The Library Collection Opus I

Opus I is a rich, heady plum-tuberose scent, laced with warm spices and with a rich, woody base. It reminds me a lot of Dior Poison and, to an even greater extent, Cacharel LouLou, but is more refined and modern than either of those bombastic 1980s florientals. OI isn't technically an amber scent, though the vanilla in the base gives that effect - especially in combination with the incense note. While it doesn't read as a classic chypre, it is centred on a rich, woody drydown that grounds the floral/fruity aspects beautifully. It is of the high quality I would expect of Amouage, masterfully composed rich, natural-smelling ingredients and with excellent performance. It is well-blended. OI opens with juicy plum that becomes increasingly jammy as it progresses. It sweetness is tempered by tart orange, with a nice spicy edge given by the cardamom. The heady florals follow, with tuberose and plum forming the main accord of this scent. Ylang ylang gives a tropical, yellow floral edge. I get some saffron here, adding spice. Powdery rose follows, with some clean jasmine rounding out this scent. Soft woody notes follow, led by a delicious smooth, creamy sandalwood note. I get some churchy incense here - one of my favourite notes - marrying beautifully with the sandalwood. Other woody notes round it out - I get papyrus and dry vetiver in particular. Tonka bean softens the edges at its later stages, with some powdery vanilla adding sweetness as it dries down. It is very well-blended - top notes blend beautifully with the woody base, the powdery florals remain, and the tuberose-plum accord pervades. It becomes slightly musky as it fades, becoming a dry, woody-vanilla skin scent. Sillage is strong and longevity is long-lasting. A beautifully balanced complex scent, OI has shades of 1980s classics, but is an improvement on such scents. Timeless, ageless and unisex, it is the epitome of classic elegance, and is best worn in cold weather. It isn't for everyone, but I find it hard to fault. I miss Christopher Chong at the helm of Amouage. 4.5/5.

To be perfectly honest, I’m yet to encounter a dull fragrance in Amouage’s rich collection. Without any hesitation, I’d describe a vast majority of them as (pleasantly) quirky. The Library Collection has been created with the intention of opening new possibilities for the brand and pushing the envelope again a tad bit further. Up to now I’ve sampled Opuses I to VIII and I can safely say all of them share the Amouage DNA. The head of Opus I is dominated by spices and fruit. It’s an interesting introduction that makes one wonder which direction the fragrance is going to head down next. This becomes apparent in its deliciously floral heart: jasmine, lily of the valley, rose, tuberose, you name it. Given the notes, it’s not surprising this stage leans more on the feminine side, which might make some gentlemen feel a little uncomfortable. It shouldn’t because Opus I returns to the unisex path in its base. True, the floral bouquet never quite evaporates but it now occupies the background while the centre stage belongs to woody notes, frankincense and papyrus, creating a curious library-like aroma. Opus I is also a true Amouage fragrance in terms of sillage (with a rather intense head and heart yet a pleasantly soft drydown) and longevity (this is easily an all-day-long scent). My verdict: Opus I is fantastic! I adore it primarily for two reasons: firstly, its oscillation between a unisex and feminine character (eventually settling for the former); secondly, its smooth and incredibly comfy base. Thank you, Christopher Chong, for begetting such an exceptional scent!

Retro floral This Daniel Maurel (Robertet) composition starts off by giving clear nods to a classic, almost animalic tuberose: Fracas (Piguet, 1948), supported by other white and yellow carnal flowers (jasmine and ylang-ylang) and a -minimal- ambery/woody base. With an almost lineal progression (sandalwood notes and amber becoming more obvious) and huge longevity the first launch of the collection sets us standing upon an arregement of flowers in a humid, dusty ‘library’ destilling odors of old books and furniture. Careful with the sprays, this stuff is potent. --------------- Floral retro Con guiños a clásicos como el legendario Fracas (Piguet, 1948) y sus nardos casi animálicos, esta composición de Daniel Maurel (Robertet) se apoya en flores blancas (nardo, jazmín) y amarillas (ylang-ylang) dándole una sensación indólica y casi carnal al conjunto, soportado por una base ambarada y maderosa (mínima). De progresión bastante lineal y duradera (notas de sándalo y ámbar se hacen más evidentes en el secado), el primer lanzamiento de la colección nos da la impresión de un arreglo floral en una ‘biblioteca’ húmeda, destilando aromas de libros y muebles antiguos. Potente así que cuidado con los sprays. 9/10

So after I heard out that Myths Man is discontinued now I find that this one is also on that category and I'm like: "What am I going to wear ?" They really like to remove some of the best masterpieces, huh ? I can't say enough good words about Opus I, alongside Myths, which is my favourite from all I have smelled so far. Especially in the cool weather those two are where they shine the most. Now, focusing on Opus I, the mix of the ingredients is one of the most complex I've found, so rich, intoxicating, such a splendid, original formula that embraces and seduce you; and you don't want to escape from it. The dry-down is spectacular, cozy, that floral-woody scent so joyful, yet sober and it really sets you apart from the crowd. This is a true fragrance, unique, bold and in the same time gentle, the one that close the cercle of being "at peace". Amouage for me is quality, from the ingredients to the presentation of its products but the direction they are going now it's not really my type. I know many of you heard this before but, Mr. Chong was really a genius when he were in charge. Really miss him.

I'm late to this review since this gem has been discontinued. However it may be useful for those who might still find one for purchase. The first time I tried this I pretty much regretted blind buying. It opened very fouger-y, almost screechy. But if you (don't overspray) and let it sit for about an hour, past the awkward, waxy stage others mention, the base becomes this dry, sweet, flowery bouquet on soft woods. It reminds me of bubblegum strips. It is nostalgic, formal yet not serious. Best for transitioning weather. Though it has a creamy, suntan lotion-y feel, it can become cloying in hot weather, especially in the middle. If you are willing to endure a slightly off-putting concoction for a couple of minutes, this fragrance won't let you down once it settles.

I just sampled this. This is amazing!!! The opening is heady, an almost soapy floral, which I didn't like. However, once it settles and starts to meld with my skin it is stunning!!! I will test a few more times, but I do believe I will be getting a FB. I would try to explain this, but too be honest, my nose is not good enough. The most noticeable notes to me are the cardamom, ylang-ylang, tuberose, plum, guaiac wood, papyrus and sandalwood. Edit: I just bought a FB and I am in love! There is something so cozy and inviting about this fragrance. This fragrance is so hard to discribe that I won't even attempt it...you need to try this for yourself!!! Let me just add the performance is amazing!!!

I am a real fan of ylang-ylang and this hits you straight away with this perfume. It is a great developer on skin and takes a few hours to soften down. When this happens the scent is amazing. There is a stage in the mellowing down that reminds me very much of Penhaligon's Artemesia- There are the soft musky tones. In my mind this scent becomes very creamy while still remaining strong. After nearly 7 hours on skin the scent still comes through. I would advise anyone who tries this to appreciate the changes the fragrance goes through. The floral tones to begin may be to strong for many but I would recommend giving it the time to settle before making a judgement on it.

A dash of Fils de Joie with the dank papyrus from Figment Woman, old school plum in a supporting (but restrained role) and fruity ylang ylang. Amouage is my favourite house for a reason, every composition is a triumph (I'm taking Chong era and before, recently there are highs and lows), and this is no exception. The ever so slightly fishy papyrus in the base satisfies my craving for edgy, daring perfumes. The first four opuses have the best of everything Amouage has ever had to offer IMO.

I am not a fan of Amouage. Most of them smell like cheap French whore to me. But, i do like this one. It's a big, bold floral. In the top you do get a short whiff of cardamom and a hint of plum with a lot of ylang then the tuberose and jasmine take over. This fragrance is huge for a floral. It has a depth to it in the base that takes it from sweet sickly headache inducer to something very alluring and complex with some sandalwood, cedar, papyrus and sandalwood.

Class in a bottle. I haven't smell anything like this before and it is, if not the best, one of the best fragrances my nose has ever smelled. The projection and longevity are good. This will be my signature scent, at least for 2 more months before the weather gets warmer. Scent: 9.5/10 Longevity: 9/10 Projection: 10/10 Price: 10/10 (you get what you pay for!!)

Opus I is delicious, luxurious and intoxicating. A beautiful white floral/woody fragrance. At first spray I smell the ylan-ylang with the tuberose and jasmine. Then the bitter orange joins in with the woods (sandalwood, oud and vetier). It can be a bit strong, so go easy on the trigger. It lasts up to 8-10 hours on me. Masterpiece!

Such a memorable experience with this, from just a sample though. Complex and deep, very high quality. For me, it is more of an olfactory experience than using it outside of home. Out of the notes' list I can only get incense and wood.

This one is a beauty - fragrance profile is largely white florals - Jasmine + Tuberose + Ylang Ylang. After a strong start, it settles down to a modestly projecting white floral with great longevity. Unisex and unique. Shukran Habibi!

I'm a beginner, so I got a sample of several classic/must smell decants... this is the first I received. If they are all as good as this, I may have to retire and spend the rest of my life sniffing my wrists. LOL

Mmmmm. Sweet floral scent, powdery cardamom with ylangylang, tuberose and jasmine. Sandalwood, rosewood and incense in the base. Pretty beasty from the jasmine and ylangylang. NSFW gents... Nice! 88

this lovely fragrance is very good... very strong and commercial..it is absolutely good scent, dark & mysterious Agarwood, erotic.. I love it!

It’s a crime that this has been discontinued. It’s breathtaking.

Flipping hell this is heavenly Loove it

This is so thoroughly blended that even in the opening it was hard for me to make out individual notes. It’s a unique and original smell all its own, but it reminds me of something I can’t quite put my finger on, possibly a perfume that my mother had when I was a child. I suppose the emergence of a unique scent is the mark of a good perfume. If I were hard pressed to say what it smells like, I would describe it as a gourmand floral, or a slightly spicy plum scented with old-fashioned violets, tuberose, camphor, and tonka. It’s not what I would call a chypre. OK. I’ll narrow it down primarily to a tonka-violet combo. Odd, because violet isn’t listed in the notes. This must be one of those chameleon perfumes that behaves very differently on different people, because I don’t get much of the white floral and LOTV that others here complain about. Believe me, if I did I would scrub. As the heart develops, there’s a key-lime-pie note that creeps in, boosting the gourmand aspect. There’s plenty of sillage, but it’s enjoyable, never crossing the line into excess. To me, the key-lime-pie note persists into the drydown, dominating any resins and woods that might be there. The fragrance is still going strong at the end of the day, so I would say that its longevity on skin is about 24 hours. It sticks around for days on clothing. I actually like Opus I very much and, while I wouldn’t rush out and buy it even if I could afford to, if someone wanted to give me a bottle as a gift I certainly wouldn’t complain.

Ylang ylang cardamom bomb. The real stuff. The resulting effect of pouring a bottle each of ylang ylang and cardamom EO on yourself. Really intensive! A powdery soft vanillic tonka bean develops after about 15 minutes. Notes of dry paper underneath it all. Something in there gives off the slightest hint of smelly bathroom, but that part is well concealed under the other, friendlier notes. Some smooth creamy tuberose adds to the fat, showy ylang ylang. Well blended woods start developing later. I don't imagine this working on a man, or in hot weather. Impressive sillage, bordering on too much, during the first 30 minutes. A few dabs from the tester vial really went a long way. It calms down after an hour into something much more beautiful. The composition seems accelerated on my skin- it goes from top to base (with a few lingering mids) in less than an hour. This would easily be too much for many people, it feels opulent and over the top. However, I can imagine how someone unique could absolutely love this.

''Amouage The Collection Opus I '' (Sarı Sarman Kedi Tablosu ) Size bu zamana kadar parfümlerimde var olan hikayeleri olay örgülerini size anlattım. Anlatmaya da devam edeceğim. Söz konusu şu ki bu parfüm bir resim tablosu hissi veriyor bana. Yaklaşık olarak 48 saatten beri sıklıkla deniyorum bu parfümü ve herhangi bir ortam parfümü değil. Bu bir sanat eseridir. Herkesin beğenebileceği bir parfümü ultra malzemeler kullanarak bu işi zorlaştırmışlar. Aşırı yoğun notalar bulunduruyor ve aşırı lüks kokuyor. Bu lükslüğü her saniye, her saat bana yansıtıyor. Sütümsü bir ylang ylang , tatlı kremsi bir mimoza çiçeği ile yüksek gerilimli odunlar ile akor haline getirilmiş. Bana herhangi bir insanı çağrıştırmıyor. Bir olayı, bir mekanı çağrıştırmıyor. Olağan üstü kaliteli malzemeler kullanılmış. 💐💐💐💐 Kurumaya başladıkça milf' anne gibi kokuyor. Ekşimtırak bir çiçek ve tatlılık devam ediyor. Bir erkeğe yakıştırmazdım. Zora oynanan bir kütüphane serisi ile başlangıç bu olsa gerek... 10/7.0

A swirling overdose of yellow and white florals. Feels like an early-1900s powder room kind of scent. Slightly claustrophobic ... is that yellow wallpaper peeling just a bit? I expect civet by association, but the animalic element seems to be indolic florals. The warm purring creature skin is there nonetheless, maintaining the time travel illusion of chypres past. I imagine this could be a very nostalgic, transportive fragrance for some. For me it's interesting and beautiful. I won't need a full bottle unless I'm obsessively completing the library series (never say never), but I will miss it when it's gone. And in the drydown, a magic trick as the flowers disappear and you're left with vetiver, papyrus and woods - a contemplative library space to spend the rest of the day.

Wearing this today for the first time. The first things I smell are the ylang, tuberose and cardamom, in that order. After that it is an interesting mishmash, with some notes coming forward, others fading, but I cannot tell what the "story" of this scent is, if that makes sense. It reminds me of the sound of a really good orchestra tuning and warming up. You can tell they're great but they haven't started playing an actual song yet... Even though this fragrance does seem a little directionless, I still REALLY like it! The ylang and tuberose together are gorgeous. I don't need a bottle but I will enjoy my sample.

Sophisticated classy Floriental centered around lovely white florals. The perfume briefly opens with aromatic hints of cardamom, orange and plum before moving to the prominent heart primarily comprised of jasmine and tuberose but also showing small hints of rose, ylang and lily. The perfume settles into a sweet powdery base of papyrus, tonka bean and guaiac with slight incense, cedar, vetiver and sandalwood. Ultra refined and classy, this slight feminine leaning perfume has moderate to strong sillage and very good longevity. It won’t wow you but it’s quite lovely nevertheless in an understated way. Enjoy!

Unique. Different. Quite like Arabia attars But not as deep. This fragrance stands on its own. Plum, jasmine, incense, sandalwood and cardamom notes stand out for me and they last with the fragrance life. And it is very long lasting. Probably 3 days on fabric and you still can smell it. This is a linear fragrance so it stays same from start to end. I really like it. But somehow I find it powdery and I am not a fan of powder. It can be worn all year round and ofcourse you wont smell like any other person in the room or actually a soccer stadium. This is very strong, so ride it slow. Verdict: 8/10

A lovely spicy chypre offering; bitter & spicy orange oil, tart plum skin, all on a bed of spicy & smoky florals with a lightly sweet nuttiness. The ylang is definitely more noticeable as the scent develops, very oily and persistent. All the notes work in beautiful harmony in spite of the initial knock to the olfactory head from the opening notes. Lasts for ages on skin and clothes; I'd spray this on a scarf and wrap around my neck so it's with me all day. Perfect in transitioning weather, this needs the right balance of warm & cool to really shine.

Nice Opus 1. The first fragrance of this line..and I must say it is not a perfume that immediately may like, but you have to allow time to evolve... it's nice, a bit floral and creamy. This is a classy perfume, but knows how to be young and fresh(I think it is thanks to the cardamom-ylang-ylang,) good chypre perfume,apart from the high price,I think It must also try it for longer. The sillage is strong, and lasts very long. I like. Sillage: 8./10 Longevity: 8.5/10 Scent: 7./10 Overall: 7./10

7/10. I usually enjoy Amouage perfumes and am taking to the Opus library collection like a fish to water. In Opus I, I smell pine at first but it is light and almost effervescent. Then a very dry white wine or cider, with a little bit sweet and floral. But the floral is only hinted at which is why I think this perfume works better on a man. Reminds me of Dior Vetiver.

The opening of Opus I is very complex and promising. But as Kterhark mentioned, the heart of the perfume isn't very special. But the drydown is very vanilla/benzion which I like but don't want to wait several hours for. However I wouldn't say that the difference between Opus I and a $50 bottle goes unnoticed.

This fragrance is truly captivating. It's a beautifully balanced chypre with warm spicy and woody notes that create a sense of sophisticated comfort. The floral heart is not overpowering but adds a lovely touch of elegance. Opus I lasts all day and projects wonderfully without being too overwhelming.

For my nose this is the least favorite from the Opus Line, much too flat for the price tag for sure..too many different notes, nothing distinguishable at first but later I got some vanille or tonka been note that I could not wear on my skin. Not even exciting enough for a decant for me..

Very nice. Complex. I prefer the top and base. The middle is very yellow floral waxy tuberose. A little but much for me there. I could see this growing on me however. Hard place which is a plus. Shiny scent.

Reminds me of Seville a L'Aube. I can call it herbal-citrusy-solar scent. Lasts all day, not much development though, it's linear.

Another Notino sample: On me, this is too much ylang ylang and not enough tuberose. This is the third Amouage fragrance I have tried, so far and I am beginning to see a pattern emerge... They keep putting the diva at the back and the backing singers, at the front. Or, at least, that is how they develop on me, anyway. Tuberose should be the star, here; not ylang ylang. But, they keep putting tuberose firmly in the back row, while letting lesser notes dominate. It goes on sharp and slightly bitter, then the ylang ylang leaps to the forefront, along with the cardamom. It's OK, but it's very sweet (nectar sweet, again) and kind of flat. Why do this when you have tuberose to hand? Why keep on dominating it with carnation and lily of the valley (in Honour), or ylang ylang and cardamom (here)? Why not (in, at least, one fragrance) let her do her spectacular job and cast the other, lesser players, in supporting roles? Will, hopefully, revisit Amouage when they, finally, decide to make a fragrance that revolves around tuberose, rather than the other way around. :) Will also update this if the drydown is particularly nice/interesting/disappointing. Edit: I couldn't take this anymore, on its own. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great and I just ran out of patience with it. However, instead of washing it off, I sprayed one spray of Michael Kors Signature on each wrist, over the top of the Opus I. That is predominantly tuburose, sweetish but not overly sweet, with background notes which are mostly either similar, or fairly complimentary, to the notes in this. Oh my gosh - so much better. The combination (after it has settled down a bit) is, actually, pretty nice and helps to show how much better this could have been with more tuberose and less ylang ylang and cardomom.

This has a wonderful opening but too quickly the white floral heart takes over. Now, these are NOT "old lady" white flowers, but what they are is rich and opulent and sheer and airy. Yes, that may sound like a contradiction, rich and sheer? Opulent and airy? But it's true. They are rich but diaphonous, but the problem is that there is no counterpoint to them for hours. What starts out as a beautiful heart becomes a bit ugly and then even annoying as the hours go by. Finally the woods of the base begin to peak through and again some balance is restored, but it's already too late. It may work on others' skin better than my own, so it's worth a sniff. I think this scent is the most feminine of the Opus trio (with III being almost right in the middle of the masculine/feminine divide, and II leaning slightly masculine). Longevity and sillage are excellent, as is usual with Amouage.

Okay so Opus I has a massively floral opening I thought it was like a lily maybe and definitely tuberose! The cardamom is present but not over the top unfortunately the florals most certainly are, at least in the opening. There's something I want to like about the floral element, probably the jasmine but in combination with tuberose doesn't sit right with my nose. Whoever first mentioned the musty book smell below is totally spot on. Opus I does have that strange quality to it, very apt considering it's from the Library collection. It's not a good start, with that opening but as it dries down it becomes sweeter the florals become more settled and a slight tonka bean thickness starts to come in. For me though this is not something I'd wear nor does it appeal but an interesting smell if you're prepared to give it a chance.

A little too much floral notes in this one for me. I could have sworn I smelled cinnamon in this, but not listed in ingredients. There is a perplexing blending of powdery sweetness and smokey incense which is sharply and harshly discordant. Definitely not worth the asking price for this one, as there are plenty of better offerings out there at this price point. (82)

I found it very gourmand with clove, cinnamon and horehound candy.....maybe licorice. Then overtones of carnation.....and perhaps cedar. i also find it linear and strong. It does not suit my taste.

Oh wow... Opening is harsh but turns heavenly. I'm a sucker for cardamom and white floral combination it seems.

اپوس ۱؛ عطر مهربونها... ا اولین اپوس (اپوس ۱) با رایحه گل و آخرین اپوس هم (اپوس ۱۰) باز با رایحه ی گل... ا در هرم بویایی اپوس ۱ همانند سایر عطرها سه طبقه ی بویایی قرارداره. نتهای اولیه. نتهای ثانویه و نتهای انتهایی. در مورد اپوس ۱ نت ابتدایی عملا وجود نداره. شروع کار اپوس ۱ با نتهای گلی است. گلهایی که در نت میانی عطر در ظاهر وجود دارند گل برف؛ رز؛ گل مریم؛ ایلانگ ایلنگ و گل یاس هستند. ولی در عمل سه نوع گل قابل تشخیص هستند. گلی که بالای ۷۵ در صد نت میانی عطر اپوس ۱ را شامل میشود؛ گل مریم هست. در کنار آن گل برف و به مقدار کمتر هم ایلانگ ایلانگ وجود دارد. طول عمر نت میانی عطر خیلی طولانی هست و بیش از ۴/۵ ساعت این رایحه گلها وجود دارند. تغییرات بویایی در این مرحله خیلی محسوس نیست. در قسمت نتهای پایانی در ابتداسدر و سپس آلو شروع به تبخیر و در نتیجه پخش رایحه میکنند. سدر یه بوی تیزی ایجاد میکنه و آلو هم یه بوی خیلی خیلی کم ترش. که البته میشه گفت که گیرنده ای بویایی بینی رو یکم تحریک میکنه و ترش به اون معنایی که در نظر میگیرین؛ نیست. جالبه كه بعد از ٦ ساعت آكوردي ايجاد ميكنه كه رايحه ي حاصله خيلي شبيه به عطر والنتينو اومو ميشه. با وجود اينكه هيچ نقطه ي مشتركي از نظر مواد تشكيل دهنده با ولنتينو اومو نداره، ولي رايحه اش در اين زمان خيلي شبيهش ميشه.منتهی شدت رایحه ی مربوطه بمراتب از رایحه ای که در والنتینو اومو حس میکنید؛ ضعیفتره این عطر با وجود اینکه بیشتر برای خانمها طراحی شده؛ ولی آقایون هم در صورتی که رایحه ی گلی عطر رو دوست داشته باشند و یا فطرت خیلی مهربونی داشته باشند و یا اینکه طبع لطیفی داشته باشند (مثل شاعر پیشه) میتونند به راحتی استفاده کنند. چون با ساختار ذهنی و روحیشان هماهنگه... ا Opus 1; The perfume of the beloved... The first opus (opus 1) with the scent of flowers and again opus (opus 10) with the scent of flowers... Like other perfumes, there are three olfactory levels in the olfactory pyramid of Opus 1. Basic notes. Secondary notes and end notes. In the case of Opus 1, there is practically no initial note. Opus 1 starts with floral notes. The flowers that appear in the middle note of the perfume are snow flowers; rose; Mary's flower; Ylang ylang and jasmine flowers. But in practice, three types of flowers can be distinguished. A flower that contains more than 75 percent of the middle notes of Opus 1 perfume; There is a flower of Mary. Next to it there is snow flower and to a lesser extent ylang ylang. The longevity of the middle note of the perfume is very long and there are more than 4.5 hours of this floral scent. Odor changes are not very noticeable at this stage. In the final notes, first cedar and then plum begin to evaporate and as a result the aroma spreads. Cedar creates a sharp smell and plum has a very, very mild smell. Of course, it can be said that an olfactory receptor stimulates the nose and sour in the sense you are considering; is not. It is interesting that after 6 hours, it creates an accord, and the resulting scent is very similar to Valentino Omo's. Although it has nothing in common with Valentino Umo in terms of ingredients, its scent is very similar at this time. The intensity of the related scent is much higher than the one you feel in Valentino Umo. weaker Although this perfume is mostly designed for women; But men can also use it easily if they like the floral scent of the perfume, or have a very kind nature, or have a gentle nature (like a professional poet). Because it is in harmony with their mental and spiritual structure...

Opens with a blast of cardamom with only a touch of the orange. Cardamom (and let me say that cardamom manages to be the entire back drop of this fragrance so, I can smell it allll the way to the final dry down., it’s that almost citrusy but not smell. I find it quite baffling. It smells like that, but the flowers in the heart are immediately apparent too. The combination of white flowers in this fragrance are like a symphony!!! Oh lord! This is a white floral Chypre with bells on. Ylang Ylang is the main player amongst the florals are first, so, you have this ylang ylang cardamom combination at the forefront with tons of other stuff bubbling way in the background. There’s a promise of many woods to come but not just yet. The woods in the base, like the florals...are a symphonyyyy! (Can you call it that?) A symphony. The florals are diverse in the way they behave, ylang isn’t always at the front, that beautiful cousin to jasmine but much smoother and in my opinion much more pleasant too. It’s giving the fragrance a smooth floral feel, sometimes it get a slightLy powdery rose, other times I can really feel the Tuberose and the tuberose in here is the classic kind, like you’d fine in fracas, not the fresh brighter type you’d find in say....Diptyque’s do son, or carnal flower. There are also touches here and there of a very natural and beautiful thing going on. Kinda like being surrounded In a wood by lots of plants and flowers. Amazing. I do want to say as a side note that, this has an almost 80’s type feel to it, one of those powerhouse type fragrances but done with so much more finesse and grace. LOU LOU! I really need to mention LouLou because there are times when I can really smell a distant LouLou (mainly in the mid stage), they do share 5 notes! 5 major notes as well, plum, incense, tuberose, cedar, ylang ylang. So, imagine LouLous’s rich bitch sister coming to visit and throwing shade at loulou for being the slightly more dowdy sister! Hehe. I can smell the tiniest bit of something skanky in here, starting to come through from the woods when it dries, and the fragrance kinda changes character when it dries. The woods really start to rush to forefront and the flowers go back, the guiac wood I can feel most strongly here, it’s a little bit like a bonfire, and the papayrus also....makes this dry dry dry. It’s really astounding seriously! So it kinda goes from a floral woody to a woody floral if that makes sense. There’s a touch of incense in this woody drydown to give it something juuuust that bit exotic. The skank I mentioned before, does get a bit stronger towards the end but it’s not a scary animal skank, it’s a dry wood planty forest skank which is fine by me! It’s more carnal in the dry down, the symphony of flowers has gone apart from a tiny whisper of ylang ylang and the cardamom? Yep..still there. An unusual beauty that I’m so glad to own.

I have had samples of the Amouage Opus series for quite a while. I acquired the first three way back when they were launched, then I requested IV and V, of which I have rather small samples--not the generous manufacturer-produced ones, which come in adorable little boxes and line up next to one another to look like books. Apparently there are some newer volumes as well, but I do not have samples of those. Anyway, for whatever arbitrary reason, I chose today, the last day of 2012, to open up Opus I. To my great surprise, OPUS I smells like an old book in a centuries-old library! There is a mustiness and a bitterness and a dustiness to the opening which immediately calls to my mind the stacks in the basement at a university library--take your pick: they all smell pretty much this way! My second big surprise was that in vague wafts, OPUS I reminds me Miller Harris L'AIR DE RIEN, which I vehemently denied smelled like a library, though that was what Jane Birkin apparently requested of Lyn Harris, back when the perfume was being designed. So now I'm faced with a contradiction: was I wrong then, or am I wrong now????? Oh well, I was a different person back then. Today, OPUS I does smell like a library, and it does remind me a bit of L'AIR DE RIEN. The two perfumes are really quite different, but the je ne sais quoi musty-old-pages quality binds them together. In contrast to L'AIR DE RIEN, the bitter, wood-splinter opening of OPUS I is rather off-putting, and it, too, reminds me just a bit of another perfume: Clinique AROMATICS ELIXIR, which I have fallen in love with despite the harsh chamomile-clary sage opening. My impression is that the people who hate that perfume have never waited it out to the drydown, which is truly divine. Does the same thing happen with OPUS I? Yes, and no. Yes, the perfume becomes less bitter and stern, but, no, the depth and wonder of ELIXIR never really arrives. Instead, OPUS I becomes less pungent and more likeable as it develops, not really changing so much as it fades. There are two diametrically opposed prejudices working simultaneously here: on the one hand, we all know that Amouage is an überluxury house, so we expect excellence. The ingredients are always top-notch, and OPUS I is no exception to the rule. On the other hand, for the same reason (the elevated price), we always expect more from a perfume of this type in terms of its composition. Don't judge this book by its cover, just decide for yourself whether you like this odd assortment of notes which conspire to re-create the scent of an old library--or not. OPUS I is unique, and I am happy to have experienced this perfume, but I'll satisfy the craving to smell it again, if and when it ever arises, by spending a day in the stacks!

This scent sets up the theme for the library collection from 1 to 6 with a none offensive soothing calm crispy, slightly fresh, slightly herbal, slightly green & creamy with varying touches of spices in all the 6 bottles and this is becoming my preferred style of perfumes evident from my recent acquisitions. I sold all my library collection in 2013, but now I went back and acquired them again and was lucky to still find some bottles(apart from Opus V, which I do not like) There is no dominant note here but rather the facets from each note are borrowed to accentuate the above mentioned theme. It starts as a slightly fruity plummy(just enough to give the slightly waxy fruity plum feel) then settles into a floral slightly powdery middle and slightly spicy in both stages. The notes in the middle are not overdosed or accentuated but rather borrowing the same facet from each other and the choice of notes is really clever. I believe there are other spices used here which are not mentioned (probably small dose of cinnamon bark and clove bud) as spices act as a medium through which this fragrance travels which combines beautifully with ylang ylang. Just like the middle stage, the heart settles into a similar fasion as the middle without being characteristically woody but a rather a slightly vanillic hint and the fragrance stays close to the skin in most of the dry down. Overall, this is a hard scent to describe as it is not sitting on any particular fragrance family, and I believe this one along with other library collection was the beginning of Amouage transition period from appealing to a select few to becoming the masses niche of choice especially the Western market(which they succeeded in). The Robertet elegant signature is clear here, and I am thankful for that. I am also thankful for their use of this particular type of Ylang Ylang which I grew an affection for in the last few months.

This is absolutely stunning and a perfect example of what makes Amouage such a great perfume house, astounding quality, unique and classic execution. Another modern classic. The opening was striking - the kind that sends me scurrying to price a bottle-ylang, cardamon and orange. Just wow! Pretty quickly it settles down into the main show which is a big buttery, rich ylang ylang slightly distorted by tuberose. I can't separate the ylang and the tuberose. It's more like ylang seen through a tuberose filter, if that makes sense. This lasted on me a full fifteen hours before I showered and it wasn't until I smelled the blouse I'd been wearing earlier that I got the resins and incense of the drydown. A couple of other reviewers have mentioned it smelling of something from the 80s or older. I have that sense too. It's not LouLou. I'm thinking it might be Yvresse but I don't have any to compare to. Another possibility is Chanel no. 22 which has a similar ylang chord. It's this sense of something older that keeps me from loving it. It's certainly very beautiful but there are so many fragrances that tread this ground. I think on a man this would be fantastic.

I’m surprised no one compared this to Amarige... it’s in the same field as Gold Man... airy woody white florals, they are two different fragrances but in the same field if you own one you don’t need the other if you’re familiar with white florals they all correlate to a certain degree... that modern / old school woody white floral background. But this is a creamy woody floral with some spices... the plum is there but it’s more cooked with the spices than fruity making this a gender neutral fragrance... that’s all it’s a creamy lightly fruity woody floral that gets airier / soapy the more it dry down like most Amouage fragrances... If you come across this don’t be hesitant to buy it... it’s inoffensive you’re just going to smell of soapy white florals. Everyone going to think you bath in expensive soap. If you want something head turning try Roja Dove diaghilev that’s going to have you and everyone one confused around you, I have yet to complete that review cause OMG

Full bottle worthy. This stuff opens like a thick honey ambered oud....powdery, sweet, foral, animalic, civet? ... and I tend to be extremely picky with ambery scents but this is gorgeous it smells like a fluffy spicy & powdery Amouage Gold with a pinch of oud after several minutes, the florals come through ... I definitely get the lily ... as it dries down further it gets slightly soapy, dripping in resins, sweetened with fruits & tonka... the tuberose is noticeable but it's not a soliflore in that way at all... it's subdued, blended in ... this fragrance is more about the overall impression which in my opinion is gorgeous after about 3 hours it dies down a little becoming a skin scent, every once in a while I get a sweet waft of rose well I love it... 4 sprays, medium to strong projection p.s. this is not a chypre but more of a spicy fruity oriental floral that walks the line as a gourmand from the dense resin & fruity notes

Ohhhh.. strange. Well I read the reviews before I sprayed and I was expecting a bit like L'Air de Rien. There is a musty book feel, it's very strong and piercing to the nose at first, like smelling aspergillus. It's not a very friendly beast... it's been locked away in the box for centuries and now it's pretty angry. I washed it down to take the edge off a little. I find it interesting, but not a perfume. It's an experience. A wet library now drying out. I get no discernible flowers and no sweetness. The cardamom carries it through, like the pod hiding in your curry that's been burnt around the edges. The drydown is long awaited as others have said. I am reminded of Monty Python, "the beast is moulting, the fluff gets up your nose". This gets up your nose, but in an intriguingly new way.

I get a strong lily note in the opening, then the chypre notes come in, but in the final drydown there are so many sweet notes that don't seem to go with the chypre my nose is quite confused and overwhelmed. I would describe this as a very strange and overdone scent. There is in there somewhere a hint of a vintage scent that I remember from childhood. A Lanvin? Or is it a bit of Dana? Not sure, but it is going to drive me crazy until I remember. In conclusion, I am so glad I do not have a bottle of this. If I did, I would have to kick myself every day for 325 days, a kick a day for every dollar spent! Also, I do not recommend the Library series- I find the mainline Amouage fragrances better in general. The Library line is the epitome of wretched excess in my opinion.

I'm so glad I've been testing this over the course of multiple days because my opinion totally changed. At first the opening is sharp, nearly overpowering, medicinal chamomile / animalic scent. I'd even say it's an assault on the nose. BUT! Don't judge this scent by the opening! In the course of 2-3 hours it tames itself into a beautiful composition. I can smell the flowers, the plum, jasmine, light smoke in the background. As I was catching whiffs of this beauty I did not know where it came from, it's so different from the opening blast. To me it's a sunny cold weather floral, like when the sun is coming through the clouds in winter to melt the snow. I hear this performs well in heat too, can't wait to try it in warmer months.

This opens with a pine note, which I like. It's very refreshing. Unfortunately after the opening it takes a turn for the litter box and stays there. This was a scrubber on me. I'm now trying it again just to make sure, and nope, the kitty is still sitting on the box with this one. I'm baffled how this could have gone so wrong. A Chypre? With plum, ylang ylang, rose and incense? This required an effort to bomb. I'd be willing to place hard earned cash on the table that if you blindfolded someone and stuck this under their nose, followed by a similar ingredient fragrance that was less than $50, the sniffer wouldn't be able to pick the $325 bottle. Sorry to be catty, but i was expecting more from this price tag.