Outlands Amouage 2024

I bet that cheeky Cecile felt a bit rebellious when she was composing Outlands... which is still distinctly Amouage, yet leaning into a more accessible, mainstream appreciation.

The composition opens with a dry, aromatic spice blend - likely cardamom and pink pepper (... and yes, reminiscent of African Leather Eau de Parfum) - setting the stage for a heart of smoky oud and resinous woods. There’s a subtle floral nuance, possibly iris or violet leaf, that adds a cool sophistication.
After an hour, the base starts defining Outlands' long lasting identity: leathery, woody, and slightly sweet, with amber and incense lending warmth. Interestingly, I noticed that as your body heats up, somehow the maltol is triggered and you'll get wafts of it.

While it doesn’t fall into the “cardabomb” category, Outlands does flirt with that genre. It certainly has a Layton-esque vibe... aromatic, slightly sweet, and mass-appealing but with a markedly superior performance. In fact, the performance sis and bros should know that Outlands pushes well beyond 12 hours (double that on clothes), with projection still noticeable at arm’s length up to the 10-hour mark. That’s impressive, even by Amouage standards, right?

The bottle, which caused scenes of mass panic when this line was launched, in my opinion still preserves Amouage elegant, weighty, and quality design. I do appreciate the aesthetic and the coating material, but I’m not a fan of the opaque design that hides the liquid level. It’s a minor gripe, and I suspect that humanity will survive.

Given Amouage's "new direction et bischification", Outlands carves out its own respectable space - and it's probably one of the brand's best recent releases. It’s bang on unisex, performing, wearable without being banal and quite flexible in terms of seasonality... definitely not an easy accomplishment.