Impromptu, the newest perfume by Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfume, was born out of experiments with her perfume Chaparral, adding various other botanical accords, most importantly leather and a hint of smoke. The result is the limited edition Impromptu, a perfume without formula that smells nothing like an experiment- in fact, Impromptu smells captivating and expensive, and has an elegance that surpasses whatever idea you may have about "botanical perfumes".
Impromptu opens up thick with herbs and woods, dark evergreens and crunchy twigs. Soon after the fragrance becomes thicker and more abstract, leathery, sweet, and incredibly sensual. There's something in the way Roxana's familiar accords develop on skin and make it one with the image and atmosphere of the fragrance. It's not Impromptu that melts into me-- it is me who become Impromptu.
The image (above) created by Roxana Villa's husband, Greg Spalenka, is wonderfully fitting the fragrance. Impromptu is a balsamic fount of pleasure, with a hint of green and a nod to lovers of vintage leather perfumes. Impromptu is very concentrated and has great longevity as well as a reasonably noticeable sillage. I wish it came in bigger bottles, because I know that when I get one (very soon) I'll go through it with vigor.
Notes: woody notes, herbal notes, camphor, geranium, leather, tarragon, basil, clary sage, mimosa, Chinese tea, honey.
Roxana Illuminated Perfume- Impromptu ($45, 3.75 ml) is available from the perfumer's Etsy store. A sample was sent for my consideration by the perfumer.
Gaia, wow, how I enjoyed reading this post! The articulation of your experience of the fragrance is an exquisite read. Yes, Impromptu will be available in flacons for $85, (no pouch). Many thanks to you for this stunning review of Impromptu.
ReplyDeleteOh, nice. Illuminated Perfume is one of the very few natural/botanical fragrance lines that I love. So high quality and so imaginative. Thanks for the review of this one!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a fragrance I would love, herbs, leather, geranium notes and honey are right up my alley. I adore Many of Roxanna's perfumes (GreenWitch, Vera, Q and Hedra to name a few)so I anticipate much love for this as well.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate her aesthetic and beauty of her fragrances, it was such a pleasure to meet her at the SF Sniff Salon in July.
I ordered the 1 ml vial after reading your review. Fingers crossed this is as stunning as it sounds. I just tried samples of the three newest Killian perfumes and I'm underwhelmed to say the least. I really need something killer right now to restore my faith in perfumery.
ReplyDeleteFantastic review Gaia! "Balsamic fount of pleasure" I would buy anything being described that way. Bravo on your beautiful write-up. Roxana at Illuminated Perfume is so nice and her shop is truly worth browsing. I fell hard after the first description I read of her perfume.
ReplyDeleteI just featured her shop on my blog as well and we both got a mention on her beautiful blog. That is how I found you. In case you missed it: http://journal.illuminatedperfume.com/
Here is my feature of her: http://chatterblossom.blogspot.com/2012/10/feature-friday-illuminated-perfume.html
Warmly,
Jamie
ChatterBlossom
http://chatterblossom.blogspot.com/
Oh goodness, sorry about that Gaia. I just read your blurb below about not linking to blogs after I published my comment. So sorry. I wasn't meaning to blog bomb you. Just wanted to share our similar love for Roxana's shop.
ReplyDeleteHope you understand. I really apologize for the oversight.
Jamie
ChatterBlossom