Interlude Man

Today is the day I finally take the first step of my exploration into the house of Amouage. I've heard a lot about the house since I started my fragrance journey; some fragrances being called masterpieces and others being called downright sinful abominations to man. That's a pretty big spectrum, to say the least. I'm starting strong with one that is known to be infamously strong and challenging to some; Interlude Man. Let's get into it and see what we got; Scent: The opening is smoky, spicy, and warm. The primary notes I get are incense, opoponax, oregano, and pepper. The strongest of the notes are the incense and oregano. The incense kicks off the opening with a veritable curtain of smokiness. It's strong and has an unapologetically churchy, in-your-face type of smoke quality; not at all like a designer incense note. Right underneath the incense is the oregano note that confers a fresh, spicy, and very herbaceous quality to the opening. It's very realistic and smells exactly like the type of fresh oregano that's used for cooking. This is followed by the pepper and opoponax. The pepper adds more fresh spiciness to help the oregano note stand out even more. Lastly, the opoponax lays a foundation of resinous warmth along with some vanillic sweetness and just a touch of a woody, almost scotch-like accord in the background. The dry down is sweet, smoky, and warm. The primary notes I get are incense, opoponax, amber, and oud. The strongest of the notes are the opoponax and incense. The incense is still a spotlight note in the dry down with the same intensely smoky accord, but smoother and not quite as biting as it was in the opening. The opoponax, however, has grown in strength and become a very warm and sweet note; almost like a dark vanilla. This is followed by the amber and oud. The amber has emerged in the dry down to imbue the fragrance with a deep, sweet, resinous accord; similar to the opoponax but deeper and not as sweet. Lastly, the oud lingers in the background as a dark woodiness with just a touch of funkiness. Not enough to be challenging, but enough to let you know it's there and that it's not a designer oud. Performance: Projection within the first hour is very strong and can easily fill a room. Sillage matches that intensity with a dense and heavy scent trail. After about 4 hours the performance was unchanged, still very strong. At about the 8-9 hour mark the projection was still about 4-5 feet and the scent trail was lighter but still noticeable. The fragrance became a skin scent around the 12 hour mark. When to wear: Interlude Man is a fall/winter fragrance best suited for evening wear. This is well within the limits of what I would consider a special occasion fragrance; anniversaries, date nights, weddings, and the like. It exhudes an aura of sophistication and classiness, so anything you'd wear a suit to you can spray this on for. It is, however, way too much for office wear. Blind buy: This isn't an unpopular opinion, but Interlude Man is not a safe blind buy. The intense smokiness will catch people off-guard, as will the very spicy and herbaceous oregano note in the opening. If you like strong incense, I would say give it a sample. Final verdict: Interlude Man turned out to be a more pleasant experience than I expected. I was expected some acrid, challenging fragrance based on some of it's reviews. And while it is indeed very smoky, it's never so much that I find it choking or overwhelming. I can see how it would be for some, though. When it got to the dry down the sweetness from the opoponax started to shine through and turned the fragrance into a very enjoyable sweet and smoky experience. In terms of performance, the votes for this are accurate; it is beast mode. Room-filling projection and sillage for at least the first few hours, and continuing onto until around the 12 hour mark when it finally wore off. I will say this is a fragrance that's very easy to go anosmic to, so be careful. Versatility is not what this fragrance is made for. It's crafted to be worn for special occasions in the evenings of the cooler months, but that's about it. Mass-appeal, again, is not the name of the game for Interlude. It will not be for everyone, some people will hate it. But for those that love smoky fragrances, this will be a winner. In conclusion, I didn't think I'd end this review wanting to purchase Interlude, but I think I do now. I have smoky fragrances, but nothing quite like this; and I'd like to have this one to throw on for when I want something show-stopping. However, tomorrow I'm reviewing Interlude 53. Will that one prove to be even better and make me want to buy that instead? Tune in tomorrow to find out. Scent: 9/10 Longevity: 10/10 Sillage: 10/10

I’ll say upfront, that I love Interlude Man. It has the best Opoponax note I’ve ever smelled. Yes, Interlude Man is brash and shocking, and I nearly needed a defibrillator when I first tried it. Still, I am very surprised by so many negative comments on Fragrantica recently. Agreed, Interlude Man is not a good blind buy, nor will anyone thank you for over-spraying, but it is a phenomenal creation. Interlude Man’s notoriety must have given Amouage’s Marketing team ulcers. To calm the frightened horses, aka potential buyers, they proclaim that by purchasing, we will enjoy “A sublime display of the harmony that warms a heart free of its inner turmoil”. Um, yep, OK. In my not so humble opinion, it is the discordant notes which make Interlude Man a stellar fragrance. If you want sublime harmony, take up yoga. I applaud the bravery shown by Christopher Chong when he was the Creative Director at Amouage, back when the house was releasing so many innovative (and sure, polarising) fragrances. There was nothing bland and forgettable made in that era. Pierre Negrin, who created IM as well as Black Orchid for Tom Ford, has been a recipient of the International Prize for Fragrance Creation. He was obviously supported by the creative team and Amouage management when he presented this witch’s brew. The strange recipe for Interlude Man includes Amouage staples like the famous Omani Oud, Frankincense (Myrrh), resinous cistus, Patchouli and Sandalwood. Amouage says there is “amber”, which is what fragheads like to describe as a fantasy note. I’m not sure why we need to fantasise. Amouage hints that Vanilla, Somalian Opoponax and Olibanum are the real ingredients given the more romantic sounding Amber in Interlude Man. Then Negrin created beautiful chaos, by tossing into the cauldron fistfuls of oregano. No, not the stuff which may actually bring you sublime harmony when you smoke it. I mean the green stuff on pizzas. By now you may be understanding why Interlude Man is polarising. Negrin sweetens the brew by adding pimento berry oil, which is better known as Allspice. Pimento oil can be a bit like cloves or cinnamon, if you haven’t experienced it. Agar-wood Smoke wafts up from the potion, but I think the Bergamot refused to jump into the pot and fled in terror. I can’t smell it anyway. Yikes. Talk about hubble bubble toil and trouble. Yet, those seemingly incongruous notes are what I love most about Interlude Man. I see that many reviewers here loath the huge kick of oregano, but that, with pimento, gives Interlude Man its sweet but vegetal uplift from the start. Interlude Man settles after about an hour into a top resinous sweet incense scent. If you can hang in there that long. I admit that I wouldn’t wear Interlude Man in public until it started getting sweeter in the dry down, but I love it throughout the entire experience. I hope you will try Interlude Man, even if you then decide it’s not for you. Just try it for the sake of experiencing this chaotically brilliant fragrance. Are you man enough? PS I am a woman, so the gauntlet has been thrown!

This is my take on Amouage interlude man. I am actually laughing while smelling this perfume because I completely blind bought it. Insane, right? In the opening, I get this warm, aromatic balsamic sweetness coming from opoponax, supported by amber and labdanum, with a slight touch of bergamot. After a minute or two, a warm herbal aspect starts to appear. The oregano comes through clearly, mixed with black pepper, while the incense quietly exists in the background. I am not really getting any leather. What I do pick up slightly is oud, but just a small amount, nothing overwhelming. As time passes, the scent stays grounded in this warm, balsamic, slightly sweet composition, with the oregano remaining present throughout. The blend is very smooth, and I think sandalwood plays a big role here, adding a woody, creamy thickness that pairs nicely with the subtle patchouli in the background. Personally, I have been searching for the so called “blue beast” until now. I will be honest, there is nothing challenging about this perfume, at least to me. I was expecting something burned or ashy based on what people said, but that could not be further from the truth. There is nothing burned here. Instead, it feels warm, herbal, and slightly calming, mostly due to the incense. For context, I enjoy Terroni and Cuoium from Orto Parisi, and I also like Silver Oud from Amouage. So if you are familiar with those, you can understand where I am coming from. That is why I find this quite funny. I do not find this challenging at all. Does it smell good? Yes. It is actually one of the better releases from Amouage. But calling it a “blue beast” feels like a joke to me. If someone finds this challenging, they are probably used to very safe, mass appealing designer fragrances. Honestly, I find even the civet in Gold Man by Amouage more challenging than this. Overall, it is a great perfume. Not mind blowing for me, but still very pleasant. That said, it is not entirely my style. To my nose, it leans a bit generic, and I had much higher expectations in terms of intensity and challenge. Do not get me wrong, it smells really good. It is better than many of the newer Amouage releases and feels more artistic. But if anything, this perfume comes across as relaxing rather than bold or intimidating. Funny really... Update on the dry down: Someone mentioned hookah tobacco, and I can see why. I understand where that impression comes from. Another thing the dry down reminds me of is Jubilation XXV by Amouage. Also the perfume is growing on me. Update: Yep I love it now

Was this reformulated? Interlude Man was a tremendous surprise, as it's yet another fragrance from Amouage I suspected I wouldn't like at all based on the notes. I remember seeing oregano, opoponax, oud, incense and leather and my first thought was "I'm gonna choke when I smell this". Recently I pulled the trigger on a discovery set from Amouage's website so I could get a sample of the new Opus XVI Timber and got this as my sample of choice on top of Timber. I was really perplexed when I took the cap off the sample and smelled the atomizer because what I got was a sweet, almost vanillic scent, a polar opposite to what the notes would make me think this would smell like. Up close on paper this was a green and resinous scent with a smooth oud/patchouli supporting the fragrance, much more coherent with the listed notes, but in the air I kept getting this sweetness. I decided to wear this today and what an amazing fragrance Interlude Man is. For the most part I still get this sweet scent, but edged out with a smokey and woody oregano that's blended unbelievably well, and that's also what you smell up close on skin. Not that long ago I tried Labdanum 18 from Le Labo, and the sweetness I smell here is very similar to the main component/accord of that fragrance, so I'm pretty sure the most dominant note in Interlude Man is the labdanum, backed by an ambery quality. What makes me suspect this had to be reformulated is seeing the votes for all the individual notes and seeing labdanum so low on the ranking, whereas notes that were less prominent (like the oregano and incense) or even some I couldn't smell at all (like leather) have more votes. Whether this was reformulated or not, I really enjoyed wearing Interlude Man today and it could potentially become part of my collection down the line as a signature fragrance for the colder months. Another reason that makes me suspect reformulation is the performance. While this is a strong fragrance and a long lasting one, it's far from being a room filling strong fragrance. Projection was a few feet with very dense sillage for several hours, but it didn't become stuffy and it was also not overwhelming at all. Longevity is good, lasting 8 hours with ease but it's not that strong on skin at this point. It will probably be able to hang on for another hour or two more but it won't be like Guidance 46 which managed to last 24 hours on skin.

Okay I haven’t left a review for any fragrance on here...but I just feel compelled to for this one. I blind bought this and was apprehensive to because of its reputation and the given “challenge” I would be in for, due to the intense smokiness and love it or hate it oregano note, but i was beyond intrigued so I pulled the trigger. When first sprayed it on my arm and the scent came to me, It was not at all what I expected.. but in the best way possible. In my opinion this is much more palatable and less challenging than it is made out to be. The oregano note is unique and gives it this dark savory element if you will. But it doesn’t come off as jarring or abrasive. The way it combines with the smoky incense gives it this therapeutic and almost ritualistic element. The incense is very present with a smooth ambery sweetness underneath it. But it’s all so well blended. It’s honestly such a unique and relaxing fragrance to wear. It smells like you were walking through the woods for hours looking for a cure for an illness and you came across a spiritual medium just after the sun sets. She welcomes you into her rustic hideaway that’s only lit by a small fire of blue ambery flames. Incense is burning, and she is concocting a remedy of herbs, spices, and sweet resins she has foraged. You drink it slowly amongst the blue glow of the dimly lit fire as you’re smelling the soft plumes of incense smoke. You feel and overwhelming sense relief, peace and tranquility. As far as the performance, again I don’t think it is as ridiculous or unwearable as people make it out to be. It is definitely unique and smoky, and maybe unusual to some, but I feel it doesn’t project and smack people in the face. I don’t think it’s very offensive, and comes across very calming warm and pleasant. Additionally I feel it doesn’t last 24 hours or days on skin like people say. But then again, most fragrances don’t on my skin no matter what it is. So it could be my skin chemistry or perhaps reformulation? I’m not sure. My bottle is from 2021 so that could be. Overall this is a 10/10 for me. It’s absolutely an addictive masterpiece of a fragrance. It’s so unique and there truly isn’t anything else like it. And the wearing experience is something that I’ve never come across with any other fragrance. Dark, smoky, calming, therapeutic, warm, sweet. Sensational.

#30 on my Fragrance Review Journey For the decades I've been wearing fragrances, I have blind bought many of them. After reading the reviews and seeing the videos of Interlude Man, I will admit I was a bit nervous. I purchased a bottle for an insane discount (damage to the box and a minor blemish to the cap). I figured, at worst, I could always resell at a higher amount. Prior to receiving this, I received an ordered sample of Bois 1920 Oro Nero. It was another I was considering and decided to compare with Interlude Man. Oro Nero is a nice fragrance. (will post a review). It had me optimistic about my blind buy. When Interlude Man arrived, I sprayed it once in the air and said, hmmm. I applied it to the back of both hands. The Oregano radiated. I smelled both hands and smiled. It was quite different than Bois 1920 to me. There was only mild similarity. Interlude Man has a smokey incense accord with oregano and spices providing a supporting cast. I applied 4 more sprays... one on each side of my neck, and one on each side of my chest. It was never overwhelming or challenging. I could not stop smelling myself. It reminded me of everything I loved about wearing John Varvatos Dark Rebel Rider, which is a wonderful smokey, incense-laden fragrance. I was getting the same vibes here. This has been a successful blind buy purchase. It is blended so well and smells amazing. Much different than anything else I have had in a long time. Longevity - 10 hours on my skin and on your clothes until you wash them. Profile - A room filling scent. Easy on the sprays. No more than 6 should be needed. It weaves through transitions for the first few hours. Oregano begins to play more of a supporting role after the first hour. You will leave a spicy trail behind you for most of the day. Wearability - This can be a three-season wear for sure. This can be a signature scent. This can be worn to the office if you are careful with your sprays. It also depends on your office environment. You know that better than anyone. Wear it during the day. Dress it up or down. 10/10 and a bar raiser.

There are three variants of Interlude Man: this the original, then 53, then Black Iris. Credit being given to Pierre Negrin's and Amouage's visionary and technical prowess, we have the rare ability to actually think of these three as a true trio - a three-part novel or film, if you will. More often than not, perfume houses and the composers look at flanker creation as marketing and cash-grab ploys rather than epic story creation, but not here. Interlude Man came first, so what is this original story that inspired an epic? The first installment looks remarkably like the 2nd and 3rd installments - and they are quite similar, but with some very subtle and critical differences. Interlude Man smells like a smoky fire taking hold of a resinous-tree forest. Like all fires when they first start, the heat feels "cold" because there aren't embers radiating heat yet. You get that impression here; there's a fire, there is heat, but it's just getting started. The smoke is dry and clean, a lot of the wood is dry and aromatic and still unburnt, the resins are warm and starting to melt but yet are largely intact, the green and herbaceous foliage is still blowing in the wind. In context of the trio this perfume is setting the stage for the inferno of 53 that is to come, but it is a genuinely amazing story all on its own. It is absolutely riveting, captivating, and masterfully composed. The only issue with looking at these three perfumes as a broad story is that Interlude shares the same skin scent as Black Iris, but Interlude still feels totally complete on its own. I love this perfume, and the fact that Amouage and Negrin have somehow been able to turn this masterpiece into part one of a legendary three-part epic just makes it all the more special. Great stories stand on their own, legendary stories do too and leave room for more.

Interlude Man is the fragrance for which the word challenging was specifically invented and then immediately proven inadequate. Christopher Chong described it as representing the moment of disorder and chaos before tranquility is restored — the interlude between crisis and resolution. Karine Vinchon Spehner translated this into bergamot and oregano and pimento berry oil opening onto incense and myrrh constructed in a way that Amouage describes as reconstructed — taken apart from their traditional associations with church and ceremony and reassembled as something contemporary and alive. The incense here does not smell spiritual. It smells physical. It smells like something is burning and the burning has been going on for some time and the room has become entirely the smoke. This is the fragrance that gets people into trouble with spray count. One spray requires management. Two sprays in an enclosed space will alter the molecular composition of the air in a way that affects other people’s decision-making. The pepper and oregano add a savory, herbal edge that prevents the incense from becoming abstract — it anchors Interlude Man in the physical world even as it tries to ascend from it. The sandalwood and leather base, arriving after several hours, is an act of mercy: warm, settled, the smoke now a memory rather than a presence. The people who love this fragrance love it with the specific intensity of people who have decided something important about themselves. The people who hate it tend to only smell it once. Both reactions are entirely understandable. Interlude Man does not permit ambivalence. It takes your ambivalence and burns it with the rest.

Now this is more like it! After being let down by Relection and Outlands, I decided to switch it up and run Interlude. Its fantastic! It has the perfect performance in my opinion. It lasts the entirety of my work shift and the projection is somewhat limited to a little more than arm's length. This is my 5th Amouage and I have noticed that they all have a similar smell. I guess you can call it their DNA. This one starts out spicy with a little bit of citrus to balance it out. Its blended to absolute perfection! That lasts about an hour and the next phase starts to roll in. The incense is strong with the sweetness of the amber to balance it out. I tried to be a fan of ambers but they are just too sweet for me. I love spice and this balance is perfect! The woods start to come in once the top notes have subdued and they are rich! The transition is phenomenal! About 4 hours in, the sweetness of the amber is absent and the patchouli enters the mix. Its the star of the show and I love patchouli. It is balanced out well with the dense agarwood and the smooth sandlewood. PHENOMENAL! Out of the decants that I have tried so far, this is the best. EASY 9/10. Blind buy safe if you are a big fan of patchouli and spice. Unfortunately, I do not have Interlude 53. I am going to have to get a decant of it. I can see myself purchasing the one that turns out to be the best, although this is going to be hard to beat. I failed to mention that I applied 6 sprays... 1 on each arm, 2 on the neck and 2 on the shirt. I probably could have gotten away with half of that.

My first full Amouage bottle and for good reason. This is a masterpiece though I am mostly in disagreement with other reviews regarding the major notes and nature of this frag. If some of these older reviews are to be believed, this is the 'blue beast' with challenging notes, oppressive longevity and narrow use cases reserved only for an experienced wearer. I have not found this to be true at all. Regarding the supposed wearability of this frag there is a clear oregano note, though i have a hard time imagining anyone finding it off putting or likening it to food. It is simply an accord in the opening and does not stand out in an offensive way. Nor is the smokiness choking or overwhelming. Yes this scent is heavy and thick but it is balanced perfectly. It projects well and lasts a long time at the tenor i would expect from a perfume of this price and quality. If you apply it in the evening you will smell it on your skin in the morning though the deep drydown is a lovely slightly smoked vanilla which i have seen mentioned only recently by that chap in the funny hat a few reviews down. Overall, i see it neither as dark and mysterious nor as beastly and bombastic. Its lovely. Wearable in most situations from an evening at home to a night out with friends or even a more formal occasion. If this formula was changed, it is absolutely for the better as this is my exotic masculine cold weather perfume of choice.

My first full Amouage bottle and for good reason. This is a masterpiece though I am mostly in disagreement with other reviews regarding the major notes and nature of this frag. If some of these older reviews are to be believed, this is the 'blue beast' with challenging notes, oppressive longevity and narrow use cases reserved only for an experienced wearer. I have not found this to be true at all. Regarding the supposed wearability of this frag there is a clear oregano note, though i have a hard time imagining anyone finding it off putting or likening it to food. It is simply an accord in the opening and does not stand out in an offensive way. Nor is the smokiness choking or overwhelming. Yes this scent is heavy and thick but it is balanced perfectly. It projects well and lasts a long time at the tenor i would expect from a perfume of this price and quality. If you apply it in the evening you will smell it on your skin in the morning though the deep drydown is a lovely slightly smoked vanilla which i have seen mentioned only recently by that chap in the funny hat a few reviews down. Overall, i see it neither as dark and mysterious nor as beastly and bombastic. Its lovely. Wearable in most situations from an evening at home to a night out with friends or even a more formal occasion. If this formula was changed, it is absolutely for the better as this is my exotic masculine cold weather perfume of choice.

You would need to be a poet to say anything new about Amouage Interlude Man. But, as a recently obsessed fragrance enjoyer, I have been sampling many, many fragrances recently - Interlude Man put them all to shame. Everything said about this fragrance is basically true. Yes, it is a weird, smoky experience. Yes, it fills a room and lingers, powerfully, for a very long time. Interlude Man starts with a bright, juicy bergamont zing on a spicy, herbaceous garden bed. Temple incense swings left and right and begins to settle upon the scene as a consistent billow of smoke. Fragrant wood is lit in moments by an ambery pang, and bitter citrus stems occaisionally peek their heads and dissapear back into this lush drydown. Eventually, the composition settles and finds its feet in a warm, smokey, completely enticing base which sits on clothes forever and projects off skin like a beast for hours on end. Interlude Man asserts your presence and would come off as exceedingly confident if pulled off correctly. Amazing first run with Interlude Man. I'll be using my sample sparingly for when I want to make a bold impression. I can see myself buying a bottle in the future - with the strength of this stuff, 100ml could last a lifetime. Really, really impressed, and I feel like a standard has been set in my fragrance journey. I'll be forever looking for fragrances that give this quality of depth and character.

A high point in the art of perfumery. This is the fragrance that showed me how creative niche fragrances could be and more or less inoculated me against most anything you can find at Macy’s. Interlude Man was my first experience of a scent with true transitions. I have never experienced a scent that changes so dramatically from opening to dry down. The oregano note in the opening was definitely jarring the first time I smelled this, and yet it didn’t throw me off. Unique, but it fits. Once the brief bergamot/herbal opening dies down, the resin smoke comes in. I had never experienced anything like this and it blew my mind that a fragrance could smell like this. This smoky, semi-sweet ambery vibe vividly evokes a bubbling chunk of opoponax on charcoal. It is heavenly. The smoke lingers, but the sweetness of the amber comes to the top. What started as a nearly aromatic scent has now become a dense, sweet, resinous amber. When I sniff this stage the smell has so much depth that it seems like a bottomless abyss of resinous beauty with the smoke still lingering. Late in the drydown (and I’m talking 8+ hours in) some of the creamy sandalwood and leather shows up. Interlude man lasts until you wash it off. And you’ll still probably smell it after that. Interlude Man is a stone cold masterpiece. Not everyone will enjoy it, but it speaks volumes to me. Kudos to Pierre Negrin and Christopher Chong.

Picture this: They are that one person you've met for only a short time, the one with a certain air of mystery around them. Quiet, a bit sickly, a bit intimidating to be around. They light incense in their room on a whim, and have probably spent an unhealthy amount of time talking to spirits. And beneath the loose shirts and leather, they're probably half the size of a guy their age. They look a bit unnatural, like they're not of this world. You know they don't judge people easily, but you can practically feel their eyes following you around. They definitely hide a lot, but you know better than to look into it. Their voice is deep, and quiet, and they get a bit oddly animated if they're interested in something you've said. This is them in a fragrance- incenses, herbs, oppoponax, smoky leather and woods. A very slight accord of smoke residue, like how their hands smell when they visit you in the evening. And, just like the air of dizziness they carry, this fragrance leaves you with a hint of pressure in your head, just enough for you to wonder what that is. (TL;DR: ritualistic herbal smoke and resins but also this dark, rugged leather. esoteric gothic twink. them=me.) (UPDATE/gets edited: sprayed it once while in the back of a lecture. immediately got reminded of that one guy on tiktok that screams "POWERRRR". this is a hit of herbs and liturgical incense right to the face.)

On the newer batches, interlude man is completely wearable and that’s not an exaggeration. I’ve worn interlude to school, I’ve worn it around friends who don’t like strong fragrances, and I’ve worn it around my girlfriend who isn’t the biggest fan of oriental, spicy and smoky perfumes, and so far, nobody has had a bad reaction. I’ve gone through 80ml of my newer batch bottle within the last 11 months, and if you’re scarred from the older batches of interlude, don’t be scared to resample this masterpiece. I won’t talk too much about the scent profile because everyone knows it, but I want to touch on the fact that Deep into the dry down, at least with my batch, the creamiest and smoothest vanilla emerges and lasts for hoursssss. It reminds me of the vanilla note in absolute aphrodisiac, although the perfumes are obviously not similar in any way. With this tamed version, it’s perfected in my opinion because the older batches were so intense that people couldn’t find a time to wear them too often. With my current formulation of interlude man, I get about 12 hours longevity (as a skin scent) and large projection for the first 90 minutes, and then tapers off to medium projection until hour 8-9 and then pretty intimate projection from hours 9-12. (I know vanilla isn’t listed. I most likely get it from the sweetness of the resins, but it comes off as vanillic to my nose)

The way I see it, Interlude has a bit of a dark hippie vibe, it's doom metal in a bottle. The opening is a dense cloud of smoke with a dry, herbal, green hue. It dries down to a plush, velvety, sweet resin with a hint of leather and burnt oud chips, but it never completely loses that herbal accent. It's not a complicated scent, I feel like the herbal tones that contrast against the resins can at times wear like a bit of a smoky middle eastern chypre, very recognizable and truly one of a kind. It's wearable enough but it's not an easy scent to pull off, I don't find it suitable for formal events due to how dark, monolithic and over the top it is (especially since I've been told that it smells like weed) and it certainly demands a strong personality and degree of self assurance. So the best time for most people to wear something like this would probably be in a casual setting where one would want to stand out and make a statement. And it's hard to overstate just how much of a statement Interlude makes, it doesn't shout but it doesn't announce itself meekly either, its ominous, shadowy figure looms over you and quietly demands your undivided attention, but there's also a good chance that you'll eventually fall in love with it.

Complex, chaotic, dense, smoky, sweet. Interlude is a plunge into the depths of a heavy, dark, smouldering fog that subtly embraces and envelops its wearer. While it starts sharp and pointed, it quickly settles down into something calmer. It definitely has an ashy quality, but it smells like only the finest combustibles (woods, resins, herbs, vanilla pods) were burned gently and slowly, leaving no harsh edges or disintegrated notes. It has delicate green nuances (oregano, bergamot), which likely account for most of the initial sharpness, but it saves this from being cloying. This is the epitome of niche perfumery, and perfectly balances chaos and calm. This is more than art. This is a spiritual expression of complex thoughts and emotions. Best suited for darker, brooding, strong, mature and masculine personalities. Magnetic cap, 2017 or 2018 batch. Longevity on my skin is long, 24+ hours. On clothes, the scent lingers indefinitely, even after washing, simply from skin transfer. Delicate sillage (1-2 sprays), with modest projection. Women seem to enjoy this scent, especially during close encounters. It is not a beast; it is a gentle, strong, and sensual specter.

I absolutely love Amouage Interlude Man. From the very first spray, it’s like stepping into a world of smoky incense, rich spices, and deep woods. The opening is bold and complex—dark, resinous, and full of character—yet somehow it all blends together into something refined and almost regal. As it develops, the sharpness of the smoke gives way to a warm, amber-rich sweetness that feels smooth and luxurious. The performance is remarkable. I get 9 to 10 hours without effort, and the projection in the first few hours is strong enough to turn heads. In fact, I often wonder if this might be one of the strongest scents in my collection. It doesn’t just sit quietly on the skin—it radiates presence. Interlude feels unapologetically masculine, but not in a loud or abrasive way. It’s confident, commanding, and elegant. This isn’t a scent you wear to blend in—it’s one you wear to leave a lasting impression. For me, it’s more than a fragrance. It’s a statement, a piece of art, and one of the most captivating creations I’ve experienced.

Amouage is one of the niche brands that never seem to disappoint. You ́re looking for a heavy oriental fragrance? Look no further! This one deserves its name "Blue Beast". Performance overload, massive longevity paired with excellent sillage. The oregano in the opening may be slightly off-putting to some, but the drydown is pure oriental heaven. A must try for every fraghead out there - not safe enough for a blind buy though. Versatility might be its one flaw, as it is not necessarily suited for office wear or spring/summer in general, but in fall and winter and in outdoor environments, this one shines. Sometimes a spritz in the evening after a long day of work can also have a beautifully soothing effect. It was one of my first niche fragrances and will always have a special place in my heart. On a side note, my wife tolerates it, but does not particularly love it on me, so for getting compliments, this might not be the right frag. One who wears Interlude Man however, is not looking for compliments!

Do not listen to the negative reviews as Interlude Man is truly one of a kind! Interlude Man is a unique, mysterious, powerful, and bold fragrance that women love! I do have Interlude Man, Interlude Black Iris, and Interlude 53. Interlude Man is my favorite and has been for years, then comes second Interlude 53, then Black Iris. Interlude Man is magic. All you need are 2 sprays. 2 sprays only and you’ll be smelling absolutely magical forever! Those who negatively review it should probably stick to their designer collection and leave these types of artistic compositions to the connoisseurs. Update: July 4th 2022 Those who are spreading rumours about Interlude Man being reformulated because it has a different cap than the original release need to stop. It has a better cap anyways. Below is the answer for the Amouage team themselves. Thank you for contacting the Amouage team. We have confirmation from our concerned department that Interlude Man has not been reformulated.

This is an intense, dark, and unapologetically masculine fragrance that stands out for its bold and unconventional composition. It opens with a sharp, roasted oregano and spice accord that immediately feels challenging and highly distinctive. This unusual opening sets the tone for a scent that is anything but safe or crowd-pleasing. As it develops, the fragrance becomes very heavy and dark, layering dense notes of incense, leather, patchouli, and oud. The result is a powerful oriental profile that feels smoky, resinous, and deeply atmospheric. Performance is beast mode, with enormous projection and exceptional longevity. This is not a fragrance for beginners or for those unfamiliar with oriental styles. It is highly polarizing, challenging, and demands restraint—never overspray. Blind buying this is a very bad idea. However, for those who love heavy, spicy, oriental fragrances, Interlude Man is a unique and unforgettable experience. 8/10

Nose Note #840 I had memories of it from many years ago. Then I bought Midnight Oud and thought: "damn, yeah, this is just it". Now I have the legendary OG and well, I have to say - Midnight Oud is like 98% similar, it's so so close, apart from the opening. The opening of Interlude is just different, special, more exciting, I don't know how else to describe it. I wouldn't say the ratings of this having "eternal" performance is justified. This is about the same as Midnight Oud. If you have a deep pocket, then just buy this for presentation and overall slightly better experience, but otherwise Midnight Oud has been super satisfying and almost identical. I'm now very siked to try Supremacy Incense and Oud Abyad. One of the best things about Interlude of course is fantastic performance. This is not a crowd pleaser though. It definately requires some getting used to. 9.5/10, the DNA is just like nothing else

This is my favorite perfume to date, not only does it evoke memories of bakhor and incense being lit up in the streets of Crater in Aden, but by how it so vivid in the way it portrays the power of incense and how underutilized it is in the grand perfumery scene. It does hit me on many different levels as i reflect on my life and my time in Yemen. The Opening is so bold and has a opulent presence, you can feel the pepper and oregano pave the way to the base notes and settles ever so gracefully into a mystical level of incense worship as if you become the monastery itself. Strong, empowering and unapologetically religious. This is not for everyone, it can definitely get you some unwanted attention and you have to be okay with owning up to the fact if you aren't in the right mind- space, it will wear you. This is what i wear when i want to be me without filters nor any refinement.

This is such a big, bad scent. I think for your first impressions, you may be distracted by the oregano, incense and smokiness but the more I wear this, the more I realize its quite a sweet, ambery fragrance that also has a bit of surprising freshness about it. There is something slightly off-putting about it that gives it a sinister, angry feeling. Not in a bad way at all. It smells powerful, assertive and doesn't give a fuck. Obviously, the performance is very good and after spraying my shirt with it, I can still smell it faintly 3 weeks later. I love it and think it goes into masterpiece territory. If you have the balls to wear this and the confidence to not overthink how others perceive it, I think it leaves a very favorable impression. I wore this while exploring a huge, crumbling, pitch-black abandoned building and I gotta say, It fit the atmosphere perfeclty. 9/10

This is a great example of why you should try the original before the clones. I smelled the clone first, Midnight Oud, and it was so bad that, even the thought of it, made me gag. It smelled like burning rubber+an abandoned church. After that I wrote off Interlude Man as a bad fragrance. About a year later, I actually smelled something on someone else, and it reminded me of Midnight Oud, so I thought, is he wearing Interlude Man? Because it was sooo opulent. So I got me a decant and OH. MY. GOD. This is AMAZING. The original has so much underlying tones that you wont find in clones. Its got deep sweetness to it that you can actually notice thanks to the high quality ingredients. The incense, oud, and the burnt woodiness is incredibly addictive. The moral here is that, don't judge the DNA after smelling the clone first. My "most hated" fragrance is now one my favorites.

I really wanted to try the women's version of this but alas it was not meant to be. So I had the sales assistant spray this men's one on a test strip for me to smell. As a woman, at first sniff I quite liked it. I continued to smell it and with each sniff it just got better and better. I'm sure by about the 5 minute mark I came across as some kind of addict as I couldn't stop sniffing it. As a female, I found it so damn sexy! I had no idea of the notes in it at the time I smelt it and for the record, I despise oud, but I couldn't detect it, at least not on paper. Any man wearing this, I'm so here for it. It's so good that if I smelt it on a man, I might dribble a lil from my front bum 🤭 Interlude Man could easily take a female from good girl (not the perfume) to 🎵I'm a man (I'm a goddess), I'm a man (I'm a virgin), I'm a man (I'm a blue movie) ...🎵 Berlin style!

Honestly, its reputation had me a little scared. Besides that, I have tried a lot of Amouage, and several of them I haven't liked at all, especially the more incense and spice heavy ones like Purpose and Royal Tobacco, so when I tried it on skin I expected not to like it. Well, I guess I was wrong lol. You can immediately notice the oregano in the opening, which admittedly I wasn't crazy about. But it settles down in a matter of minutes, and instead of the crazy oudy smoke bomb that I expected, I got an amazing, soft, almost sweet smoky masculine scent that doesn't blast you in the face but follows nicely. It isn't as obnoxiously strong as I feared, it feels right. Man this is great, I think I'm starting to understand the love for old Amouage. This is like unlocking a new smell.

Interlude Man by Amouage is a bold, unapologetically powerful fragrance that has rightfully earned its status as one of the house’s most iconic creations. With its intense blend of smoke, oud, leather, and incense, it exudes an aura of regal confidence and complexity—truly the scent of kings. The composition is rich and layered, unfolding like a dramatic olfactory journey. It commands attention from the very first spray, which is why I always recommend testing this one last when sampling perfumes—it easily overpowers anything that comes after. While I personally prefer the newer, more refined versions for their smoother execution, the original Interlude Man remains one of the greatest incense fragrances ever made. A true statement piece for those who dare. Rating: 4/5

I first tried Interlude a while ago... and I didn’t get it. It felt loud, almost overwhelming—like too much, too soon. But fragrances like this don’t reveal themselves on the first encounter. Coming back to it with more patience—and maybe a more trained nose—I finally understood what it was trying to say. What once felt chaotic now feels structured, almost architectural. The incense, the resins, the depth... everything falls into place with time. Interlude is not about the opening. It’s about the journey. And the dry down is where it truly earns its name. Today, it has become one of my favorites— a fragrance you don’t just wear, you grow into. Best worn in cooler weather or when you want presence without compromise.

Genuinely one of the best fragrances ever made, so well blended and refined, yet incredibly potent and intense. I tried it on skin, and immediately got a blast of oregano, spices, incense and smoke. It starts off extremely strong in the first ten minutes, almost reminding me slightly of toothpaste to me for some reason, potentially due to the oregano. It then settles into this much more refined incense, balsamic and smoky scent with a hint of oud in the background. It lasted roughly 36 hours on my skin, and I could smell it on my jumper 2 weeks later. I would not have the courage to wear this as a daily, though I would highly respect anyone who would do so.

Amouage Interlude Man by Amouage is GOD of Smoky perfumes! a Masterpiece which will not fits for everyone, this is Dry Dark Smokey with resinous Amber, Powerfully, Charismatic & very masculine, not for warm weather or office, this strictly for cold weather and nighttime, longevity and sillage is beast mode, for many year it's been called (Blue beast) because of powerful performance, not a blind buy safe and i tried almost all Interlude clones and inspired by BUT non! absolutely none of these comes closer to original, perfume for someone powerful confident will wear or superhero I imagine Batman will smell like this, Choukran Amouage .

deep, resinous, spicy, smoky, incense and aromatic bomb with a touch of amber and sandalwood along with some sweetness and a slight citrus feel. At first you are blasted with the spicy pepper and oregano then you get the resinous and dark yet smooth , sweet and intoxicating incense , amber and labdanum/opopnax. Then on the base there is a great oud and sandalwood base with a super light earthy feel. An absolute banger with 10/10 performance. Perfect for cold days and worth every penny imo. After some hours I’m left with sweet smooth incense/sandalwood with slightly spicy vibes. Amazing

What an incredible fragrance. It doesn’t just fill space; it commands it. It’s loud, unapologetic, and completely indiscreet. Anyone using this isn't trying to please anyone. It's the unapologetic type of confidence that's magnetic and blasts through space. If I close my eyes, it takes me to a dark, luxurious space where there's burning incense, resin, and a lot of smoke. It's powerful stuff that lasts for hours. I can see myself using this for tuxedo-style fancy events, where I need to make a statement. This is not for guys who like to be discreet or behave well, I'll tell you that.

Amouage Interlude Man. It’s a true middle-aged man’s fragrance. The weight is so well-balanced—it doesn’t overwhelm you, but it also doesn’t fade away in the wind. I felt it stayed with me for up to 10 hours. After the first hour, during the dry-down, it develops such a beautiful smoky vibe that feels calming. When I read that there’s incense in the heart notes, I wasn’t surprised. It’s a warm scent. I know it’s not fair to compare in terms of richness, but I feel like people who loved the earlier version of Dior Homme Intense (before 2025) would really enjoy this.

Ive had it for a year now, wasnt sure what to say. Interlude man is a true legend in the fragrance community and for good reasons. True Niche fragrance in that it changes how it smells throughout its wear. After over 40 wears ive found the sweet spot; 3 sprays and then its this soft, earthy smell. Its really bombastic when over sprayed, but i still like it when its bombastic, but spraying it less has brought out a different faucet, surprisingly. Interlude man is as good as the hype says it is. Last all day. Makes me want to have the whole Interlude line.

A rich Middle Eastern scent, where slightly creamy oudy/amber and storm of smokiness dominates. It's much like adding pepper to luxurious Bukhoor. I didn’t understand the hype the first time I smelled it. But as I kept giving it more chances, I started to appreciate the complexity of this fragrance. I agree it can be difficult to pull off, I believe this one should be reserved for VERY special occasions. Performance is a beast — it can easily overpower any nearby fragrances. Overall: 9.5/10. (Because it can be difficult to pull off in my opinion).

First time I tried Interlude, I was new to fragrances. I didn’t see it as luxurious at all, just a strong spice shop, oriental market kind of smell. Completely wrong. My nose wasn’t ready. Now I get the church incense, the hot resins, that feeling of standing inside a temple that’s still burning. This is real niche fragrance territory. Not for people whose reference point is Axe. Interlude is oriental, heavy, distinctive, and opulent. More Sheikh energy than clean, suit-and-tie elegance.

I’m used to ME heavy fragrances, funky oud, smoky orto parisi and weird stuff.... But this one is just not doing it for me. No depth, no development... just nausea in a bottle. It’s the only fragrance that is giving me instant nausea. I love Amouage and own most of their collection except for this “blue nausea”. I never tried the 53 but it will probably hurt me just the same. Update: gave it a few more tries and it’s growing up on me.. it takes some time to adopt to.

A truly unique and extraordinary fragrance. The opening is a blast of herbal drama with a mix of creamy amber. Once the chaos wears you’re left with a mysterious and deeply complex smell of burning incense in a stone cathedral smell. It smells of clandestine hallways in a religious venue. If Gandalf had a scent this would be it. I used one spray and my entire office is heavy with it. I’m not sure if everyone appreciates it but I sure love it.

My most favorite fragrance I own. Spray it directly onto the skin and how it changes throughout the day. Absolutely gorgeous, nuclear on projection and longevity. Its herbal, smoky, resinous and creates a religious warmth on the skin. Theres something deeply human and ritualistic about it. Some may say it’s difficult to find an occasion to wear such a powerful scent. I don’t care: I’ll wear it wherever I can - even into bed.

I can see how this fragrance can be polarizing, some people may hate it. Some people may love it. I don’t think my wife would probably like it on me. But I love this fragrance. It’s mysterious it’s deep reflective, unique, long lasting and different from anything else on the market that I am familiar with. I also have the dupe of this bottle VALOUR and it smells like body odor no good.

I am not sure how to feel about this, the main thing I am getting is balsamic notes and dust. The best way I can describe this is opening an old book that was left in a fire but someone accidentally spilled a little bit of balsamic vinegar on the book before the fire was set. Edit: ok, the dry down is amazing. I always search for good incense perfumes and this one is gorgeous.

It is a fantastic fragrance. 4 sprays and you're projecting all day. Super masculine, mega incense note, villain arc signature scent. However, I feel that supremacy in incense, which is like $30 is almost 1:1. So if I have a few hundred bucks collecting dust I'll go get Amouage again, but I'll stick to Afnan for this DNA. Seriously captures the vibe almost the same.

I don’t owe it, but got a sample from the Amouage store in NYC! Idk what’s about this scent but I keep coming back to it! I find it very addicting. Now, def not a safe blind buy and you have to be dressed up to pull this off, but god I like it! The black iris version is def easier to wear, but man, this is one of my fav scents I’ve ever smelled period!

As a female I absolutely love this scent. I don’t wear it as it’s very masculine but at home alone I’ll dab it on my nightwear to smell. I bought it for my son. It’s almost a religious type of smell. I get a frankincense citrus that’s warm and totally makes me feel relaxed. There’s no better smell in the world to me. It’s a very Middle Eastern scent.

I heard folks talking mad trash about this, saying it smells awful—but nah, they trippin’. If you’re into Outland, you’re gonna rock with Interlude Man heavy. I was lowkey nervous to blind-buy it because of all that noise, but man... turned out to be one of the best blind buys ever. This joint hits different—I’m straight up hooked.

I used to hate this one so much as it reminded me of a discusting e-liquid I tried once. Yesterday it was raining and I decided to give this fragrance a chance and it smelled so damn good! You just have to find the environment to enjoy it! 2 sprays behind your neck are enough to enjoy it and dont dig your nose in it is my advice

You know the scene from House of the Dragon where Aemond Targaryen stays on top of dragon Vhagar awating in the forest?( just before attacking his brother instead of attacking Meleys). That's how i imagine the whole scene smells like. Dark, woody, otherworldy, smokey and epic. - This fragrance pictures it perfectly.

This is plain gorgeous, tried it last year on decant and loved it, didn't want my decant to finish. So today I received a full bottle, 100 ml of oregano infused oriental resins and incenses, with a slight oud driving all the way through, giving depth to the whole. I am a very happy man!

I'm a woman, and I wear it with great pleasure. I have several similar fragrances in my collection (I consider them to belong to the same genre), and they are my favorites for the endless autumn in my latitudes. Incidentally, I don't consider it masculine at all. It's 100% unisex.