“You are sunlight and I, moon. Joined by the gods of fortune. Midnight and high noon. Sharing the sky. We have been blessed, you and I.” – Miss Saigon

Creative Director Christopher Chong of Amouage

The first fragrance in Amouage’s mysterious new “Midnight Flower” collection, Sunshine Woman, launched last year (CaFleureBon Best of Scent 2014) and gave us a glimpse into the fearless new direction that Christopher Chong, Amouage’s Creative Director, was taking us. Its counterpart, Sunshine Man, arrives in the U.S. next month to shed new light on this intriguing collection.

Amouage Sunshine Man via Amouage

When I first heard that Amouage was working on a “Sunshine” duo, there was, admittedly, a moment of concern. With a very closed mind, my thoughts turned to the endless barrage of frivolous-but-friendly summer fragrances that hit department store counters at the first sign of the sunny season. Would Amouage’s new collection have the literal and conceptual depth for which they’re known? Thankfully, I quickly learned that the only thing shallow about Sunshine Woman was my own preconception. To further prove me wrong comes Sunshine Man. One spray from my preview sample was enough to convince me that “frivolous” is not in Christopher Chong’s vocabulary. Rather, he was “inspired by the movement of an eclipse and the interplay between cool and warm, light and dark.” This, as a muse, granted a boundless array of possibilities both philosophical and cerebral … and an unexpected adjective soon to be discussed.

Eclipse over Watchful Forest Cedar Lee

Sunshine Man opens with an expansive, chordal blast of energy. Top notes of lavender and orange brandy light up an evening sky of cedar, tonka and vanilla basenotes. Ancillary notes of bergamont, clary sage and juniper berry repeatedly flash and fade, the successive illuminations which blaze after a sun-gazer closes his or her eyes. I further perceive something akin to black pepper which adds to the fluid dimensionality. The cedarwood note is, I believe, the same bracing accord that was used in Reflection Man. There is interplay between (ostensibly) opposing elements which—at the expense of mixing metaphors—reminds me of a color wheel: hues which are seemingly opposites are often the most complimentary.

Giant Prominence on The Sun Erupted – Image via NASA

The position of the earth or the conditions of the weather do not negate the fact that the sun—or the moon for that matter—is always shining somewhere. Hence, the interplay of light and dark. This is sunshine, but not necessarily the summer sun. Spectacularly mercurial, this could be a blood-orange autumnal sun, a blinding sunlight reflecting from snow, or a tranquil sunrise through a bedroom window. Moreover, I can’t help but perceive that some of the light comes from a sparkle in Christopher Chong’s eye. After the cerebral depth explored in most of Amouage’s creations, it’s clear that he had fun here. In that, I see yet another contrast: intellect, rather than ignorance, is bliss.

Keith Richards by Nicky Barkla

Where previous releases drew from music as inspiration, Sunshine Man follows suit. Rather than Madame Butterfly (Honour), La Traviata (Opus IX) or Swan Lake (Memoir), Sunshine Man takes a new approach, as described by Mr. Chong: “Enticing layers of freshness and warmth with a ‘Rock n Roll’ twist.” It’s refreshing to see Amouage evolve in directions no one would expect”. As Keith Richards once said, “You’ve got the sun, you’ve got the moon, and you’ve got the Rolling Stones.” Like its predecessor, Sunshine Man is unlike anything Amouage has ever created, yet undeniably Amouage. Like previous releases from the house, Sunshine Man is lavish and special—special, however, through its unabashed fun-factor. With due respect to Keith Richards, I joyously proclaim: “You’ve got the sun, you’ve got the moon, and you’ve got Christopher Chong.”

Notes: Lavender, Orange Brandy, Everlasting Flower, Bergamont, Juniper Berry, Clary Sage, Cedarwood, Tonka Bean, Vanilla

–Michael Devine, Guest Contributor

Editor’s Note: Michael Devine is one of the original Goodsmellas and a former ÇaFleureBon contributor. He has been very busy with his family and career, including a role in Orange is the New Black. Long time readers of ÇaFleureBon will remember his Fragrance Foundation Finalist 2013 Editorial Excellence essay Heart Notes. He came out of retirement for this review. We hope its semi retirement. Art direction Michelyn

Thanks to the generosity of Amouage and Christopher Chong we have a 3ml sample of Amouage Sunshine Man for a registered reader anywhere in the world. To be eligible please leave a comment with what you enjoyed about Mike’s review who has come out of Fragrance reviewing retirement for this article), which Amouage perfume makes you happy and where you live. Draw closes 8/14/2015.

We announce the winner’s only onsite and on our Facebook page, so Like CaFleureBon and use our RSS option…..or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume