Amouage Odyssey Collection: Escape into a World of Frankincense
I am going to just put this out there right away, Amouage is one of my favorite houses. When I heard that they are releasing a new collection based around frankincense, which is one of my favorite notes (and probably one of the main reasons that I adore the brand), I was overcome with glee. A new entry into their Odyssey Collection is being titled the Escape chapter. Four new scents called Guidance, Lineage, Search, and Purpose are being released. Inspired by the distant lands of Oman and the sacred beauty of Omani frankincense, the collection is a deep dive into the fabled riches of the Sultanate. These fragrances were announced at ScentXplore 2022.
Amouage Guidance
Quentin Bisch is a perfumer that most of us have heard of by now, especially due to his spectacular Ganymede fragrance. An enveloping trio of rose, frankincense, and ambergris reveal a graceful feminine embrace that feels like a story in scent form.
Crispy pear in the top meets noble incense and hazelnut. The heart reveals a fresh floral bouquet of luscious rose, precious saffron, elegant jasmine, and fruity osmanthus. The base is woody with a touch of sweetness from vanilla and the salty embrace of ambergris.
Perfumer: Quentin Bisch
Notes
Top – Pear, Frankincense, and Hazelnut
Mid – Saffron, Jasmine Sambac, Rose, and Osmanthus
Base – Cistus, Sandalwood, Akigalawood, Ambergris, and Vanilla
Amouage Lineage
A poem of salted incense that embarks on a journey of summer tranquility, Lineage takes you to an Omani beach flowing with the finest frankincense and the aroma of an ocean-kissed vacation to rediscover yourself.
A spicy explosion of warm ginger and sparkling Sichuan pepper with the fresh spiciness of Schinus molle start this story. A few pages later, Frankincense and myrrh add their resinous beauty. In the closing chapter, an even richer frankincense and myrrh are met with ambery and woody notes to seal the journey into our memories.
Perfumer: Karine Vinchon-Spehner
Notes
Top -Ginger, Sichuan Pepper, Schinus Molle, and Saffron
Mid – Frankincense Essence, Fenugreek, and Myrrh Essence
Base – Frankincense Resinoid, Myrrh Resinoid, Vetiver, Patchouli, Labdanum, and Benzoin
Citruses scorched by smoking woods. Search is about finding your light while battling your darkness. An episodic melody of overcoming the obstacles in life on a journey to become the best version of yourself.
A citrus cocktail awakens with tart lemon, energetic lime, and sweet mandarin. A heart of fresh balsamic elemi meets black pepper and the spiritual embrace of frankincense. The flickering smoked woods of cade, vetiver, and guaiac wood complete the self-exploration.
Perfumer: Alexis Grugeon
Notes
Top – Lemon, Lime, and Mandarin
Mid – Hojari Frankincense, Black Pepper, and Elemi
Base– Cade, Vetiver, and Guaiac Wood
A journey of finding your past and becoming who you are meant to be, Purpose is laden with earthy woods and fiery spices. A scent of true awakening.
An enlivening bergamot is met with warm sparks of pink pepper and pimento berry. Treasured rose, vetiver, exquisite sandalwood, and ancient papyrus create a woody trance with a floral touch. The adventure concludes with saffron-laden suede and woody akigalawood. Apparently, they also decided to put the early 2000s rapper, Mystikal, into the mix. Okay, Amouage, that is a bit far, don’t you think? In all seriousness, I have no idea what Mystikal is, but it sounds intriguing.
Perfumer: Quentin Bisch
Top – Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Frankincense, and Pimento Berry
Mid – Rose, Sand Vetiver, Sandalwood, and Papyrus
Base – Saffron, Suede, Mystikal, and Akigalawood
If there is one thing that Amouage does better than anyone, it’s frankincense. They have access to the finest grades of Omani resins, and it shows in their elegant fragrances. I am expecting some major hits from this collection, and I can’t wait to test them out.
