look forward to hearing your comments! I don't think you'll be disappointed.
***One thing I falied to comment on is the sillage and longevity – both are out of this world!
Raincheck – I have the women's as well! I love it just as much, though whereas the men's manages a rich boozey darkness, EMpress is slightly more floral (though only slightly) and somewht lighter in character.
Kim – every time I wear it I get the same impression, but again, I think it's because of the muscat and currant.
Oh, lord, another lemming is born–though I think I might go for the women's–or, most probably, feel compelled to try them both:)
Oh no Marlen. I read your review and thought wow! I sent an email to the company asking about stockists in the UK and Agatha replied back personally to let me know that there aren't any stockists in the UK. She also said that she can't ship out bottles to the UK because it comes under the category of Hazmat (hazardous materials) for posting.
Fabulous review by the way!
Lily – definitely try them both as the men's might surprise you.
Barry – contact “setamp” at Basenotes for samples.
Quick note from Agatha, heself, explaining that the men's scents are actually edp strength, though the boxes and bottles say edt:
I had already printed my boxes and bottles when I discovered that the traditional 8% perfume oils for men's eau de toillette just wasn't doing it for me. So I changed it to 18% eau de parfume before macerating and bottling the men's fragrances. So they are truly a full 18%. This turned out to be a wise decision and is the secret of why these fragrances stay on usually until they are washed off and become so interesting and complex. In my opinion, 8% is like after shave lotion and I feel the guys deserve better.