Beloved Man Amouage 2013

"Beloved"...the true essence of what really matters in life...unfortunately not for everyone.
I received Beloved from my dear one in Vienna, who let me have it at a "bargain price"...probably also knowing the symbolism the fragrance name holds for me. Grazie di cuore per il profumo speciale..davvero.

Beloved is for me a beautiful scent that brings together everything I love in fragrances. Freshness, sweetness...and woodiness. All of this is perfectly blended here...the result is that I simply feel incredibly comfortable wearing it. No, the fragrance doesn't make you feel more loved, but it does make you feel better, it lifts your spirits and simply provides a sense of well-being...that's already something. Beloved is primarily citrusy in the first minutes, but not the much-cited freshly cut orange or grapefruit...no, more like a cloth that has been rubbed on citrus fruits...dry...waxy...yet crystal clear...and very fresh. At the same time, something lurks in the background that I would describe as Oriental-Light...quite similar to the base essence of Reflection Man...just not quite as sweet. More herbs/spices than floral. Somehow, there's a bit of everything, but I can't quite put my finger on it. I perceive the saffron much more strongly than the iris. Citrus fruits, flowers, spices, herbs...everything is present at once. Not breathtaking but super beautiful. Also, contrary to the assumption that with so many fragrance notes it would be a heavier scent, it is airy and light. As Leimbacher beautifully and aptly described in "Stil Life": "Mediterranean"...exactly this carefree (life) mood is very well captured by this fragrance. But the scent is anything but a mild breeze...it has quite a punch...this could very well be due to the spicy woods...the whole effect is slightly powdery and creamy...also two facets that I really like in fragrances. Beloved develops splendidly over 2-3 hours and then ends in a warm cedarwood drydown...which is not new and quite common...but simply excellently done. Amouage shows its skill here...but not, as always, in an extreme fragrance concentrate hammer that you have to dig into. Beloved is immediately accessible...but one should not fall into the misconception that it is therefore a banal or overly European, even mainstream scent. Here, the craftsmanship, the quality appears much more subtle...it doesn't shout out what it can do...and they can do a lot.

Conclusion: Beautiful fragrance, which at times reminds me of Reflection Man, longevity with 6-7 hours is okay, with a rather discreet sillage, except for the first 30-45 minutes where it is quite strong. Now my Reflection trauma is finally conquered, as I could only perceive that for 2-3 hours, with a price beyond good and evil and unjustifiable, even though it is a wonderful fragrance. I think you could get such a scent at a "normal Amouage price".

Black Afgano was my trophy for my "black zero-for the zero hour". That was past-oriented...Beloved is my new...future-oriented symbol...when I may feel loved again someday...I look forward to that...because there is nothing more beautiful and important on this planet.