Jubilation XXV Man

This stuff is mana from the heavens, even in 2021. Since this fragrance has been at the center of a ton of recent longevity and projection complaints, this review will focus only on those issues since enough has been said about how beautiful this stuff smells. The longevity and projection complaints are overblown. My theory is that most complaints about longevity and projection for any fragrance -- and you will find them for EVERY fragrance -- come from folks who do not spend time around other people, especially strangers or unfamiliar acquaintances. That is, a ton of these complaints are based on assessments of constant wrist-sniffing alone. That is not how you test the projection or sillage of a fragrance. That is mostly how you make yourself noseblind very quickly, especially with certain aromachemical molecules. Of course, this may just be how folks wear their fragrances in the COVID era -- alone at home. And those folks have every right to don nuclear powerhouses. But if you spend most of your time in the presence of other people in a variety of social settings, you come to understand that having your fragrance "noticed" and receiving "comments" is not necessarily a good thing. Spending time in social settings also tests the true longevity of a fragrance, as the fragrance mostly "wafts" up to you and you hopefully aren't huffing your wrist in public, and what may seem like a "skin scent" from 2 inches away could still be reaching your nose and the noses of others for hours at a distance. With that preamble out the way, the latest formulation of Jubilation XXV has no issues with longevity or projection worthy of note. It keeps going on my skin for 6-8 hours, and sits on my clothes all day. When I spray my pillow before bed, I go noseblind seconds after lying down. Nonetheless, my pillow still projects Jubilation XXV into my room the next day. That is not a fragrance with longevity or projection issues. I haven't smelled the vintage batches of Jubilation XXV which, lore has it, were loaded with naturals and supposedly projected heavy and lasted forever. I'll say this, though: naturals actually WEAKEN longevity! Look it up, synthetic aromachemicals are how nuclear frags are made, and naturals are DIFFICULT MATERIALS to work with in terms of longevity. Does anyone think that Montale and Mancera get their ridiculous performance from their use of naturals? Come on now. So with all due respect to David Ball in that youtube video, that guy knows nothing about formulations after he left Oman. His entire story of the supposed decline of Amouage was based around his incorrect assumption that naturals project better ... when in fact the use of synthetics should have improved longevity. He had nothing to do with the manufacturing process. He was a lawyer, not a perfumer, and not a person who grew up in that culture. And he showed up on that youtube to hawk his book and I guess to attack IFRA (and Amouage's whole line). There are people in Oman who know the truth, but David Ball really is not one of them. Although his statements about how Amouage used to source their natural materials are interesting, his statements about the PERFORMANCE of reformulations are worthless. And note that he dates the decline of Amouage to the moment the fragrances went beyond domestic distribution, when international trade regulations came into play. That would mean that even the "vintage" bottles, when released on the international market, lacked the ingredients he discussed. All of this is to say that even though I aint smelled the supposedly "vintage" Jubilation XXV of legend, neither have most people outside Oman. In conclusion, Jubilation XXV is still mana from heaven which still only requires a single application for a good day or evening out. If the performance complainers could please stop making themselves noseblind by huffing their wrists, and would just chill and enjoy the smell from more than 12 inches away, I swear they would not be in here complaining.

What else is there to say about this, it’s a masterpiece! I have not tried the reformulated version, post 2016ish. My bottle I bought in 2016, magnetic cap, no writing of jubilation anywhere on the bottle, besides the name on the collar. That would put mine as one of the first magnetic cap editions, made in UK, which used to matter to “aficionados”. It’s literally majesty in a bottle, it does smell regal, sophisticated, like a Sultan... I don’t care if most of the composition is Iso E Super. It smells like a Disney fantasy whimsical version of traveling to a Middle Eastern Bazaar, and getting engulfed in all of the lovely good spice/woody scents. It opens with that splash of blackberry, oh so juicy, it moves into the spices immediately, I smell the davana, there’s an ever so slight greenness, ever so slight. You get such a lovely incense mixed with resins, you smell sweet myrrh, and it always takes me to a fantasy world. The fragrance as it goes on becomes woodier and woodier as it goes to the dry down, and as it becomes a skin scent. If you’re into perfumery, you owe yourself to smell this!!!!! It’s not going to make you smell clean though. If that’s what you’re into in fragrance, look elsewhere. I have no problems with longevity. It will last 12 hours with great sillage. It projects the first 4-6 moderately, after that it becomes a very personal scent... but you’ll have a trail the entire time. Jubilation was never meant to be beast mode. Bertrand usually always has his creations be subtle, almost understated, contemplative and meditative scents. I own Jubilation 40, and enjoy it!! Now does it do anything better than 25... not even close. 40 is a good scent, but 25 is a masterpiece. 40 opens more camphorus, way more green, and is sweeter throughout the entire duration. It’s blended differently, most likely the higher oil concentration, it’s harder to pick out specific notes as it goes on. I enjoy every moment of Jubilation 25 more, now this is to my 2015-2016 bottle. I’ve heard bad stuff of the newer stuff. Get a sample and see what you think, you owe it to yourself, try the 40 version, you may like it more. Rating: Masterpiece, 10/10, 5/5, Two thumbs up.

first of all this is very classy and elegant scent, i have sample from 2016/17 batch and 2024 batch. 2024 batches lasted arround 7-8 hours on my skin, projection are good in first 3-4 hours (in the office) which is no difference at all whether in performance or the scent body itself from the older formulation in my sample, fyi i live in tropical climate and this performs pretty well, i tested both in the office where temperature are conditioned and under the heat of the sun where temperature reach almost 40°C. The result? in the office the projection are not that loud but under the heat the longevity will be sacrificed for the sake of projection and sillage. I even tested it before i go to sleep and the longevity reaching almost 10 hrs (sprayed on my wrist at arround 11 p.m and my nose still picking the scent at arround 8 a.m. the verdict is : stop debating unecessary topics like ‘newer batch sucks in the scent and performance’ i agree some fragrance got reformulated and coincidentally or intentionally the performance/scent body is affected, but this is not that one. again, i tried to explain different people has different nose sensitivity, live in different area where skin chemistries, temperature, climate, humidity and activity DEFINITELY AFFECTS how fragrance will perform. As a matter of scent, different batch don’t have the same time to age so maybe there’s slight difference in the promInent/most noticeable note, but let’s imagine this, 10 years from now if jubi xxv still produced, people on 2034 will said ‘2034 batch sucks the 2024 batch are far better and beast mode’ so on and so on, that is like head chasing tail game in a never ending cycle right? so please just enjoy your fragrance for what it is, and also you can’t say older batch are better if u don’t have sample or bottle of older juice and compare it side by side with the newer batch, your memory will likely betray you, and of course first sniff will always be a great experience, but after a bottle or even few bottles more it just normal when the ‘wow’ factor are not there anymore because your nose already anticipating how a fragrance will smell. Hope this helps 😁

I got some Amouage samples from a friend, some new to me and some familiar, but these must be a different formulation than the ones I remember trying before. They’re more like oil-based perfumes — slow to develop, very close to the skin, and more “muted” and “blended” than the highly legible perfumes I remember. Instead of a sequence of distinct notes, I’m getting more of a unified “personal aura”. The overall effect is subtler and more understated than I remember from last time. Maybe it’s a reformulation? I remember Jubilation XXV as a regal, dramatic kaleidoscope of scents, with rich fruit contrasting against Duchaufour’s signature dry, almost harsh frankincense and smoky woods. This time around, it’s a mellow, golden, jammy amber aura (not specifically blackberry-ish but definitely with a sweet dried or preserved fruit aspect). It’s cozy and welcoming, almost to a fault, but never syrupy. And then, slowly, in the background, I get a gradually rising crescendo of dark smoky fragrant woods, both oudh and guaiac. The smoke is pitch-black and dry, but this time around its starkness is softened and mellowed by the amber. I don’t get the spices, myrrh, or frankincense I remember being prominent last time around; this time, it’s all about a soft hum of amber, dried fruit, and dark smoky woods. Jubilation XXV is a “kingly” scent in my mind: along with Ambre Sultan, L’Air du Desert Marocain, and other grand oriental masculines that fuse the spirit and amber-spice-woods palette of Arabian perfume with the classical technique of French perfumery. Among that company, Jubilation XXV is among the friendliest; a warm and generous monarch. (The King of Pentacles, perhaps.) On a more concrete level, Jubilation XXV is a perfectly balanced amber-oud perfume, almost an exact 50-50 split between warm gold and charcoal black. It doesn’t have the polarizing (barnyard-y or band-aid-y) off-notes real oud can sometimes have, but nor is it a perfunctory synthetic nod to smokiness. This is a smooth, rich, full-bodied, and (to me) genuine-smelling classic oud; you’ll get tons of nuanced smoky-woody flavor.

Since my birthday is just around the corner, I decided to treat myself to a second Amouage bottle. After extensive research and fruitless attempts to find a sample in stores, I took the plunge and blind bought Amouage Jubilation XXV. Yes, I know blind buying can be risky, but when it pays off, it feels like hitting the lottery! If I had to describe this fragrance in one word, it would be "ROYALTY." Jubilation XXV is rightfully considered a masterpiece in the niche fragrance world, celebrated for its rich, complex, and regal character. It opens with a vibrant, aromatic blend of blackberry, coriander, and orange, enhanced by hints of labdanum and frankincense. This introduction feels both fruity and slightly resinous, setting a luxurious tone right away. The blackberry note leans more on the sour side, avoiding an overly jammy profile. As the fragrance evolves, the heart reveals a sophisticated medley of spices and florals, including cinnamon, bay leaf, and honey. The orchid and rose add a layer of complexity, contributing a subtle sweetness that harmonizes beautifully with the warm, comforting spices. The dry-down is where Jubilation XXV truly shines. It unveils an opulent base of oud, patchouli, amber, and myrrh. The myrrh offers a smooth, balsamic quality, while the oud and patchouli bring depth and a touch of earthiness. It genuinely gives off the aura of an Arab Sheikh, exuding an air of grandeur and refinement. Jubilation XXV is a statement fragrance, perfect for formal occasions and cooler weather. It could work in the summer too, but you’d need to go light on the sprays. It boasts exceptional projection and longevity, surrounding you in a sophisticated aura that lasts around 8 hours. The seamless blend of fruity, spicy, and resinous notes makes it both timeless and versatile—a scent that commands respect and admiration. Ideal for someone who cherishes classic, old-world charm with a modern twist, Jubilation XXV offers an unforgettable olfactory experience that tells a story with every wear.