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Imitation Man 2018

7.4 / 10 333 Ratings
A perfume by Amouage for men, released in 2018. The scent is floral-leathery. The longevity is above-average. It was last marketed by Sabco Group / Oman Perfumery.
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Main accords

Floral
Leathery
Spicy
Powdery
Woody

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
Black pepperBlack pepper CitronCitron NutmegNutmeg
Heart Notes Heart Notes
VioletViolet Turkish rose absoluteTurkish rose absolute IrisIris
Base Notes Base Notes
LeatherLeather MyrrhMyrrh PatchouliPatchouli CastoreumCastoreum VetiverVetiver

Perfumer

Videos
Ratings
Scent
7.4333 Ratings
Longevity
8.3299 Ratings
Sillage
7.8298 Ratings
Bottle
8.7321 Ratings
Value for money
6.8163 Ratings
Submitted by Amourage · last update on 02/11/2026.
Source-backed & verified
Interesting Facts
The fragrance was part of the collection Main.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Betrayal by The Dua Brand
Betrayal
Casamorati - Regio by Xerjoff
Casamorati - Regio
Bertrand Duchaufour by Project Renegades
Bertrand Duchaufour
Helmut Lang (2014) (Eau de Parfum) by Helmut Lang
Helmut Lang (2014) Eau de Parfum
Slow Explosions by Imaginary Authors
Slow Explosions
Moonlight Patchouli by Van Cleef & Arpels
Moonlight Patchouli

Reviews

14 in-depth fragrance descriptions
Omnipotato

480 Reviews
Omnipotato
Omnipotato
Helpful Review 4  
Complex chameleon of a scent
This is one of the most complex fragrances I've ever tried. Each note is almost its own accord and can be smelled separately. The nutmeg in the opening, sharp violet, powdery potpourri-esque rose and iris, suede-y leather, woody animalic notes in the base. They seem like disparate scents, but they all come together as a single unit.

It opens with a spicy dusty nutmeg which reminds me a bit of Fate Man's cumin opening, but it definitely does not keep going in the "spice drawer" direction like that one does. Sort of old-fashioned florals come in along with leather and a hint of castoreum. I saw multiple reviews say it smells like a makeup bag, I'd say a vintage makeup bag. The vetiver in the base punctures the smooth powdery veneer and gives it a bit of masculine edge.

This description doesn't do it justice. Each time I get a whiff, it smells a bit different, evolved and mutated in some way. Sometimes it seems fresh, sometimes spicy, sometimes overwhelmingly floral, sometimes masculine and leathery. The tricolor of the bottle makes sense; this scent is a chameleon, changing its color depending on its mood.

I really don't know what to rate this. Perhaps I need more than two wears to judge it. Complexity and originality-wise, it's a 10. Wearability, like a 5? I don't know if I like it or not. I definitely don't want to smell like this every day; I feel like it's something that needs to be in a museum and analyzed than just casually sprayed.
1 Comment
ScentGrail

110 Reviews
ScentGrail
ScentGrail
6  
Stunning hidden gem
Amouage Imitation Man was released in time while Christopher Chong was still the creative director of the brand and one of the last fragrances created under his creative hand. Being no stranger to underappreciated perfumes, I happened upon this gem approximately two years ago, and after a couple of months, it claimed its place as my second favorite from an Omani brand, alongside Dia Man.

TOP NOTES
The top notes seem to kick off with a somewhat polarizing accord, which is a combination of citruses, spices, and the aforementioned rose note. However, this rose note initially comes across more like a nail polish remover than a burning plastic. Amidst the initial shock that some consumers may experience, the rose continues to shine and mixes with other florals from the heart notes, primarily watery violet, and powdery iris butter. At times, it can resemble a semi-sweet chocolate. The juxtaposition of florals, citruses, and spices creates a unique and sensual opening, likely not found in any other fragrance.

HEART NOTES
In the heart notes, as the fragrance begins to settle and shed its initial harshness, a captivating transformation unfolds from the polarizing opening. The rose, still a prominent player in the composition, finds balance with an increasing presence of iris (orris butter). This transformation evokes shades of Dior Homme Parfum but offers a smoother, and in my opinion, better-blended rendition than Dior.

BASE NOTES
After a good couple of hours, Imitation reaches its full dry down. The composition takes on a warmer and more sensual dimension, creating a blend of notes that introduces some of the animalic aspects reminiscent of many old-school scents from the past. A castoreum accord, akin to the one found in Chanel Antaeus, mingles with a halfway modern patchouli note reminiscent of the original Givenchy Gentleman (1974), and a touch of semi-dirty myrrh.
All of these dance around the central brown leather accord and iris, creating a spectacle that demands to be experienced.

OVERALL
Sometimes, there comes a fragrance that defines an entire genre, and Imitation for Men is one such fragrance. Initially unsure if I would like it, this scent grew on me, and for that reason, along with everything else discussed here, I highly recommend sampling it as soon as you can. Compositions like this one are what fuel our passion for fragrance and keep us exploring the ever-evolving world of scents.

Read the full review at scentgrail.com
0 Comments
MrLawman

56 Reviews
MrLawman
MrLawman
4  
A leather that wants to be a suede
Looking at descriptions of this perfume, I expected a heavy leather with loads of nuances due the extensive use of woody notes and powderyness. Imitation Man, however, to my nose leans more towards suede than a true leather.

Note breakdown-wise: suede-like leather first, powderyness sevond, woody and floral notes (violet) on a shared third spot. Its very appealing and alluring.

If you use true leather scents like Tuscan or Ombre leather as your go to black leather jacket perfume, Imitaton Man may very well be your daily driver. The violet tones the edges of the leather down (or better said: it turns the leather into a suede), which provides us a more mass appealing perfume. The rose, orris and myrrh do play a major role in achieving that goal.

Performance, sillage and projection: above average, typical Amouage fashion.

Price: okay, not too bad

Bottle worthy: I would say so, due to its complexity. Dare I say: grab it while you can cuz this one looks like a reformulation prone...
0 Comments
Tennis3040

1 Review
Tennis3040
Tennis3040
6  
Imitation man
Starts for 1st 10 minutes as a juicy pear followed up by a chypre kind of suede and a pinch of leather.Amouage knows how make a fragrance lasts and this one is an all year around winner. I paid 310 retail and don't regret it at all. Nothing similar to this on marker that s for sure. Hey fragheads, get this one, it's worth every scent. A bottle will last you 2 years
0 Comments
Khansarwar96

1 Review
Khansarwar96
Khansarwar96
4  
Great SCent
Its a perfume for business minded and classy people. very unique and smooth scent not overwhelming. got enough projection with the right application and amount applied. I just love this scent. older formulation are better but new ones doesn't disappoint either. I get Leathery, woody, powdery, spices from the scent with a little bit of floral accords which is very tuned down and soft. you need a few sprays on cloths to smell this all day round.
1 Comment
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Statements

76 short views on the fragrance
3
3
It's odd; powdery, sour rose and musky, suede leather bolstered by dirty funk hiding in plain sight. Linear, unisex, questionable identity.
3 Comments
3
2
Mysterious creature revealing something with every wear! Some kind of time travel giving you glimpses of the past, present and future.
2 Comments
4 years ago
3
À signature scent. Luxury in a bottle!!
0 Comments
3
masterpiece suitable for spring.....
0 Comments
2
Absolutely artistic, creative and complex. Vinyl, plasticy feeling was too much for me but I hope I will grow with it. Unique Rose for sure.
0 Comments
1 day ago
1
Imitation continues the leathery, fueled, raw side of Fahrenheit.
Little bit animalic,with floral vibe.
0 Comments
1
I like this more than Portrayal and Reflection man. The mix of violet, rose and iris is nice. Funky flowers, but really growing on me. Sample first
0 Comments
1
Iconic fragrance...vintage vibes, bitter and liquorice without liquorice thanks to patchouli
0 Comments
4 years ago
1
For Autumn and sprig
0 Comments
This is mostly rose and a wooden barrel after liqueur. Also other flowers: violet, iris. A little leather. Unisex leaning feminine
0 Comments
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