The Story
Why it exists.
Imperial Emerald was born from The Merchant of Venice’s Special Projects collection, launched in 2019 to honor the peacock, nature’s most extravagant display. The house drew on its Venetian archives, translating the bird’s emerald‑blue plumage into a fragrance that captures both the bird’s proud strut and the city’s historic opulence. The name reflects the jewel‑like eyes of the creature, while the scent aims to embody its timeless elegance.
If this were a song
Community picks
Venetian Sunset
Ludovico Einaudi
The Beginning
Imperial Emerald was born from The Merchant of Venice’s Special Projects collection, launched in 2019 to honor the peacock, nature’s most extravagant display. The house drew on its Venetian archives, translating the bird’s emerald‑blue plumage into a fragrance that captures both the bird’s proud strut and the city’s historic opulence. The name reflects the jewel‑like eyes of the creature, while the scent aims to embody its timeless elegance.
The composition balances a crisp citrus trio with a powdery iris, then layers a dense tuberose‑rich heart that mirrors the peacock’s fan of feathers. Amber‑kissed vanilla and white amber provide a warm, lingering base, while patchouli and benzoin add an earthy depth reminiscent of ancient Venetian stone. This contrast of bright and deep creates a scent that feels both regal and approachable, a rare duality in modern florals.
The Evolution
The opening erupts with iris’s green sparkle, mandarin orange’s juicy zing and bergamot’s sparkling lift, while pink pepper delivers a quick, peppery sting that fades after ten minutes. As the citrus recedes, the heart blooms: tuberose and night‑blooming jasmine intertwine with lily of the valley’s fresh green whisper, while ylang‑ylang, orange blossom and rose absolute add a warm, golden richness that lingers for the next two hours. By the forty‑minute mark the base settles into a velvety amber‑vanilla veil, softened by white amber and white musk, with patchouli and benzoin grounding the trail. The drydown persists for eight to ten hours, leaving a subtle, elegant musk that whispers of peacock feathers long after the initial sparkle has faded.
Cultural Impact
Imperial Emerald draws on Venice’s historic love of opulent display, echoing the city’s tradition of elaborate masquerades where color and scent signaled status. The fragrance’s iris note references the delicate silk fabrics once traded along the Rialto, while the mandarin orange evokes the citrus groves that supplied the Republic’s markets. By pairing these with amber and vanilla, the perfume mirrors the blend of commerce and artistry that defined Venetian culture. Its launch in 2019 was timed to coincide with a museum exhibition on Venetian textiles, reinforcing the link between scent and visual heritage. Collectors have noted that the perfume’s layered dry‑down mirrors the city’s layered history, making it a modern tribute to a legacy that spans centuries.
The House
Italy · Est. 2013
The Merchant of Venice translates the city’s centuries‑old perfume trade into contemporary scent collections. Founded in 2013 by the Vidal family, the house operates from a workshop overlooking the Grand Canal. Each fragrance references a facet of Venetian life – from the spice‑laden markets of the Rialto to the quiet canals at dusk. The line balances natural absolutes with modern accords, offering both men’s and women’s editions that feel rooted in history yet wearable today. Notable releases include Oud Illusion (2017), a smoky tribute to the city’s glass furnaces, and Neroli Marocco (2022), a bright nod to the Mediterranean trade routes that once fed Venice’s markets.
If this were a song
Community picks
Imagine strolling through a sun‑drenched Venetian piazza at dusk; the citrus spark feels like sunrise, the floral heart like a peacock’s plume, and the amber‑vanilla base settles like lantern light on stone.
Venetian Sunset
Ludovico Einaudi




























