Opus VII – Reckless Leather

Oh, dear reader, buckle up, for I am about to take you on a wild olfactory journey through the labyrinth of Amongst Opus VII Reckless Leather Perfume. This is not just a perfume, it's a tale of audacity, a saga of unapologetic luxury, and a symphony of scents that would make even the most stoic of noses twitch with delight. From the moment you lay your eyes on the bottle, you know you're in for a treat. It's as if the gods of aesthetics themselves descended from the heavens to craft this vessel of pure elegance. But, my friends, the real magic happens when you uncap this Pandora's box of fragrances. The first spritz is like a rebel yell, a bold proclamation of its presence. It's as if a leather-clad biker just roared into a serene meadow, scattering daisies and daffodils in his wake. The scent of leather is unmistakable, but it's not your run-of-the-mill, just-stepped-into-a-shoe-store leather. Oh no, this is the scent of adventure, of wild rides through the countryside, of a spirit untamed. But wait, there's more. As the initial audacity subsides, you're greeted with a warm, comforting embrace. It's like being wrapped in a cashmere blanket by a roaring fireplace, sipping on a glass of the finest cognac. This is where the perfume reveals its softer side, a gentle reminder that beneath the reckless exterior lies a heart of gold. And just when you think you've figured it out, Amongst Opus VII throws you a curveball. A hint of spice, a dash of the exotic, a whisper of the unknown. It's like a secret ingredient in a gourmet dish, elusive yet intriguing, making you come back for more. In summary, dear reader, I must confess - I am smitten. Amongst Opus VII Reckless Leather Perfume is a rollercoaster ride of scents, a symphony of fragrances that is as audacious as it is comforting. It's a perfume that doesn't just make a statement, it starts a conversation. So, if you're looking for a scent that's as unique as you are, look no further. Just remember to hold on tight, because it's going to be a wild ride!

This perfume does something to me. I've had it for two years now, after I smelled it in El Corte Ingles and became obsessed, going back the next day to spray some on my hoodie and then smelling that nonstop for days. I got lucky that everyone else hates this and it became the only Amouage I've ever seen put on clearance at my local profumeria, which was my chance to snap it up 50% off and it was so worth it. First off for the scent, I smell almost no leather whatsoever despite the name. If i had to describe it quickly I would say "fresh spicy ambergris with frankincense". Rounding it out is the galbanum, pink pepper, cardamom, and oud. There is also something sweet and sticky in there in the drydown, perhaps the fenugreek? I do get the cumin/curry notes but don't find it overpowering, although some people have told me it smells straight up like an indian restaurant to them. Other people have also told me it smells amazing and even on prompting many people don't get curry either. I don't get any animalic scent and neither does anyone else I've asked (so far). I seem to be the only person that gets so much ambergris scent from it; fascinating how different our noses can be. If anyone else smells the ambergris please say so, I would've thought I was going crazy if it weren't listed in the notes. This is a very unique and complex fragrance and it is truly reckless. Wearing it is like playing russian roulette. Some people are totally put off, but some love it. I went social dancing with this on once and my dance partner wouldn't stop smelling me saying how amazing I smelled. I like the gamble of wearing it, but mainly I just love how it smells. This is my favorite fragrance, although not my daily wear. Also, I don't find it overly masculine. I think it's pretty unisex and although best suited for winter, I also like it for spring and fall nights.

Aged leather roughly blended with exotic culinary aphrodisiac herbs. A dare darling by amouage. Freshly ground culinary spices (not cooked not at all as in curry). Unlike roasted oregano in interlude, Spices here are fresh and sweet. When you grind dry licorice sticks they give a sweet minty woody scent. There is no licorice in here but the spices give that kind of sweet smell. So it opens green-fresh spicy-sweet. Wisdom about leather apparel is that they get better with age. Leather here is your oldest leather jacket which is made from full grain, vegetable-tanned leather. It evokes an earthy woody oilier aroma. There is an after tan odour reminiscent of sensation sitting too close to a fireplace cuddling your partner, running your fingers through her hair, cafuning her on a leather couch. Your skin hair clothes and couch all warmed up produce this sensual odour which I love. Holding someone in your arms and knowing you hold the whole world it smells like happiness. Here this scent is probably drawn from aroma chemicals associated with costus combined with musk and dusty cypriol. In nutshell a highest quality luxurious leather initially surrounded by fresh spices and oud later on daringly roughed by oud cypriol and sensual aroma chemicals. Reckless! A dare darling by Amouage.

For an extremely oversimplified review; beef stew with salt, pepper, and spices (cumin even though not listed). The stew has herbs and bitter greens, it’s savory and mouthwatering, and there’s a raw leather edge to balance everything out. Later into the dry down, there’s a sweetness that comes out. Almost like a marmalade sugar-crusted beef. That doesn’t make much sense, but it’s almost like a sugary duck sauce glaze in a savory meat. It’s so pretty and sticky and textured and unique. This could not be better made. 9.9999/10. Edit: third day of owning the bottle, and this is the most time I’ve had with it (when I was testing, I was testing in Neiman Marcus like twice a year). My rating has not changed, but I came to say that I am getting a more challenging note. Previously, I was smelling a bunch of spices and greens that would be in a stew, and I smelled this sweet almost marmalade-like duck sauce note as well. Now, I’m getting the beef. It seriously smells like a beef stew with some sweet sauce simmering in the stove and radiating through the air. Cumin note is prominent but not stinky, and this is so freaking good. I do understand the low rating. It’s extremely challenging to lots of people, but holy crap it’s good.

Opus VII - Reckless Leather of the Arab House of Perfumery Of Niche Haute Luxury Amouage of the Sultanate Of Oman is a Oriental Smoked Special Soul Surtle perfume. Opus VII was released in 2013 and renamed as Opus VII Reckless Leather in 2022. Your creators are the genius Alberto Morillas and Pierre Negrin. I feel a rather dark green and condimented with hot spices highlighted for Galbanum with FenuGreek and a brilliant Cardamom; and super smoked by a wonderful 'Oud well incense in the best Bakhoor style. With the entrance of the creamy Ambroxan brings a nuance ambushed to the center of this composition that mended to a leather that renders the suede's softness than the raspers of a rough leather. Perfume Green, quite Specified, but Especially! With Patchouli and I believe that by the root of Cypriol and the Musk brings a slightly terrous facet and with the addition of more smoke thanks to the Amouage characteristic and the smoked resin of the Cypriol reinforces the footprint of a smoky cloud of a smoky bakhoor I've ever experienced. Fragrance with some of the characteristics I most appreciate in perfumes: steamed, smoked, incense, resinous, specified, dark green, ambushed.

My personal favorite of the Library Collection. This thing is STRONG but the sillage is perfect. Intimate AND noticeable. I always enjoy this kind of scent profile. Definitely a classic Morillas creation - I can draw a relation to Dark Lord by Killian. Very peppery off the opening - like sting the nostrils level. Musk and pepper are just so good together in general. The other notes listed are noticeably discernible but it's well-balanced, which to me is the goal of any fragrance. The Cardamom/Ambroxan combo does give it bit of a Western Designer vibe. I can see myself wanting this at some point but I would need to run out of Dark Lord and Cuioum before I could get there, both of which are pepper leathery patchouli scents. If this is up your alley, you won't be disappointed. Steep price but you're getting an incredible and reliable scent here. Some scents just kind of monopolize an entire accord and I believe this to be one. Great work! Edit: I wish I had this for my black suit and tie event this weekend. %$#@!

Reckless! Says it all. To me it punches old, heavily used leather that's seen a lifetime of interaction with different people and places. It tells a very unique and 'reckless' story throughout its lifetime, from its first hit, into dry-down and to body scent. Is it for everyone? No way. I can see how people don't connect with this fragrance and let their initial olfactory response turn towards curry and body scents, but let me tell you that's definitely NOT what this is. You have to give it a chance. Is it bottle worthy for me? Hmmm, not yet, maybe later. It's not because it's bad, it's just not a fragrance I would choose to wear at this present moment in my life. Having said that, it's an example of cutting edge perfumery at its best. Well done Amouage! My advice, try before you buy. If you're after a mass-appealing fragrance this this isn't for you!

One of my favorite perfumes of all time, I will finally buy a bottle sometime soon. Very spicy, like cooking spices. Theres lots of pepper, a dark and rugged leather, and a brewing stew aroma. Complex, middle eastern, rich and layered perfume. One of the hardest to appreciate from amouage for the average person (silver oud, reckless leather, and gold man are probably the three most challenging for the average person. King blue could be switched with one of those as well), and that’s why reckless leather is so special to me. It’s so unique, and it’s so uniquely me. The only issue is that this can give off a cumin-like armpit vibe to some people, so I’m a bit self conscious wearing this in public. Anyways. 9.9/10. Will buy a bottle either January or February of this year

Very tough to articulate where this brings me but I am going to try. I watched reviews of this before buying, and since I consider myself a bit of a gambler, I went ahead and blind bought it. I knew that I was in for a surprise after watching some reaction videos and reading reviews here. On first spray, it was a love...wild and face slapping. Green and spicy with a thickness that you can't outrun. Like being in a spice bazaar. Better yet, you are the piece of chicken thigh that has been heavily seasoned and now you are spit roasted and smelling savory and delicious. Crazy...I get it. That doesn't keep me from appreciating the heck out of it. It is a guilty pleasure that needs indulging from time to time.

First day review: As everybody says, it immediately makes you imagine India. After the top notes fade and become lighter, I can feel the leather note showing its face more. It gradually becomes closer to what you would expect if you like fragrances with a leathery touch. Very lovely base note. Slightly feeling am going to get hooked on it. A week review: After wearing it several times, this fragrance shows me more and more how elegant and rich it is. At the beginning, it confused me a little because it’s such a different fragrance compared to others. I can tell it’s not the easiest one to accept, but once you get used to it, it can become a masterpiece in your fragrance life.

Look, this is my favorite leather frag. Semi-sweet opening with a hint of spice. Luxurious leather smell paired with a fantastic drydown which adds a little musk. I could wrap myself in this on a cozy day and drift off into wonderland. Great performance. The issue, price! I know Amouage is a luxury fragrance house. Wish I could swim in some of their offerings. But for me, not possible. And....in this economy 😳!! Great fragrance. I splurged for the Library Collection sample set. Great pick. Just made me wish I can purchase with abandon. If any of you have a lead on something like this as a dupe, I could live with some small variations. 😁 fantastic fragrance.

Animalic Spice Market. It’s BEAUTIFUL! Insanely spicy and somewhat herbaceous opening, with a lot of animalic ambergris that’s still somewhat fresh. The dry down is still somewhat spicy with a lot of woods and Oud, still has funky animalic hints but is very toned down compared to the opening. The leather is very realistic and reminiscent of African Leather by memo Paris... if African Leather grew chest hair. Cray projection and longevity and is very challenging and masculine, this is not for the faint of heart.

It’s not that I’m surprised that people don’t like this, I’m just surprised that they can’t understand the complexity of the perfume. A lot of people don’t like king blue/silver oud but can appreciate its masterful blend, but for some reason they say reckless leather is a lot worse. All three are incredible, and all three deserve more hype, but it will never happen due to its complexity and lack of mass appeal. 9.8/10, gorgeous perfume

Very green and aromatic opening that comes off almost vegetable-like from galbanum, cardamom and davana As it is drying the aromatic and spicy green notes tone down, making room for leather As the leather emerges it comes off very raw, green and aromatic As it dries down completely it gets more dry, musky and powdery

Darth Vader wore this. Unapologetically dark and spicy. Massively misunderstood. This is the type of scent you’d wear in a room full of Fragranticunt downvoters before drawing your light sabre and slaying the fuckers. A triumph. PS. Apologies for my Tourette’s.

Absolutely brilliant perfume made by the world's best perfumer. So many layers. This is an elegant fragrance for an elegant gentleman or gentlewoman. Not for jeans and t shirts; but for a special occasion.

To say that the ancient leather smell is strong would be an understatement. I really love it but my entourage really, really doesn't. And as an introvert, I see this as an absolute win :D

Masterpiece! I really like the modern approach of Amouage. 10/10

If Amouage ever discontinues this, I'm NOT gonna be happy

When I first approached Opus VII - Reckless Leather well over a year ago when I barely even knew what leather smelled like, I though to myself, "Wow! Such an intense, reckless scent!" But that couldn't be further away from the truth, and I'm glad that I waited and didn't give my thoughts on it right away. After gaining some experience with leather fragrances and understanding what it means for a fragrance to pull through as "leathery", I realize just how misnamed Reckless Leather is, thing I also found to be the case with Royal Tobacco. It's not a bad fragrance, though. On the contrary, I quite like it, yet the fact that it fails to live up to its name and well, delivering a scent profile that I've found better interpretations of, it just can't get more than a 7.5/10 from my part. As for the scent itself, it blasts off with a galbanum bomb, combining bitter, green, and highly aromatic attributes, as well as a sort of balsamic layer on top. This was also the first fragrance I ever tried with galbanum, which would consequently make me love the note. It is supported by a handful of spices, most notably pink pepper, with a gentle berry-like addition. The nutmeg and cardamom follow through with some warmth. But what catches my nose as soon as the galbanum dissolves is the fenugreek, which is quite hard to miss. It is responsible for the syrupy sweetness - reminiscent of maple syrup - that takes over the wheel, immediately reminding me of another fragrance with a generous fenugreek note which I absolutely love: Delhi from Astier de Villatte. Anyways, technically, it's at this point in time that the leather should be unveiled. And it is... but only half so. I mostly get saffron-like qualities, not rubbery, but hay-ish and to some extent, leathery. The "leather' here is implied rather than being a proper, voluminous note on itself. Underneath, I get slightly annoying muskiness, almost briny too (ambergris maybe), which feels like it wants to break through. Yes, that's the ambroxan - not what I wanted to see for sure. Thankfully, it is kept at bay, mostly. Some patchouli is evidently present for its variety of accords it can aid with, offering more on the musky end, a little on the woody side, gently damp accents, and certainly some more spice. But in a composition like this, it's supposed to do its tricks in the back, not steal the spotlight. And it does so. Smokiness is toned down a bit compared to other Amouage entries, but you certainly manage to get a whiff of the signature Amouage incense, along with a dried and slightly rougher/thicker feel from the cypriol. More muskiness starts to arise, unfortunately also making that synthetic undertone more pronounced. But things never get animalic in any way. Instead, that sweetness from the fenugreek seems to subside for a thick balsam-like sweetness, covering grounding woody accents that mostly just fill the gaps in the structure rather than adding actual depth. While whatever leather can be found in here can hardly be labeled as "reckless", at least the moniker does get partially saved by pretty good performance. Longevity sits around the 9-10 hour mark, and projection was rather good with a very prominent sillage. First two hours were intense, but not overly so; intense enough to get you noticed around. After that, while slowly settling down gradually, it would keep projecting for close to 3 more hours. Pretty good and in line with most other Amouages. How versatile is it, though? I'm still partly amazed that so many people find leather fragrances such as Ombré Leather difficult to wear and even "animalic". Hah! One thing you can be sure of regarding Reckless Leather is that if by any chance you find it a more difficult wear, it's not because of its "reckless leather". The intense galbanum supported by copious spices and sweet fenugreek balsam, all whilst having that screechy musky synthetics are definitely not advertising an every day, office casual pick. It might be too heavy for the high heat too. But generally, it's not a "only gala and black tie weddings" either. Just something to spice things up a bit from time to time. I kind of like it, but then I don't. Reckless Leather makes me feel indecisive, the same way the fragrance itself is indecisive about its character. It is called "Reckless Leather", but it barely has any leather. It is strongly spicy, although it masks it with plenty of syrupy sweetness and balsam. And it shoots off as feeling quite natural, only to introduce synthetic musks and ambroxan. It's just a little too much going on without actually getting somewhere coherent. Pricing-wise, it's one of the more "accessible" Amouages, found for around €200-€250 fairly often, yet it's still a price I'd find hard to digest given the package that you're getting. However, it surely carries enough "sparkle" and "pizzazz" to capture people and distract them from the underlying issues. Hence, if you don't nitpick around, those issues won't bother. Just now this: if I were to blindfold you and tell you to guess the name of this fragrance, I highly doubt that "Reckless Leather" would be among your first ten guesses. Presentation: 9.5/10 Scent: 7.5/10 Longevity: 8/10 Projection: 7/10 Versatility: 8/10 Value for Money: 4/10 Overall: 7.3/10