Quick answer: Mykonos Imperium is the lion of the SUNFORGED collection: a tropical citrus extrait with lime, coconut water and patchouli in a gold bottle. It is the new edition of Empire, the Mykonos collaboration with RRQ, with the same scent inside. In our store you buy it on the Empire product page; the 100 ml ships in the gold IMPERIUM bottle.
Mykonos Imperium appeared in the summer of 2026, and since then we have had a steady stream of questions about it. Is it new? Is it a flanker? Why can you not find a separate Imperium product in our store? This guide explains where Mykonos Imperium comes from, what the gold bottle and the lion stand for, what it smells like, and how to order it in Europe. We are an authorized Mykonos retailer for Europe, and everything below comes from the brand's own campaign, product data and handbook.
What is Mykonos Imperium?
Imperium is the name Mykonos gave to Mykonos Empire when it brought the scent into its SUNFORGED summer collection. Empire first launched in April 2026 as the Mykonos collaboration with the esports team RRQ (the full back story is in Mykonos x RRQ: the story behind Empire). For SUNFORGED, Mykonos redesigned the bottle in gold and renamed it IMPERIUM. The composition stayed the same: same notes, same extrait de parfum concentration.
So Imperium is not a new perfume or a stronger version. If you want the side-by-side proof, our Mykonos Empire vs Imperium comparison goes through it row by row. This article is about Imperium itself: the story, the scent and the practical questions.
Forged by the sun, crowned by the lion
SUNFORGED is built around five perfumes, each represented by an animal, in a raw desert-safari world of chrome bottles and hard summer light. Imperium is the lion. Mykonos introduces it with the line "Forged by the sun, crowned by the lion" and calls it "tropical summer freshness dressed in gold" and "the scent of power under the sun". In its launch post, the brand said Imperium captures the feeling of fresh skin, tropical escapes and quiet confidence.
Imperium was presented alongside the other four SUNFORGED scents at the collection's launch in Jakarta, with sales starting on 31 July 2026. Its companions are Mykonos Marbella (the flamingo), Mykonos Untamed (the zebra), Mykonos Inferno (the dragon) and Mykonos Nautilus (the seahorse). If you are choosing between them, our guide to which SUNFORGED perfume to choose compares all five.
What Mykonos Imperium smells like
The brand's short version is "a vibrant fusion of sparkling lime, fresh coconut water and rich patchouli". The full pyramid:
- Top: lime, bergamot, mandarin orange, tropical fruits
- Heart: Sicilian orange, ginger, jasmine, coconut water
- Base: patchouli, white musk, tonka bean
In practice that means a sharp, juicy citrus opening, where lime leads and the tropical fruit accord adds a little sweetness. The heart brings ginger for lift and coconut water for a cool, watery smoothness rather than a creamy coconut. The drydown is clean and slightly warm: patchouli for depth, white musk and a touch of tonka. The handbook gives it a citrus, tropical and woody main accord, and rates it as a long-lasting extrait with strong projection.
Of the five SUNFORGED scents, Imperium is the freshest and the least sweet. Nautilus shares its bergamot, mandarin, ginger and jasmine but adds pear and vanilla; Marbella is fruitier and more floral; Inferno is spicier; Untamed is cleaner and creamier.
The gold IMPERIUM bottle
The bottle is the real change. Empire originally came in a black bottle; the 100 ml we ship now is the gold IMPERIUM flacon shown in the photos on the product page. The product page also carries the official Imperium film from the SUNFORGED campaign, which is where the still at the top of this article comes from.
If you already own Empire in the earlier bottle, you do not need to buy Imperium for the scent: it is the same perfume.
Who Imperium suits
Our store lists the scent in the For Him collection, following the masculine label on Empire's own handbook page; the SUNFORGED page of the handbook lists Imperium as unisex, and in practice fresh citrus like this is easy to share. It is listed for all four seasons and for daily wear, evenings and sport, which makes it one of the most versatile perfumes in the range.
- Everyday signature: clean and fresh enough for the office in one or two sprays.
- Summer and holidays: the lime and coconut water are at their best in the heat.
- Sport and active days: one of the few Mykonos scents listed for sport.
Layering Imperium: the official Golden Sunset combo
Mykonos itself pairs Imperium with Mykonos Monaco Royale in its official Golden Sunset layering combo. Monaco Royale adds pear, melon and caramel to Imperium's lime and coconut water for a warmer, sweeter summer-evening version. Our Golden Sunset layering guide explains how to apply the two.
Where to buy Mykonos Imperium in Europe
In our store, Imperium is sold on the Mykonos Empire product page, as Mykonos Empire x RRQ Extrait de Parfum. The 100 ml ships in the gold IMPERIUM bottle; Empire is also listed in 50 ml. As an authorized Mykonos retailer for Europe we ship across the EU; our where to buy Mykonos in Europe page lists the options by country. For more scents from the same summer collection, browse the SUNFORGED collection.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mykonos Imperium a new perfume?
No. Imperium is the new edition of Mykonos Empire, introduced with the SUNFORGED collection in a gold bottle. The scent is unchanged.
Why is there no separate Imperium product in your store?
Because it is the same perfume as Empire. We sell it on the Empire product page so that the notes, films and customer questions stay in one place. The 100 ml ships in the gold IMPERIUM bottle.
What does Mykonos Imperium smell like?
Fresh tropical citrus: lime, bergamot, mandarin and tropical fruits, then ginger, jasmine and coconut water, drying down to patchouli, white musk and tonka bean.
Which animal is Imperium in SUNFORGED?
The lion. Mykonos introduces it as "forged by the sun, crowned by the lion".
Can I wear Imperium in winter?
Yes. The scent is listed for all four seasons, although its lime and coconut water are at their brightest in warm weather.