The Oxford Illustrated Dictionary defines impromptu simply as: extempore (done “in the moment”, without any preparation) or unrehearsed. This perfume truly lives up to its name. Created on the spur of the moment, while cleaning her drafting table off to do some painting, Roxana Villa combined a series of notes, essences and accords to create something truly beautiful. She has always been creative. She began as a visual artist, did freelance editorial illustration, and taught art. Her perfume journey began after smelling an essential oil (juniperus virginiana) or eastern cedar before entering a sweat lodge. The power scent had to propel her spirit into a primordial forest and cause a physiological change made her realize that natural aromatherapy and a more holistic approach were to define her path forward.
Roxana Villa
Created (as it was) from a veritable plethora of already mixed perfumed chords, musk experiments and woody spicy blends and then having even more things added to it afterwards, attempting to dissect the notes in Impromptu would be like looking at individual threads in a fine Persian antique hand-woven rug. If you try to look too hard at what makes it so beautiful, you will miss the whole picture…and how stunning it actually is. What makes this scent even more jaw-dropping is that it has the feel of leather, but absolutely no animal ingredients were included. I can attempt to describe the beauty of this perfume but will try to do so without mentioning too many individual notes and go more with feelings and associations evoked from each successive sniff. The perfumer also tried to create something that did not include costly (and ubiquitous) ingredients such as orange blossom, jasmine, rose, orris or oud. This would be akin to creating a painting without utilizing any primary colors, yet this artist has created something dark and beautiful without it feeling muddled or oppressive.
An opening of obviously woody and spicy accords definitely prevails. As the perfumer was once carried away to a forest primeval, I am wafted away to a deep and thick forest of dark ancient wood and heady spices. Heavy aromatic branches exude their balsamic aromas to mix with the slightly earthy accords of loam and decaying vegetation (not the rotten “stinky” kind but the type that returns to the earth thick and black and creates new life). The spiciness here is so well-rounded it creates warmth, despite your shadowy surroundings, and makes you feel safe and truly at one with Nature. The presence of a sharp and dry floral aroma adds a subtle sweetness while reinforcing its elegance.
Khal Drogo as portrayed by Jason Momoa
Here, the addition of the somewhat smoky and dry flower takes the entire composition towards its ultimate sweet leathery finish, again without any animal derived components! It is here that I think of the love between Khal Drogo (warrior king of the Dothraki horsemen) and Daenerys Targaryen (the last of her royal line and the Mother of Dragons) from television series “Game of Thrones” (based on the book series “A Song of Fire & Ice”). As Khal Drogo’s love turned Daenerys from a simple spoiled princess and pawn of her plotting brother and brought out her inner warrior woman; this perfume successfully blends the softer passion of the earthy and feminine with the fiery ferocity of the masculine while tempering his brutish side and simultaneously strengthening hers. Hints of fresh herbs and greens along with a sweet, almost fuzzy, softness continue to balance the heavier bracken and compost-like scents and make us see even the basest of things have their beauty.
Musing the Goddess by Greg Spalenka
Images of arid desert flowers, sage smoldering, leather shields and horse tack notwithstanding, Impromptu manages to capture something many have tried to do: a scent sexy and virile enough for a man to wear that also has a soft beauty and gentle sweetness throughout, without making any woman wearing it feel too manly. The dry down maintains the depth and breadth of the opening, and keeps alive the beauty in its heart, as it settles into a honeyed embrace of muskiness, exotic elements and memories of sensual caresses. It does all of this with 100% natural essences in a concentration at or above pure perfume (extract) levels of 30% fragrance. The juice itself, in the vial, is thick and a deep and gorgeous golden brown color. Its price point (for what it is and how long it lasts) is rather pleasing too.
Greg Spalenka
This perfume was my very first Roxana Illuminated Perfume experience and I look forward to many, many more. The sillage is very good (one single dab from the sample was detectable from across the room) and the longevity is incredible. Remember too folks, this is powerful stuff and a little dab’ll do you! This perfume (due to its very nature) is limited to only ten ounces. When that is gone, it’s gone. The perfumer has confided in me that she may try and recreate this, but to replicate something as inspired and “impromptu” as this would be exceedingly difficult.
Disclosure: Review based on a sample sent to me by Roxana Illuminated Perfumes
Thanks to Roxana Villa and Roxana Illuminated Perfume we have a 1gram vial of this very special fragrance to give away. To be eligible leave a comment on a time you were "in the moment" or visit Roxana Illuminated Perfume and tell us what your favorite perfume is you find there. We will draw one winner on September 15, 2012.
We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.
-John Reasinger, Editor
Editor's note: The art used throughout is by Roxana Villa's husband Greg Spalenka if you would like to see more of his work check out his Etsy link here.