Hiya Posse! OPUS XI from the Amouage Library Series is a bottle added to the collection late last year after testing it at the Aussie launch. I’ve been saving opening it till a rainy day. Well, if it isn’t raining now then it probably never will.
Before we start talking about how it smells I’d like to take a moment to notice the packaging. Royal blue with a fun, outer space style, old fashioned wallpaper effect wrapping heavy card. It pulls open drawer like to reveal a midnight blue bottle in a gold pedestal backdropped with midnight blue velvet. The whole effect is lavish but not ridiculous. It’s about as tasteful as OTT presentation gets. I’m a fan.
OPUS XI Amouage Library Collection
Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Marjoram
Heart: Oud
Base: Styrax, Woodleather®
Sharp, herbal greenery opens quickly and disappears. It’s quickly overtaken by the resinous, leathery oudh with slight medicinal/band aid references and a very little bit of sweet unrinous toilet block. It’s strong and punches hard for about five minutes. The opening seems disjointed until the green comes back and the two pieces seem to fit together perfectly. Green and dark oudhy leather in harmony. A light eucalyptus style mentholation softens the story and makes OPUS XI start to smell like fine fragrance rather than a combative,.challenging freak show.
About 30 minutes in and OPUS XI is a deep, animalic leather with hints of oudh. That’s how it stays on my skin for hours. Very well mannered, when I think about my fragrance I can smell it but otherwise it’s background noise. Sorry but I can’t tell you how people respond to it either because I’ve only worn it around the house in lockdown while Jin’s been working.
This bottle is newly opened in the last week so I’ve only work OPUS XI a couple of times before reviewing it today. I’m interested to see how it performs in warmer weather. My thought is that it will bloom in quite different ways.
Leans traditionally masculine but women, you should definitely give it a spin.
Do you have a favourite from the Amouage Library Collection?
Portia xx
For some reason, some note in all of the Opus and the Amouage men’s fragrances just go all alcohol on me. It makes me super sad because I know I’d find some to love if my nose didn’t betray me!
damnit Patty,
What a bummer.
Portia xx
alas, I’ve yet to find an Amouage that really works on me. They all sound wonderful but they just smell … nice. And for that dosh nice doesn’t cut it.
Hey Cinnamon,
WOW! I love that. Nice is not a sentiment often associated with Amouage. Usually descriptions and experiences are infinitely more dramatic and intense. Especially for me, so many of them are like taking fantastic fragrant journeys, pushing boundaries and the infinite romance of the Oman story.
What a bummer for you.
Portia xx
“combative,.challenging freak show” is my new favorite fragrance description!
YAY Cara,
So glad to give you a new fave.
Portia xx
I haven’t found an Amouage library scent to love yet, although I love the concept. I doubt this one will be my thing either, but I luurve the pretty blue bottle. Only the main line of scents seems to agree with me.
Hi TaraC,
For the longest time I could not get on board with the Library series. One day they ALL suddenly made sense to me and they have continued to. There’s not even a reference point for the change, one day I was sniffing them in a department store with a friend for the joy of mockery and found myself transported.
Portia xx
Well, the fragrance is probably not my thang, but that bottle is GORGEOUS! Also my Isabey Tendre thingy should be arriving any day now…. can’t wait to try it, based on the notes I am going to love it.
Heya March,
HA! Yeah, it’s probably not for everyone.
I’m really nervous about your Isabey. Fingers crossed you love it as I do.
Portia xx