Let’s talk about Amouage

So apparently we’re trying some overlooked classics here on the Posse.

My housemate/fellow perfumista Carolyn has an extensive fragrance collection of her own. I think I mentioned that the previous resident, a lawyer, had a home office with lots of built-in shelving that we repurposed for its (obviously!) better use as perfume storage. I was browsing her shelves recently and there was an Amouage bottle sitting there … it was missing its bottom label so I didn’t know what it was, but I spritzed some on absentmindedly.

And it was glorious.

I of course had to know what it was immediately. It’s Lyric, which … explains why I’d never tried it? I thought it was supposed to be a “rose” fragrance? and ehhhhhh not my thing. Boy, am I glad I corrected that tragic oversight.

Lyric Woman was launched in 2008; notes are cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, bergamot, rose, geranium, ylang, orris, angelica, jasmine, incense, sandalwood, woods, musk, patchouli, tonka, oakmoss, vanilla, vetiver.

It’s a floriental of the more-is-more variety, but soooo smoooooth. Yes, I can smell the rose which is prominent, but it’s in there with a whole bunch of other florals plus spices and incense and woods, so it’s not that sour-vase-water thing I get with some rose-forward scents. It reminds me a bit of my beloved Teo Cabanel Alahine, and google shows that there’s some overlap there in terms of notes.

I’m probably the last gal on Planet Perfume to try Lyric, but better late than never, right?

Talking about Amouage in general: I’ve certainly not tried all (or even most) of the 100+ Amouage fragrances in their various lines. I’m well past the point of wanting to hunt down every.single.thing, there’s just too much these days. But of those I have sampled, I think they’re just so well done – even the more modern “commercial” ones (Crimson Rocks, Ashore, etc.) would delight me if they fell into my hands.

Speaking of which, that’s another thing I love – the way the heavy, squat lady-bottle looks and feels when I pick it up. I’m glad they keep doing color variations of that bottle shape, which is perfect as far as I’m concerned. It’s luxe-looking but practical, easy to spray, and it doesn’t tip over. Also, you can get bottles for ~$200 at various online discounters, which these days is a bargain.

So, what are your favorite Amouages?  Is there one that stands out as “yours,” so to speak, as if they made it just for you? (Mine is Jubilation 25.)