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Today I’m going to reveal the 7 best Amouage cologne for men.
And let me be clear about something, my friend:
We didn’t just randomly pick 7 and call it a day. Far from it!
Because we spent months evaluating and nose-on testing 36 different offerings from the luxury brand. More specifically:
- 14 from their men’s Main Collection
- 6 from their Odyssey Collection
- 7 from their Library Collection
- 4 from their Exceptional Extraits Collection and…
- 5 from their Essences Collection
(What treasures I am finding! 🙂)
Anyway, we tested them for a whole bunch of stuff, including how long they lasted, how far they project off skin, how good they smell (most important), and LOTS more!
So if you’re considering a new Amouage fragrance, this list is for you.
(Please note: All testing was done on the new reformulations — the bottles with the magnetic cap. Furthermore, we excluded their Attars.)
Okay… Without any fluff, let’s jump into our findings!
In a hurry?
Our Top 3 Picks:
Jump Links
- 7. Memoir Man
- 6. Honour Man
- 5. Interlude Man
- 4. Journey Man
- 3. Jubilation XXV Man
- 2. Beach Hut Man
- 1. Reflection Man
- What is Amouage?
- Big-Time Warning
#7 Amouage Memoir Man
Dark & Mysterious
Let’s just cut to the chase:
Memoir Man is NOT for everyone. Let me explain, my friend…
You see, Memoir Man is HUGELY unique and complex: It’s a dark, green, woody, mysterious-smelling scent.
In fact, some people even say it conjures up images of a dark enchanted forest.
I kind of get that, too.🙂 Anyway…
The reason for Memoir Man’s uniqueness is because it contains a rich green herbal note that has been acquired from a plant called wormwood.
Super Unique & Complex
By the way, wormwood is also used to aromatize the legendary green-colored drink called absinthe (nicknamed the green fairy).
And just like the drink absinthe, Memoir Man is also an acquired taste — a scent that you learn to appreciate after several full wearings. (Or maybe not appreciate! 🙂) So…
If dark and mysterious sounds like your kind of thing, read on, my friend…
Now I’ll be super real with you:
I have not actually smelled natural wormwood (or drank absinthe, for that matter). Therefore, I can’t compare Memoir Man’s likeness to them. However, I will try my best to describe this scent to you…
Dark Green Herbaceous Aroma
On first spray of Memoir Man, you’re immediately greeted with that mysterious dark green herbaceous accord… with swirls of rich frankincense flowing through it. And this is mixed with a contrasting touch of fresh mint.
To be brutally honest, this opening could be challenging for a LOT of people (especially if you’re new to niche perfumery). HOWEVER…
Don’t judge the scent just yet, my friend, because it transforms into something MUCH more enjoyable. Stay with me…
Smoky Woods
Because as it starts to dry-down, warm smoky-woods creep in, joined with a pinch of leather and a pinch of tobacco (and some other perfectly blended supporting rich notes).
And all these notes slowly push the green herbaceous minty accord into the background.
Furthermore, the rich smoky incense continues to weave its way through the scent. The end result?
A super-unique green smoky-woody scent. Think: burning enchanted forest. 🌲
It’s deep, it’s dark, and it’s mysterious. And smells complex and sophisticated.
Burning Enchanted Forest
Now, to be clear, my friend:
Memoir Man is a serious, mature-smelling scent. So in terms of age – I suggest 30-up.
And it’s more appropriate for dressed-up nighttime occasions in the cool weather (fall, winter, and cool spring nights).
That said, it’s not a room-filler type scent, so you can wear it to the office/work (just be careful with the sprayer, though).
Serious & Mature
Memoir Man is an EDP, and it doesn’t scream out for attention. It projects around an arm’s length for the first few hours, and then it slowly recedes until it sits politely close to your skin.
And in our tests, we found lasting power is ballpark: 5–10+ hours.
Oh, and did I mention the bottle looks awesome?
Yeah, like all Amouage bottles, the presentation is top-notch. But I particularly love the black-colored bottle with its contrasting silver-colored logo and cap. Very classy.
Bottom line:
If you are looking for a premium-quality dark, green, woody mysterious scent – this is it.
#6 Amouage Honour Man
Spicy & Woody
Now, full disclosure…
Honour Man is a masculine dry peppery woody scent, which has a BIG dose of black and pink peppercorns. So needless to say, my friend…
If you’re not a fan of peppery scents, stay well clear of Honour Man. But if that’s your thing, stay with me…
In fact, let me break it down for you:
As soon as you spray Honour Man, you get a strong dry spicy blend of freshly ground black and pink peppercorns. By the way, these smell almost photorealistic. Anyway…
These spicy peppers are mixed with a touch of elemi (a natural resin), which adds a contrasting fresh green citrusy-lime-like quality.
Realistic Freshly Ground Peppercorns
And as this spicy opening subsides, a soft floral-rosy accord (geranium) shines through peppercorns with whispers of frankincense.
And as it dries down, the scent slowly becomes woody as vetiver creeps in under the spicy pepper.
And finally, a kiss of nutmeg adds a warm semi-sweet nuttiness to the scent. Nice.
And the good news…
All Seasons
Honour Man is super versatile as it can be worn in all seasons. Just adjust your sprays as necessary. That said, I would avoid using it on hot summer days.
Now, this is a masculine, mature scent that is more suited for the 25-up, and it can be worn dressed-up or down.
Also, it has a professional businessman like feel to it, so it’s GREAT for the office. Or for nights out and date nights, for that matter.
What’s more, this is Eau de Parfum concentrated and projects nicely (about an arm’s length) for an hour or so. After that, it sits just above your skin and gives off noticeable soft wafts.
Refined & Gentlemanly
So if you’re after a beast mode room-filler, you will be disappointed because Honour Man is refined and gentlemanly. (By the way, for a huge room-filler, check Interlude Man on this list. 🙂).
Does Honour Man last long?
Well, our testers reported it lasted in the 5–8+ hour range. Not too shabby, right?
Bottom line:
If you like masculine spicy-peppery woody scents, don’t sleep on this.
#5 Amouage Interlude Man
The Blue Beast
Ah, The Blue Beast… you’ve just gotta love it. “Blue Beast?”... What the heck?
Oh, in case you don’t know, in the online fragrance community Interlude Man has become known as The Blue Beast. Why???
Well, my friend, the answer is simple: Interlude Man comes in a blue-colored bottle and it performs like a BEAST! (More on that shortly.🙂)
Maybe you’ve heard, when a scent has excellent projection and is also super-long lasting, it gets called a “beast mode” fragrance. Crazy, right? Anyway…
Does The Blue Beast live up to its name? Let’s find out…
(Spoiler alert: Heck yeah!)
Dark, Smoky & Complex
But quickly, before we dive in, I’ll be super honest with you:
This scent is not for the faint of heart. Let me explain…
Interlude Man is a very strong, very dark, and very smoky warm semi-sweet resinous woody scent – with a Middle Eastern feel.
So to clarify…
This is a bold complex fragrance, so you have to be confident to wear Interlude Man because if you’re not – it will wear YOU. 🙂
Okay… With that out the way, let me walk you through it, my friend…
Brace yourself: (Kidding.Mostly.)
Interlude Man opens up bold and unapologetic, with a dry green herbaceous oregano note, mixed with a dose of spicy pepper.
And strong smoky frankincense swirls through the scent. And buried underneath all this, is a blend of dark rich warm notes — waiting for their moment.
Rich Semi-Sweet Myrrh
This opening is dark, spicy, herbaceous, smoky and resinous. And as I said earlier, it’s not for the faint of heart as it’s quite challenging (especially if you’re a beginner).
That said, don’t write the scent off just yet because it slowly transforms into something special. So give it some time before you judge it, my friend.
Stay with me…
As it starts to dry-down, dark rich semi-sweet myrrh (opoponax) starts to shine through and joins forces with the smoky incense cloud.
And these are joined with a warm honey-like sweetness and faint wafts of burning woody oud.
Hint of Smooth Leather
And finally, after a long dry-down, a hint of smooth leather, patchouli, and sandalwood reveal themselves – to add some sophisticated rich deepness.
So there we have it. The Blue Beast isn’t as frightening as it sounds, right? 🙂
By the way, if you’re an oud lover, you may want to head over to our top oud fragrances list to discover our favorites.
Now, to be clear:
Interlude Man is NOT an everyday casual type of scent – far from it. Because this smells like something an Arabian prince would wear.
It’s rich and luxurious, so it’s more suited for dressed-up special occasions. Nights out, outdoor events etc.
Rich & Luxurious Aroma
What’s more, I wouldn’t advise wearing this in small, enclosed environments. Or for the office/work as it has the potential to fill a room.
That is unless you’re the boss, of course. 🙂
If you do wear this for work or the office, my advice: go with 1 spray on your chest — under your shirt.
And as I said before, you have to be confident to pull this off. Therefore, it’s more suited for mature 30-up well-put-together gentleman.
Now, in terms of seasons, Interlude Man is strictly a cold-weather scent: fall and winter. By the way, do not rock this in the high heat. Trust me – you won’t do it twice. 🤦♂️🤣
And the good news…
Beast Mode Performance!
This lives up to its name. And more! Because this is an EDP and has HUGE projection and lasting power. So if you want to get noticed, this is for you.
Upon first spray, it projects heavily (up to 6 ft plus) for up to 4+ hours, leaving a nice scent trail. It then slowly becomes more subtle, creating a nice scent bubble around you.
And we found lasting power to be an impressive 8–12+ hours. ‘Nough said.
So needless to say:
You’ve got to be careful with this one: 1–2 sprays MAX and you’re set.
Interlude 53 Man
Update: Since our last round of testing the best smelling Amouage fragrances for men, the brand has released a newer, more potent (and significantly more expensive) Extrait concentrated version of Interlude Man, called “Interlude 53” Man.
By the way, the “53” signifies the 53% fragrance oil concentration that Amouage have packed into this newer beast. (The original Interlude Man has 29% and that’s already enough! 🤷♂️🤣) Anyway…
After thoroughly testing both versions, side-by-side, we concluded Interlude 53 Man is simply a “tamed” smoother, and more refined version of the original Interlude Man.
Interlude Man vs Interlude 53 Man
To keep it short, we found Interlude 53 Man to be slightly darker, deeper, and smokier. It also has less of the oregano note. HOWEVER, they both smell VERY similar.
Therefore, because they smell so similar, and the original version is a LOT more affordable, we still recommend the original over the newer Extrait 53 version.
And more importantly, the original has that unapologetic, raw character that made it “The Blue Beast” in the first place! (And it projects more, too!)
With all that said, my friend, if you’ve got DEEP pockets, and you don’t mind paying a LOT more for a slightly more refined “tamed” version of The Blue Beast (that lasts even longer), then grab the extrait version.
Oh, and plus, the Extrait version comes in a sleeker-looking bottle that has transparent sides and a small dangling charm around the bottle neck.
BUT for most people — we recommend the OG!
Bottom line:
If you love dark rich smoky complex scents that pack-a-punch – then I urge you to try Interlude Man — AKA The Blue Beast!
#4 Amouage Journey Man
Masculine Spicy Tobacco
Just a quick heads-up…
Journey Man has a dominant Sichuan Pepper note. So if you don’t like peppery scents – this is definitely not for you, my friend. But if that’s your thing, read on…
Now, Journey Man is actually a collaboration between two world-class perfumers:
Pierre Negrin (who created the iconic Interlude Man).
And award-winning superstar perfumer Alberto Morillas (who has created a TON of blockbusters during his career – most notably: Armani’s Acqua di Gio).
Apparently, Morillas worked on the spicy-peppery fresh opening, and Pierre Negrin worked on the warm rich tobacco dry-down. Did they deliver the goods, though?
Let’s take a Journey, and find out… 🙂
Sichuan Pepper
As soon as you spray Journey Man, your fragrance Journey begins with an intense blast of spicy Sichuan pepper – mixed with a touch of cardamom. This spicy bite is slightly softened with a splash of bergamot and neroli citrus freshness.
So you get a strong warm fiery-spicy-peppery effect – with a hint of citrusy freshness to it. And…
As time goes by, the pepper eventually softens up to reveal a fruity, pine-tree accord (juniper berries).
And this is joined with dry tobacco leaves, mixed with swirls of rich smoky frankincense.
Pinch of Leather
And finally, a pinch of leather pokes its head through, and also some woods. And these are both smoothed out with a subtle kiss of tonka bean sweetness.
The end result?
Journey Man is dark warm spicy-peppery tobacco fragrance – infused with rich frankincense… And rounded off with a pinch of smooth leather sweetness.
It smells rich and luxurious. Unique and VERY manly.
By the way, if you love tobacco notes, then don’t miss our best tobacco colognes post because we have discovered the cream of the crop.
Masculine & Mature
Now, Journey Man is a masculine, mature, and serious-smelling scent, so it’s more suited for the well-dressed 25-up crowd. And it can be worn all year – just avoid wearing it in the high heat.
And its aroma is more suited for dressed-up formal, semi-formal occasions: The office, business meetings, special occasions, nights out. Or even in the club.
This is an EDP and projects just over arm’s length for about 2 hours. (That said, the initial 30-second blast can fill a room.)
It then recedes back and sits politely close to the wearer, which makes it a nice fit for a refined reserved gentleman. Is it long lasting? Here’s what we found…
For Reserved Gentleman
We got a respectable 5–8+ hours of noticeable longevity before it became a faint skin scent. Ain’t complaining.
Oh, one more thing…
I must say, the bottle looks stunning as it has a striking color combination of crimson-red and gold.
The crimson red colors the front and back face of the bottle. And the sides of the bottle, cap, and logo are gold colored. And it’s finished beautifully with a red Swarovski crystal on the cap
Awesome.
#3 Amouage Jubilation XXV Man
Regal
This is the brand’s crown jewels. Here’s what you need to know:
Jubilation XXV is a special scent as it was created to celebrate the brand’s 25th anniversary – hence the name: Jubilation 25.
And what’s more, to create this celebratory scent, Amouage commissioned none other than world-renowned French perfumer, Bertrand Duchaufour.
With no expense to be spared!
Therefore, he was able to carefully select a TON of different high-quality ingredients to create something prestigious and worthy of such an occasion.
Prestigious Scent
Some of these high-quality notes include… blackberry, sweet myrrh, oud, honey, frankincense, guaiac wood, cedar wood, cinnamon, orange… The list goes on and on and on…
However, Duchaufour masterfully blended all these rich noble ingredients into one complex and perfectly balanced fragrance.
The end result?
A rich, opulent, regal-smelling scent, which has a Middle Eastern aura.
Moreover, it’s like something you might imagine an Arabian king or prince to be wearing. Yeah, all this sounds cool, but…
What does Jubilation XXV smell like?
It smells very complex. And because it’s so well blended, I can’t detect all the individual listed notes. However…
Let me quickly describe to you how it smells, from start to finish, and the main notes I do pick up on:
Jubilation XXV opens with the dark dried-fruity sweetness of blackberries and a hint of dark bitter orange.
And this dried-fruitiness is mixed with sweet resinous incense, soft woody oud, and pops of spices.
And as it starts to settle, the dried-fruity sweetness fades into the background.
And the scent becomes darker, richer, and woodier… with the appearance of smoky guaiac wood and cedarwood.
Furthermore, these woods are joined with a pinch of cinnamon, and there is a whisper of floral notes buried underneath. And…
Dark Fruity Blackberries & Honeyed Woods
All of these notes are drizzled with a dose of warm syrupy honeyed sweetness (not sugary sweet, though).
And eventually, you’re left with a rich, resinous, smoky-incense and fruity-honeyed spicy-woody scent that is VERY unique and VERY distinguished.
In a word: regal.
And I should make something clear, my friend…
Jubilation 25 is not for the younger guys; this is grown men’s stuff. Because this is a very serious, mature-smelling scent. My recommendation?
It’s more suited for 35-up guys. More specifically, an upper-class, sophisticated gentleman.
And what’s more, just as Jubilation XXV was created to celebrate a special occasion, the scent itself is also tailor-made for special occasions:
Serious Mature Scent
For dressed-up formal/semi formal, black-tie events, business meetings, fine dining, nights out etc…
To clarify, it’s not an everyday casual type of scent that would go well with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, for example. Far from it!
Also note, it’s more appropriate for cool weather use: fall, winter, and cool spring days (cold summer nights can work, though).
Now to be clear:
Jubilation XXV comes in an EDP concentration and doesn’t scream out for attention. In testing, we found that it projects softly off skin (within arm’s length) for around 2 hours. It then hovers politely over the your skin.
Reserved Scent Cloud
So if you’re looking for a heavy-hitter, you will be disappointed. This is a reserved gentlemanly scent.
After all, a true gentleman doesn’t let his fragrance announce his presence, right? 🙂
Does it last long?
Well, we got a mixed bag of results: Depending on the temperature and skin chemistry of the wearer, we recorded anywhere from 5–9+ hours.
Jubilation 40 Man
Update: To celebrate their 40th anniversary, Amouage have since released a newer “Extrait” concentrated version of Jubilation XXV Man (by the same perfumer), called Jubilation 40 Man. Naturally, this Extrait version is significantly higher priced.
By the way, the “40” not only signifies the brand’s 40th anniversary but also the fact that this newer Extrait version contains a 40% fragrance oil concentration (the original Jubilation Man XXV has 23%). Gotta love the brand’s marketing, right? 🙂Anyways…
Jubilation XXV Man vs Jubilation 40 Man
We have now fully tested Jubilation XXV Man side-by-side against the newer Jubilation 40 Man and, as expected, we concluded Jubilation 40 Man is a similar-smelling BUT deeper, richer, and denser (and longer lasting) version of Jubilation XXV. Any big differences?
Well, to keep this short, my friend…
When first sprayed, compared to the original, Jubilation 40 has an added camphorous accord (think, Vics VapoRub), which lingers for the first few hours. And overall, the Extrait is sweeter and fruiter (syrupier) than Jubilation XXV.
Of course, Jubilation 40 smells more “opulent”. But at the end of the day, they both smell very similar.
Therefore, we think that the slight upgrade in scent quality of the new Extrait does NOT justify the HUGE upgrade in price! (The original already smells “regal” enough!)
So the original Jubilation XXV Man EDP version will stay on this list, and it is the version that we recommend.
With all that said, my friend, if money is of no object to you, then by all means, just upgrade to Jubilation 40. (I think it’s redundant to own both, though!)
Oh, and for the extra coin, you also get a more premium styled bottle that has its inside lacquered with a gorgeous gold color. Plus, it has a small gold-colored charm hanging around the bottle neck.
Bottom line:
If you’re looking for a high-quality, luxurious, regal-smelling scent, with a “Middle Eastern” touch – then do not miss out on Jubilation XXV Man
#2 Amouage Beach Hut Man
Minty Green & Woody
Before you read on…
Don’t let the name “Beach Hut” throw you off because this name is misleading. Here’s why…
Well… with Beach in the title, you might be expecting (at least, I was) some sort of beachy type scent, right?
Maybe a tropical, salty marine/aquatic kind of scent. Maybe even with some coconut and rum thrown into the mix. Or other beachy notes.
However, Beach Hut Man is NONE of that. In fact – this is quite the opposite.
What does Beach Hut Man smell like?
Beach Hut Man smells green. Very green. More specifically, it’s an extremely natural-smelling minty-green and woody fresh clean scent.
So it smells nothing I would associate with anything “beachy”.
(By the way, if you are looking for a beachy, coconutty rum sort of scent, then I urge you to check out: Creed’s Virgin Island Water. Now that’s beachy)
Okay with that out the way…
Let me give you a quick breakdown:
Beach Hut Man opens up with a blast of minty greenness! Specifically, freshly crushed mint leaves mixed with a bitter, sharp, green accord (galbanum).
And buried underneath all this greenness is a soapy layer of orange blossom, which has the slightest hint of sweetness.
It smells clean, fresh, and minty green. Very green. 💚😎
Clean, Fresh & Minty Green
As it starts to settle, a dose of ivy creeps in and morphs with the greenness, to add a slightly spicy leafy cooling effect.
And this is followed with some vetiver and moss, which add some masculine woody green earthiness.
And as the scent slowly develops, the minty greenness becomes more transparent. This allows some dry woodiness to shine though… joined with a hint of slightly sweet earthy patchouli and a whisper of sweet resinous myrrh.
And hats off to Amouage:
Because this smells incredibly natural and incredibly unique.
(Speaking of… if you enjoy minty green scents, then I also urge you to check out Colonia Club from the brand Acqua di Parma.)
Performs All Year
Now, this is a mature scent (suggest 30-up), which can be used all year – just adjust your sprays for the temperature.
And it’s more suited for everyday daytime casual, semi-formal use. In fact, Beach Hut Man works great in the outdoors, for vacations etc. And it’s also office/work safe (spray lightly).
However, it shines in the spring and summer, so we think Beach Hut Man is currently the best Amouage summer fragrance for men . But be careful not to overspray on super-hot days. Because here’s the beautiful part…
A Little Goes a LONG Way
Beach Hut Man is an EDP and has excellent performance. On first spray, it can project over arm’s length – for up to an impressive 4 hours!
Then it slowly becomes more subtle, and creates a nice scent cloud around you. How long does it last? Here’s what we found:
Depending on the temperature and situation, lasting power was 7–12+ hours.
So needless to say, my friend:
Be careful with the sprayer. 1–3 sprays MAX… and you’re good to go.
#1 Amouage Reflection Man
Beautifully Simple
This is currently Amouage’s best seller for men. And for good reason!
Because out of all their scents, Reflection Man is the most mass-appealing (compliment getting), versatile, and easiest to wear.
So if you’re new to fragrances, and/or looking for your first “niche scent” – then this is a GREAT choice.
However, my friend, if you’re already a fragrance connoisseur, then maybe the brand’s darker, more complex offerings on this list would be more interesting for you. To be clear…
Not to say Reflection Man should be overlooked, it just may not be complex and/or interesting enough for you. Okay, with that out the way…
What Does Reflection Man Smell Like?
This one is pretty straightforward… Reflection Man is a luxurious sweet clean white-floral scent that has a smooth creamy woody backbone. Done in the nicest way possible.
In fact, let’s take a quick smell…
Reflection Man opens with a thick sweet clean-white-floral accord (jasmine & neroli). And this is blended with a pinch of rosemary and a nice spicy kick of pink pepper.
As it settles, the sweet white florals take center stage. And these are joined with a touch of orris root (iris) – which gives the scent a powdery clean soapy sweetness.
Creamy Sweet Woods
It smells like fresh clean laundered sheets BUT in a sweet luxurious way! And understandably, it rakes in some nice compliments.
Ain’t complaining, mind you. 🙂
And finally as it dries down, sandalwood creeps in to give it a nice soft warm creamy-woody backbone. (Plus, a hint of cedarwood and other dry woody notes.)
Oh, and speaking of sandalwood, to discover our favorites, check our best sandalwood perfume for men post. Anyways…
Does Reflection Man smell expensive?
I’d say so. Yeah. You see, although it’s not a highly complex scent, the quality is definitely top-notch. And so it should be for that price, right?
And the beautiful part:
Hugely Versatile
This is HUGELY versatile because you can wear this ALL year for just about ANY occasion: from smart-casual to dressed-up at a wedding.
And it’s GREAT scent for the office. Or even dates, or clubbing etc. Handy stuff!
Just adjust your sprays, my friend, and avoid the high-summer daytime heat (as it will become overly sweet).
Now, I should point something out:
Despite the name of this scent, it’s actually quite unisex. So if you’re looking for a masculine man’s man type scent – this is not it. Therefore…
Sharply Dressed Guys
I would recommend this to modern 25-up stylishly dressed guys.
Now, Reflection Man comes in an EDP and doesn’t shout-out for attention. It projects just less than an arm’s length for up to 2–3 hours. It then recedes and sits close to your skin.
And we found its lasting power to be a respectable 6–8+ hours.
Update: Since our last round of testing the top Amouage for men, the brand has released a significantly higher-priced Extrait de Parfum version of Reflection Man (created by the same perfumer) that is aptly named, Reflection 45 Man. Aptly named?
Reflection 45 Man
You see, the “45” signifies the 45% concentration of fragrance oil that the perfumer has crammed into this Extrait version. For context, the original Reflection Man is an EDP with a 25% concentration of oil.
Anyway, the BIG question is…
Does this newer, more expensive, Extrait version smell better than the original version? (Spoiler alert: no) 🙂
Well, my friend, to find the answer, we conducted a “blind” side-by-side sniff test of both versions with over 50 unbiased testers. The results?
The overwhelming amount of people (including yours truly) agreed the original EDP version of Reflection Man simply smells better than Reflection 45 Man. It wasn’t even close!
(Just to be clear, my friend, Reflection 45 Man is NOT a bad scent! It was just beaten by the original on points.)
Reflection Man vs Reflection 45 Man
To keep this short, we found Reflection 45 Man to be a noticeably different-smelling and darker, denser “ambery” twist of Reflection Man.
We also found that when compared to the original, the Extrait 45 version sits closer to the skin as it lacks the airy clean freshness (and the character!) of the original that make Reflection Man what it is.
You see, because the original version is brighter, cleaner, and airier, this creates a more noticeable scent bubble around you — aka, more people around you can smell how awesome you smell.
Airy Freshness
Plus, this airiness makes the original more suitable for wearing in ALL seasons (temperatures). As we found the Extrait version too “heavy” on hot summer days (it’s more suited for fall/winter as its more dense and sweeter).
For all these reasons, we prefer and recommend the original Reflection Man Eau de Parfum version over the Extrait Reflection 45 Man, so the original will remain #1 on this list.
Oh, I nearly forgot, the original version is more affordable, too!
What is Amouage?
Amouage are a luxury niche fragrance house based in Oman. But here’s the cool part…
The brand was actually created under the request of the former Sultan of Oman himself, Qaboos Bin Said (now deceased, RIP).
So needless to say:
This is high-end stuff.
In fact, the brand use world-renowned perfumers to create their scents. Furthermore, no expense is to be spared when it comes to the ingredients that go into them.
On top of that, the scents come beautifully presented in premium packaging and the brand’s signature glass crystal bottles.
Premium
The caps on the men’s line are reminiscent of the handle of a traditional Omani Khanjar dagger (which is the national emblem of Oman).
And what’s more, the cap is magnetic and adorned with a Swarovski crystal.
The final result?
Fragrances that are like an experience. However, they also come with prices to match (understandable).
Plus, they are an acquired taste, as they are unlike typical mainstream scents found in department stores.
Oh, in case you’re wondering…
What does Amouage mean?
It is simply a mash-up of the French word “amour” (which means love), and the Arabic word for “waves.”
Big-Time Warning
Just a quick heads-up…
When your new prestigious box arrives, be VERY careful how you open it. Why?
Well, because if you open it up on its side, and pull from the bottom, the bottle can easily fall out and hit the floor. Trust me – you won’t do it twice. 🤦♂️
So it’s much safer to place the box upright on a flat surface, and then lift the top part of the box up to separate it from the bottom part – to reveal the gorgeous bottle sitting in its pedestal.
Thank me later. 🙂
Update: Looks like the brand have been listening because they have recently ditched the podium styled box for a safer flat-opening box. Phew! 🤣
Now, it’s your turn…
We would love to hear from you:
What do YOU think is the best Amouage perfume for men? Have you tried the Blue Beast? 🙂
Or maybe you have a question.
Either way, please let me know by leaving a quick comment below right now.
Where to go from here?
Niche head? Then discover our best Initio Parfum fragrances and best Parfums de Marly recommendations.
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