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

I have long been a fan of Amouage, and have samples of the entire original Library Collection. Since these newer versions came out, I was determined to compare them, and I was surprised to find how similar they are. These grey Amouage Man-style bottles (less pretty than the old colourful bottles, but perhaps are now marketed to men) seem to be newer versions, likely reformulations, but curiously, the years of release of each original version and its newer counterpart are marked as the same on this website. Opus VII Reckless Leather is very similar to the original Opus VII. RL is a masculine take on an amber spice-bomb, featuring a prominent leather accord, per its name. The spices are strong and reminiscent of Indian cooking, but are still wearable. complementing the other notes nicely. RL opens with strong cardamom, spicy and peppery with galbanum bringing out its greenness. Nutmeg follows closely, adding warmth and body, with other slightly sweet spices rounding it out nicely. It is reminiscent of a spice market, dense and colourful. The balsamic amber base emerges early on, complementing the spicy accord to perfection in the manner of original Opium et al. There is a herbal undertone, most likely thanks to the patchouli. The opening here is very similar to OVII, only this version is less smoky. As it develops, the amber accord comes to the fore, increasingly animalic and leather-like. It is musky and slightly salty, with a nice woody undertone that complements the amber nicely. The spices remain throughout, and the patchouli lingers, smooth and earthy. Creamy ambroxan smooths out the amber accord in the later stages as it fades to a musky, woody-amber skin scent with spices remaining. Sillage and longevity are moderate, and it is a masculine-leaning cold weather scent. It is well-blended throughout, making for a rich, opulent spicy-amber scent, perhaps best worn on a man. It is very similar to OVII, but its performance is weaker, and on close inspection, it is less balsamic and I get less sandalwood. It is still very true to the original overall, and is an objectively good scent. Like OVII, I would enjoy this on a man. 4/5.

Opus VII – Reckless Leather Amouage I've gotta admit, I blind bought this despite it's low ratings and numerous negative reviews. My Olfactory journey now tends to make me want to try challenging and unusual scents that I see many cannot accept or don't like to wear, somehow it's part of a challenge to see if my nose can handle these frags. The Opening I gotta say, It definitely Is Not appealing and despite it being rather aromatically ok to nose and smell, it does smells like I'm inside an Indian food kitchen with all the cooking of indian related spices or inside a groceries store in one of the Little India streets, typical smell of that and those. I believe the culprits here is mainly the prominent fenugreek and nutmeg combination with the pepper causing such an Olfactory experience. Cardamom and Galbanum are too commonly used in openings to give such a smell. Reckless leather can be seen as polarizing but it's like 2 stage only, the opening and drydown for my skin only because about 3hrs+- it becomes just muskiness for me, the unpleasant opening made me kinda want to sniff less of myself but I certainly didn't really get the leathery aspects of the scent or mid notes development. To be honest I prefer the drydown but it's just common muskiness that exist in thousands of frags. Not too impressive and only worth the collection for a die hard Amouage collector. The worse of the line imho.

The leather in Reckless Leather was so reckless, it crawled out of the bottle and disappeared. That is, I didn't detect any leather in this fragrance. It opens and remains for quite some time as a sharp, spicy fragrance heavy on the galbanum and fenugreek. This approach was pretty unique to me; haven't smelled anything quite like it before. In the far dry down (after many hours) the spiciness becomes less sharp and the overall scent becomes smoother and creamier with the sandalwood and a bit resinous as well. A very unique and beautiful scent that is quite masculine. Longevity is very good. I got about 10 hours out of it. The next morning, I didn't detect it on my skin buy my t-shirt still had Reckless Leather as a strong scent, even though I hadn't sprayed it. The scent had transferred to the t-shirt from my skin. If you sprayed your clothes, you'd be living with this scent for quite some time. After the first hour, the projection was more moderate. Reckless Leather is another great fragrance from Amouage's' Library Collection. So far, I've tried Silver Oud, Royal Tobacco, King Blue and Reckless Leather and liked them all. Hope to have full bottles of each eventually.

This is truly Amouage through and through, with that unmistakable Middle Eastern DNA front and center. If you’re an Amouage collector like me someone who’s followed Christopher Chong’s artistry since the early 2000s, you’ll instantly pick up echoes of Interlude Man, Journey Man, and Fate Man. There’s even a slight purple-ish whisper of Portrayal Man in there. I’ll be honest this won’t be for everyone. It’s bold, unapologetically complex, and leans into the darker, Arabesque vibe. Western noses might flinch on first sniff. French-style fragrance lovers? They might tap out. But for those with a trained nose and a love for daring compositions, Reckless Leather is pure olfactory art. It commands respect. There’s nothing radically new here if you’ve explored the Amouage archive, but that’s the beauty, it captures the essence of the Chong era. It’s like a tribute mix of his greatest hits, blended into one bold, nostalgic ride. Scent score? 9/10 for bringing back that rich, authentic, Middle Eastern Amouage spirit we fell in love with back in the day.

Punches hard from the get-go. Spicy, dirty, hard, dry leather + robust, foresty green woods. Calms down in ~15mins. Dries down to a more approachable aromatic, smoky/sandalwood, earthy, woody scent with a fuzzy ambergris/ambroxan to give it some lift. Give it a little time. Let it be "Reckless" in the beginning. Then allow its charm to bloom.

This is a powerful leather scent that definitely lives up to its 'reckless' name. The opening blast of green galbanum and spices is intense, but it settles into a warm, animalic leather with smoky oud and patchouli. The dry down is sensual and musky, making it perfect for cooler evenings.

Opus VII Reckless Leather top notes were unpleasant. It improves in the middle, and especially in the base notes. It's rough, powerful, and unmistakably masculine. It's not bad, but there are more appealing leather fragrances out there. This one is unfortunately a no from me.

A cardomom heavy frag, with incense, wood and a dose of costus funking it up. I don't really get leather this is more a musky spicy fragrance and it's quite good. I'm glad the costus isn't overused or this could have gotten too musky, as it is it's quite well balanced.

An extraordinary perfume. Unique, alluring, and addictive. Embodies the fine line between art and wearability, which is something that Christopher Chong portrayed in all of his releases while at Amouage. I miss that guy.

Hats off to Amouage making some of the most complex perfumes, this being another one in that tradition. Always pushing the limits, mixing ingredients never thought possible. This IS the avant-garde of perfumery.

@dadipi The leather was so reckless, it jumped out of the bottle. lol

It's a strong leather and fruity scent, I like it so far

I've got good news, some iffy news, and some bad news about Amouage Opus VII Reckless Leather. First, the good news: for fans of the original Opus VII composed in 2013 by Pierre Negrin and Alberto Morillas, Opus VII Reckless Leather is very recognizably Opus VII. That massive swirl of earthy spices that delivers an overall cumin-laden-dish-like accord (to my nose) - galbanum, pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, immortelle, and patchouli - is still there. This perfume smells like the world's most complex curry in its initial stages. Mind you, I say this is good news but for many noses - especially Western ones - this might be off-putting. I can understand. It took me a while to fall in love with the original Opus VII, but fall in love I did, and Reckless Leather is going to challenge the wearer in the same way no-less. The heart and base notes are still there: some very mild synthetic oud, spicy patchouli, leather, cypriol, sandalwood, and some musks - harmonious and perfectly composed as Opus VII has ever been. If you love it, you're going to love it, if you hate it, you're going to hate; this perfume is polarizing, but then some of the best art always is. The spicy, swirling, high-complexity and high-energy exotic melange that it is, may I offer a bit of advice to new wearers of the original or of Reckless Leather: this perfume is not meant for quick sniffs. A quick sniff of a blotter (poor way to test), or a quick sniff of your skin (this should be tested on skin), and all you will pick-up is a very fragrant and dry Indian culinary dish, and you'll ask yourself "Why?! Why would I want to smell like this?" Sit down, relax, take a deep breath, slowly lift the fragrance to your nose and breath slowly and fully. Keep it there. Close your eyes. Breathe it again, and then yet again. Breathe it deep into your lungs. This perfume is a shape shifter. It's going to undulate across notes and sensations in waves. Do this, and you'll love it or you'll hate it; it's a crap shoot, but at least you'll get the full effect. Now to the iffy part. I bought a sample of Reckless Leather, already intimately familiar with the 2013 Opus VII, thinking to myself "Oh! Opus VII with an overdose of leather?! How intriguing." I suppose the word "reckless" has a bit of a different definition with the creative team at Amouage than I was thinking. They've even said that the galbanum, cardamom, and nutmeg are "blindingly fresh" and "blooms a 'reckless leather.'" I suppose then that there isn't an overt leather material added or amped-up to this "flanker." And, indeed, that's true. I smell no more leather in Reckless Leather than I did in the original 2013 release. Perhaps some of those green and spice top notes are a bit different, but I honestly cannot tell. However, before I finish this point, on to the bad news. The primary bit of bad news is that the reformulation to make this a "reckless leather" has also touched a critically important component of the original. The change has a two-fold effect. The first is that, interestingly, in the final dry down the materials meant to evoke leather are a bit more apparent, but it's hardly much more pronounced, and it certainly cannot be called reckless. The leather, while a bit more apparent, is drier, cleaner, and soft-speaking - like a well-worn jacket - as opposed to what you might think by a leather that's "reckless" - e.g. new-smelling, very animalic and chemically. This interesting effect seems to be more of an accident as a result of the changes to the formulation rather than a creative decision. The base of Reckless Leather is nearly the exact same as the 2013. This is bad news because, as a whole, not only does it not achieve what most of us are going to assume from the name, but the perfume feels less cohesive than the original, which leads me to the second effect: it is less rich and compelling than the 2013. Its longevity and projection are therefore less as well. I don't know if it's simply a matter of a lesser amount of perfume oils, or if something else was done to the formulation, but this feels more like a light EdP than the original's more parfum-level concentration. Again, it seems like a touch-more-apparent leather is the result of an accident to the change in concentration/formulation than a conscious creative decision. You can always count on Amouage to give you a rich, full-bodied, and complex experience, but this reformulation of Opus VII makes it lighter, less rich, less complex - and, most importantly, not really delivering what we Opus-philes were hoping for. The benefit of this change is that you could more easily wear Reckless Leather in warm weather than you could the original, but I, personally, do not think the benefit outweighs the sacrifice. So, for my final thoughts: the original Opus VII is noticeably better. With Reckless Leather, not only did we not get an Opus VII with more (or better) leather, but we got a less rich, less complex, less evocative perfume. However, Reckless Leather is still very much Opus VII, therefore presenting you with two choices: scour the aftermarket to pay nose bleeding prices for the original 2013 Opus VII in potentially iffy conditions, or buy Reckless Leather. If you're not that picky, and your nose cannot tell as much of a difference as mine, then RL makes a lot more sense in terms of time and money. If you can tell a difference, you have a choice to make - and there isn't a wrong choice, it's just your choice. For me, I'm very glad I have a full bottle of the original; if I didn't and I had to make a decision today about which to look for and buy... I don't know. I'd probably give myself a fair amount of time to find a deal on an original Opus VII, and, if unsuccessful, I'd probably just go without.

If you are old enough to have been a kid, teenager or a guy in your early twenties in the 90s and hung out around guys who were into 'Urban' interests (yeah I'm being cute), and say you walking into an 'Urban' barbers around this . The kind of place with just the bare minimum of mirrors, chairs, a multi speaker HiFi system tuned into a pirate station or a mix tape created by one of the regulars. These places if you are unfamiliar were where you learnt all the information, you dedicated whole afternoons to getting your hair cut, the places would be filled with stories, jokes, secrets, discussion and arguments. I remember I wanted a particular hairstyle so I made my way to a barber's in Wembley, North London. Should've gone to the one my friend told me about in Luton, as the one in Wembley was one my Dad had taken me to years before and well it was like the Channel Four sitcom 'Desmond's' but with less warmth and less humour. Anyway as I was waiting a guy came in out of the typical British winter and he had on a Deep red Avirex leather bomber jacket. This fragrance smells like that jacket and barber's; I am torn as the nostalgia brings back a weird fondness but the slight acrid burn of the leather and there's a bitterness in it also that puts me off at the same intrigues me. I really am unsure about this . I do think it could be something I could wear sometime after 'getting used to it' but currently I don't think its quite me. 6.7/10

The name is appropriate. It is Reckless, and why isn't animalic in the Main Accords? I love animalics, but this just isn't wearable. There is more than real ambergris in it, I am certain. It trumps everything else in the blend. You can smell everything else if you diagnose it, but the casual whiff smells like dirty ass. I don't really care for leather so I dont know why I purchased this in the first place. Its provabky because Inlove Amouage and want to gove everything a fair shot. Usually, animalics pass within 10 minutes but this lingers on for an eternity. If this interests you, I highly advise a 2ml sample before committing to a bottle, thats for sure! Id love to try this without the animalics in it! 7/10

I'll admit I was afraid to make this my SOTD (that spot went to Rose Incense) so I just sprayed this on one arm. I'll say I can see why people dislike this BUT you shouldn't smell this up close. Up close this just smells like extremely strong and musky spices, like you spent hours inside a really hot Indian restaurant and you started sweating, but in the air I kind of picture this as a spicy Original Santal, or maybe even a spicy The Tragedy of Lord George, just without the overbearing powderiness of that fragrance. I'll say I really like how this smells in the air but not at all up close, whenever I give this a full wear on its own I'll have to spray this very lightly and carefully.

Opus VII – Reckless Leather by Amouage is a bold and distinctive green-spicy-leathery-woody fragrance. It opens with an unmistakable blend of galbanum and fenugreek, setting the tone for an unconventional and daring scent. As it develops, the heart reveals a sophisticated mix of leather, oud, sandalwood, and frankincense, adding depth and richness. With great performance in terms of longevity and projection, this is a well-crafted fragrance for those who appreciate unique and challenging compositions. However, its boldness may not be for everyone. Rating: 3.5/5

A bitter herbal and leather opening. Galbanum, pepper, a bit of nutmeg, and a touch of smooth cardamom, as if spilled over a fresh leather table. Fenugreek smells like maple and there's none here. Oud smoke and patchouli seep in slowly, but it's still predominantly herbal and bitter. It gradually becomes earthier and deeper. Smoky yet vegetal. Throughout, the leather is present. Masculine. Beautifully constructed smoky, herbal leather, but I don't want to wear this.

Opus VII – Reckless Leather Amouage:The fragrance initially exudes a spicy leather scent, with distinct Indian undertones. The sillage is personal and lacks significant projection. While the scent is pleasant, it is not particularly compelling and does not warrant regular use. In comparison to other leather fragrances, this one falls short in terms of desirability. On a scale of 1 to 10, it receives a rating of 7.

This opened up very spicy, reminding me of Indian food. The dry down, however, was rather pleasant, with the sandalwood, nagamotha, and sweet amberish note I assumed to be ambroxan. Quite a bipolar scent getting a love/hate reaction is quite normal I’d say. I both love and hate it, loving the dry down, hating the opening. So it’s an okay for me. The longevity is well over twenty four hours on clothing.

Luxurious and dark. This is not an easy wear and you need time to get used to it. Definitely a “try before you buy” fragrance. Feels formal, tailored for gentlemen in a suit, not casual vibes. Would I recommend? Personally, no, it’s my nose. But if you want something commanding and niche, this might be your statement piece. Verdict: Sophisticated, challenging, and far from mainstream.

Good leather, with a level of smokiness that doesn’t cross the line for me—or rather, crosses it just enough to become bold and compelling. Still, it seems to fade quickly, and at that price, that’s an aberration. I had Beach Hut on the other hand and it lasted until the next day—Reckless didn’t make it to the evening.

At first it smells like an old car of a smoking man. Leather seats on a hot summer day and that old tobacco smell soaked into every crease of the car. Strong and migraine inducing, but i still like it.

Nutmeg cumin and leather! Smooth but yeah, no. Where should I wear it? Ombre leather is smooth to and that is cheaper. And its much more wearable! This is good. But like wtf is it?

Smells like fried foods. I completely agree with the current rating.

I went through a full bottle of the black & gold GREEN MONSTER, it was an amazing overwhelming experience -- and with other purchases over the following few years I went through a few other samples of Opus VII, growing with any little changes which may have occurred... Now, they're calling this "Opus VII: Reckless Leather," and I just wish they would totally take Opus VII out of the title, it's not the same, it's softer and sweeter and more pretty. It does not have the radioactive verdant glow.

Absolutely disgusting. I really enjoy Amouage fragrances and basically tried to force myself to like this fragrance. But I failed, it's awful and I hate it. No way I would ever wear this, let alone purchase a bottle. I'm mostly disappointed because I place Amouage in high regard and therefore have high expectations. The word that summarises this fragrance is: repulsive.

Ew. A mix between a bowl of Madras curry and Taco Bell. If you like smelling like a curry taco, by all means go ahead and get your nose on this. Otherwise, stay away because this scent is just awkward as hell. I guess that's what niche perfumery is by definition. Let's smell like Taco Bell! Yay!

I cannot fathom wanting to smell like an Indian meal? Unfortunately I cannot escape from my associations and this one gets big no no. Does not smell like a perfume even.

I had to come here to make sure I wasn't the crazy one. I love many of Amouage's other fragrances. My estimates on the composition of this one: Leather: 0% Body Odor fueled by a diet of Cumin & Onions: 98% Recklessness: 2% You couldn't get a more accurate homage to body odor if you put a spigot in someone's armpit. I tried to give it a chance, I really did. I let it dry down for about 4 hours before I had to wash it off my arm it was so offensive. I'm glad to see by the other reviews here that I'm not the only one. Thank goodness I can still trust my nose.