Amouage Epic 56 Woman courtesy of the brand filtered by Michelyn
I am extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel the world, experiencing many stops along my fragrant journey. And just like the fragrance house of Amouage, it is the Middle East where my perfume journey began. My career (outside of the fragrance world) took me to Dubai, United Arab Emirates where I recently spent 11 years living and raising my family. Immersed in Arabic culture and heritage, one that celebrates fragrance and scent in so many facets of life, it seems only natural that I would come to not only appreciate but to revere the famous Omani brand whose aim has always been to share their fragrant riches with the world.
Rachel’s children at the Amouage Factory in Muscat, Oman
Amouage was founded in 1983 by a senior member of the Omani royal family and famously created one of the most exclusive and expensive perfumes in the world, Amouage Gold (Guy Robert) as their initial offering. Over the years, Amouage has grown exponentially into a world-renowned luxury brand with standalone boutiques and numerous global points of sale.
A clear indication of the quality and uniqueness of Amouage creations is that several of their perfumes remain extremely popular even over a decade after their releases; Reflection Man (Lucas Zieuzac, 2007), Honour Woman (Alexandria Carlin and Violaine Collas, 2011). Epic Woman (Cecile Zarokian, 2009) and Interlude Man (Pierre Negrin, 2012) are all modern masterpieces in their own right. Therefore, when it was announced that there would be new Exceptional Extraits following along the lines of the previously released Interlude 53 Man (Pierre Negrin, 2020), I did not hesitate in ordering myself bottles direct from Oman.
Renaud Salmon with Cecile Zarokian, selfie in Sur, Oman
Creative Experience Officer Renaud Salmon and his team deserve great credit in how they have handled these releases. In selecting some of the most well known and beloveperfumes they risked alienating their substantial fan base if they tweak the fragrance too much and, on the other hand, if they do not do enough to improve and create something truly “exceptional” they risk being accused of aspirational branding, or creating more expensive products only for the sake of creating an air of exclusivity. All four of the Amouage Exceptional Extraits live up to their name; their decadence and richness is incomparable, making them all truly “The Gift of Kings”.
Cecile Zarokian courtesy of Renaud Salmon
The number after the name of each extrait indicates the percentage of perfume oil in the fragrance. As mentioned by Amouage, increasing the concentration is more complex than one might expect – not only are you looking to improve the longevity and performance of the scent but, you have to maintain the balance of the notes. All of the Extraits do an amazing job of maintaining the overall sense of the original fragrance while enhancing certain key notes or accords.
For Amouage Epic 56 Woman, which launched in 2021, Mr. Salmon asked star perfumer Cecile Zarokian (who composed Epic Woman in 2009, while she was still and intern) to reimagine the original. Perfume lovers familiar with Amouage know that the Woman’s line already had extrait or parfum versions of the scents. However, according to the company, these were in the range of 20-30% perfume oil concentrations. Epic 56 increases the concentration to an amazing 56 percent!
Oman Souq by Rachel
Fans of Epic Woman rejoice, Amouage Epic 56 is every bit as glorious as the original. From the first spray you are immediately transported back in time to the Silk Route and the old souqs of the Arabian Gulf. Sacks of precious spices line the winding alleyways filling the air with a bouquet of exotic aromas. I can almost hear the bearded, turbaned gentlemen calling out as I pass, inviting me to stop and enjoy a cup of strong jasmine infused tea while haggling over the price of frankincense tears and bits of oud wood to use in my own personal bukhoor (incense) mix.
Oman Spice by Rachel
When I compare the original Epic Woman to Amouage Epic 56 Woman, it is immediately evident the extrait has enhanced the depth and richness of the entire fragrance, with an emphasis on the base notes. Cecile Zarokian’s skill kept the scent from becoming harsh or dark as may have been the case in the hands of a less experienced perfumer. Despite heavy-hitting notes such as oud, guaiac wood, frankincense and patchouli, Epic 56 remains silky and so well blended that you never feel like any of the individual accords stand out, but instead a dry leathery vanilla amber swirls magically around you like a veil creating a sense of comfort and home no matter where that might be.
Amouage Epic 56 Woman has succeeded in not only bridging the world of Arabic and Western perfumery but also in creating a sense of continuity between what was created in the past and what is yet to come.
Top Notes: Cumin, Pink Peppercorn, Cinnamon.
Heart Notes: Centifolia Rose, Geranium, Jasmine, Tea.
Base Notes: Amber, Musk, Oud, Frankincense, Guaiac Wood, Orris, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Vanilla.
Disclosure: I purchased my own bottle, opinions my own
Rachel Watson, Contributor
With contributions from Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief
Thanks to the generosity of Amouage, we have a 10 ml travel spray of Amouage Epic 56 Woman, for one registered reader in the USA, EU, UK, The Middle East, Australia and wherever Amouage ships to (so please check their site to see if your country is eligible). You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest about Rachel Watson’s review of Amouage Epic 56 Woman and where you live. Draw closes 12/20/2021
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