Opoponax

Reviewing the honoré payan version of this which if i understand correctly, is exactly the same as the pre-reformulated les nereides for a fraction of the price I am just shocked... very rarely does trying a new perfume after all these years give me this feeling of joy and intrigue. And that may easily be attributed to how beautiful citrus ambers are in general (if done correctly). As stated by someone else, the opening is very interesting. It feels like the citruses and resins are fighting over who will get to please your nose first, with the citruses winning and the resins blending into the background. This victory lasts 10 minutes, because after this phase you get pure opoponax (and a little bit of benzoin). This opoponax is rich, dense, powdery, ancient, medicinal, sweet, deep smooth and almost delectable. And how bright this perfume is! The immense warmth the opoponax carries gives you the same sensation as a sunset in late summer, without any humidity or sweat Apparently, opoponax has a hint of lavender, and i definitely get something herbal fresh in combination with the vanillic warmth of the resin. It is not at all overwhelming though, which is good because im not necessarily a huge fan of lavender/fresh perfumes. Definitely one of those scents that i will not be able to live without. It is exactly like Shalimar’s drydown without the leather/smoke. Its less animalic but still as sexy and radiant. Definitely not a dupe for shalimar because there is no detectable bergamot in here. If you like shalimar but find it hard to wear, definitely give this a try. It also reminds me of a denser version of pradas discontinued l’eau ambrée It is strong, so strong in fact that i go noseblind to it really fast unless i spray it on my shoulders. But its not an annoying kind of strong, it is just right. Honestly a 10/10 for me. Simple and linear, in the sense that it doesnt change from start to finish. But in this case that is a + for me. The opening (after 10 minutes) is already so perfect that im glad the perfume remains this way through its long wear (6 hours of projection, 10+ hours of staying on skin) And this for 30 euros... oh honore payan i will become a frequent buyer

I own the more recent formulation, now simply called OPOPONAX, with the more modern, streamlined label. The jus within is a rich orange color. Wonderfully potent, concentrated, sweet and powdery amber/vanilla scent, with a head of tart orange/mandarin, and a hint of jasmine that almost-- but not quite--- brands this as a feminine perfume. The opening marries orange and vanilla in a way almost reminiscent of a "Dreamsicle" ice cream bar, but this doesn't last too long. Opoponax is a tree resin, sometimes called "sweet myrrh". The natural pure oil itself smells much like that spraycan glue I used to use as a first-grader at Christmastime 1969... to make "snow" adhere to paper. ie., somewhat solvent-like. But opoponax also reveals interesting luminous facets of golden caramel. Blended with citrus and benzoin, it becomes something luscious, fulsome, regal and cozy. This Les Néréides perfume exhibits an obvious kinship with Coty ÉMÉRAUDE... moreso than with SHALIMAR, I'd say, but lacks ÉMÉRAUDE's silvery iris-y clean head. OPOPONAX contains none of SHALIMAR's skanky musks and smoke. This perfume is glorious, luxurious stuff... yet its price-point is surprisingly affordable... especially for a scent that smells totally natural... Other than the opening sparkling aldehydes, this fragrance contains no apparent trendy modern, bogus aromachemicals. (You know the usual suspects: cashmeran, timberol, iso-E-super, calone, et.al., may they be consigned to oblivion). Not listed in the above olfactive pyramid, is a nearly-not-there whisper of something anisic... whether it be anise, licorice, fennel or tarragon? I'm thinking tarragon. I suspect a soupçon of patchouly might be afoot, too, but it's only there as a discreet, sensual "blender". Maybe a faint phantom hint of black pepper, too, to add some "burn" to the amber/balsams? Do note that this listing on FRAGRANTICA mistakenly spells the scent as "OPPOPONAX" (sic). It should be spelled with only two P's, as: "OPOPONAX"

Review for both the original and reformulation here. I tried the original about a year and a half ago; it was clear, rich oppoponax with a touch of vanilla. Very Shalimar without the animalic notes and citrus toned down significantly. I began to think of Opoponax as my reference sweet-myrrh fragrance. When I went to buy a bottle, it came in a new design. I ordered from Luckyscent and received a brand-new bottle in beautiful presentation of thick, textured box in lovely light blue with goldtone edges. The perfume rests in tissue paper under a literature card with floral illustration. The bottle itself is the same shape as previously, simple and sturdy, with an updated light-blue label that matches the box. It is available only in 100 mL size, generous enough for the price, which is modest for niche. The scent itself is not like I remember. In fact, I do not get oppoponax anymore at all. For whatever reason, this note was left out of the reformulation and in its place are much amber, benzoin, vanilla, and orange syrup. It is now primarily an amber perfume with chocolatey nuances that bring to mind Shalimar sur la Route Mexique. Fortunately it is no weaker than before, and the scent is so absolutely beautiful that I aim to keep the perfume. It is very good quality and of such a small production that it fits the definition of niche quite appropriately. However, I will have to once again look for my reference oppoponax perfume or try to find an older bottle of this one.

I traded a bottle of Chanel No. 19 for this- specifically the 'Angels Resting' eau de toilette version that says 'Imperial Opoponax'. (Thank you dear friend Vee!) This scent opens with warm toasted citrus peels and gets straight to the heart notes. After the citrus peels quickly fade, I get a beautifully RICH resinous amber vanilla. I disagree with some reviewers in their comparison to Shalimar. I have dozens of Shalimar bottles in various concentrations and from various decades and this fragrance just does not compare to it. This holds the resinous spicy heart notes throughout on me and stays 'warm'. I get more spices from this during the colder months and now that it has warmed a bit I get more creaminess from the spicy resin than the dry warmth I got in the winter. It is definitely beautiful and something I will treasure. Not sure if the newer bottles have gone through a reformulation and, if so, I hope this perfume is exactly the same as the bottle I have. I don't think it fair to label a scent masculine or feminine, because cultures vary in that perception, as well as the tastes of each wearer. I think this would be beautiful and comforting on a woman just the same as on a man. It reminds me at times of vintage aftershaves, and then again of vintage boudoirs. Very beautiful and a treasured perfume for me! Give it a try if you ever come across this!!

Although I've been really charmed, by the creations of this Maison, I could not wear any among them as an evident 'disliking' towards them, shown by my rebel skin has always kept me far from 'the family', being their effects on me undeniably poor... : ( Today a miracle has happened: a friend came to see me and seeing that he was carrying a bottle of that wonder in his tennis bag I asked him politely if I could.......: I've lived my epiphany! Surrounded by the sweet aroma of the beautiful myrrh there employed, so round, rich and 'soft', I think that I spied a glimpse of paradise! The notes I could soon detect are among my beloved ones: vanilla, sandal, amber and benzoin, all already clearly detectable since the opening. On my skin sandal, amber and opoponax (myrrh) are staying with a strength and tenacity that I could never thought. A really 'regal' effect, that made me think about another lovely 'pair': 'Le sens du plaisir' by Antonio Visconti. Great! After a while benzoin joined to vanilla blend into a warm, lovely, elegant fragrance. Very beautiful! Lovely sillage and projection. Perhaps this fragrance is perfect for the cold season but either on me or on my male friend it is sublime, even today on a very hot day. Highly recommended, also, to 'boys' ('girls' are understood) of every age: do not be afraid to dare!!! ; ) Good persistence on the skin.

Not really the place for it but @brada you can buy samples of this at ausliebezumduft.de Oh this is gorgeous! Rich and intoxicating but somehow without being heavy. It smells very similar to the wonderful Obsession and Moschino Moschino at opening. However where Obsession goes deep into vanilla-leather musky animalic resinous territory and Moschino becomes more powdery musk and lighter with some florals, Oppoponax stays with that opening, albeit more quietly than the other two. This remains rich, resinous and warm throughout, heavier on the oppoponax, amber and benzoin at first and over time the amber and vanilla become more apparent along with some warm sandalwood to keep things nice and balanced although the opening notes remain apparent throughout. This projects wonderfully, wearing it on my arms I get the most wonderful wafts of scent reaching my nose, yet it doesn't cross easily into other's space and is not overpowering. Pretty good longevity at around 9 hours on a warm day, and it stays balanced throughout. Lovely. I tested from a generous sample but this is going on my want list for sure! I don't get any of the associations with Shalimar that others mention, to me it is not alike at all. Beautiful perfume, well worth a try.

I promised a better review some time ago, and as I always keep my promises... here it comes. Imperial Opoponax is a beautiful perfume. The smell reminds me in a strange way of public bath houses or maybe it is the smell of chlorine. And even more strange, I do like it! But I think I am partly unfair to a very pleasant fragrance now, most people maybe not associate chlorine with something they would go around and smell like. So I try to describe it another way... Like a river of the most precious and melted woods, almost like some kind of wooden syrup with the slightest hint of oranges... and chlorine... sorry I can ́t help it! I feel happy, comfy and somewhat balmy when I wear this. Maybe the chlorine vapour make me a bit giggeling? No, actually it must be some kind of laughing gas? Well, it makes me happy. After a while the melted wood dries... and instead we have a big pile of golden brown wooden powder. Soft, caressing and lingering... Great for all sexes and circumstanses, but greatestfor colder weather and when you want a great moodlifter! Yes, offcourse you should try it! And the price is quite nice too! Even tough I find opoponax kind of jawbreaking to say...

I thought it smelled very familiar. In the first 10 minutes, this is very similar to the original Moschino! I would say that it is not as spicy nor as complex, but it is smoother and somehow more buttery in comparison. I don't get much spice, except that I smell ground cumin (which I cook with often) with a hint of black pepper. No cinnamon nor clove, but savory spices. To me, the name Arabie seems more fitting for this creation than for Serge Lutens' fragrance. This one transports me easily to the Arabian desert and spice markets. Sillage is fairly strong, and the fragrance lasts many hours. I only spray each wrist once, but I feel as though people can easily smell me for hours after. Update: Years later, I finally purchased a bottle. I modified my review a bit, as I have slightly different perceptions from years ago when I sampled it. I am also happy that the change of packaging did not seem to be due to reformulation, as this stuff is still plenty strong and smells amazing.

Imperial Opoponax strikes me as having a distinctively old-world vibe. It has a rich, high-end "perfumey" quality to it that makes me think of Shalimar. The combination of citrus, resins, vanilla, powder, and smokiness definitely brings Guerlain's classic to mind. Imperial Opoponax lacks the animalic leather note in Shalimar, and also has a slightly sweeter, creamier feel. There is a delicious almond-extract type of sweetness that I'm picking up...perhaps it's the combination of vanilla and benzoin. I see this has been voted as similar to Yves Rocher Voile d'Ambre. Although they do both have strong citrus and resin notes, I don't find them that alike. Imperial Opoponax is a beautiful fragrance, but I don't think I feel the need to buy a bottle myself. Shalimar provides me with a very similar effect, and I prefer/plan to acquire this fragrance in the near future. Nonetheless, I highly recommend sampling this gem from Les Nereides, especially if you're into resinous fragrances.

This is my second review for Opoponax by Les Nereides as I now own the older version called “Imperial Opoponax” with the cherubs on the label. They are quite different in the opening and the dry down, and since I have not read anyone comparing the two versions I thought my review might be helpful. The newer version opens with a citrus note, the older version has more opoponax in the mix—which is most apparent in the dry down. Vintage bottle is smoother, more natural with a good vanilla forward. When I stick my nose up close, I get a slight burning sensation with the newer version. Still I like the newer bottle too. If anything, the newer bottle might have more stamina in the performance area. But I’m glad I found an older bottle because I like how it’s wearing on me.

This was a blind buy after hearing about it from various sources and it was on the off chance I saw it up for auction on Ebay. I knew in my heart it was a good contender by reading the notes: Sweet myrrh, amber, benzoin, sandalwood and Vanilla.. And as I opened the box. I feel in look with the chic blue and gold gilded box and then the scent itself. Opoponax is so smooth, decadent,rich and full bodied..and it's exquisite.. Its not brash or harsh in the way some orientals with these notes can be. Leading the wearer to migrane inducing headaches after one sniff.. Its comforting, alluring and wraps you up in a golden, warm, glowing, amber coloured cocoon.. Safe and resplendent in its arm's.. Next to Coco. This is my top oriental and I am overjoyed to own it.

A simple lover of things that smell nice, I can tell anyone that is interested in a quality, opoponax scent... get this asap. This gorgeous elixir placed upon one's throat and arms will make you and your desired one feel... (oops! too x-rated for the site). Ok... where are my seven veils??? This is a high quality resinous, powdery and luscious piece of perfume art. Not Shalimar, or anything else that has been mentioned. Brut??? I'll take those that compared this to Brut all to the mat (wrestling) for that! This is a fragrance a dark-eyed man or woman of unusual,exotic features wears when they softly welcome you to their table set with dates, honey and whatever spirit that they conjure. Omar Sharif in Lawrence of Arabia comes to mind. Yes.

Sweet myrrh... makes me want to 'pyrrh.' This really brings out the tiger in me and makes want to claim my place on a velvet cushioned throne. Warm, spicy, mysterious and comforting all the way into my soul. Slightly medicinal with a sacred, ancient healing vibration. I feel like I'm more attuned when wearing this enigmatic fragrance. Citrus and amber give this a special glow; benzoin lends a smooth, slowly spiraling, honeyed tobacco accord. King Soloman regarded opoponax or sweet myrrh as one of the noblest of all incense gums. And when annointing yourself with this regal scent, it's easy to see why. Truly special. I'll be looking for a large decant or bottle of this radiant perfume. Pppprrrrrrrr.....

I love it and I will find it and get a full bottle of it! What a great scent with an atic vibe. I love perfumes that remind me of the past, this one smells like those old boxes full of objects from the childhood and teenage years of your grandparents. I think is more masculine than feminine and I would feel a little bit out of place wearing it, BUT this fragrance is so good and so simply perfect that I wouldnt care a bit. The main notes on my skin are the sandalwood and the citruses. This trully reminds me of my grandfather when he used to smoke those 100 year old cuban cigaretted that smelled like woods and vanilla. Another perfume of this house that I'm carving for!! 8.5/10

I found a vintage bottle of this online - it's really sad that opoponax has been discontinued! The original one has the angelic label and is called "Imperial Opoponax" It smells divine! A beautiful soft angelic scent - powdery balsamic amber. It starts off a little citrusy but this only last a few minutes - and develops into a sweet vanilla balsam. There is something very nostalgic and a little melancholic! Has an old world charm! Will cherish this fragrance for a long time. I find that on me it doesn't last as long as I would like - so I put a thin layer of vaseline on my neck before spraying in order to maintain a longer longevity - unscented lotion works just as well.

This is a First flirt-review, i will add more in a week. Deep amber & sandalwood that brings me straight to a sauna and the chlorine in a swimmingpool. Deliciously warm and distinct. Its a strong and smoky skinscent with fine blending & longevity. Absolutely unisex. I can see how "Deefit", the reviewer below, gets LOTs of citrus, because I was there too! "- is it lemon? Is it lime? Is it citruspeel? Wow wait, is it burnt light wood!?" Its so sharp yet inviting and the resin/tree scent is so hard for me to seperate from the citrus. Its good. I really enjoy this. Thats Lucky for me, because I blind-bought THREE BOTTLES, based only on Your reviews :)

A delicious, rich, darkly honeyed nectar, little dusty, cozy, sensual and nostalgic. To me, there is a touch of masculine vibe to start with and I love it, although it mellows very quickly into warmly feminine, darkly sweet, amber-y, woody balm. The vanilla here is light and counteracts and lifts the resinous stickiness of this lovely, lovely concoction. I agree with many reviewers that there is a feel of "old worldliness" in Imperial Opoponax and that is very comforting somehow. This is full of mellow colours of late Summer or early Autumn, of hot spicy drinks and of bonfires (or fireplaces indeed). Beautiful, sweetly dusty dry down.

An easy to wear warm amber with vanilla, benzoin and Myrrh. This has become my no brainer reach through all seasons—except for the warmest summer days. A smooth oriental, I don’t find it similar to Voile D'Ambre. That one I had to let go as the synthetic opening proved too hard for me to get past. Opoponax is more natural smelling, and a better blend with higher quality ingredients. For a niche perfume, this is priced well; $95 for 100ml, the only size available on luckyscent. I feel that this is a good option for someone just wanting to step out of mainstream perfumes and start exploring.

It was a blind buy for me, based on some positive reviews here. I was looking for a opoponax perfume and I thought I might give Les Nereides Opoponax a try. And I didn't regret it! I fell in love with it the second I smelt it. So unusual, unlike anything I've tried before. And I tried a lot!!:) It is very linear on my skin, doesn't change much at all, maybe vanilla gets a bit more prominent after a couple of hours. Very soft, feminine and warm. Awesome longevity, around 7-9 hours, sillage above average. Highly recommended!

To read about my ramblings on 19-69 Kasbah is to know how I rediscovered Les Nereides Opoponax. I found an old sample from Luckyscent hidden amongst my junk drawer of samples after seeing it listed on "this reminds me of". One dab had me scouring the interwebs looking for a full bottle. An eBay purchase and a 10 day journey from Italy later, Opoponax is in her new home. No need to reiterate what others have already described well. A woman wearing this is complex, smart as all hell and intolerant of bullshit.