Meander

So to start out... Meander is a perfect name for this perfume, the vibe is a meandering one. I've followed perfumer Mackenzie Reilly on social media for a few years now (I think?) and it's good to finally see/smell her work coming through and certainly for such a high profile brand as Amouage, to be honest she's really made two fantastic perfumes for the Renaissance collection, Meander being my favourite. I saw a couple of reviews but they were from the usual brand sycophants who may have been sent free product so their positive view is met with scepticism. I shouldn't have been so cynical though, but it didn't sound like my bag, or like quintessential Amouage. I blame the reviewers. I think Meander falls more inline with Imitation or Portrayal than it does with Interlude or Epic (all the Man ones of these BTW) which is that it's a floral scent at heart, but surrounding by a swirling, changeling sort of vibe. The opening to me smells very airy, slight and mineral, misty olibanum, and that watery papyrus note you get, by immediate thoughts were... BE GONE THE SPECTRE OF SANTAL 33! YOU'RE NOT WELCOME HERE! Glad to tell you that effect only lasts for a few seconds before everything starts to build, but in a super gentile, civilized manner, Meander is the whimsical antidote to Enclave's full on woody, amber and Amouage Incense thickness. This only lightly nods in the direction with a lemon and pine tinged olibanum, but it's so veiled, vignette in the fabric of this scent, it's barely there at all. A transient, plastic, saffron twang at about the 5-10 minute mark is then gone just as quick. Orris or carrot are listed here in the notes and I'm not sure I get them from this a vague first impression but there's definitely a powdery, sweet element to this perfume. Then the knotty, earthy but fresh tentrils of a rooty vetiver perhaps? start to ground this fragrance. As it progresses it gets nicer and, nicer, a mixture of cool and aloof and warm and cuddly. I guess all this contrarian talk means that Meander performs a successful balancing act which is really what perfumery is all about, balanced harmonics. I hastily wrote this review without properly wearing this perfume at least once. I judged it on a single spray on my wrist but I think I can make something of an evaluation based on that and say that this is very good. To the point I'm tempted to get it. The colour of the bottle is Celadon or Baby Yoda green which is really lovely too.

This is the ONLY fragrance over $100 that I’ve ever purchased a full bottle of, which should tell you how much I love it. Not a perfumer, so I’ll describe it as best as I can. It opens with a slight spiciness alongside a chalky, earthy, dusty carrot note. The carrot comes across as rooty and vegetal (hard to describe but I can smell a whiff of cooking carrot), with a subtle sweetness, but never gourmand. As it dries down, it becomes slightly creamy, smooth, and grounded, while still maintaining that earthiness. I’ve seen some comments from men saying Meander leans too feminine. As a man myself, I disagree. I would call it unisex but leaning masculine because of its earthiness and restraint. That said, it takes a very specific type of man to wear this. Someone self-assured, introspective, not seeking approval, maybe a little quirky (I mean I first tried Meander after blind buying a decant of it after seeing "carrot seeds" as a note and thought "Carrot seed? That sounds cool, let me try it". Most common reaction from my male friends has not be "that smells like a woman's fragrance" or "too feminine" but “I like it, just not for me.” I was complimented wearing Meander once by a stranger, a woman who said "That's a really pretty scent". Make of that what you will but the point is this is not a classic "sexy" scent. As I mentioned i purchased a whole 100ml bottle of Meander to wear as my signature scent (Jomashop had it for 40% off -only way for me to justify it), mainly because of its versatility. Its powdery woodiness shines in cool weather, but it never becomes oppressive in warmer temperatures (I was using like 4 sprays of the Decant). If I had to describe how Meander behaves, I would say it “hums” around you rather than announcing itself. You get random whiffs of it as you move about your day. It isn’t a compliment bomb, and maybe that’s intentional. People generally need to be close to smell it, as it sits closer to the skin compared to most other Amouage fragrances. I would describe it as an introvert’s fragrance. Performance is excellent. I can still detect the drydown on my skin 10–11 hours later, and on clothing it lasts even longer. I’m sure there may be fragrances similar to this, but I personally haven’t encountered one yet. Meander feels truly unique in both its composition and behavior.

I blind bought this and it came in today. I’ve been wearing it all day and I just reapplied so here are my thoughts: I’ll start off by saying that I’ve never smelled anything like this at all. It’s not strong, but it lasts a long time, and it’s one of those perfumes where you’ll get random whiffs of it over 8-10 hours instead of a constant cloud. It’s very dry and earthy without smelling dirty or rough. It’s such an unusual scent but it’s so addictive for some reason. Usually with amouage, I have to kind of grow into them, even on the ones that I liked a lot the first time I smelled them. But this is one that I’m already addicted to. I bought a 50ml bottle and I’m actually worried that I may run out soon despite the amount of perfumes I have in my collection. It’s creamy and a touch bitter, but equally as sweet (imagine the sweetness from a carrot juice, not a vanillic sweetness) that really balances it out beautifully. This is one of the crazy underrated Amouage’s that I think is really perfect for a signature scent because it’s insanely unique, but at the same time it’s relatively versatile and it’s not overpowering while still lasting a long time. 9.8/10. Gorgeous perfume. Edit; I’ve been smelling this on a tester strip while chilling and watching a show. This thing really has a grip on me. Edit #2: woah. The more I smell this perfume, the higher it shoots up on my list of favorite perfumes. If I had to describe the scent in a way without using notes, I would describe it as so; a dark and windy day in early March with light drizzle and the faint, but sweet aroma of the earth. You’re out in nature but it’s eerily quiet besides the wind, and it feels like the perfect start to a zombie apocalypse movie. Like the calm before the storm... but the storm never arrives. Meander is calming, yet weirdly keeps you on edge. It’s oddly addictive. This isn’t the scent of a perfume that’s meant to smell sweet and alluring and sexy and boring. It doesn’t even smell like a perfume. It’s like a place that you’ve visited in the past. Maybe when you were a kid, or maybe in a distant dream. This is one of the best Amouage’s I’ve ever smelled (although aren’t they all?) 9.9/10.

This is an interesting perfume and not what I, personally, would typically expect from Amouage. This is a very light, very lush, green scent. The top notes of olibanum, carrot, pink and black pepper conduct an affectionate little dance with each other that gives a sort of minty or citrusy effect, without actually being minty or citrusy. It's fresh, slightly nose tingling, and sweet but in the way carrots are sweet when cooked, not outright sugary. The pepper subsides, but the carrot remains and blends with the heart and base notes of orris, rose, cypriol, jonquille, olibanum resins, vetiver, and sandalwood. The carrot plays very nicely with the orris, rose, and jonquille. The combination of the carrot with the florals gives a sort of green mango impression. The resinous and woody notes are very tame and restrained; they're there, but never really make their presence known - happily sitting as a calm foundation for all of the other ingredients to build upon. In the final dry down, after about 4hrs the vetiver and sandalwood gain strength and presence to create fresh, clean, green wood accords for a gripping yet strong skin scent that is absolutely lovely. I'm not sure how it's doing what it's doing but it is captivating. Meander has an airy and cooling wetness, like a fog, but it doesn't feel wet or thick, in fact, it's quite dry after a lot of time and close study. It should also be said that because they did not skimp on high quality ingredients, not that Amouage ever does, it has another effect that is quite different from your typical green freshies in that it feels substantial, enveloping, elegant, and regal, whereas most green freshies feel like an effervescent spritz that tries to immediately escape to the air. Not Meander though. Meander wants to hug you, and stay close. A great companion to meander with.

Wow I love this one.... For me, my love of Niche perfumes first started with Interlude Black Iris. I also grew up in the Syriac Orthodox Church and have always been surrounded by incense and that has really made me appreciate Amouage so much and fall in love with the brand. So, Meander for me is a continuation of that love of incense fragrances Amouage is famous for... but this one of course is lighter, more intimate, fresher and super smooth.... after sampling first I went ahead and bought a full bottle. This is what I've been looking for as far as an every day scent that is both fresh and middle eastern with that incense.... and my wife happens to really like this one too surprisingly because she doesn't like anything.... I've been wearing this daily from early morning and I get 5-6 hours with 4 sprays..... and if I want to keep it going late into the afternoon/evening I'll just reapply. This is not a loud scent... sometimes, I'll layer Jubilation 40 or Interlude Black Iris in the evening if I'm going out and want to experience something deeper and louder but for every day wear that is office friendly this is perfect. Before I bought this I sampled Reflection 45 and a few other "freshy" ... "summer friendly" fragrances... but in the end my wife liked this one the most and it ranked highly for me as well... so while not super loud or strong, it's perfect for daily wear and worth every penny if you ask me considering you can buy it for around 1/2 of retail now. Smell (me) - 10/10 Smell (wifey) - 9/10 Versatility - 10/10 Performance - 6.5/10 Overall - 9/10

I was expecting it to have some gourmand quality to it based on some of the reviews about it being creamy, smelling like carrot cake or baked goods. Well, very little gourmand vibes on me or on my teenage son. I get a rich, aromatic and pleasant scent from beginning to the end. It doesn’t change much on me for the duration of the wear and I am okay with that because it is makes it easier for me to choose what I want to layer it with depending on my mood and occasion. The top notes smells so nice and you do get the creamy, sweet notes as it warms up to your skin. It is such a well blended perfume that I can’t easily pick one ingredient over the other like I can in some perfumes. You get the full blast of the scent immediately you spray it and you don’t need to be heavy handed with it at all. It doesn’t have massive projection but anyone very close to you can smell it and will be able to tell it is an expensive scent. I am glad it has a low key gourmand quality to it because I have way too many perfumes with that overly sweet vibe so this is in my rich and powerful vibes collection. It was a blind buy because it was on huge sale online because the packaging got banged up and I was so skeptical that I wouldn’t like it. Thankfully, I do and I know this will be worn a lot for my posh evening events. Performs very well in a hot climate country like mine so I am certain it will do well in the other seasons too.

A Whispered Metamorphosis This is, of course, just my personal journey—fragrance is a landscape where we all see different colors. But I have to say: this scent has become utterly addictive. It didn’t start that way. To be honest, I was skeptical during our first encounter. But with every wear, the composition seems to deepen and refine itself. There is a hauntingly beautiful contrast at play here—a lush, botanical greenness wrapped in a velvety creaminess that feels both grounding and ethereal. It doesn’t scream for attention; instead, it whispers. This is the fragrance you reach for when you want to smell distinct in a subtle, intellectual way. It’s for the moments when you want to feel unique without being loud. This is officially my signature scent now and on. 🥳 My general advice: Sample first: Never let a bottle find its home on your shelf based on someone else's prose. Give it multiple wears. Let it sit with you through different moods and temperatures. Trust your own nose: Our olfactory palettes are as unique as our fingerprints. What was a "maybe" for me last week has become a "must-have" today. Don't buy into the hype or the hate—buy the sample, live with it, and let your own skin tell the story.

I have no words to describe how much I enjoy this one it might be one of my favorites from the brand. The opening with the carrot note is beautiful, it has a sweet and inviting aura with some interesting smokiness that disappears almost immediately. The dry down is an amazing interpretation of the amouage frankincense with powdery touches and woody splashes but very milky. I’m pretty sure it could be considered the interesting shy little brother of Guidance. I love it from the first time i smelled it but I was not sure of buying it cause I have heard about the weak performance. It was a pleasant surprise finding out that at least for me last some strong 8 hours l and I use it the day I fly for holidays, after a few weeks when I get back home my t-shirt still has the smell. I don’t mind re apply it once or twice during the day just to make it a bit stronger (but I’m an oversprayer so don’t listen to me) The silage is good but not amazing, in the beginning you leave a sweet trail that is slowing down to a more woody/luban trace. It worths to try it, for me the whole collection match the aesthetic of the publicity and names in a very unique way.

Absolutely beautiful, i really can't stop sniffing this! Overall this is quite a creamy, powdery scent, while the notes are all combined pretty well, the note that stands out the most i would say is the orris. It smells so dreamy, and while smelling this i envision a beautiful foggy landscape, this is what i imagine a beautiful heavenly misty foggy garden would smell like(vibes wise). Im not rlly someone who likes to categorize fragrances into genders, but id say it's perfectly unisex. And for who would like it and suit it, I'd say if u like something on the creamy side, but not nothing too heavy or too sweet, in fact this is a pretty light scent perfect for year round wear, then this is def for you. As for what type of person i would imagine someone who is rather quiet, introspective, but approachable and kind, i imagine someone who doesn't talk much, reads a lot, carries a soft aura to wear this perfectly. I may not use this as a signature scent since I don't really fit that description nor does it suit me, I think it smells soooooooooooo good and it is a must try, rlly underhyped when compared to other amouage fragrances

I have 15 or 16 Amouage fragrances, and this is by far the weakest, both in terms of longevity and projection. It is sad, as the scent profile is really unique, calming, and delightful. Even Amouage Honour Man is far stronger. At this price point, and from a house like Amouage this was an unpleasant pleasant surprise. I guess I am buying 10-15 ml decant bottles to carry in my computer bag for re-applying every 6 hours if I decide to use it for a full day's work or event. Definitely a summer oriented release, office safe, nice for a date (and could work for most dates as they don't usually last more than 6 hours anyway), but not a reliable choice for longer engagements of any sort. 10 sprays maybe (and you can run through an expensive bottle fast) and once I do, I am not buying it again. I love it, but I wish it was more effective. A good alternative (lower quality and less unique) is Prada L'Homme and L'Homme Intense. They don't smell like Meander but they serve the same purpose. If you want releases from the new Amouage era with nuclear performance, get Amouage Purpose, or Royal Tobacco. Those are certified WMDs lol.

Amouage perfumes have always been a "loud speaker" to me. I never expected that one day I would associate words like soothing and calming with their perfume. Meander is such a gorgeous perfume. I fell in love at the first sniff. Sandalwood is no doubt the main character here, which is well blended with powdery and spicy notes. The opening is dry and slightly powdery, and you can already smell the creamy sandalwood. Unlike other typical Amouage perfumes, the opening is not overwhelming; instead, it is smooth and comforting. Soon I start getting some spicy peppery notes in the background. Again, the spicy notes go so well with the creamy sandalwood. I really love the drydown on my skin. It's beautiful and calming. Sweet creamy sandalwood mixed with olibanum gives me some zen vibe. Just like all the other Amouage perfumes, the longevity is amazing, and I also love the smell that lingers on my clothing. On the other hand, unlike other Amouage perfumes, this is a much more easily acceptable perfume for office, suitable for spring and autumn.

Meander. Why has this name been chosen for this fragrance? This time I am getting vetiver which changes the entire composition for the better. This is a quiet place to reflect when you spray this on. The entire journey of Meander is monochrome and subdued with full purposefulness in mind. And done so successfully. It is reminiscing about a gentle rain storm, but the rain that falls is not to cleanse the earth. Instead, wearing Meander is like watching the sky cry and you doing nothing about it. Now I am understanding why the fragrance is called Meander. It wanders aimlessly. It rambles but in a soft and undulating manner instead of in an exhausting and empty space. It's funny how the universe works. It was an accident that I picked this one up. I accidentally sprayed the wrong fragrance. As I get older, I am understanding the importance of moments like this. Perhaps I should be wandering around more myself.

This is when perfume becomes art... like the Mona Lisa in a bottle. Meander is not just a fragrance, it’s a journey... mystical, elegant, and deeply emotional. From the first spray, I’m embraced by the ethereal beauty of olibanum, airy and sacred, wrapped in a soft touch of pink pepper that adds a subtle sparkle. It feels like mist rolling through ancient mountains... gentle, yet full of depth. As it settles, the scent flows gracefully into a creamy, earthy blend of sandalwood and vetiver, with the olibanum continuing to whisper throughout... resinous, smoky, and serene. The base is meditative, grounding, and quietly powerful, like the final brushstroke on a masterpiece. There’s something deeply soulful and timeless about Meander. It doesn’t shout... it speaks in poetry. It lingers like a beautiful memory, and every time I wear it, I’m reminded that perfume, at its highest form, is art. Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Update: This is now my favorite fragrance; it has the exact measure of sweetness, the uniqueness and the slightly masculine woody drydown I have been looking for in all Iris based male fragrances I’ve tested. I’ve never smelled carrot seeds, but I’m a fan of carrot and carrot cake, and after seeing the note listed I can actually feel an earthy fragrant carrot note; in the opening it is fresh and juicy, then the Iris and some earthiness come and gives it a “cake like” quality, It is mouthwatering at this point. Heading to the base, sandalwood with incense and some muskyness take the lead, becoming a more creamy woody scent. The projection is moderate but I get nice longevity (never liked my fragrances to be too loud, so this is perfect for me). Ended up with a bottle, and I’m loving it so far, I’d mostly use it in a fresh day, grey and camel, casual/semi formal occasions. 10/10 for me

What is meander? "a river that meandered gently through a meadow" "to wander aimlessly or casually without urgent destination" I picture a meander of a river in the early morning. Fog is rolling above the water. Everything is quiet except for the gentle sound of water. Meander by Amouage is what being calm smells like. It is the ultimate aromatherapy. It does not scream but it lingers. In the opening I smell pure cocoa nibs with a vegetal note. Later I get a beautiful sweet blend - sandalwood, olibanum (prominent), vetiver and orris. It is powdery, yet not dry. It is woody yet soft. It is if all of the notes were enchanted with the smell of rain in a tropical forest. It's beautiful and meditative. It is a shame it projects very little. It stays quite a long time. But maybe it is only meant to be smelled by the wearer. One of the most beautiful fragrances I've ever tried.

At first spray this smells like someone who just smoked, put a chewing gum in their mouth and took a large breath at you. Then the chewing gum stays, but the smoky smell is replaced by woody and peppery notes. It's not an intense smoke though, but a mix of carrot seeds and olibanum, as far as I can tell. Really, really delicious if you like the 90's chewing gum smell (I love it!). I do agree with the reviewer 2 reviews down: chewing gum, leather jacket and some light smoke! I was a child in the 90's, and remember those flat-ish, ribbed, single-wrapped, hard chewing gums, leather jackets, and everyone was smoking, and this captures that time pretty perfectly! Oh, and after this fades a bit (like, after a week or two on clothes) the bubblegum smell stays. My jacket still smells of chewing gum, 3 weeks in. That's what I love about amouage!

Wow, this is good. Of the three recent Amouages i smelled (Silver Oud, Reflection 45 and this) this proved to be the one that got me. However, this is also the only one i was able to get a nice sized decant of and properly apply it on skin. For those who say it doesn’t remind them of an Amouage creation, i say: smell the layers and smell that unmistakable omani incense. I read a few reviews calling this designer-ish. Now, come on. Who? Chanel? Celine?? The depth of this alone goes beyond their respective budgets. Unless perhaps they offered some extrait/pure perfume release. But even then, that omani incense offers something that only omani incense can bring to the table, with its 3D scent profile. Yeah, this is good. Full bottle on the way. Bravo Amouage! Bravo!

This one is not my usual type but it is surprisingly good. Creamy sandalwood, iris, and carrot seeds. It's not overwhelmingly "gourmand", just the right amount. Very calm and relaxing. I think it's very unique -- I haven't tried any other perfumes that is similar. FB worthy imo. Scent: spicy carrot cake + sandalwood/ Olibanum Sillage/ Performance: intimate to moderate sillage, but very long lasting (ymmv, my skin tends to make fragrances last longer). Gender: I'm surprised people voted this as more male-oriented. While unisex, it is more feminine-leaning to me. Season: I think you can wear this year-round. I'd say it's more of a "fall" perfume, but you can definitely wear this for warmer weather (low sillage + light scent).

Don’t get me wrong, I like it - I have 3 Amouage and I’m hunting for a well priced Boundless but this one just doesn’t click, I wouldn’t have guess it’s Amouage. It’s very smooth and oily/creamy/waxy with some powder and woody notes, but it doesn’t do the Amouage thing - it’s not decisively masculine - to be honest it’s very unisex to me. It doesn’t project, it’s moderate in my skin after 30mins. It doesn’t really last in its performance - it stays, but as a skin scent. Only the quality is here - leaving an oily mark on your skin, smelling of expensive, natural ingredients. Fully unisex, maybe even feminine leaning. Moderate since the start going skin scent after 2-3 hours. Very high quality smelling, just not for me.

Gorgeous top notes. Beautifully blended yet still discernible. I’ve never really known what carrot seeds smell like until now - a cosmetic-y fragrance slightly reminiscent of carrots. Mixed with delicious peppery spice and a sweetness from the olibanum. The “cosmetic-ness” dries out leaving a soft and creaminess. Can’t quite describe it but it’s not a strong sandalwood scent, not quite powdery, and definitely not masculine to me. Perfectly unisex, perfectly blended. Relatively close projection compared to other Amouage I’ve tried. In comparison I sampled Enclave yesterday which was much richer and louder in notes and projection. Absolutely delicious and full bottle worthy.