This is way better than people credit it for. Sadly though, it's like a slightly less magical Dead of Night (with no real oud unlike the strangelove), and as I own the latter, I don't need this. But if you want DON but would prefer to spend 500 euros instead of 1000 (LOL!) this could be the one. As another reviewer said, don't judge it by shoving your nose into it, as it doesn't do it justice.

A sledgehammer assault version of the original which will appeal to people who like Oud for Greatness, Parfums de Marly and other such sludgy dross. Don't get me wrong, this is better than those, but only just. This is for the next gen brahs who have only just discovered Amouage and those who shell out big money on crap like Fragrance du Bois and Bodicea the Victorious. To say this is similar to the original Jubilation XXV is to completely miss the point and the beauty of the original.

Spray it then leave it for a year and it will perform excellently. This is a real bargain, providing a modern twist on the familiar barbershop masculine. The opening may seem a bit harsh, but it develops into a really lovely perfume, with natural smelling lavender, plus all the notes listed above, but also a semi-soupy tonka-ish base. The sugary soup doesn't dominate and is made less crass by the spices and herbs. I don't wear it often as I don't tend towards this type of scent but when I do I'm always surprised again by how good it is.

On the nauseating end of chemical milky scents.

I second meama's comment below, smells like a generic 90s mens scent. Unremarkable at best. If I smelled this on someone I'd think they were wearing Bleu de Chanel (if I'm being generous). No hyrax detectable on my skin, which is a shame as it could have made it more interesting.

Massive screechy scratchy fixative base dominates to my nose. Smells like 20 euro middle Eastern fake oud crap.

Such a weird perfume, and I oscillate between loving and hating it. It's an abstract white floral jumble with saffron and spices, but also this sort of tart, cheesey element which is kept at bay (only just, and sometimes not enough) by a creamy sweetness. It's one of the more difficult Amouages, and this is from a house known for difficult perfumes, and from its most erratic, bizarre era. I can totally understand why people hate it, and I actually sold my bottle, but I have bought it again (for an absolute steal, the benefit of it being so divisive maybe), as it never quite removed its tendrils from my brain. By the way, put a spritz of Opus I on top 😉😉😉

This smells nasty as a badger's arse on card, but on the skin the sweet, playful nature of the florals begins to dance and flirt, and the (admittedly strong) civet doesn't completely dominate. On skin it also quickly loses the petrolly, chemical edge that remains when I spray it on a strip. It doesn't smell like Malle's Superstitious, but it shares something, perhaps the loud, unabashed jasmine fanfare with skanky retro opulence. I'd say Opus IX is easier to wear than Superstitious, maybe because it lacks the explosion of cheesey aldehydes. I'm a sucker for beeswax and here, it really creeps in after an hour or so, absolutely marvelous. This is a unique and beautiful creation which could never have been very popular, and is a far cry from Amouage's current output (I'm not a salmon-hater BTW). It does that thing of being very modern while also seeming like a love letter to 80s bangers of yore.