FRAGRANCE | Amouage Opus VI EDP (from The Library Collection) is decadance in a bottle

With still a lot on my Amouage buy list—which just keeps on growing, by the way—I've always turned away from getting myself acquainted with The Library Collection for fear of wanting even more. But then a good deal came along and I took the plunge with Amouage Opus VI.

I'm not a fan of the bottle, which I find rather simplistic and uninspired compared to the more opulent designs of the house's main collection. But I understand the need for making it slim to fit into the bookcase-style presentation of this collection, which I am totally behind with. I can imagine how great it would be to see them all neatly filed together on a shelf. Hello, library!

Much like several others from this house, this creation is heavy on incense. But where the likes of Amouage Journey Man and Amouage Memoir Man feature a mainly thin and airy treatment, Opus VI goes for thick and heavy by sweetening it with amber. It's a sweet, sweet incense that just throws its weight around. For some reason, the scent reminds me of some sweet leather fragrances like Cuir Ottoman by Parfum d'Empire. I'm also almost convinced there must be iris in the blend because I'm picking up that sort of makeup-y vibe here.

The smoky sweetness is warm and rich but ironically there's also a sliver of something cold in the mix that I just can't quite place. However, it only lasts for maybe half an hour. Likewise, there's a faint animalic trace early on but it doesn't stay long either. Then about an hour in, a certain sharpness tries to cut through the sticky sweetness. While it barely makes a dent, it has somehow managed to add another dimension to the overall scent profile, however slim it may be.

Opus VI is decadence in a bottle and unapologetic in its potency. The fragrance's warm and thick profile make it ideal for colder times of the year, where it wraps you in a blissful blanket of comfort. It's a joy to sniff, let alone to wear, and it has immense staying power. This will never be a safe blind buy but pricing aside, it's well worth a try.