Arcus Amouage 2005

A strange fragrance. Somehow, a sample reached me some time ago, and the anticipation for the test was so great that it had to be postponed several times. Only under ideal conditions should the precious elixir touch the skin - after all, it's an Amouage, and a discontinued one at that.

Well, what can I say, today was the day, and by the end of the day, I felt relieved that Arcus is only perceptibly toned down on my wrist. What on earth were they thinking back then?

The scent starts sweetly, with a rather finely differentiated leaf green that hovers over a densely constructed, fruity freshness. So far, so good. However, after a short time, the enchanting beginning transitions into a truly uncharming chewing gum note. With all due respect, I encounter such things regularly in the food sector when it comes to marketing energy drinks or gummy bears. But that's not all. Initially imperceptibly, a piercing metallic accord is added to the fruity medley, which completely ruins the fragrance for me. The typical Amouage longevity now unfolds a certain torment.

Based on the fragrance notes, I certainly did not expect an oriental scent. That's not inherently a quality characteristic. But this? Leaves me feeling slightly disturbed. So be it, let's move on. There are still Epic, Dia, and Jubi.