Quick surprising drydown update: Reasons becomes insanely incense forward with the anice/licorice thing taking a first seat; the sillage also grows (somehow) and remains impressive for hours. I like it! The drydown, on my skin, is definitely the highlight.
Thanks Daniel for the review; I enjoyed experiencing this vicariously through you. I'm looking forward to testing this for myself. Appreciate the time and effort in creating this video💫
@@SeldomlyOften I actually watch a number of your reviews homie. You're awesome at what you do. Just wanted to reach out on this post as I'm yet to test these new ones and I loved how you took us all through the olfactory experience....I loved it💪🏽
@@TheNicheFragranceCollector thanks again, I love the way you are so passionate about perfumes and really inspired me with the stories. I purchased Viole Nere recently because I liked your take on it!
Just to throw an idea out there, perhaps consider doing a revisit of some first impression fragrances in a few months? Which ones grew on you, which ones didnt, which ones you got a bottle of. Really enjoy your content style, its been keeping boring workdays interesting
@@yiyithewuster yeah, this is totally possible, technically it will happen on its own as I get a bottle of stuff I like and by my own silly rule, I’ll eventually review it. But a list video on that could be fun.
I watched the interview where Persolaise asked him about the aging and addition of the sandalwood chips and you could almost see the man's soul leave his body. lol. Poor Persolaise didn't mean to cause such a stir, and is a very good friend of the brand, so I hope it doesn't harm their relationship with one another.
@@boogiedaddy3434 I had the same reaction to that 😂 Honestly, the whole idea doesn’t make sense to a point of being insulting to the consumer that knows enough. That’s the part that annoys me about this release, it sort of confirms that RS has no real ideas for the brand and is just coming up with re-release and gimmicks. I’m thankful for the perfumers involved, allowed to work with a high budget to create something interesting.
@@SeldomlyOftenexactly my thoughts. I work in the hospitality business, so very much aware how aging in barrels works. This releases definitely feel just like marketing BS. Or just a very average art direction, not sure which😂
Yes!!!! Was hopeful this vid was coming! Only surprise was I thought you would have gotten Outlands, being Cecile Z. My outlands arrived yesterday. I saw Cecile & patchouli and had to do it. Big surprise with the scent! Like you, dif than my expectations but very pleasant surprise! I love being challenged. Modern & Chic. Can’t wait to smell the other 2, and your review!
Thanks, Daniel! Great first impression and dry down update! As you know, I'm very curious about these three fragrances and I cannot wait for your full reviews.
@@Ilovelove111 as of now, I like the scent profile, I’ll definitely have to give this many more wears to understand what is going on and the idea behind it.
@@SeldomlyOften Your in-depth, well-thought-out reviews are what makes your channel great, so please take your time. Having said this, I do hope that you'll receive the other two bottles soon, if not for the first impressions, then at least to satisfy your OCD. I mean, nobody will disagree with you that three matching bottles are more aesthetically pleasing than one, let alone two 😅
I’m so interested in this new practice. Can’t wait to try. No matter what anyone says I love the traditional ways of creating fragrances from old practices and natural ingredients
@@ra.j7210 I like high-end, passionate, no compromise type of products too but the consumer has receive something tangible from this, not just the ‘trust me’ promise. I’m just excited Amouage is releasing new things 😊
Hi Seldomly Often I have watched several of your carefully crafted reviews.I must say that your content is refreshing and informative nice work. Kudos 🙌🏻
Thank you so much for this much thorough and candid review! You are doing great! I was lucky enough to receive the travel sample kit with all three fragrances. Its presentation is gorgeous BTW. Out of the three, I really enjoyed Outlands and Lustre, and found Reasons a little tame (and I’m also not a big fan of hazelnut notes). Lustre came out much spicier that what I expected while keeping a very creamy quality. Outlands keeps growing on me, a real journey.
Bertrand Duchaufour certainly knows his way around incense, so your drydown update sounds awesome! From traditional frankincense to fantasy accords like copal resin and now Paolo Santo, he's solidifying himself as one of the greats! Sandalwood and Paolo Santo seem like a natural connection, so it's interesting that he utilizes the smokiness as a base note and creaminess as a top note. Im not sure if I'd ever purchase any of these full price personally, but I definitely can't wait for samples. this one and outlands look the most interesting, and I love both perfumers.
@@ethanrrs yeah I don’t recommend full price at all, mine is a special case of being a fan and wanting to provide an early opinion. Drydown for Reasons is cool, I like to. Outlands was not inspiring to me but since I’ll be getting it, we shall see.
Thank you for this review and generously doing an unboxing and walking us through it. Good points about the "hate train". Good point too about the manufacturing costs being passed on to consumers -- a gimmick.
@@TimmMmit the aging process thing is just a dumb, half baked idea. There is another video online (first one up) that mentions this will be the future of perfumery… 😂😂
Your channel is doing great! I like my Amouage bottles in their original style, but I will say, when I saw these I was immediately attracted to them (they seem so clean, dreamy and white! ha). The scent profile sounds nice actually.... I hope it works out!
If you like woody aromatic scents you might like Roja Dove Apex Cologne. Some of the most realistic cypress and fir resin I have smelled. Powerful and a bit brash. I really enjoy wearing it when I have a lot of work to do and need to focus. Invigorating for sure.
@@Ganimedes_pl it’s cool! Very wearable, definitely needs a lot more time on skin for me to get a full idea of what is going on. Performance is surprisingly good.
Great content as always, Daniel! Really like your approach to fragrance reviews. I’m really curious to know your thoughts on the following: - Tom Ford Black Lacquer - Marc Antoine Barrois Encelade - Ormonde Jayne Montabaco Intensivo Cheers!
@@gbnjzl9643 thanks for the comment! I have smelled the Tom Ford in the airport and it’s really good! The MAB I have a sample of, and will be testing that and I’ll be diving into OJ with that one too soon 😉
Thanks for your 1st impressions. I love incense so can't wait to test Reasons and Lustre. I agree with you about super early comments on something they haven't smelt; it seems to be a growing trend. I've bought Outlands and love the scent profile. I rarely buy new releases but I'm glad I took the risk.
What does Outlands smell like to you? Very curious to smell the other 2 (hopefully next week). The dumb bashing is childish and unreasonable for sure. Funny is that those haters then become the hypers when the sands shift…
@@SeldomlyOften It's very thick and resinous. I love the black pepper and citrus opening that somehow seems to last a long time. I don't get much mid notes, then it morphs into the amber/benzoin drydown. This type of perfume is my cup of tea 👌. I'm 63 so of the generation where Opium, Poison, Angel, Eternity etc were around and perfume houses took risks.
I ordered Lustre and Outlands, both have really good performance. Lustre has amazing sillage without it overwhelming the wearer. Outlands lasts a good while on my clothes. I can see how the double infusion process might have impacted Lustre since it is sandalwood dominant but I am having trouble seeing that with Outlands 😅
Cool! Reasons has also great performance throughout the wear! What does Outlands smell like? People can’t seem to describe it well. As per the sandalwood infusion, we shall see if there is a practical application of this.
@@SeldomlyOften I actually stopped myself from watching reviews so I could smell it judgement-free first 😆 I’ll share with you what I experienced before I watched Persolaise’s live with Renaud: Outlands opens citrusy-spicy but it is nothing I’ve smelled before. It is weird but acceptable and I can smell this throughout the life of the perfume. I also found Outlands slightly minty and a bit green too, reminding me of mojitos. The base is dark but it is not as heavy and as mysterious as Silver Oud. The citruses prevent it from going into that territory. Because of this, you can easily wear this day or night. When I wear this, I picture myself walking in the woods on a bright sunny day. It was hard for me to describe it too until I watched Renaud speak about it in the live interview. I believe what he mentioned is pretty accurate: candied lemons followed by a big dose of patchouli before settling on a base of amber. Before I knew this, I wasn’t aware that Outlands was patchouli-centric! But now I cannot unsee it. And candied lemons is such a good way to describe that opening. I’ve had several wears of this and I think it smelled the best after I went for a walk. I live in a dry climate so my skin is usually dry… so with a little sweat from the walking, it smelled so nice and refreshing! My only criticism is that there were times when this got too sweet for my liking! I will wait for your reviews, I am sure you will be better at articulating it :)
Renaud commented in the interview that for some reason the ceramic cap wasn't doable. And you made me smile, the first minutes vs the pinned comment. I just knew it. Douchafour usually takes us for a ride, whatever he does... My first favorite is Dzongkha.
Thanks for the review! I was just wondering about these new Amouages. On the reference to Gris Charnel, is Reasons like it except with pine instead of fig?
I’m not sure if sarcastic or not but this is only a very first impression, not a review at all. I was objectively surprised by the scent profile, tried to piece it together as best I could on the spot.
Great review thanks. These are pricey fragrances but thats luxury products of any type. They’re not a necessity so no one is being forced to make a purchase. I am very interested in Outlands by Cecile Z. Maybe an early Xmas present👍
Look at you with over 3,000 subs! Word has been getting out. Congrats! Had a super frustrating day at work, so it was a treat to discover your review! I appreciated your honest opinions as always. I’m guessing this needs some time on skin (and a bunch more sprays - but I’m an unrepentant over-sprayer!). I’m encouraged to hear it doesn’t smell like anything familiar. That’s a good start. I also appreciate you calling out the online nonsense about this. People have been irrational and vile. I’ve been on a somewhat lonely and quixotic mission to suggest that folks keep their damn shirts on until they’ve at least smelled them. It’s like no matter what the brand does, it gets criticized. Anyway, my mission has largely failed so moving on… Excited for you to get the other two. My money is on Outlands. I love a good chaotic Zarokian note listing 🤪
Hey! Thanks for stopping by! It’s been a ride 😊 I don’t mind the new frag at all, I need a lot more wears to give my conclusion but so far it’s fun and smells different. Yes, CZ is best known for her chaotic note break down, really curious of what it smells like, I feel like most videos out don’t give a clear idea and are beating around the uncertainty bush.
I totally agree it’s become so negative on Fragrantica. Brands like Tom Ford & Roja get review bombed instantly. This new line definitely intrigues me Outlands being no.1 on my to try list.
@@SeldomlyOften it’s definitely a mixture of both. Outlands seems to be the most mass appealing from what I’ve seen online, I love unique scents that are still very wearable.
Thank you for these first impressions, Daniel. Personally, I expect Outlands to be pretty interesting. Also, I love the old style bottles. I'm very confused about this new apothecary design. It looks like the new leadership is trying hard to step away from the Amouage heritage. I'm not certain it's going to amuse the fans, but I can see how this would work for new customers.
@@SeldomlyOften lots of accords I usually enjoy, the perfume looks, on paper, like a concoction of contrasting notes, which makes it all the way more interesting. Besides, I'm a fan of Ms. Zarokian 😅
@@nathanthomas5133 that’s probably because of the hype for Cecile Zarokian, she is one of the only perfumer mentioned mainstream even by people like Cubaknows etc… she is also very active on social media.
@@sharfalor4244 maybe the sold out stays was due to the available bottles? Maybe there was still some packaging? I got one coming from the second block. We shall see
@@sharfalor4244 They don’t have ‘some stock available again’ - they have it up for pre-order for the next batch as they said they under-estimated demand - but they haven’t said when the next batch will actually ship. Not sure why you think ‘perfumers batch’ means that they wouldn’t produce more stock - of course they’re going to produce new batches.
I completely agree with you that you should not rate fragrances/products that you have not seen or tested. Above all, people have complained so much about the bottles before they have had them in their hands. As a brand, you are immediately penalized for trying something new. Anyway, thanks for the review. I'm looking forward to Outlands, which is on its way to me.
@@goldzahnjackson8729 Outlands was not my first choice notes wise, seems kind of messy but hey, I’ll give my opinion with the thing in hand, probably next week 😉
I am glad that you "blind"-buy this (in my opinion, today a pure blind buy is an urban legend: we do at least some research on the product and the olfactive signature plays an important role - we should thanks Malle for that). I will not enter the dispute on the new Amouages, but I feel compelled to add something. Being myself a fUn-boy (pun intended) of Chris, I enjoyed the Britolognes especially Fanfare and Centre Stage, which I own (Black Carnation on its way) and I feel we are all still entitled to express ourselves and give our (usually negative) opinion on the new releases by the Gift of Kings, provided these opinions are grounded on actually having sampled the perfumes and possibly having given them multiple wears (i.e.,at least one chance). For me it is interesting that Duchaufour was chosen for the PAST and Zarokian for the FUTURE - this is almost certainly not random. By the way you described the scent, I can see this is classical Duchaufour style: he made some good "kinda obscure" jobs for example for Maida Bekkali or for Neele Vermiere that the community seems to have forgotten and does not talk about, preferring to spread negative comments instead of costructive ones. I bet Reason will grow on you. Looking forward for the next episode. Cheers.
@@SeldomlyOften Yeah.. I know I am too verbose most of the times; apologies. I was waiting for an unbiased review of this new collection: thanks again for this!
I like your reviews and how you describe things! I've got my Outlands a week ago and since then, I couldn't get over it. I mean it's a Masterpiece and so many things happening there! And from the samples I get, I like Reasons more then Lustre. It's a very unusual fragrance but I like the scent profile and the quality of it! Btw I also don't know why people hate perfumes that haven't even released yet. Fragrantica is full of hateful and envy people... Sombebody asked why these bottles are refillable if they're limited. I told him the reasons but I got downvoted by the haters. So I guess I won't be commenting there because a lot of haters out there waiting to attack the normal people.
@@SeldomlyOften hmm, it's a little hard to describe what it's smells like for me. It's a little balsamic smell - but it's captivating. There is so much going on. When you wear it and you sniff it in the air time to time, it's always tells another story - so it's always developing. In the opening, you can feel the fresh side of it, but as it dries down that's where the magic shines and gets darker, mysterious - mostly with the patchuli, anise and saffron (or as my nose can tell) - but there's so much note in there as well... Longevity is also very good (I was using one spray to the elbow and 24 hour and a bath later I can still catch it in the air gently). It project as well for a couple of hours but this fragrance is not intrusive like other havier Amouage's - it's around you, but it's not "in your face" type. I've been waiting you to get it and curious about your opinion! :) On the other side, Lustre is a good one too, but it seems like my nose are not good friends with iris. I mean it's hard to like iris oriented perfumes for me but I just need to give it some more time. Hope the other batches will be good as the Perfumers batches!
I hope that they will arrive soon to retail store here in Ireland so i can explore them, i do not have highest hopes for those releases at least for my taste. Not a huge fan of Duchefours work, his creations are well blended but usually very light for my taste. Iris and sandalwood is red light for me in perfumery, so lustre is probably not going to be interesting for me. Outlands seems promising tho.
@@SeldomlyOften very true but these look like 3D printed right off the bat. Not sure why they would change classy. The old bottles shit all over these. You cab line the old ones up sideways on a shelf these take up more room as well. They must really not care about the general public. You know the ones who line their pockets with cash. Wonder when L’Oreal will be buying them out. Sad! Get your old Amouage bottles now folks. They’ll be collectors items soon.
Most hate comes from Christopher Chong fanboys. I get it, CC era was great. But can we just move on? CC is now in Thameen London, why don’t you fanboys buy and focus on Thameen instead. Its just so dumb to hate on a company/fragrance just because the creative director change. If you dont like it, just leave it alone. No need to review bomb the fragrances. Fragcomm can be too toxic sometimes. So dumb.
Completely agree! World keeps turning, if you don’t like a product or a brand anymore just move on! That being said, the new guy is a little dorky and insecure, not the best face for the brand 😂 I still like the new products and will try them out!
If a brand turns into a shadow of its former self, then it deserves active backlash. "Leaving it alone" works for private people. Influencers on the other hand can influence average people in their buying decisions. It is healthy for the whole fragrance game if people aren't afraid to give negative reviews if something rubs them wrong. We gotta get away from this soft and nice society bullshit. These brands live off our hard earned money and you can bet your ass that we need more people who offer resistance.
@@ricolini70 voting with your wallet is the best, most efficient way. The issue is that most haters are just that to be on a team, most of them will end up purchasing, making this whole endeavor useless. People who are not interested and actually disappointed just walk away.
@@SeldomlyOften I agree, that's basically what I just said ^^ I was just providing some perspective to this attitude where "Christopher chong fanboys" are irreverently addressed as a source of "hate". I feel that in 2024 any pushback is often just put in a drawer with hate, even though it isn't really hate. Like I said, we gotta get away from this soft/nice appraoch. We need honest reviews so that every brands get what it deserves in the end
This oak barrel vibe is 100% a marketing ploy due to the trend in "craft" luxury products - you can see it in craft gins + tequilas etc with elevated pricepoints and also with "craft" water-based formulations like Orabella which are totally mid. Idk much about Amouage cos I've always avoided them for some reason but I missed out on a bottle of Journey Woman recently from a reseller cos I was at the beach, but I feel like it's one of the mid ones from them. Would appreciate a ranking vid/short for amouage
Thank you for the review. It maybe sounds perhaps a bit overly "safe" that's not a bad thing but maybe missing the the wow factor we get with so many. I'm not a hater, Amouage is my favourite brand and I own alot now. I have come to terms that Chong is gone and it is a business. But I do feel a deep sadness with the new era. There have been some good releases, I was actually very impressed by Reflection 45 they'd added a whole new life to it. Love Delight was like a final nail for me, it's so "generic" and disappointing. I won't give up and the brand and it is there to make money and mass appealing does that. I just hope that funds the creativity and buzz that made us all fall so in love with them in the first place. Only time will tell and when the samples are actually released I do look forward to smelling them.
Thanks for the input, this is not safe per se, it’s just a delicate, relaxing scent. It becomes very incense, smoke and licorice forward later, definitely not for everyone. It’s rich and multifaceted but I gotta test it more for an actual review.
I found the medicinal, absinthe-like note (I assume from the Davana) in the opening hour just too bitter for me. A shame, as the dry down is lovely, if not overly persistent.
Another great review. Personally, I didn't like the Persolaise "police interrogation" Renaud Salmon had to go through. I am also part of the minority that applauds Amouage's audacity for trying new things and for not capitalising on their past successes only. I don't think the new design and production process is a gimmick or the fruit of a stupid idea in brainstorm session. As always, innovation is well received by only a few early adopters, and opposed and resisted by a mass of sceptics.
@@FRD-HDD yes, you have to try new stuff, I like that concept, and luxury high-end products is where this can happen. As I mention in another comment, the issue here is that the consumer has literally no way of telling if this process is even doing anything or if it’s even happening at all, it’s just a promise by the brand! The grilling by Persolaise was harsh but RS should have expected such a question to be honest.
@@SeldomlyOften I disagree, he was there to present new releases, not to defend amouage's choices. I find the fragrance hobby public quite demanding and sometimes a bit capricious.
✅ great review. Not a fan of the bottles at all . But I guess it’s about what’s inside .Outlands was the one that intrigued be most I’ll be looking Fwd to that review
@@SmellGoodTravelWell all is in relative terms but if you go deeper in frag com people are really upset. But also, people get upset for anything these days.
Overture woman. FANTASTIC opening. HUGE LET DOWN drydown. Smells amazing the first 10 mins then just turns into this chemical mess almost like housekeeping's cleansing bottles pantry
@@bryanryan4504 yeah, sorry I was referring to my fist impression comparison video format, I tend to sample 2 things that have something in common, helps pin down the different approaches and such.
@SeldomlyOften ok then but still, I'm not sure, because I'm not knowledgeable in women fragrances (fragrances matketed towards women) but I tested this one at the dept store because I'm such a big fan of overture man. If you ever get a chance, sample epic woman. That is completely unisex and find it better than the man counterpart. Although I'm still a fan of epic man.
@@bryanryan4504 well, a lot of women's Amouage are pretty unisex, I don't really go into women's perfumes myself. Epic seems awesome, have a sample lined up for a comparison video coming soon :)
Since these series of fragrances are achieving their "effect" by being aged in a barrel versus addition of some aromachemicals, it could be said that they are as gimmicky as an expensive mechanical watch achieving a high degree of accuracy verus using a $10 digital watch. Luxury doesn't have to make sense per se.
@@deluxelex9056 true, but here, the end result might be invisible, there is no actual way for the consumer to confirm this process. I like artisanal, high-end products (I used to work for Leica) but there has to be an added value to the consumer, not just a promise.
Unfortunately, with the passage of the Prince in Oman the house has this new President which I don't like. He doesn't understand the brand and what it represents. I wish a Saudi would be in charge of it. The new ruler should pay more attention to this.
@@SeldomlyOften king blue was $500 still is on Neiman and Amouage but on joma for half the price it’s been less than a year. These will be no different my guy. Like why would Amouage let joma sell those for that cheap? Joma wouldn’t make no money buying $500 bottles and selling for half the price. Makes no sense! It’s a big machine they’re all in on it together. Money money money! I can see Cecile Z right now bottling up the so called early batches. Ha Ha
No, I’m pretty satisfied actually. But this is coming from someone who is not looking for a signature scent and is ok with not being immediately in love with every purchase. I like the scent profile enough to really want to explore it more, I don’t find it boring or cheap. Wait for a sample!
I dont know. I dont like bottle.I dont like plug. Its ruined, in relation on man parfumes. Try to GET rid of few bottles i Had left- Memoir, figment, gold, i think i have enough Amouage.
@@LargoWinch-th4gm I agree, the usual bottle with the metal dagger handle lid is a beautiful classic; I have a feeling Amouage will go back to their usual after these release. That being said, these look a lot better in person.
Thanks for the input, I definitely have to get more wears in to talk about the nuances but I feel any fixative or booster, that is surely there, is pretty well hidden.
Aha…nice new format, Daniel! While I tend to take Unboxing/First Impression videos with a grain of salt, they certainly are entertaining! Also fun that we both received blind buy Duchafour compositions at the same time(mine being Copal Azur). I was also slightly underwhelmed upon first impression, but it’s quickly growing on me.
@@nathanielmoody3656 give it time, Copal Azur needs some understanding. As per my unboxings, I definitely plan to revisit, this is definitely not a review
@@assumptaai my apologies, most commenters on here are dudes. I definitely plan to go for shorter eventually. Btw, you’ll live my next Speed Dating, very strong frags one after the other 🤣
Everyone raves about Outlands being the best, but I blind bought Reasons because I thought it would suit me more (with a little help from ChatGPT, too). Now I can’t imagine finding a better scent. I know a lot of people love sweeter fragrances, but…this one is embodies natural woody elegance. Great and honest review btw 😊
@@maximus2930 I’m going to be received Outlands myself (as well as Lustre) but I feel most people are jumping on it just because the influencers and media told them it’s the best. I like Reasons a lot!
@@SeldomlyOften I’m really happy to hear that! The online criticism has taken away a bit of the joy I initially felt when I received this incredible scent. Some people mentioned Lustre was too soft and sweet. As for Outlands, it seems like such a bold, statement-making scent that I’d never risk as a blind buy (too much going on). Reasons : brings me right back to my youth and gives calmness. I’m looking forward to your video and secretly hoping Reasons stays the right fit for me! :D (also wonder if they will be refillable or no)
