Pepper is one of my favorite notes in cooking (and eating). Applied with a judicious hand, pepper lends it fieriness to subtly enhance everything from savory to sweet..and even bitter (lemon pepper is a hit for very good reason). And I’m a big ol’ Pepper Lover when it comes to perfume. The Pink Peppercorn Overload of a few years ago nearly did me in, though. When I first read ‘pink peppercorn’ in the list of notes for Amouage Opus VII, my first thought was ‘oh, nooooooo! Not the Dreaded Pink Peppercorn!”
oh, my!
I needn’t have worried. In Christopher Chong’s deft hand, this peppercorn zings!! The peppercorn blasts out of the gate with, well, a blast! LOL! It’s an unabashedly zingy opening, which I love. But it quickly settles down when the galbanum comes sliding in like a prom queen. I get a hint of lemon but it’s not listed in the notes. What I don’t get is the distinctive maple syrup smell that is often associated with fenugreek but maybe it’s that sweetness that keeps the galbanum/peppercorn mix from becoming bitter. After that first blasty moment I get a very well-rounded composition, where the pepper is not fighting for center stage. The leather never comes out full force, which is nice – yes, I know, I know. For a leather lover like me, that’s akin to blasphemy, but hear me out: the leather is there but it’s more of an underpinning than a full, in your face note. This is one of those scents that conjures a vision of a wonderfully elegant, masculine man in a jacket and crisp white shirt, sitting in the leather driver’s seat of a Bentley Flying Spur.
Like a lot of assertively pepper-centric scents, this will read ‘masculine’ to a lot of noses but I think women can easily wear this – and not in some Kate Hepburn way, either. In fact, I think this would do beautifully juxtaposed against a flowery summer dress! I was just in N-M and it looked as if Covent Garden exploded in there – all these gorgeous pastel summer frocks. They’re lovely, to be sure, but they could use the edge of a slightly bracing perfume, especially in the heat of Spring, whenever that happens….this could be just the ticket.
photo stolen: etsy
On men? It’s gonna be sexy as hell. I might give Grima Wormtongue a quick looksee, were he to wear this.
Opus VII – Green, Woody, Leather
Top: Galbanum, Pink Pepper, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Fenugreek
Heart: Agarwood Smoke, Patchouli, Ambrox, Leather, Ambergris
Base: Costus Root, Muscone, Sandalwood, Olibanum, Cypriol
But don’t take my word for it. Why not try it yourself!? “Well, Musette. That’s fine . Thanks. But it’s not out yet“. Well, no, it’s not. But I have a little scrab. And I’d be happy to peel a scrablet off for a giveaway! Drop me a line, letting me know your favorite Amouage or the Amouage you most want to try. I’ll have Carmine put on his leather Bentley driving gloves and hit random dot org for a winner. I have the two most recent winners to announce (the Musette’s Musings and the Going Down, Coming UP giveaways – I’m all better, btw. Thank you all so much for all your kind wishes). I’ll announce those winners along with the Amouage Opus VII winner next week!
Amouage is one of my favorite perfumes, I enjoy wearing many fragrances from the line but the only full bottle I have now is Ubar and I absolutely love it!
Thank you for the draw!
The only Amourage I have tried is Interlude Man & Woman…won samples in a draw. I loved Interlude Man, was not sure about the Woman…seemed a little too much for me. I would love to try this. I’m so glad you are feeling better.
Opus VII sounds right up my alley! I’ve liked the masculines more than the feminines on me, a tendency that runs through many houses. Epic Man and Jubilation XXV have gotten the most wear, though my favorite has to be Homage Attar — possibly because I have big ol’ bottles of Epic and Jubilation and three tiny drops of the attar!
This sounds gorgeous! I love all Amouage, though Beloved is my favorite. So glad you’re feeling better!!
The Amouage I most want to try is probably one of the Opuses… the mimosa one, is that IV? I can’t remember. That’s the one. The other I really want to try is Gold, since I lurve the aldehydes. I have tried very few Amouages, I did finally try Beloved, which I admire but isn’t a holy grail scent for me ultimately.
Thanks for a great review Miss Musette. I’m so glad you’re feeling better this week. I also love some pepper in my scents. The one that comes to mind is Balenciaga Paris — pepper with violets and white musk. I’ve only tried a handful of the Amouages, but I have enjoyed Dia Femme and Memoir Woman the best. This new one sounds like a good match for me. I love galbanum — my favorite note — and I’m a big fan of leather. I was just searching through some empty sample vials, and shook out the last couple drops of some vintage Cuir de Russie. Man, they don’t make them like that any more! Or, not often! I would love to be entered in the drawing. Thanks!
My favorite Amouage would have to be Gold Woman, but that is the only one I’ve tried, so it’s also my least favorite. Thankfully, jdeangeo has agreed to swap with me for a few, so I am looking forward to having my horizons broadened in the near future. 🙂
Wonderful post, I love the pepper fragrances! Hermes Poivre Samarcande, Marc Jacobs Bang!, and the gorgeous pepper-leather fougere Pascal Morabito Or Black. Wondering is the new Amouage is like Or Black? I would love to try a sample of Opus VII. My Favorite Amouages are Homage Attar and Jubilation XXV. Yours in fragrance, Scott
Thank you!
Lovely review too.
My favorite is Jubilation XXV, I like the masculine better so maybe I would like this one too. I really want to try all the Opuses and Interludes!
Great review!
I’m really looking forward to give it a try.
My favourite Amouage is Opus II from Library Collection, I also like Opus V and Lyric Man.
My favourite Amouage so far is Reflection Man,
I believe that I might really like Lyric Woman though and should get to trying it.
I have been wanting to try the unavailable Crystal Silver Men.
My fave amouages are Ubar, Epic Woman, Memoir Woman, Jubilation 25 and XXV. love this line.
So far, I’ve tried Opus IV, V and VI in the LIbrary Collection – the last being the most symphonic for me. Heaven! Maybe the richly scented little Amouage fairies will bring me a bottle this year. As a writer, the idea of a “library” of scents is completely beguiling. Can’t wait to try VII!
One of favorites winter fragrances that I get many compliments on is Amouage Memoir Man. The green leather and woody top notes in this Opus VII has the opportunity to be my goto spring and summer scent.
Musette thank you for your review 🙂 My first Amouage was Amouage Gold i bough it for years ago, then Interlude Man this is such a warm, inviting scent,then I fell In love with Opus VI this is wonderful, then bought Opus II hmmm its not really me , then got my Opus discovery set and found Opus I that is the perfect Library scent 🙂 Im really really curious about Opus VII- I’d love to test it 🙂
My first Amouage love was Lyric for women. I automatically fell in love with it. Ubar and Jubilation, I admire but don’t care for. I haven’t gotten around to trying the Opus or Library collection yet. I am looking at getting a decant of Beloved Woman.
I have yet to encounter an Amouage I don’t love, but lately Opus VI has been hard to put down. I find them all to be quite addictive, the price certainly reinforces this feeling (can I afford another spritz- oh god, who cares, I NEED it!) Thanks for the draw!
I’d very much like to try Jubilation XXV, myself.
-Ekscentra, basenotes.net
My first and still favorite Amouge is Opus VI. But Beloved Woman is a close second. I have been awaiting this new Opus with great curiosity.
The absolute fav Amouage is Jubilation for Men. Sadly women version is not as impressive, even my gf uses “for Men” version of it.
My favorite Amouage is Tribute, I would love to try the new Opus. Thanks
I have only tried Dia. I’m sort of afraid to fall in love with one!
Epic Woman is my go-to perfume for date night and Gold Woman if I want to feel more like Grace Kelly. Would love to try this new Opus. Thanks!
Thank you for this review.I have been waiting for more info about Opus VII for months. My favourite Amouage would be Epic man or Badr al Badour.Most interesting Amouage is to try surely is Opus VII 🙂
I’m glad you’re feeling well!
I’m not sure how I’d like this one. I’m still learning my likes and dislikes, even a couple years into this process. I love Lyric, but it’s definitely pretty and I liken it to a night at the opera. I love Memoir, it’s deeper on me, more incense. I’m not sure if it’s Gold or Dia,
I love spicy and peppery. Absolute por le soir, Parfum Sacre. I perceive these as spicy, but maybe I’m confused. I mean I think Absolute por le Soir and Traversee du Bosphere remind me of each other a lot. But their notes don’t read that way. This perfume business is confusing! 😉
My favorite Amouage so far is Lyric Woman. I’d love to try this one. Thanks for the giveaway!
I too, am glad you are back in good form! What a lovely review! I love leather also, my most favorite being Cuir Mauresque. I have not tried too many of the Amouage scents, yet, but I do love JUbilation XXV. I would love to be part of the draw!
You can leave me out of this draw; just wanted to say how glad I am that you’re back, and feeling better. You were missed, Ms A! <3
I’ve yet to try any of the Amouage fragrances but would love to start with Opus VII. So glad you’re feeling better!
I’d love to try Opus VII.
I had samples of Jubilation and Interlude, both for men, and was more impressed by the latter!
Thank you for the draw!
Interlude Man is stunning! xo
I really loved Beloved”
would love to be able to try Opus VII
thanks, Mussette
you’re welcome! I love Beloved, too!
xo
So far Memoir Man is leading the way in my mind for Amouage. Thank you very much for the draw!
that’s a lovely one – and so different from its feminine counterpart! xo
I fall in love with Jubilation , interlood and Opous III. I think I also like honour man but I can’t recall properly. Amouage as a house although pricy but I guess the worth the investment. they keep you entertained the whole day whilst giving u unmatched experience in being unusual perhaps for majority but as I’m from the Middle East it gives me a familier vibe which I can’t pinpoint
it is a great line, isn’t it! There is so much love for Opus III – I’ll have to revisit that one. xo
Wow, Thank’s for the giveaway, Musette!
My Amouage bffs are: Gold Woman, Dia man, Epic Woman and the Beloved ones, in no particular order.
I love this line, it gives me hope in the future!
Yes, they are definitely works of a passionate heart! xoxo
Be still my beating heart, this sounds gorgeous!
I love Epic Woman which is spicy peppery to me and is my ultimate winter scent.
Have just ordered Interlude Man for my husband.
Yes, I am an Amouage groupie!
Join the club, doll! 😀 Epic is one of my favorite go-tos for winter. But also…try it in extreme summer heat, see what you think. I adore it then! xo
I’m still waiting to try the Opus collection, but as an incense lover, Amouage is definitely one of my favorite houses.
I didn’t immediately fall in love with the Opus collection as quickly as I did the standalones but over time a lot of them won a place in my heart! xo
Sounds lovely! Wearing my beloved Epic woman today
I’m back to Epic Love, after my unfortunate overdose. But I’m sticking with the gel and body cream for now. xoxo
You got me worried Galbanum is not a note I get along with! As for my favorite Amouage, well its Homage attar.
No worries, T. I don’t get that weird galby thing in this one (fwiw, I happen to adore that ‘weird galby thing’ but this isn’t that note). It’s a cool, deep green undernote, like a silk slip (and whatever the male counterpart is to that) xoxo
That gives me hope then. I really can’t wait to try this one. I have yet to pull the trigger on any of the Opus’s. They seem to not like my skin!:(
Pepper? And leather? Sign me up! Just tried my first leather fragrance this week and fell in love. Opus VII would be amazing to smell.
which leather was it? xo
Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab’s “Fighter” from their RPG series.
I used to have two vials of Amouage Opus VI, my first niche experience ever and up to the last drop, it was love each sniff..
Would Opus VII surpassed the beauty of its predecessor? Hope to win this draw and sniff for myself.
I don’t think it’s a matter of surpassing – this one is totally different!!! Glad you enjoyed VI so much!!! xo
I just tried Lyric over the weekend, would love to sniff this one! I love peppercorns (and pepper trees). Thanks for the draw, glad you are over the ick!
Thanks! Much, much better! How did you like Lyric? xo
Since a Christmas visit to Harrods, I’ve been hemming and hawing over a F/B of Opus V. Now that warmer weather is around the corner, my lust has been back-burnered, but for right now, that’s what’s leading the pack among the esteemed Amouage offerings. That said, I’d really love to try Opus VII. I wonder if III is still Monsieur Chong’s favorite…?
That’s the iris one, right? I like that one! xo
Glad you’re feeling better, Musette! I read your going down coming up post. Bless your heart! That’s not a fun ordeal. Bleh… As far as an Amouage sample. I’m so about this one! I love leather and peppercorn.i would also like to try the Beloved and Beloved man as well. I’ve never been good at decisions.Variety is the spice of life!
I am a huge fan of both of those notes, too!
Oh, this little offering would be perfectly fine to start off with in the Amouage line; I’ve mostly used black pepper essential oil, cut with a floral, and am not nearly familiar enough with pink peppercorn. (And glad you are feeling better. <3)
Thanks!! xoxo