The Library Collection Opus VII, from Amouage was released in 2013. The perfumer behind this creation is Alberto Morillas and Pierre Negrin. The notes are Agarwood (Oud), Amber, Ambergris, Cardamom, Costus, Cypriol Oil or Nagarmotha, Fenugreek, Galbanum, Leather, Musk, Nutmeg, Olibanum (Frankincense), Patchouli, Pink Pepper, Sandalwood.
Peppery, hard, very dry, spice is what hits you first and like a freight train! The cardamom and fenugreek is huge and borderline unpleasant. The theme with these fragrances are the top notes of dry spice exist as a thin veil which mellows and thins out further but never quite completely goes away until deep, deep into the drydown. Somehow yet again Amouage have created something that conjures up all the imagery and feeling of the Middle East and yet again when the spice subsides a little after an hour or so the heart and base of the fragrance are revealed and it's wonderful!!!! The Oud is lovely and works well in this composition. Unfortunately this is the first and only one I've tried from the library collection but it seems like an educating and thoroughly worthwhile spin on the Amouage carousel. Need more samples of the others. Update: Having worn this again since my first review I have to say although I would never accuse any Amouage fragrance of being linear and not possessing depth, I couldn't get past that heavy cardamom opening. As this thing changes though you start to pick up on a creamy, Oud, sandalwood, definite leather coming through after the first hour or so and smoke it's really really really good!!! There's almost a sweetness coming from something deep under all that dark dark heaviness and it's also quite green too. Very complex, completely bonkers, almost satanic in its darkness I can just imagine Al Pacino wearing this in that devils advocate movie! (I nicked that from another reviewer BTW, can't remember who but thanks because that chimed with me)
Peppery, hard, very dry, spice is what hits you first and like a freight train! The cardamom and fenugreek is huge and borderline unpleasant. The theme with these fragrances are the top notes of dry spice exist as a thin veil which mellows and thins out further but never quite completely goes away until deep, deep into the drydown. Somehow yet again Amouage have created something that conjures up all the imagery and feeling of the Middle East and yet again when the spice subsides a little after an hour or so the heart and base of the fragrance are revealed and it's wonderful!!!! The Oud is lovely and works well in this composition. Unfortunately this is the first and only one I've tried from the library collection but it seems like an educating and thoroughly worthwhile spin on the Amouage carousel. Need more samples of the others. Update: Having worn this again since my first review I have to say although I would never accuse any Amouage fragrance of being linear and not possessing depth, I couldn't get past that heavy cardamom opening. As this thing changes though you start to pick up on a creamy, Oud, sandalwood, definite leather coming through after the first hour or so and smoke it's really really really good!!! There's almost a sweetness coming from something deep under all that dark dark heaviness and it's also quite green too. Very complex, completely bonkers, almost satanic in its darkness I can just imagine Al Pacino wearing this in that devils advocate movie! (I nicked that from another reviewer BTW, can't remember who but thanks because that chimed with me)