Gorgeous, unforgettable, discontinued Fate Woman is one of my Amouages which has been waiting for its turn to be reviewed for too long time. I have to admit that even if I love so much different kind of challenging perfumes these kind of orientals where the spices meet the intense resinous base used to be the hardest ones at a time when I bought this blindly (not anymore though). In any case, I had something to look forward to, because Fate Woman is a sort of sequel to the fragrances inspired by Youth-Dew | Estēe Lauder (1953). In 1977 was released the extremely successful Opium (1977) (Parfum) | Yves Saint Laurent inspired by it. Those scents are not the same but they share the same scent category mentioned earlier. This fragrance opens with a bold, strong and even slightly pungent spiciness, where cinnamon plays the main role. Very quickly it joins the heart notes, of which I think the flowers never get to shine under the thick veil of Labdanum and Frankincense. It's funny to sniff my wrist afterwards in some sort of euphoria and wonder how on earth this could ever be a difficult scent. In this base, you can find almost everything essential, which makes the fragrance good. Incense here does not make this fragrance smoky in the true sense of the word, but it, together with the other base notes, strongly evokes the rituals in which it is burned. Benzoin brings the warmth and sweetness together with Vanilla, Castoreum sensual sexiness, Leather dark deepness and finally Oakmoss and Patchouli earthy and woody edges. The symphony of these notes is something infinitely beautiful and eloquent. The whole concoction seems to melt on the skin and if I had to choose a color for it, it would be golden. Fate Woman is absolutely breathtaking and glamorous, it has a character that connects to a time when people dressed elegantly. It's not a modern perfume and all its finesse lies in that. Thank you for reading and I would appreciate if you follow my IG: @ninamariah_perfumes It gives me a lot of motivation to write more. 🤗
I swoon when I catch this in the air. Criminal of Amouage to discontinue this. It's perfect.
Fate woman feels like an homage to the masterpieces of yesterday, a child from another era. I see from the mixed reviews that it's a love or hate fragrance, but to me it feels like a masterpiece on its own right. Fate opens on my skin with a crisp bergamot and powdery narcissus. It feels vintage but fresh at the same time. There's an underlying darkness that gives off a certain nostalgic vibe throughout, curtesy of oakmoss, leather and vanilla. As it unfolds, the florals become more prominent. It's all about yellow flowers on my skin, with a touch of jasmine; underneath I can feel the spicy core of Opium, pulsating on my skin with its floral spicy opulence. The leathery castoreum conjures Bandit, worn by a mysterious stranger in the night. And then comes my favorite part, the vanillic creaminess of Shalimar, with its bergamot opening and sensual musky base. The description looks simple and quite different from your standard Amouage; and at the same time complex and beguiling. That's where true artistry lies. I was prepared to feel just meh, and frankly I was surprised by how much I enjoy Fate. It's like meeting old friends that you've lost contact with and catching glimps of perfumery's glorious past. Fate woman is completely unisex, has a big sillage and amazing longevity. I feel it's a must try for anyone who loves vintage perfumes. I feel they've set the bar high and I'm looking forward to their next release. In my opinion it's a masterpiece and I'm slowly getting smitten by their line. Though I'm sure my wallet will argue! 5*!
Dusty arid desert sands, the ash fallen into place. The cosmic entity of the phoenix force, manifested, a fiery, radiant being incubated in an ambery powdery incense elixir. Resinous and animalic. Lilith’s breath blown in your face, with a hypnotizing flash of iridescent light. Aglow… for within lies the code.