Opus XII – Rose Incense

Before I begin, let me say that I'm not one of Amouage's biggest fans, there is just something in their DNA that doesn't appeal to me. I purchased this for my Fiancé as a gift as she loves roses, but of the girly pink fresh types, sadly unlike this (or that's my excuse for keeping this in my own collection). ;-) When I took a sneak peek of this and a tiny squirt, I was greeted with the common exquisite, eloqount and opulent high quality that you expect with all of Amouage's fragrances. The Rose was almost photo-realistic, but was accompanied with something that beckoned of history, old memories, but not that which one would find in the Middle East, no. Those that have visited The Basilica of Sacré Coeur de Montmartre, commonly known as Sacré-Cœur, will know this smell; it is a conglomerate if you will, of memories, that smells of times past, the resinous saturated decades old wood, that has it's fair share of historical stories to tell. However, upon entering the Cathedral or Basilica, that smell blasts past you accompanying all those memories and smells, akin to an olfactory ghost, passing very quickly, or almost through you, as you catch a glimpse of a glorious bouquet of some of the reddest and finest smelling roses, your nose has ever had the pleasure of smelling. The two olfactory encounters seem to clash, like 2 millennial old armies, moments after battle has commenced, and yet in such a brutal clash comes a harmonious smell that amalgamates the two; those two are what I sense when I smell Amouage's Rose Incense. Although more or less a monolithic fragrance, it's monolithic enough for me to want it to remain as such. This is crafted and blended into a heavenly and amazing fragrance. Never have I smelled such a perfectly blended fragrance, of what I perceive to be 2 accords; resinous incense and rose. This is truly a marvellous feat of the highest artisanship that I have ever had the pleasure to come across. I'm not sure if I can call this a safe blind buy, unless the above concoction tickles your fancy. Add to the equation that at an RRP of £320 a bottle, you might want to be sure you're investing in something you will love, like I have fallen in love with this. This is not versatile, nor is it blind buy safe, and is made for those special occasions, those very very special occasions, or I can see some people rock this as their signature scent, for there is one thing that rings true about this fragrance; you will *not* smell this on anyone else, or the chances of it happening will be very slim. a 10/10 scent, longevity and sillage yet TBC, but it's Amouage, I think 2-3 squirts of this will fill a room and leaves a trail as long as a church's aisle, and a gorgeous one at that. Sadly for me, my journey to find that elusive, exceptionally perfect Rose fragrance that matches my gorgeous fiancé has not ended, but lucky me to find such an amazing fragrance in my venture, but not one that befits the woman of my dreams :) UPDATE: after wearing this for 2 days now, not out of choice, but because I've become so addicted to it's calming effect. @DawnBreaker nailed it on the head, I have renamed this in my head to "Rose of the Basilica of Sacré Coeur" because that is what I think, feel, and see in the eye of my mind. I think this is an absolute masterpiece. And by the way, I've compared this to other fragrances that ring true to me, that are akin to this; Xerjoff's Alexandria II and III, only because they have that Incense and Rose feel (subjectively obviously). But to me it's a finely blended portraiture of exactly that; Rose and Incense. Enjoy all and God bless..

An incredibly beautiful dramatic and 'full' scent. It opens with an artistic full rose that is carefully blended with the olibanum. The 'full' effect is (as far as I know) stimulated by the ink accord. This actually sticks to the rose and makes it a bit heavier so that it does not dominate. A little later (10-20 minutes) the olibanum comes a bit more to the foreground but in my opinion it stands side by side with the rose. With one sniff I smell more rose, and with the other sniff I smell more olibanum. They dance together in balance around each other while Myrrh, sandalwood and vanilla cheer them on. All attention is mainly on the rose and olibanum, but the audience (vanilla, sandalwood, elemi and vanilla) give the two components that extra kick that makes them do even more to make it a successful performance. All this with a Middle Eastern twist. I think this is a very nice scent for rose lovers. You have to like the smell of olibanum, especially when you burn it. This is, as the name suggests, a real ''rose-incense'' scent. You have to like that to appreciate the scent. Amouage is a perfume house from Oman that is known for the production of Olibanum or al-luban, especially the 'Hojari' kind. I have the luban al Hojari at home, and burn it occasionally with some other things. And I honestly smell the similarities with the hojari olibanum in this perfume. Great! Longevity = approx. 6-8 hours. After 24 hours I can still smell it on my sweater, not as strong as in the beginning of course but it is still slightly present. The sillage is not that great I think but then I only used a few sprays (2-4). I think you can definitely build this up. Unisex: yes! This does remind me very much of middle eastern people who often smell incredibly nice and leave a heavenly sillage when they walk past (me). I had this experience once, and this scent reminds me a bit, if not a lot, of that!

Rose Incense An ingenious combination of rose and incense. It's one of the few Amouage that gives you exactly what the name states...or so I (you) thought. On my skin the olfactive journey begins with an explosion of elemi, unapologetically spicy, then it's comboed with a medicinal like ink, which sounds repulsive, but it's so entrancing to me. The rose already starts to bloom forth as your olfactive sense is trying to process the elemi and ink. This act lasts almost a minute or two, with the rose slowly blooming more, and more, and more until...frankincense The dramatic entrance calms down, the frankincense intertwines with the rose, and this is where Amouage showcases their prowess with frankincense. The elemi and ink takes a backdrop, but still there, just watching the main characters. Rose and frankincense instantaneously become symbiotic, as if they've always been together. On Amouage's official site, they mention the note of suederal. To be frank, I do not notice a leather or suede like facet, so I can't comment on that. However, the rose and frankincense are the whiffs that you'll enjoy throughout the day if you enjoy rose and frankincense. I'd say the rose and frankincense takes turns being the spotlight, but not one ever overpowers the other. The rose is bright and natural, jammy and lovely, while the classic frankincense is lemony with wisps of smoke and etherealness. The play ends off with some myrrh and vanilla, and the rose and frankincense are still there to lift them up gracefully. The myrrh and vanilla adds this warmth that almost hugs you without ever becoming too sweet. It's fascinating. As for cedar, maybe my nose isn't trained enough for cedar, but I don't quite pick up any cedar or woody facets. Duration and projection is what you expect, but never overwhelming. Enjoy this beautiful creation to the fullest.

After a year of wearing Rose Incense, I have a few more things to add: The rose accord itself is astounding. To call it realistic is to trivialize this rose. It’s like a rose as described in medieval Arabic poetry: associated with paradise, divine beauty, etc. In a sense, it’s more fantastical than realistic. The ink accord serves to idealize the rose by way of obscuring it — the same way a memory is obscured in detail, yet enhanced in emotion. Obviously, the frankincense is majestic — the finest there is. It smells like a 7-star spa in the Emirates: calming, meditative, clean and very, very expensive. But what really makes this perfume work is the base of vanilla, cedar and sandalwood. The creamy, sweet woodiness makes the scent tantalizing precisely because it is restrained; it dares you to draw closer, while the sharp frankincense says “not so fast”. This fragrance is guided by a very clear concept: beauty that is splendid, yet out of reach. That’s where it may lose some people who demand fragrances they can stick their noses in. But to smell it up close would be to shatter the fantasy it conjures; this fragrance is designed with sillage in mind. (Though to be clear, the dry-down is a delicious woody-sweet-rosy skin scent, which can be sniffed with abandon). In my collection this fragrance stands above them all. Some are easier wears (Reflection / 45), some are more opulent (Jubilation / 40), some are fashionably sophisticated (Montabaco Intensivo), some more challenging (Epic), and some are fresh dumb grabs (Sospiro Vibrato, Creed). All smell great, of course. But Rose Incense isn’t just a pleasing combination of ingredients. It is an olfactive treatise on the philosophy of aesthetics. 4/10 needs akigalawood (jk)

Opus XII – Rose Incense Amouage ===================================== A joyous and crimson Damascus Rose set in a Frankincense Hyperabsolute mount, waves of Vanilla clashing against bitter splinters of Myrrh, nocturnal drops of Black Ink crashing against citrusy streaks of Elemi, Opus XII is a study of both Rose and Incense, pushing them each to unexplored territories and pulling out an uncompromisingly novel take on an otherwise classic accord. Inspired by the mystery behind Orson Welles' Rosebud, Opus XII is an ambery and pointillist constellation of gleaming moments coming back and forth from the dregs of memory, compelling us to believe that despite our knowledge of the present, only childhood memories are real. Top Notes: Elemi, Olibanum (Frankincense) Hyper Absolute, Black Ink Accord. Heart Notes: Damascena Rose Water Essential, Suederal, Frankincense Absolute. Base Notes: Myrrh, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Cedarwood. ======================================= Rose Incense is another exquisite blend from Amouage. It opens inky and has a very nice soft incense with a mix of dry dusky green rose. It is pretty linear, not synthetic and really smells beautiful. Rose Incense seems more feminine but it shouldn't stop any guy from wearing and enjoying such a lovely warm, sensual mature fragrance. It can even be a great signature fragrance for the right person. It has very good longevity and projectivity at a good distance. Very good Silage too. If you like rose and incense you gotta have this.

I have never smelled anything like this fragrance, and I genuinely believed I already had enough rose in my collection. I received a sample in-store when a sales associate sprayed it on my coat, and I completely dismissed it. I was there to purchase something else. Two days later, I caught the scent lingering on my clothing and found myself in a trance. I returned to the store that same day and bought the bottle. It really is that special and unique. The best way I can describe it is this: it is the rose at the moment when the red petals deepen into a dark, saturated crimson and begin to fall. That rich, almost bruised red hue. It is not sweet or saccharine. It is the depth of the rose itself, and it is sexy and intoxicating. This is night. This is winter, maybe even late fall. It is vampy and velvety. This fragrance is very linear, but intentionally so, while still remaining complex. I can’t speak to earlier versions, but this iteration delivers beautifully in longevity, projection, and sillage, leaving a striking, elegant trail. I have already received many compliments while wearing it. Opus XII Rose Incense is dark, seductive, and quietly commanding. A true stunner. It is genuinely unisex. If you are a man, it is undeniably sexy. If you are a woman who gravitates toward commanding, queen energy and seductive fragrances, as I do, this one is exceptional. If you prefer something pretty, soft, or gentle, this is likely a pass. For me, I love it.

one of the best rose fragrances i've smelt, and one that i can actually see myself wearing -- better yet i WANT to wear it! rose scents usually give me that heavy grandma soapy association, either in a stereotypical "old-lady" fashion from one end of the family to a more oriental "clean and refined" way from my other side. Either way not something I'd prefer to smell like. BUT THIS ONE is nice! You'd expect the rose to be pretty dark or weighty in the characteristic amouage way, but the rose itself is pretty green, watery, and light. then the incense waves in and out, almost changing the profile of the entire scent, folding in a cool smoke that is inviting and rather gentle. On my skin they mixed and made a wonderful scent, but also sometimes broke apart from one-another; one sniff and i get a vibrant rosewater, and another 15 minutes later and it is almost pure cold incense. The ink accord gives a touch of bitterness to the rose, and i can see that this is where people might associate it with a rubbery smell. for me it's more akin to an oil pastel or something in that artsy space, which really fits the aesthetic and pushes the intention of the fragrance firmly in that direction imo. at around 6-7 hours in it settles into a small projection, but the vanilla shows itself and makes it all really cozy. its just all so inviting without veering towards a specific season or gender orientation. total knockout

Steampunk Rose. I bought this fragrance because, as a longtime aficionado of Arabic perfumery, I wanted to own the finest representation of two ingredients: Omani rock rose (a prized land-race of Rosa damascena) and Omani frankincense. Yes, the combination of rose and aromatic resins been done a thousand times — but not with ingredients of this quality and provenance. Many have said the rose overpowers the resins. I disagree. In the opening, the ink registers first, followed by cedar. The ink serves to give this scent a retro, nostalgic, sepia-colored, vintage vibe. Some have called this “dusty”. However, this rose is extremely bright and zesty — a counterpoint to the woods, resins and ink. As the ink accord fades, the rose comes to the fore. This particular combination of ink, incense and woods evokes industrial smells: petrol, tarmac, heated metal, gravel dust. There is something poetic about the juxtaposition of these images with the fragile rose. I did not expect such a contemporary urban vibe to result from these ancient ingredients. I think this is primarily due to the ink note. Absolutely brilliant. The level of sophistication here is unbelievable. Do I want to smell like this? I’m not sure; but I can’t stop smelling it. It’s that alluring. As a collector, I’m not disappointed.

Sweet powdered sugar on a rose Turkish delight, paired with a smooth and slightly resinous olibanum. Some ink to balance everything out, and it’s one of the best perfumes I’ve ever smelled in my life. 10/10 16 hours longevity, moderate projection, feminine leaning dry down but unisex perfume, genuinely one of the best perfumes I’ve ever tried. I’ll get a bottle soon. Edit: I just bought it. No regrets Edit #2: I won’t have the bottle for another week or so, but I tested this a couple days ago and I can STILL smell it on my pillow, lingering around the air and enticing me to come closer. Deep into this 3-day dry down, the perfume is gorgeously jammy. It’s so smooth, so sweet and a touch powdery (not old lady/like), it’s so uniquely perfect. This is the best perfume I’ve tried this entire year, and nothing has come this close in a while. The closest perfume that is this perfect to me at the moment is zoologist camel, but because this is more wearable than camel, this may be my favorite perfume of all time. Not everyone will enjoy this because they may think it’s too feminine, especially with that Turkish delight powdered sugar rose jam-like dry down, but oh it so alluring and gorgeous. Thank you amouage, one day I will own dozens and dozens of your perfumes.

Truly magnificent. This one transports me to a vision of deep, deep red with charred undertones and an inky pulse within. Like the beating heart of a dragon or something. The first time I smelled this, it imposed this vision in my mind and took my breath away. This feels alive and vibrant, almost a being all its own. The ink note is prominent and there is a charred smoky incense quality to the base notes that is stunning. The rose sort of hovers in the air around these elements, accentuating and complimenting their elegant darkness. This is a deep red rose, not a green spring rose like Lyric or Rose de Jamal. This is THE rose. I would say this leans masculine but could go either way. I could also see how some find the rose element suffocating. This is a fragrance you have to wear, or it will wear you, and I would not say this is for every occasion or capable of being a signature scent. This is for when how you smell truly matters and you want to decorate an occasion with a smell of true beauty. Not as beast mode as many other Amouages. Moderate to strong projection and decent longevity. The rose projects more than anything else, the ink and smoky resinous incense is for anyone priveleged enough to get close enough to you to smell it. 😉 Just marvelous.

Rose is one of those florals that I think if done right can lean either masculine or feminine or sit right in the middle. I think this is a fragrance that, ignoring the rose for a moment, leans masculine. It's resinous, spicy, slightly smoky, & woody. However, due to the strong rose scent I think this tips the scales back towards it being more in the middle. I can only really imagine this being used in one of two settings, in a setting like a wedding or some other event where you are going to be well dressed or in an intimate setting. In summary though, this is a very beautiful middle eastern rose scent. I'm not sure I would wear this, but I have a lot of fragrances I don't wear that I still enjoy for artistic purposes. I have so far really enjoyed every fragrance from the library collection from amouage, I have also just tried king blue as well and that was amazing. I have to give this a 9.5/10, even if it's not something I will ever wear it's just so beautiful and smells so good. I just can't stop spraying & smelling it. I wonder what this would be like if layered with silver oud or even Amouage's Oud Ulya?

The opening is very resinous and spicy, with the rose only in the backgroud. For the first few minutes, the rose isn't really the star of the show. But after a few minutes, it's an explosion of rose. A heavy, sweet rose. The rose goes together with an ink accord that creates a wonderful duo. You'd expect it with that name, but yeah it's indeed 100% rose forward, you must LOVE rose to like this. A perfect combination of rose and resins that makes for a very unique fragrance. It smells REALLY high quality, having real rose makes a huge difference here and you can smell it. It's masterfully crafted. Like most rose fragrances in the niche realm, this is 100% unisex. It feels very potent and "heavy handed", you can feel that the perfurmer who made this wanted it to be opulent and loud. After an hour it becomes an incredibly artistic rose, it's pretty hard to describe. A really underrated gem that flies under the radars. This tops Tabac Rose as my favorite unisex rose on the market. It's just brilliant. What a masterpiece. Performance is outstanding.

Opus XII – Rose Incense by Amouage is a fragrant dialogue between light and shadow, between rose in its purest form and incense at its most spiritual depth. As a devoted lover of rose scents and someone who owns many smoky rose-based perfumes like Burning Rose by Carolina Herrera, I can say this is something truly special. At first, I hesitated. I wondered how the incense would behave alongside the rose. But this perfume captures a moment of stillness and reflection. It expresses beauty when classic elegance meets the mysterious spiritual dimension that defines the soul of Amouage. This is not just a perfume. It is a moment bottled, a sensory contemplation. The dry down is exceptional and lingers for hours, whispering sophistication and serenity. The rose takes center stage in its most refined form, and the incense lifts it to a spiritual plane. As an Arab, this scent deeply connects to my heritage while still offering a modern, elegant twist. A fragrance that truly reflects when beauty and soul meet.

AMOUAGE Opus XII: Rose Incense. Upon initial experience, I find myself genuinely captivated by this particular fragrance. The aroma exudes a remarkable resemblance to an actual rose, evoking a vibrant and authentic olfactory representation. I firmly believe that its composition transcends gender boundaries, rendering it suitable for both sexes. Notably, the fragrance avoids excessive sweetness, resulting in a highly pleasing and well-balanced olfactory profile. I have received numerous compliments while wearing this fragrance, with individuals expressing their appreciation for its alluring scent. On one occasion, a stranger approached me to inquire about the fragrance I was wearing, expressing his admiration for its exceptional aroma. Consequently, I rate this fragrance an impressive 8.5 out of 10, making it my favorite Amouage scent to date.

Rose incense: tested on a strip. This fragrance is a poetry of class and refined taste. Most of the people around will not understand the concept behind this one however I think this is a masterclass of perfumery by Amouage. Smooth, elegant while still maintaining good quality and refined material but also very good performances. The notes are basically incense and rose abslute, the incense is not liturgical or “churchy” instead it reminds me of the oriental world really beautiful, colourful and smooth not harsh or “in your face”. The rose in the background is juicy smooth elegant classic, not harsh not synthetic, if feels like you are taking a bath in a rose garden. This might be the best rose you come across be prepared. Truly art. If it was a painting it would be Venus by Botticelli. Beauty in a bottle. 9/10

A rose done right. The aroma is not sweet but slightly bitter and multifaceted. At the opening you are greeted by a slightly dry, discreet rose with velvet petals and thorns, neither flashy nor dewy. While she does not retreat into femininity, it would be inaccurate to label her as masculine. Gradually, under this rose, balsamic bitterness begins to appear, and a stream of incense stretches out. This smoke gradually expands, and the slightly perceptible sweetness of vanilla is woven into the bitterness. It is a rare, high-quality scent, as is always the case for Amouage. I bought it blindly because I have seen a lot in terms of aromas and love the notes of roses and smoke, but I advise you to check it out through the decant. Nevertheless, in a short time, this Amouage became my favorite.

This smells like a serious Rose. It has that rose side but its not too sweet. I cant tell the ink apart too much because it goes well with the rose. Overall it smells like a salty rose on the opening and then it gets serious and dark. Genuinely unisex without leaning too much on either side. Beautifully done. Its Amouage you can guess the performance. You can wear it anywhere at any time. Other than the gym, dont wear this at the gym, thats just weird. Ive been looking for a masculine rose scent but i dont know why i didnt think of this. I only have testers of this and today while moving my perfumes around i stumbled across them. I love rose scents and i find that they usually arent done masculine enough, or when they are its never a rose scent its rather a perfume with rose in it.

Rose, Incense, Spices, and Resins: A Rich Middle-Eastern Scent Experience... As a man, I have a special fondness for perfumes that bring out the essence of roses, whether they're Bulgarian, Turkish, Damask, or Centifolia varieties. This particular scent is a perfect example of my taste. It's an amazing find for my collection, with a strong, clear rose scent that's expertly mixed with plenty of Middle-Eastern incense, various spices, and rich resins. What's really impressive is how long it lasts – it stays with me all day, and the way it settles is just fantastic. True to Amouage's high standards, this perfume is made with only the best raw materials. I just wish they had included a hint of animalic notes to it. I'd give it a 9 out of 10.

Amouage is love, Amouage is opulence. This is a great unisex, slightly masculine fragrance. Amouage has a reputation for beast mode fragrances...though I think this is misleading. Interlude and it's flankers are, and maybe overture, but by and large, they are persistent airy fragrances. Rose Incense is best smelled in the air, up close I can 100% agree with the red rubber fetch balls. However in the air this is an opulent rose and incense...warm and resinous. This is not a knock, rather a compliment. Many fragrances smell good up close, testament to their mass appealing and rather synthetic nature. This is not that, this is near natural perfumery. Opulent, resinous, regal, and airy. 8/10

While rose scent usually brings me a sense of serenity, here the rose feels disquieted. The ink note and dryness make me think of parchment, maybe old books, with the woody undertones of an old library. True to the brand's description, this fragrance tells me a tale of yearning, something unresolved. Someone searching through books for an answer or a piece of clarity, surrounded by incense smoke; a writer restlessly giving form to their thoughts in ink. The rose is like a pure, innocent heart; but it's surrounded by unease, a smoky obscurity, and yet, sustained by an unyielding determination.