Amouage’s “The Essences” collection represents a novel approach to perfumery, emphasizing time as a critical element. These perfumes are crafted through a meticulous double-infusion process, which involves aging alcohol in oakwood barrels and infusing perfume concentrates with sandalwood chips. The raw materials, including Australian sandalwood and medium-toasted oakwood barrels, impart unique characteristics and elevate the fragrances with a patina-like olfactory complexity.
The collection includes three fragrances, each embodying a different temporal dimension: Reasons (past), Lustre (present), and Outlands (future). These perfumes highlight their creators’ distinct styles, from classic richness to innovative forward-thinking. The Essences all have a high concentration of 30%.
Reasons captures the whispers of the past, offering a profoundly nostalgic journey through time. Crafted by Bertrand Duchaufour, it showcases his expertise in interpreting historical ingredients. The fragrance opens with warm, resinous notes that evoke memories of ancient rituals. Frankincense and Palo Santo, with their deep, meditative qualities, intertwine with myrrh to create a spiritual and grounding heart. The double-infusion process adds an ethereal patina, enhancing the richness of the oakwood-aged alcohol and sandalwood-infused concentrate. Subtle hints of spice and aged woods lend an earthy sophistication, while a touch of ambergris-like warmth rounds off this timeless composition. Reasons feels like a perfume carved out of history, bringing the past vividly to life.