Amouage Opus XI (Library Collection)

The 11th volume of the Library Collection, Amouage Opus XI has an “of the moment and of the past inspiration”. As is Creative Director Christopher Chong’s purview since 2007, he often explores themes that are relevant to him and to the heritage of Amouage. In my interviw with Christopher in 2011, he told me the importance of the Library Collection, "I want a collection that gives me the freedom to explore. With the main collection, there is a signature Amouage accord. In the 'Library', I want it to be a collection that is inspired by the art of living with the freedom to develop and to challenge knowledge."

In the latest creation, Opus XI, Christopher Chong traces the origins of “fake news” to the Occidental exploration of the Middle East and Asia in the 18th and 19th century, as lands of mystery and exoticism.“Modern-day society is constantly bombarded with information. Not always genuine, this barrage works against us to believe the inaccurate. A bold rarity, this fragrance sheds the unnecessary falsehoods we are constantly exposed to throughout the world and instead is a manifestation of a genuine and timely study of Orientalism. It expresses the inextricable relationship between artistic representations and contemporary history,” explains Chong.

In Amouage Opus XI, Christopher Chong evokes modern Orientalism by combining real Oud with ingredients that project impressions of Oud to create “an illusion of reality”. With rich dark opaque attributes, top notes of Marjoram are mixed with heart notes of Oud and Styrax in the base to create an intoxicating natural vegetal Oud facet. The addition of Wood-leather gives this commanding and enlightening fragrance a smoky and powerful animalic sillage.

Inspired by the shape of a small book, the royal blue Amouage Opus XI bottle is made from the finest glass crystal from France. It is adorned with a simple gold label and crowned with the regal and distinctive Amouage shield. The box is reminiscent of a tome covered in a floral oriental mosaic jacquard printed on a silk-like fabric.

Perfumer: Pierre Negrin of Firmenich

:$290/ 50ml and $375 /100 ml www.amouage,com

Fragrance Family: Wood

Olfactory Notes: Marjoram, Oud, Styrax, Wood, Leather

Via press release and my own synopsis

Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

One comment on “Amouage Opus XI Library Collection (Christopher Chong and Pierre Negrin) 2018”

December 10, 2018 at 10:23 pm
cressit says:
The topic of Orientalism in all the arts fascinates me. I have read books and listened to so many different opinions over the years and I still can’t understand my feelings about it. I know it makes me uncomfortable but I’m completely seduced by it.
Chong and Negrin’s approach by using true oud blended with out-like ingredients is a very intellectual approach and I love that perfumery can be used to contribute to this important conversation. Good for Amouage!