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The Library Collection

Opus VII - Reckless Leather Amouage 2013

7.4 / 10 318 Ratings

A perfume by Amouage for women and men, released in 2013. The scent is spicy-woody. Projection and longevity are above-average. It is being marketed by Sabco Group / Oman Perfumery.
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Main accords

Spicy

Woody

Oriental

Smoky

Leathery

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Galbanum

Cardamom

Fenugreek

Nutmeg

Pink pepper

Heart Notes

Leather

Oud

Patchouli

Ambergris

Ambrox

Base Notes

Cypriol

Frankincense

Costus root Muscone

Muscone

Sandalwood

Perfumers

Alberto Morillas, Pierre Negrin

Videos

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Ratings

Scent

7.4318 Ratings

Longevity

8.7265 Ratings

Sillage

8.2265 Ratings

Bottle

8.3263 Ratings

Value for money

6.0126 Ratings

Submitted by DonVanVliet · last update on 12/30/2025.

Source-backed & verified

Interesting Facts

The fragrance is part of the The Library Collection collection.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

al03

Optus VII

Ombré Leather (2018) Eau de Parfum

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Reviews

20 in-depth fragrance descriptions

10/13/2015

4Scent

Silverfire
134 Reviews

Silverfire

5

Think Berkeley Breathed, Not Mozart

Admittedly, Amogue has set the standard in gothic perfumery with Memoir Man, so I entered this experience expecting great things. Even allowing for that bias and unhinging that, Opus VII is a disappointment. It is, in two words, a confused journey.

The scent opens deep, oily, almost medicinal with a streak of woods and vanilla. I have no idea which way this path is going to lead, but it soon takes me into a field of blooming stuffy flowers. I am reminded of Boucheron here, although with acrid undertones. Perhaps not all is well in this field? I shouldn't sleep here.

The silage begins at a foot and recedes as I travel onward, leaving the flowers behind, and encountering my old foe stryax. Yes, this is the chemist's basement smell, which isn't terrible, except in that it is terribly common, and a real disappointment from Amogue. Even the longevity suffers, clocking in at no more than six hours. Given how expensive this line is, you'd be better off with something that lasts (like ahem, Memoir Man). Thus, you should think of Opus VII in terms of Berkeley Breathed's comic strips, not Mozart.

Updated on 08/13/2019

12/13/2024

8.5Scent 9Longevity 7Sillage

Smirky
540 Reviews

Smirky

Helpful Review 3

Beautiful spicy fragrance but no leather

The leather in Reckless Leather was so reckless, it crawled out of the bottle and disappeared. That is, I didn't detect any leather in this fragrance. It opens and remains for quite some time as a sharp, spicy fragrance heavy on the galbanum and fenugreek. This approach was pretty unique to me; haven't smelled anything quite like it before. In the far dry down (after many hours) the spiciness becomes less sharp and the overall scent becomes smoother and creamier with the sandalwood and a bit resinous as well. A very unique and beautiful scent that is quite masculine.

Longevity is very good. I got about 10 hours out of it. The next morning, I didn't detect it on my skin buy my t-shirt still had Reckless Leather as a strong scent, even though I hadn't sprayed it. The scent had transferred to the t-shirt from my skin. If you sprayed your clothes, you'd be living with this scent for quite some time. After the first hour, the projection was more moderate.

Reckless Leather is another great fragrance from Amouage's' Library Collection. So far, I've tried Silver Oud, Royal Tobacco, King Blue and Reckless Leather and liked them all. Hope to have full bottles of each eventually.

03/11/2024

10Scent 10Longevity 10Sillage

Ineed1936
49 Reviews

Ineed1936

4

The masterpiece wich can`t be replicated ever!

I have studied this Opus VII since 2020, from the time when it was in the gray/black bottle, and I also have the opportunity to study it in detail in the current version. That's right, this monument masterpiece in perfumery, is a ruthless, extremely green, spicy and metallic leather. The metallic character is given by the overdose of galbanum, in combination with Cypriol and pink pepper. The extremely green and spicy character, almost burning your nostrils, is given by a melange of spices: here cardamom, nutmeg and, surprise, fennel (here fennel is a species related to cumin, hence the similar character to that of cumin), but another interesting spice was used: Fenugreek - which has culinary and gastronomic properties through its seed reminiscent of curry dishes. Finally, the leathery character is given by an overdose of labdanum, oud Assafi (Assam Oud) and patchouli. I spoke privately with Christoper Chong, a person extremely kind and open to talking with true enthusiasts, and he confirmed to me that in the first batches real ambergris was used, which I would be happy to find even today. And finally, a melange of resins and roots ala Amouge: Omani Franckincense, Cypriol and Costus root, which amplifies the perfume even more and gives it its oriental signature character. An exceptional perfume.

04/28/2022

10Scent 10Longevity 10Sillage

EnCuirNoir
6 Reviews

EnCuirNoir

Helpful Review 2

Animaux nocturnes

Upon application you get thrown in the midst of a surreal nightmare. Deep dark green.

A personal review:
Some years ago I came across Opus VII in a shop, the bottle was the darkest shade of green, and the first spray too, to my surprise, had not kept anything back and smelled nightmarishly dark and green, it was loud and sharp and so new to me, I looked at the SA in shock and just said wow what is this! I'm not into greens, let alone one so overtly over the top and deeply insane. But for the next days I started craving it more and more wanting to face that shock, I ended up going back opening the cap of the tester, thinking yes this is it, buying and falling in love with it. The love itself felt like a mistake/hate at first full wearings, like a struggle, I knew it's mine but it felt too insane at times, years later now I know every single detail about Opus VII, I enjoy the smooth musc under its rough face, I find the pissy leather as beautiful as a panther marking its territory and not at all repulsive, I enjoy the ridiculously dark green opening, the galbanum, frankincense and the oakmoss. And all the struggle makes VII more special to me than a love at first sniff. And to be honest I still am ready for a fight whenever it calls me to wear it!

What does it make me feel? Lost in a dark forest. What do I imagine when wearing this? There's an strong wild being lurking in the depth of this forest, like I said it took me some wearings to befriend her. Who do I imagine wearing it? Honestly noone famous irl comes to mind, it belongs to someone who's seen things that most couldn't handle, he's cold, elegant. A modern lone cowboy with a bike and a dark past. In short, Taylor Kitsch in True Detective S2.

To whom do I recommend it? If you like green perfumes, the oldschool ones, if you can handle One Man Show or vintage Quorum this will blow your mind. And it will keep doing so for many wearings, with its depth and complexity. If you like animalics, leathers, dark gothic perfumes try it you may like it, if you want something new challenging dark and really niche you're in for a treat test it you'll have fun even if you decide it's not for you. if you keep looking for "panty droppers" or consider Aventus or Office as the Holy Grail, don't bother with this. If you want something not offensive, no it's not here, this will turn heads, every single one, and some of them will be in disgust.

VII lasts a day and then some, projects like sirens for 5 hours and then strongly for another 5 before being reduced to smooth muscy green leather for it's long lasting final act which feels like a whole strong perfume on itself! (I have the first batch, but I doubt it was ever changed)

Don't blindbuy, and when testing hang on tight through the darkest green of perfumery, may you tame the beast.

08/20/2024

Jaype
1 Review

Jaype

2

Gourmand green-spice, not a leather

This is not a leather fragrance. It's a misnomer. This is an extremely green and herbal-spicy fragrance.

Compared sometimes with Frederic Malle's French Lover - and I can see why. But I much prefer this.

The opening is spicy and vegetal. I get carrot peel or juicy sharp chopped bell-pepper in the opening. The nutmeg note rings through and is quite bright and lovely.

The first impression smells like something you might spread over a nacho but also earthy, musty and salty. The cypriol in here reminds me of Opus VI, which is no bad thing.

Dried herbals and spices smell like bay leaf, parsley, pepper and almost onion from the fenugreek and cumin. Quite musty.

Balsamic floral and resinous notes rise next with the heavy dose of galbanum. That lift seems to come from the muscone base. Here is where the frankincense mixes and the dry smoky feel develops. A wonderful dry spiced smoke.

There is a dusty powdery quality to it as it develops into the drydown, where it's very smooth and pleasant. Longevity is also excellent.

Opus VII could be a little headache-inducing to those sensitive to ISO-E Super at the start. The cumin thing will put people off - but I love it and it's unique.

Updated on 08/20/2024

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