Amouage Interlude Woman: a tall drink of tamarind

Not too long ago, Creative Director of Amouage Perfumes Christopher Chong told me that Interlude Woman would probably be the first main collection fragrance that I'd fall in love with. My love for The Library Collection goes very deep and is well known, and as each Opus is released, the obsession grows deeper. While Christopher approves of my slightly raunchy taste in fragrance, he somehow knew that Interlude's odd yet subtle beauty would not escape me. The truth is that I've never smelled anything like it. I cannot even find a reference point using any other fragrances to help me describe it, so I picked out a few of my favorite things about Interlude to tell you about.

Interlude Woman notes: bergamot, grapefruit, ginger, tagete (marigold), frankincense, rose absolute, orange blossom, helichrysum, jasmine, opoponax, vanilla, benzoin, amber, sandalwood, agarwood, oakmoss, leather, tonka bean, musk, animalic

When I first spray it, I sense the presence of a giant tamarind flavored Chupa Chups lollipop. I don't just see and smell it, it practically gets into bed with me. It clocks in at over six feet tall and has a size 12 shoe (I know). Interlude is all exotic dried fruits, candies, powdered ginger and juice drinks. When I think of that burnt-caramel brown shade of the always-bubbling tamarind fountain drink at The Burrito House, the image collapses into the soft, sticky flesh underneath the rough skin of a dried Medjool date, then back to that strange candy again.

Tamarind Candy

Tamarind Juice

As is custom with Amouage, the maximalist notes list proclaims many subtleties, but for this one, I'm keeping my interpretation simple. It's like one giant thought that I might try not to think about, but the more I try not to think about it, the more I see it- the larger amount of space it requires. So I've settled nicely into it. It's the happiest Amouage fragrance I've tried yet- it's still got its innocence. The zing of the ginger and citrus gives away the fact that our fair Interlude Woman is not quite yet a woman, but her wedding day is not far off (so says the gentle smokiness in the base).

I love to read Amouage ad copy after I've written a review of the scent, because I don't want it to unintentionally influence my writing. Because of that practice, my words never seem to coincide with the intended artistic theme, but the primary emotion and the raw instincts are usually quite the same.

After I'd worn Interlude Woman several times, I started to smell other things. Not giant Mexican lollipops this time, but sweet red bean cakes and leather, scented rubber erasers, salted melon, assorted dried fruits served in a wooden bowl with  light savory herbs on the table. It draws me in with a deft hand.

The sillage is moderate and longevity average (less than most Amouages but good overall). I would recommend that everyone sample Interlude Woman, primarily because there is nothing else like it. Its uniqueness stands out not only among other Amouage fragrances but in the market at-large. It makes for an utterly charming and unforgettable fragrant detour.

Amouage Interlude Woman can be purchased at Amouage.com.
[sample provided by Amouage for my consideration]