Existence feels like a little bit of a throwback when compared to some of Amouage's latest women's offerings. It is the only women's perfume in the Odyssey collection, except perhaps Material, to feature that characteristic Amouage frankincense so prominently. Existence starts out with soapy, airy lily of the valley. A jammy rose wafts in and out, and both these beautiful florals last through the drydown. In the heart there's labdanum with its gorgeous honey and leather, and finally, I get the frankincense I love. But in the drydown there's a sweet fluffy synthetic-feeling musk, which is unfortunate since everything was so lovely up until that point. Bisch snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at the finish line: the musk pushes Existence into the no-buy column for me. If synthetic musk doesn't bother you--and it's near ubiquitous really--Existence is well worth trying. And I think it's worth noting that the first time I tried Bisch's Guidance Eau de Parfum, I was repulsed by the synthetic menthol note (Akigalawood), but with subsequent wears, it really grew on me. I hope the same will happen with the musk in Existence.
