FRAGRANCE | Amouage Opus IV EDP: Bubblegum and spices

The red juice came as a surprise; a bit scary, to be honest. Since I've had this bottle for quite some time now, I'm not sure if the color changed due to age or if it was actually red to begin with. If there's any bearing to all this, the stand that keeps the bottle in place inside the box is also red, the only such one in The Library Collection (two are black and the rest are gold). Anyhoo, judging by its visual impact, Amouage Opus IV holds a lot of promise in how the scent itself makes an impact.

A fruity sweetness gleefully greets you right upon your first spritz. It's almost like bubblegum. Think Xerjoff Casamorati Dolce Amalfi but with a mild, citrusy zing, something I never would have expected from such a sinister-looking juice. But there's a warm, cumin-like spiciness lurking underneath, quietly underscoring the scent and biding its time. There's also a certain sourness to it, almost boozy in character, that mixes with the bubblegummy sweetness and makes the whole cocktail even more addictive. 

Later, however, the cumin wakes up and rears its ugly head, its BO-like essence wafting around with a relatively increased intensity. I understand that these ingredients add depth to a fragrance and that some people even take a liking to such spicy compositions. I personally can take a bit of funk in my fragrance but even I was worried there for a moment. Thankfully, there's a smoky incense with hints of rose that helps mask the spice. Besides, the cumin is less noticeable in the air, as the bubblegummy sweetness remains dominant in that arena. The spices and incense diffuse over time, the bubblegum loses its flavor, until what's left is a pleasant, floral-ambery sweetness.

Amouage Opus IV is a work of art—beautiful and complex—but it may not appeal to everyone's taste. While I like it a lot, there's a particular phase that makes me uncomfortable, or at least conscious. That said, I wouldn't dare overspray or wear this in high heat, lest the BO-like spiciness turn this into a disaster altogether. I say let's keep it to cold weather or air-conditioned room use. It leans masculine because of the spices and incense but otherwise, it's a unisex scent, especially in the late drydown. All said, I'm very happy to have it in my "library."