In 1983 Muscat became the centre
for a new perfume house called Amouage. It was founded by His Highness Sayyid
Hamad bin Hamoud al bu Said whose dream was to reinvent and reawaken the art of
Arabian perfume making to the West. Arabian perfumery has been greatly regarded
throughout history even by the best French creators. They are reknown for their
exotic (such as Oud, Frankincense & Myrrh) and purest ingredients. Amouage
brings to the West the best of Middle Eastern perfumery.
In 1988 the famed nose Guy
Roberts’s creator of Caleche for Hermes, Dioressence for Dior and Gucci No 1 to
name a few in his entourage, made the first scent for Amouage called Gold. This
glamorous white floral laced with myrrh, rose and incense was a successful
beginning to a range of stunning fragrances, from Gold in 1988 to The Library
Collection in 2010. Now in 2011 Amouage have created Honour woman/man.
These are not humble or
understated fragrances but regal and fascinating. There are no shy wallflowers
here. The complete range is synonymous with style, luxury and class. There is a
scent for any wearer or elegant occasion. Honour is no different.
Honour woman was created by
Christopher Chong the creative Director in France as a sequel to the tragic
opera of Madam Butterfly. A story rife with lust, love and honour. A past tale
of an aristocratic Japanese girl called Cho Cho San (Madam Butterfly) who gives
up her son to the heartless American Lieutenant and commits suicide to uphold
her family’s honour. Cho Cho Sans son is now adult and is haunted by the death
of his mother. He recalls that moment and speaks to her ghost to try to come to
terms with the untimely passing of his mother and to attempt to quieten the
conflict within him. A very heart wrenching sequel to such a poignant tale.
Honour opens with a bitter sweet
blend of rhubarb and white flowers of gardenia, tuberose and lily of the valley
touched with the piquancy of pepper and greenness of coriander. It is lulled
into calm by amber and opoponax and strengthened by leather and incense. A
green floral with a warm heart and a lingering scented memory.
It truly does justice to a moving
and heart breaking tale.
Amouage is available through
Agence de Parfum @ David Jones Melbourne.
I received a gift of this scent from Arabia.
ReplyDeleteThis smells wonderful!
I periodically open the container just to inhale the magical scent!