AMOUAGE Interlude Woman Eau de Parfum

Interlude Woman is unquestionably one of the strangest perfumes I have ever smelled. Or, to quote the note I quickly typed here upon first sniff, "Holy freaking what is this- it's so weird and I have a crush on it."

It reminds me of that meme where Beaker tries to smell the color 9. Others have quite skillfully described the scent more accurately. I feel love from this perfume- it's not a scent that is trying to be novel or innovative for the sake of attention. Rather, it's just art. Pure, gorgeous, original art. And forever an autumn staple for me.

I personally find this a touch more femenine than masculine as my skin accentuates the fruit and flora of the fume, but I am not one to shy away from something floral anymore, especially when it is beautiful! The opening is like a grand finale of fireworks - there is so much going on that it feels impossible to take all of it in! To the person who said this opens as an average fruity floral - you should probably make sure you have a reputable supplier or get your nose checked cuz this is magic! I can pick out a big and juicy kiwi note (it smells true to life and its tenacity is illogical) drenched in a delicious immortelle syrup with a dusting of ground coffee and nuts with just a hint of sandalwood. This phase rotates through these notes for a good hour on my skin before transitioning to an airy oakmoss and immortelle combo that is nicely accented by the walnut/coffee note and a creamy musk and sandalwood lingering about. There is a bit of bitterness that weaves itself in and out of perception and this fume, at a distance, smells quite like a rich and exotic cup of coffee. Many hours later, all that remains is a quiet and beautiful honeyed wood and musk - this is a fantastic fume and we'll worth the money as it is far more intricate than it appears. May you all enjoy the it the breaks you get and find something to indulge in!

Day 27 - Reprieve
Listening to: Massive Attack - Everywhen

I'm absolutely hooked on this one! Dark, smouldering, smoky, incense rich, mysterious perfume which is insanely beautiful. Even more beautiful than Lyric, this is a woody masterpiece which starts like a burning fire and changes into a herbal Chinese medicine store to then morph into a sweet garden of flowers.
This house is going to be my absolute downfall! Stunningly, breathtakingly divine perfume!

The advance rave reviews of Interlude Woman prompted me to haunt the decant sites until it appeared, and I immediately ordered a good-sized sample. That sample arrived on a ridiculously hot day. Normally, I would have avoided testing a heavier fragrance in extreme heat, but in this case I couldn't wait and stupidly sprayed myself with abandon.

My initial reaction was that Interlude was horrific. Out of that huge pyramid of notes the only one that emerged with any distinction was immortelle, a note I loathe. If you've ever lived in a US college dormitory, you're probably familiar with Roach Motels. They are cardboard traps that are coated on the inside with a mixture of maple syrup (to attract the "tenants") and pesticide. This gruesome smell was what Interlude evoked for me. I was tempted to toss the sample but fortunately I didn't.

Once the weather cooled a bit, I decided to give Interlude another shot, and I'm so glad I did. The dreaded immortelle retreated to the background and all the loveliness immediately emerged. I don't know that I've ever encountered a walnut note before in perfume, but it is delicious, especially in conjunction with the strong coffee aroma that permeates the heart of Interlude. I should tell you that this is not at all a fruity fragrance, despite the presence of grapefruit and kiwi, so don't let that scare you away from trying it. What I found Interlude to be was a warm, woody, tonka-infused perfume with just a suggestion of rose and incense. Men could wear it just as easily as women, but I do think that it will end up being a fall/winter frag for me if I ever decide to spring for that gorgeous blue bottle.

Interlude. Remember the Powerhouse 80's scents that include about 100 notes? This is much the same. But Mid-Eastern in flavor, and I do mean Flavor.

The first half-hour or so are mind-boggling. Kiwi fruit, coffee, loads of immortelle (a favorite note of mine) with a honey bee coated with honey sitting atop. Dark smokey incense floats above all. Heavy blankets of yummy goodness.

After a while, Interlude takes an interlude of sorts. It brings out a subtle ginger and a nice nutmeg. The smoke clears just a bit... maybe it's more smoldering at this point. It reminds me of really well-made Baklava, with a little cup of Turkish coffee.

Interlude is a stunner. Good sillage, amazing longevity. All this from a sample vial. So... I just pulled the trigger for a FB. Can't wait to try it sprayed!