When the weather turns cold, I reach for something complex and opulent, and more often than not that means Amouage.
Every fragrance house has a few great bottles. Amouage is the only one where I'd keep the whole shelf if I had to give up everything else. Their fragrances are dense, layered and unapologetically rich. They don't aim for "pleasant." They aim for something you remember.
Part of that is simple strength. Amouage lists Interlude Man at 29% oil and Beach Hut Man at 30%. That's a lot of oil for anything, let alone a bottle labeled eau de parfum. You don't need much.
Here are the three I'd keep.
Interlude Man
The original: Pierre Negrin's 2012 composition. Bergamot and oregano open it. Amber, frankincense, opoponax and cistus make up the heart. Oud, leather, patchouli and sandalwood carry the base.
What I think: Interlude Man is regal. It smells almost like royalty, the kind of fragrance that walks into a room ahead of you.
It's smoky in a way that splits rooms. Some people smell it and think of a church; others think of a house fire. I've written about it before as a $395 bonfire, and I stand by that.
Our version: Burn Pile
Jubilation XXV Man
The original: 2007, and an enormous note list: blackberry, orange and coriander with frankincense and labdanum up top; honey, cinnamon, clove, rose and bay in the heart; oud, myrrh, opoponax, ambergris and immortelle at the base.
What I think: To me, Jubilation XXV is rugged and unapologetically masculine, more so than almost anything else I've worn.
On paper it shouldn't work. Twenty-plus listed notes, fruit and honey and incense and oud all at once. On skin it pulls together into something outdoorsy, resinous and a little smoky, with an almost industrial edge that somehow works. All that complexity, and it still feels rough around the edges.
Our version: Hiltons, while it lasts. We have very little left.
Beach Hut Man
The original: 2017. Mint, galbanum and orange blossom on top, then vetiver, moss and ivy, over patchouli, myrrh and dry woods.
What I think: Despite the name, Beach Hut Man smells nothing like a beach. It's lush, minty and slightly resinous, and it has great staying power.
It's the odd one out, and the reason I trust Amouage. Most houses would have put sunscreen and coconut in a bottle and called it a day. Amouage made something green and mossy instead. It's a fresh fragrance for people who find most fresh fragrances boring.
Our version: Lost River, while it lasts.
Where to start
If you've never worn Amouage, start with Beach Hut Man. It's the most approachable of the three. If you already know you like smoke and incense, go straight to Interlude. Save Jubilation for when you're ready for the deep end.
Maison Appalachia is an independent fragrance house. Our fragrances are inspired by the originals we name and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced by those houses.