Friday, March 8, 2013

On Women Day Smell Honour Woman by Amouage


Honour for Woman is a white floral fragrance inspired by the tragic predicament of Madame Butterfly. In honour of truth and beauty, her poetic love and sorrow echo eternally. Top notes: Pepper, Rhubarb Leaves, Coriander. Heart notes: Jasmine, Tuberose, Gardenia, Lily of the Valley, Carnation. Base notes: Vetiver, Frankincense, Amber, Opoponax, Leather

Honour Woman was created by Alexandra Carlin and Violaine Collas and lists notes of pepper, rhubarb leaves, coriander, jasmine, tuberose, gardenia, lily of the valley, carnation, vetiver, frankincense, amber, opoponax and leather.

The perfumes are very different except for the white floral heart that combines jasmine and tuberose.  Amouage Honour Woman is a beautiful and surprisingly gossamer-like interpretation of the ultimate feminine white florals. It opens up green and floral and fruity; feminine, happy and quite modern. The husband's impression was short: "fruit". It took me a while to zero in on a layer of fruit jam under a green canopy. Than when I read the official notes that said rhubarb it was a "why, of course" moment. Perfumers Alexandra Carlin and Violaine Collas under the direction of Christopher Chong created what is probably the best rhubarb note and impression available (you wouldn't expect anything less of Amouage, after all). It has the charm to capture the heart of the grumpiest anti fruity-floral sniffers, probably because due to the absence of extra sweeteners, artificial or others.

Honour Woman is astounding for me, because not only is it beautiful, but it surprised me in many ways. I usually find white florals to be loud, overpowering and often screechy, soapy and unsubtle to the max. Judging from that notes list, knowing the maximalist approach of more is more that Amouage is known (and loved, I might add) for, I expected to be hit over the head and kicked in the stomach with a single spray.

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