The Library Collection Opus II

Now, for a less poetic breakdown: The scent opens with a big dose of bay laurel and pepper, although even these have an airiness about them as they are lifted by a translucent lavender note that is not immediately detectable. Soon the lavender weaves its way into the opening accord but it's unlike any lavender note I've ever experienced, it is so ethereal and again, translucent; perhaps the best word for it is crystalline. It is not herbal or overly aromatic like the lavender note in Oxford and Cambridge, it is not heavy and thick and stuffy like it is in the opening of so many 80s men's scents. It is just.. crystalline. Underneath this is a note that is not fully discernable but it adds a bit of darkness and greenness and ups the aromatic factor of the opening: I am quite sure this is the absinthe note at play, which I think may be a combination of actual wormwood oil (which is aromatic, slightly minty, and very green) and a star anise note. The opening is simultaneously spicy and smooth, filled with a number of heavy essences that are rendered in such an airy and translucent way that it really does, for me at least, evoke the sensation of cool winter wind against the skin. Cardamom soon becomes apparent and it is rendered smoothly and very natural, akin to the cardamom note in Invasion Barbare. Yes, Amouage has, at least in Opus II, really upped the quality and natural factor of their ingredients. While I've always loved Amouage, I have to admit that some of their scents are more synthetic than some/most of the offerings of other ultra high end houses like Xerjoff or MCDI. Amouage though, always had the ultra-lush and luxurious factor, and always put their synthetics to good use and hid them quite well amongst the naturals. Still, this scent feels like a step up in quality from the other Amouages, although it is not as lush or luxe as some of them, but that is due solely to the genre of scent. It definitely feels as high quality and natural as any of the Xerjoffs, not something I could say about many/any of the previous Amouages. If Rive Gauche were a Lexus, Opus II is an Aston Martin. The usage of cinnamon here is absolutely the best I've ever smelled - it is so real and even a bit woody (this is the whole cinnamon stick), but it feels as if the scent was merely dusted with this freshly ground cinnamon stick. Again, a very ethereal usage of a note that really helps keep the shimmering, magical effect of the fragrance alive. At the same time that the cinnamon becomes more prominent, the anisey note of the absinthe accord becomes stronger and joins with a very muted jasmine and rose and perhaps some labdanum and a hint of vanilla from the base to create a very natural smelling rendition of the 'shaving cream accord' in Rive Gauche. I always loved the idea of Rive Gauche but found it a bit synthetic, especially that cream accord. I didn't know you could make such a natural smelling cream accord. I should mention that here it is not quite so upfront and center as it is in RG - it is present and definitely is a large contributor to the texture during the middle phase, but it stands far enough back to still let the cardamom, lingering bay, dusty hints of cinnamon, and lingering lavender (now joined by a lavender absolute note) to lead the play. This continues down into the base where the woods pick up with intensity slightly. It's hard to pick out exactly what is going on as the whole of it is so carefully blended that no notes really stand out at this point. The opening and heart have such extreme clarity and separation of the notes (and yet, when taken together as a whole, they all work perfectly, too) and in the base they begin to meld together the way that it's hard to pick out the individual spices that go into a great chai tea. It is a soft base, the creamy aspect is still present, and there is a hint of spices still but they are completely smooth by now, no piquancy left. The lavender absolute note (a sweeter, softer, more coumarinic lavender note than the essential oil) is detectable, and the anise is too, slightly, and there is a hint of smoke from the incense. It is so peaceful - this is the warmth I alluded to in the poetic review, escaping the bitter cold of the outside (which was magical in its own way) and cherishing the newfound warmth and comfort of the sanctuary of home. I should add that the anise note is never so strong or out in the open that I think it would render the scent unenjoyable by those who don't like anise. It's truly a background player and, while noticeable if you are really looking for it, does not jump out and scream or misbehave in any way. Fans of Rive Gauche or Fou d'Absinthe absolutely need to check this out. edit: It's been a long time since I've been so moved by a fragrance. It's also been a long time since I knew, so quickly, that I absolutely would have to own a scent after testing it just once. I have no idea how I'm going to afford this! Santa, all I want for Christmas this year is a bottle of Opus II. I'll be really really good, I promise!! Please?!

I must say that I am overwhelmed after having tested Opus II. It is a magnificent, beautiful fougere. In short, it smells something like a cross between Rive Gauche PH and Fou d’Absinthe, the two not blended together but instead a new formula inspired by the two, created with an unlimited budget and blended by God himself. The notes of Opus II may sound generic but are woven together with such careful precision and subtlety that they literally dance on the skin in an olfactory equivalent of the glimmering iridescent display of light dancing across a most exquisite piece of abalone. This is a fragrance that is definitely greater than the sum of its parts. You know that feeling of magic that sometimes washes over you during the winter season? There is an utter, almost eerie, stillness in the air, and all the earth is asleep, and the quiet and solitude do not leave you feeling alone so much as they magnify your own sense of self, your own awareness of life and existence? The way we rush from the car into the houses of friends and families to escape the bitter cold, and are met with the wonderful scent of chai tea, cinnamon sticks and apple cider, christmas trees, bay leaves and mistletoe. The warmth of friendship. All of that; all of the wonderful and beautiful elements of winter have seemingly been distilled. That is Opus II. Yes, truly a wonderful fougere that shimmers and floats above the skin, and will remind you, if you are so inclined to listen, that magic really does still exist.

This is the epitome of the genre, and marries tradition with modern flair. I didn't like this the first couple of times I wore it, and it's because I sprayed too much. It was so sharp, so dense, I just couldn't bear it. But after showering I could still smell the patchouli drydown and I was blown away by how dark and rooty it seemed. So I wore Opus II a couple more times, with careful, restrained application, and my god I love it. It's a finely tuned, finely honed take on masculine belters from the 80s, shone through the Amouage prism. It has the best dark, non-gourmand patchouli I've come across, and is one of the only Amouages I've smelled that has absolutely no sweetness, a diamtetic opposite to their other perfumes in this respect. It does share some commonality wit Epic Man, but this one is much more wearable and timeless, to me at least. And it also reminded me somewhat of Bois Mystérieux, although when I smelled them side by side this one was way darker and more serious, and ultimately I find Bois Mystérieux quite grating, with the same synthetic oud base as Oud Essentiel. There is no synthetic, scratchy, bothersome note in Opus II. Re. performance, for me this is epically strong and persistent. I tend to prefer less beastly fragrances but I can make an exception for something as good as this, and actually the projection is polite even though it lasts forever.

Opus II is an aromatic fougère with a woody-amber base, traditionally masculine in style but exemplarily crafted. Rich and complex, made with the highest quality ingredients, it is what I'd expect from Amouage. It is sadly discontinued now, and is a relic from Christopher Chong's time at the helm of the brand - the golden years for Amouage. OII opens with bitter, herbal wormwood and a strong lavender note that initially dominates this scent. The pepper notes add a light spiciness that gives it a lift at its opening stages. The slightly sharp lavender mellows as it progresses, joined by warm, rich spices. Cardamom acts as a progression of the peppery opening, while sweet cinnamon rounds it out. The florals add bulk, but are relegated to the background. The herbal green accord is forest-like, increasing earthy as it develops. It is crisp and refined here. The drydown is perhaps the best part of OII, an incense-led rich amber accord, punctuated by earthy patchouli. Dry woody notes follow, enhancing the incense to perfection. It becomes musky as it fades, eventually becoming a single-note ambroxan skin scent. Sillage and longevity are moderate. A luxurious barbershop fougère with foresty facets and an incense-les amber base, OII is a top-notch transeasonal masculine scent, masterfully composed. Complex yet cohesive, I would really enjoy this on a man. 4.5/5.

When I smelt it from my tester I burst into laughter. Why? Because I immediately recognised this is one of the best things I have ever smelt!!! I couldn't believe my nose! What the heck did I just smell? My goodness, this is so perfectly beautiful and enjoyable, I'm just out of words... And I bought the whole bottle right after. I shouldn't have bought it because I already had too many scents but leaving this "unbought" seemed like a crime I could never forget and forgive myself. How are things like this, such smells, even possible? Was it more Amouage/Chong or Michèle Saramito, I don't know but whatever their collaboration, the result is absolutely stunning. I've had similar reactions to Bvlgari's Tygar (I only bought a dupe which is as good) and Bvlgari's Mon Jasmine Noir L'Eau Exquise (bought the full bottle too) and with a few others a bit less. All these are seven points out of five. Regarding the listed notes, I smell something uniquely sweet (maybe lavender is closest to it) and that's it -- no need to decompose it, it is just a perfect mixture, whatever the components.

edit 6/2/11 My chemical sensitivities have passed (these were negatively affecting my interpretation of MANY scents, with some chemicals bothering me more than others), and Opus II no longer irritates my throat or sinuses. Needless to say, I once again love this scent and stand by the first review I posted of this far below. edit: 11/15/10 I've done a 180 on this (see my earlier reviews below). I still like the opening and I find that the composition has a lot of potential, but I find that the dry down becomes too muted and one dimensional far too quickly on me now, and even worse, it is chock full of some synthetic that really irritates my throat. I think it's the same chemical that provides the mineral notes to TdH, as it has the same effect on me. I used to think this was iso e super, but it's not, as other iso e heavy scents don't bother me in this way. So: opening and first hour or so = 5 stars drydown = 2 stars average = 3.5, truncating to 3 stars. Unfortunately, due to the actual physical pain it causes me, I'm going to have to rate it "dislike" now.

The inspiration for Opus II by Amouage is the scent of old books, dark wooden shelves and antique leather armchairs. Amouage, however takes great care of its antiques - the leather armchairs are renovated, the dark wooden shelves are not dusty, and on them are books with dried flowers between their pages. The opening is a strong fern front, followed by a smoky, incense blow. This, however, is sweetened up by the flowers of jasmine, lavender and rose. The sweetness, however does not last long, because a leather accord comes to play. The fern with leather accord penetrates and complements each other. It is their peculiar game, on which the whole composition is based, which leaves you guessing what will happen next. In addition to the two main ingredients that make up the structure of Opus II, you can also smell ambergris, patchouli, cardamom, cinnamon, all of which are sprinkled with pepper.

After what I would consider a disappointment in OPUS I, I consider this second offering as a standing ovation of a pine tree orchestra. As if a cool winter wind whirls through a pine forest, bringing with it a warm breeze of pink pepper from the spicy south. Accompanied by the smouldering scents of aromatic glowing warm/ wormwood (which is the first time EVER I have noticeably smelled this ingredient)the green flavours of bay and lavender thrush through. Jasmine and rose only take a background vocal in this orchestra dominated by spices and woods. There is a lovely soft piney scent from L'Occitane en Provence which I love, but THIS HERE is the London Philharmonic Orchestra version of it. NATURE and CLASSIC MUSIC LOVERS alike, I think you would adore this scent! I will deffo add this to my AUTUMN/ WINTER wardrobe for I LOVE IT!

WARNING **** Do not test this magnificent perfume unless you are prepared for the resulting dilemma when you realise that you simply must have this perfume no matter what. Any description from me cannot add to the previous posts, other than to say I totally concur. Opus II is a beautifully crafted perfume with a perfect blend of spices and excellent use of cardamon and cinnamon. The magic of this perfume though is the delivery of such notes. It is delicate yet not lacking in strength. Unlike many other unisex fragrances, it hasn't lost it soul to cater to the broader market. This would be equally appealling on both women and men, and best enjoyed during the day. The dilemma is, can one justify the cost of acquiring this perfume given the hefty price tag? Well, for me, the answer is YES...now, the question is HOW?

Opus Il begins its journey with a light, bitter citrus opening, reminiscent of white lemon peel, blended with touches of lavender in a warm, slightly spicy, and medicinal manner, alongside green notes that recall Haze by Akro and certain Issey Miyake masculine fragrances. The warm, spicy, and aromatic heart develops with a distinctive, slightly moist incense characteristic of Amouage, as if frankincense pieces were soaked in water, layered over a soft amber base with drier, woody incense tones that are more pronounced than in the heart. Toward the dry-down, the heavy green notes persist, revealing patchouli and cedarwood notes more prominently

The opening of Opus II is really stunning. Bright spicy peppers emerge first, followed by a gorgeous rose and lavender peeking out next. Then the woods and greens come in to make this a true fougere fragrance. Finally in the drydown lovely amber and incense deepen the mix and jasmine softens it to make it truly unisex. This is very beautiful to my nose, wonderful ingredients and the perfect mix for a stunning year round perfume. I especially like the wormwood and cardamom notes that give this fragrance a real je ne sais quoi difference that makes me want a full bottle.

Absolutely gorgeous. Stunning woodsy concoction. Incense, woods, cardamom, and absinthe notes linger on and on. Not as loud as Opus I. But still strong and long lasting. Buy this fragrance for its ultimate masculine woodsy smell than buying any other new woody fragrance out there marketed for men. There is a sparkling effect here with the worm-woods. I really really like it. A man wearing this will smell like a Gentleman but yet stand out from the rest of the Gentle-men-iac. Wear it all seasons. Great chances to become a one's signature perfume. Verdict: 9/10

I WAS not a lover of the Amouage line but...I ve discovered recently some really exciting beauties here: Ubar and this one Opus II.. It s so gorgeous, so rich so silky all the notes complementing each other so perfectly I cannot stop sniffing my arm..and I know my decant must replace ...they are alas very pricey so please sample before you buy! I think that even if you cannot wear it you ll still recognize it as the masterpiece it is!

Opus ii has nothing to do with opus i. Opus ii is complex rich and deep. Reminds me of some masculines la nuit, ivasion barber, and a ton of others but it’s more the genre than any one individual scent. Luxurious masculine. Unreal good.

It's very refreshing. The opening of Opus 2 is very complex..woody, bit fruity..it is still going strong at the end of the day,Different

بازی آکوردها ...ا در این عطر شما با آکورد بویایی روبرو میشید و تقریبا رایحه ی هیچیک از موادی رو که در هرم نتهای عطر به آن اشاره شده رو بصورت جداگانه استشمام نخواهید کرد. در شروع اسپری؛ آکوردی از نتها که میتوان تقریبا حدس زد که مربوط به اسطوخودوس و افسنطین هست رو تشخیص خواهید داد که این دو در واقع با هم ترکیب (میکس) شده اند و با هم یک بوی جدیدی ایجاد کرده اند و در کنارش و بصورت خیلی ملایم فلفل میخواهد که به قول معروف سرش کلاه نره و عرضه اندامی داشته باشه که زیاد هم در این کار موفق نیست. نیم ساعت که از شروع اسپری کردن میگذره؛ یه حالت ادویه ی به آکورد فوق اضافه میشه. در نتهای عطر به دارچین و هل اشاره شده؛ ولی به عقیده ی من این حالت ادویه مانند چیزی غیر از این دو هست. شاید هم مانند مرحله ی قبلی آکوردی است که چنین بوی خاصی رو ایجاد کرده. بوی عطر بعد از این مرحله تا حذف کامل آن تقریبا تغییر محسوسی نمیکنه و از نظر پخش بو و دوام هم یکی از ضعیف ترین کارهای آمواژ هست...ا In this perfume, you will encounter an olfactory accord, and you will not smell the scent of any of the ingredients mentioned in the pyramid of perfume notes separately. At the beginning of the spray, You will recognize an accord of notes that can almost be guessed to be related to lavender and wormwood, that these two have actually been mixed together and have created a new smell together, and it needs pepper on the side, very mildly. who, as the famous saying goes, has no hat on his head and has a body that is not very successful in this work. Half an hour has passed since the start of spraying; A spice is added to the above accord. Cinnamon and cardamom are mentioned in the perfume notes; But in my opinion, this mode of spice is like something other than these two. Maybe it is like the previous stage of accord that created such a special smell. After this stage, the smell of the perfume does not change appreciably until it is completely removed, and in terms of smell distribution and durability, it is one of the weakest works of Amouage...

بازی آکوردها ...ا در این عطر شما با آکورد بویایی روبرو میشید و تقریبا رایحه ی هیچیک از موادی رو که در هرم نتهای عطر به آن اشاره شده رو بصورت جداگانه استشمام نخواهید کرد. در شروع اسپری؛ آکوردی از نتها که میتوان تقریبا حدس زد که مربوط به اسطوخودوس و افسنطین هست رو تشخیص خواهید داد که این دو در واقع با هم ترکیب (میکس) شده اند و با هم یک بوی جدیدی ایجاد کرده اند و در کنارش و بصورت خیلی ملایم فلفل میخواهد که به قول معروف سرش کلاه نره و عرضه اندامی داشته باشه که زیاد هم در این کار موفق نیست. نیم ساعت که از شروع اسپری کردن میگذره؛ یه حالت ادویه ی به آکورد فوق اضافه میشه. در نتهای عطر به دارچین و هل اشاره شده؛ ولی به عقیده ی من این حالت ادویه مانند چیزی غیر از این دو هست. شاید هم مانند مرحله ی قبلی آکوردی است که چنین بوی خاصی رو ایجاد کرده. بوی عطر بعد از این مرحله تا حذف کامل آن تقریبا تغییر محسوسی نمیکنه و از نظر پخش بو و دوام هم یکی از ضعیف ترین کارهای آمواژ هست...ا Accords battle!! In this perfume, you will encounter a fragrant chord and you will almost not be able to inhale the scent of almost any of the substances mentioned in the pyramid of pyramid notes separately. At the beginning of the spray; You'll notice a chord of notes that can almost be guessed to be related to lavender and mint. As the saying goes, he has a hat and a body, which is not very successful. Half an hour after spraying; A spice mode is added to the above chord. Cinnamon and cardamom are mentioned in the notes of the perfume; But I think this spice is like something else. Maybe it's like the previous stage of chords that created such a special smell. The scent of the perfume almost does not change significantly after this stage until its complete removal, and it is one of the weakest works of amulet in terms of odor and durability.

I get masses of the cardamom, cinnamon and incense at the opening - so much so it brought to mind an inferior version of Tauer's Incense Extreme! But give it a little time to settle - or grow which is more the case - and I am being assaulted by a very masculine (for want of a better word) and heady lavender, bay and cedar mix - this does smell excellent but for me this stage is just too masculine! I would just love to smell this on a man providing he was judicious with application as I have only a little on but it is incredibly strong for my nose - almost like a good cold remedy! As the base notes hit and the woodyness and patchouli come to the fore this just reminds me so much of the Middle-East and almost every Middle-Eastern businessman I came across smelt (to a heavy degree) like this! To my nose it is not unique and very Middle Eastern! Maybe that is just the underlying incense running throughout the whole thing? I really can't see how this is unisex - to me it is way too masculine and a tad overpowering at that! I think gentle care in application is needed here! Again, it is a cleverly crafted perfume by the Amouage house but in my opinion not quite unique enough to warrant such a huge price tag! Saying that though there is good value for money here as a little goes a very, very long way! Silage - massive. Longevity is very good! If you want to smell like a Middle Eastern businessman then this is for you! Add a thobe, ghutra and an igal and you can even look like one as well !!!!!!!

Excuse me if I don’t go into more of the over-the-top raptures that this scent generates in others, but it just didn’t do that for me. It’s well crafted, well-mannered, and nice enough, but it doesn’t make me want to rush out and rob a bank so that I can buy a big bottle of it. To me, Opus II starts out smelling like a typical high-end “man’s cologne” with lots of lavender and woody notes. Lavender is right up there with lily-of-the-valley as one of my least favorite notes to wear. It’s funny, because I think lavender smells just beautiful on plants, but it’s not something I particularly want to smell like myself. After 15 minutes or so the lavender calms down and some low-key spices start to come through, cinnamon and cardamom along with the bay leaf and artemesia and what is probably vetiver, even though it’s not listed in the notes. At that point the scent takes on a culinary herbs & spices tone, exciting perhaps for those who’ve grown up on a diet of bland foods, but not impressive to this reviewer who is forbidden to make Thanksgiving stuffing for the in-laws’ get-togethers because it’s “too spicy”. This is not to say that Opus II is a wimpy perfume. It’s not. It’s strong, with a woody sharpness that persists for far too long. It’s got good sillage, and lasts for the better part of a day, with traces of the sweetish clean-musky drydown still lingering on clothing the next day. Maybe I was expecting something different, but I have to say that I was a bit disappointed by this one.

''Amouage The Collection Opus II'' ^ uhrevi lavanta ^ Tek bir kelime ile size izah edeceğim '' Muhteşem''. Ben bu kokuyu hayal ederken ,ben roman yazıyordum. 1200 lü yılların viyanasında var olan eski bir kilise var. Belkide bu kilise yapı olarak en az 400 yıllık. Bu kilisenin alt kısmına kenevir yetiştirmek için alan oluşturulmuş. İşte bu kilise demiş ki, bende kenevir üretemezsiniz. Papa da bu sefer lavanta ekmiş , büyütmüş, papa lavanta yetiştirmiş. İşte bu Kilisenin kokusudur. Uhrevi bir lavanta parfmüdür. Oldukça nazik, oldukça sizi ileriye taşıyan. Kendi benliğinizi tanımaya yardımcı olacak bir parfümdür. ⛪ Açılış oldukça yeşil pelesenkten gelen acılık ve yeşil bir tat ile başlıyor. Bu tat burnunuza ahenk edeceği an , olduğumuz andan itibaren konum değiştirmeye başlamışsınız. Düşünmeye , hayal etmeye başlamak gibi bir parfüm. olayın başlangıç kısmı değil. Daha olay başlamadan önce olan düşüncelerimiz gibi başlıyor. Çocuk sahibi olmayı hayal etmek gibi.. pelesenk kanatlarını indirip, lavanta ve tütsü akoru ile ana sahnede görüyoruz ve bu durum 2 saat sürüp , tamamen bitiyor. İyiki de tamamen kalıcı olmayan bir parfüm diyebiliriz. tazeledikçe kendimizde bir tebessüm yakalatıyor. Kilise vari bir lavanta özü.. 10/9.1