I wouldn't call Amouage an "edgy" house. Its perfumes aren't likely to surprise or tantalize conceptually. Still, Amouage fragrances have presence. Ubar is summer light and laughter; Jubilation 25 is carnal pleasure; Gold is glamour slashed with femininity; and Lyric Woman is passionate and a little bit moody. Amouage fragrances smell expensive, lush, and carefully crafted, and the house seems to ignore trends in favor of making perfume to suit the seasoned person. Ingénues should look elsewhere.
Amouage's latest release for women, Epic, doesn't disappoint. But instead of embodying a particular mood, Epic could be the Amouage lover's daily go-to scent. Amouage's website characterizes Epic Woman as a "spicy floral oriental" and lists its top notes as cumin, pink bay, cinnamon; its heart as Damascene rose, tea, geranium, jasmine; and its base as amber, musk, guaiac wood, orris, frankincense, oud, patchouli, sandalwood, and vanilla.
Epic is warm, thick, and fuzzy with smooth edges. Rose and sweet sandalwood balance Epic's sour oud and frankincense, and a dusting of peppery spices makes sure the fragrance never strays into olfactory tranquilizer territory. Epic starts not with perfume's traditional tickle of citrus, but with pepper and geranium, before settling into a rose-inflected blend of frankincense and rose, tinged with oud. Over time, the sandalwood steps forward. I can't pick out the cumin at all.
If this sounds like a description of Lyric Woman, the two fragrances do share common ground. To me, though, Lyric feels brighter, colder, and more distinct than Epic. Epic, on the other hand, is so silkily blended that when smelling it I visualize all its components woven together into a fragrant blanket. Lyric focuses more on rose and incense, while Epic favors spice and sandalwood. Lyric feels like a stained glass window, while Epic feels like a chunky but formfitting sweater knit from Italian merino wool the color of dark honey. Lyric broods, and Epic comforts. (Attention potential Eau Faux contestants: there's plenty of inspiration in the intro to Epic on the Amouage website. Lyric is described as the stop on a journey where a woman loses her soul, and Epic is when she rises from the Lyric's underworld and sets off on the Spice Trail.)
I was lucky enough to snatch a travel sized bottle of Jubilation 25, and my most expensive fragrance purchase is my cherished bottle of Lyric. I could definitely stand decants of Ubar and Jubilation XXV, too. If money were no object — currently, a 1.7 ounce bottle of Epic Woman is $265 — I'd add a bottle of Epic to the list. I know I'd use it often. However, I have other perfumes that give Epic's soothing, cashmere mousse feel, although they take a different route to get there. L'Artisan Parfumeur Havana Vanille gives a similar vibe, although not as luxuriously, with vanilla, tobacco, and hay. Ormonde Woman gives the feel, too, but through truffle, moss, and grassy hemlock.
Epic Woman lasts a good, long day on the skin, and although it's classified as a feminine, it would make a terrific masculine. It's a wear-anywhere scent, although it could be overwhelming in hot weather. For information on where to buy Epic Woman, see Amouage under Perfume Houses.
Amouage was going to be another house that I ignored due to sheer expense and, then, our dear enable-in-chief introduced me to the wonder of Epic Woman – now I’m an Amouage ‘ho. I agree that it’s definitely a more comforting scent and one of the few scents with cumin in it that I don’t think smells sweaty. Although, there is definitely something sexy about it – the CEO actually remarked on it the first time I wore it and he usually ignores my fragrances (unless he hate one).
It’s definitely a go-to scent in the cooler weather – something that I’ll grab if I’m running late and don’t have time to ponder my scent and I’m looking for something both comforting and casual.
Today is a Jubilation 25 day – I really wish that Amouage would issue all of their scents in nice little travel bottles (at the same lovely price that Jubilation 25 was). If money were no object – I’d scoop up any and all Amouage scents, unsniffed even. For now, I’ll have to satisfy myself with decants and splits.
There is no shame in being an Amouage Ho…..even if we do end up living in a van down by the river….
But we sure will smell nice (as long as we have access to showers–oh wait, that’s what the river is for).
you got it, girlfriend! 😉
Another Daisy-Enabled Amouage lover raising her hand… But something common to all of the scents that I’ve tried (Epic, Lyric, Jub. 25, Gold) gives me headache. The only line that this has ever happened with.
Could it be the frankincense? Or maybe the wildly high prices?
LOL! Yes! The high prices. Definitely not the frankincense as I’ve been testing a frankincense heavy fragrance (as well as using it quite a lot in aromatherapy) and I love it! And it loves me.
That’s good!
I don’t know how I missed this review, but I’m sort of glad I did. I received my bottle of Epic Woman yesterday, and if I had read that cumin was one of the notes I might not have bothered. Cumin turns sweaty curry armpit on me, but I cannot pick it out in Epic Woman at all. I get a deep, spicy rose – more rose that I detect in Lyric Woman which is supposed to be the rosier of the two. Dear Daisy didn’t enable me, I willingly ordered samples from TPC, but I am hooked. Lyric is next on my list. They included large samples of Jubilation 25 and Jubilation XXV and I suspect that I will be ordering those after I work up the courage to test them. My only complaint: The bottle is standing up in the box and the well that it is set in is not very deep. Thank goodness I opened it on my bed, because it toppled over when I removed the top. If I had been standing or sitting on a hard surface it could easily have been a very expensive disaster.
I’m glad you were able to save your bottle! I agree that the cumin in Epic is very subtle. What do you think of Jubilation 25? I wonder if it will be too armpit-y for you?
I’m with you in wishing they all came in one ounce travel sizes! I’d buy one of each for sure.
http://www.amouage.com/boutique/products/?ID=204
This is a set of 6 miniatures, they also have a men’s version.
The little bottles look gorgeous, but it’s still very expensive. (although if you like most of them…)
The one-ounce travel sprays were great, because they were $50. This set is pretty adorable, though!
Well, 50$ for an ounce of any good perfume is considered cheap, right? Yes, those miniatures look beautiful-if I were to give myself a present, it would be something like that.
It would be a nice present.
I totally missed the boat on these 1 oz travel size bottles I keep hearing about…arrgh… Were they for every Amouage fragrance? I’ve only seen them for Jubilation.
I think they may have done them for Gold, as well. Let’s cross our fingers they expand that list and offer them again.
Why “were”? I just saw Jubilation 25 somewhere on-line for $50. In the beginning I thought it was fake Amouage. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Hey, then they’re still out there!
Funny thing, Cynthia, that happened to me too…
Yeah, me too. I was all ready to dismiss them as boring, expensive, and over-hyped. Amouage might not rock the world style-wise, but they are pretty great.
Thanks for the review, Angela. I’ve been curious about Epic Woman ever since I received a free sample of Epic Man from Luckyscent, which I thought was terrific. It sounds like they share a number of notes, too. What I found so captivating and rather unexpected about Epic Man was the rapid fire delivery of the top notes in the opening: one after another, after another, after another instead of meshed together. It had what I immediately identified as a filmic character – that is, it literally felt cinematic, if that makes sense. It was a bit like watching a great sweeping film like Lawrence of Arabia on triple-fast-forward – but without missing a single shot, line, or note of music (if only that were possible!). Breathtaking!
Any cinematic qualities to the emergence of notes in Epic Woman?
I have a vial of Epic Man and have only given it a cursory dab. I need to sample it further!
I wouldn’t call Epic Woman cinematic, but it’s definitely nice.
Oh, and I just wanted to say also that the ad image above is gorgeous!
I like it too!
Hi Angela. I love this review. As it happens, today I’m wearing what I believe, by comparison, is sort of like Epic’s less-attractive, ill-mannered, tomboy sister on steroids: Montale Red Aoud. I was thinking of that analogy even before seeing your review, when I emailed Daisy about what I was wearing.
That being said, I LOVE Epic. I wore it in New York City during the holidays and on New Year’s Eve. I’d love to own a bottle. When I first smelled it, it struck me as very similar to Lyric Woman, which I also own a decant of, but Lyric now seems much more simple and less complex. I think Epic reminds me a bit of a cross between Lyric and Micallef Guiac, with a pinch of spice thrown in. I agree that it wouldn’t suit me in warm weather — a situation in which Lyric might be more appropriate.
Really, it’s a fantastic scent, and right up there with Jubilation XXV and Ubar as my top Amouage loves (I still need to try the Golds and Dias).
That ill-mannered tomboy sounds much more up my alley — going on my list!
Oh, and LOUD. Did I mention the sister is LOUD?
I know just what you mean! Red Oud isn’t the smooth blanket of scent Epic Woman is.
LOL I seem to remember someone saying Ubar was just another floral…..ah, what a difference a couple good spritzes can make! Dabbing just doesn’t do Ubar justice!
I believe it!
I find Lyric colder and more angular than Epic–but that said, I do love it.
I’m glad you like Epic W. It seems so perfect for either gender.
A cross between Lyric and Micallef Gaiac? I’ve gotta try this one! I think I need to try Ubar, too, from the sound of it!
Ubar is almost like white flower lemonade. Let me know what you think of it!
White flower lemonade? I’ll have to try that!
still got my email around somewhere? I can send you a sample.
I know *someone else* who needs a sample of Ubar and Lyric. Hint… hint…
HA! I just sent you an email expressing my concern over your drastic situation!!
Email = sent 🙂
lol – it *is* hard to believe, isn’t it?
Joe, I think Gold and Dia are boring (though not bad by any stretch) by comparison to the rest, but I’ll be curious to know what you think when you do try them. (Oh, and I absolutely hated Reflection. Don’t even consider it an Amouage.)
Gold is so agressively feminine that I’d think it would be hard for anyone but, say, Elizabeth Taylor to wear.
I go back and forth on Gold. The first time I tried it I hated it, the second time I loved it… and then I hated it again. I think I can safely say it’s not for me at this point, but (somewhat) objectively I think it just doesn’t smell as rich as Jubilation or Lyric and I don’t see it as being worth the money.
BTW, I really liked Epic, and am trying to talk myself out of a bottle. So far it doesn’t last long on me, so that’ll keep me at bay for a while. For a while. But that green bottle is so pretty!
Oh man, it lasts for ages on me! So much the better, though, if you can talk yourself out of it.
Gold is Aggressively Feminine! What a perfect description….when I wear it I feel like I could mow anyone down who gets in my way! And Dia is beautiful …..Ciel was like an entirely different line and Reflection was blech. Other from that —my favorite Amouage changes daily!
I know what you mean! I have Jubilation 25 and Lyric, and if I added Ubar to the mix I’d have a regular merry go round.
Or, perhaps, Mrs. Vladimir Putin? 😀 Since Daisy so kindly sent me a sample *just* when my husband found a nice Russian deli, I dabbed a bit on for dinner the other night. It definitely wears me, rather than the other way around, until several hours in.
It is a whopper of a scent, that’s for sure.
Still late to the party, but I tried the Reflection sample you sent, and I agree that it is not the best. It has been a while since I tried it, but I seem to remember thinking about Juicy Fruit gum while wearing it.
Not exactly what someone wants to smell like!
Aside from the abysmal Reflection Woman, I appreciate all the Amouage scents I’ve tried…but find only Lyric to be wearable. I think a person needs a great deal of presence to pull these off, and I prefer to blend into the background a bit more. I was prepared to ignore this one altogether…until I got to your fourth paragraph. Now, it seems, I’ll have to try it after all. Beautifully written review, as always!
They are definitely big, full of presence fragrances. Of them, Epic is probably the easiest to wear, I’d think.
Love the review Angela. Love Jubilation XXV in the opening, but seems to go a tad sour on my skin and is very quiet IMO. Lyric woman: Love my decant…but it is way too quiet too. In order to smell if on my you literally have to be about to give me a hickey. HA! I would love to sniff Epic Woman. Referring to Joe’s comment, I adore the ill mannered tomboy lil sistah named Red Aoud! The compliment don’t end when I wear it, AND I can actually smell it too! Now that’s my type of fragrance partner. 🙂
I think we need to average our skin together, Carlos. Even very lightly applied, Lyric can be a bit much on me.
really? hmmmm.
Boo, I’ll bet you spritz once and Carlos spritzes six times. 😉
I really should be more generous with my Lyric doses – it’s so beautiful I deserve to smell it without sticking my wrist up my nose.
Yes! Spritz with abandon!
I can’t speak for Carlos, but you’re right on w/me! In my signature scent days, a 50-75 ml bottle would last me at least a year, sometimes more (with daily usage, I should add).
Spritzed away…6 times….ahhhhh…I’m loving LYRIC WOMAN!
Isn’t it great? I love that incense.
oopsie typo…in order to smell it on me…sheesh.
It sounds like you need a big, angular scent! How about Epic Man? Have you tried that one?
No I haven’t, will have too soon though. 🙂
Carlos, if you like peppery, spicy, slightly sharp, bone-dry and thoroughly masculine incenses, Epic Man is for YOU!
Thanks for your input Robin. I am not opposed to a slighly fem fragrance…(says the black orchid carnal flower wearing guy. HA!)..my tastes vary. Can I ask you to elaborate on the “BONE DRY” desc? What’s out there that would be considered BD?
The spicy rose in Epic reminded me of OJ Ta’if, but I found Epic smoother. I thought it was nicely done if not terribly exciting, I agree that it would make nice go to fragrance.
I like Amouage a lot. My favourites are Dia, Lyric (own a bottle) and Jubilation. I don’t think I can smell Gold properly and Ubar is the only Amouge I had a problem with – it is so jarring that I can’t wear it for any length of time no matter how lightly I dab it on.
Funnily enough, my OH too was impressed with Amouge. I gave him a sample of Dia Men which came with my bottle of Lyric, he drained it and then went out and bought himself a full bottle. This is man who owned one 11 (!!) year old bottle of Eternity when I met him 😀
Firstly, thank you Angela for her lovely review …
Amouage’s senses are so intense & overwhelming but nicely constructed. They are always very complicated that being not to easy to enjoy, somehow not too easy to wear unless you have some PLAN that day … But I do own a bottle of UBAR myself and try to test my limit.
I agree with ABYSS that I found EPIC Women reminds me the rose sense from OJ Ta’if … Because for where I live (Hong Kong), I cannot buy OJ easily … (just not trust worthy enough to buy a fragrance online… silly me… ha). I almost went to the store and bought the EPIC Women just for me to lingering to the mood I am so obsessed with OJ Ta’if. But finally I went to London a month later, and of course I spent my bulks on the Ta’if perfume version as I like the gentleness of OJ better.
OJ is such a wonderful line, too. Ta’if is so nice, and I need Ormonde Woman and Champaca always in my perfume cabinet.
Wow! Nice work, Abyss!
Coincidentally enough, I just recently got a sample of Epic Woman — still searching for an Amouage to love (not sure why, since I’m broke enough as it is!). And it’s interesting that you mention OJ Woman, since I swear I got a little burst of that same hemlock (or something — I’m awful at identifying notes) at the start of Epic. However, while I liked Epic better than the other Amouages I’ve tried (the Dias, the Jubilations, the Lyrics), they’re all still too… syrupy for me. Not sweet, just thick and sludgy. Dense, maybe? But I did like this one enough to revisit it, so perhaps it will grow on me (while it shrinks my bank account, no doubt).
I see what you mean about density. Yes, they’re definitely dense. Dense with nice materials, but not airy and abstract in the least. So much the better for your wallet, it sounds like.
I found Dia way too dense and perfumey for my personal style, but Lyric did not strike me that way at all. Could be my Rose Ho thing rearing its head.
I seem to remember a goodly dose of aldehydes in Dia–and definitely in Gold.
Aldehydes do not trouble me, but sometimes complex florals do. I feel like I can’t think… vtg Arpege makes me fuzzy-headed, as does Bal a Versailles, for the first hour.
Well, Gold is chock-a-block with flowers, that’s for sure!
I’ve sampled most of the Amouage line now (thanks largely to Miss Daisy! :D) and am impressed with their overall body of work. I *adore* Epic Woman, though…it’s my favorite of the line and the one that required a full bottle purchase. Your vivid review makes me wish I was wearing it now: I honestly *could* wear it every day, especially at this bitter time of year when the comfort of it is palpable. I like your analogy of a chunky Italian merino wool sweater — it feels like a garment to me as well, but like a thick, dark cape 😀
Re Lyric, I do agree that you can definitely smell the relationship between it and Epic. However, for anyone worrying about the similarity between the two, I’d assure them that it is, as you say, “common ground” and not duplication. On me, Lyric is a *much* sweeter “high note” fragrance, a soprano to Epic’s rich alto.
I see them as different, too. Related, yes, but you probably wouldn’t want to wear them at the same times.
I have a sample of Epic on its way to me now and I’m looking forward all the more to trying it after reading your review. I like Lyric but am not quite in love with it–if Epic is the way you described, I might just fall for it! Thanks, Angela, for your great review!
Let me know what you think!
My first impression of Epic is that it smells a lot like OJ Ta’if, although I don’t have the most discerning nose to begin with and I have a cold, so my sniffing capacities are not that great at the moment. I love and own Ta’if, so that means I like Epic too, but I don’t feel the need to buy it. But I got some other Amouage samples too and I think I’m falling for Jubilation 25…!
Jubilation 25 is pretty amazing, I think, although the cuminy-tarragony note makes it hard for me to wear everyday. Still, I think it’s wildly sexy.
Ta’if sure is wonderful, too. Lucky you to own a bottle!
I’m fascinated by this review, as Epic was the first Amouage I smelled that I didn’t (thank God) fall in love with. Maybe it’s because I’m jaded by my bottles of Gold and Ciel and Dia, or because I already have plenty of samples of Lyric that I’ll never get through, but I couldn’t see what was so special about Epic.
I do tend to blow out the walls wearing my Amouages in the summer; perhaps I’ll try Epic again as a winter fragrance. (My sample’s at home or I’d try it today.) Maybe that’s the answer. (But I’ll still be planning Ubar as my next ridiculous-I-can’t-possibly-need-this purchase…)
I do see what you mean. Epic doesn’t stand out as unusual. It really is more of a daily wear fragrance to me.
I did find my Epic sample here! and am now wearing it.
That’s why I was so fascinated by this review; maybe I was expecting it to be something other than what it is.
Today, recovering from a HORRIBLE cold, I’m getting a LOT of pepper from it (which isn’t bad, I like pepper), and then a nice cashmerey background. I’m going to try thinking of it as an every day fragrance (instead of as an AMOUAGEOMG!) and see how I feel about it.
Isn’t that pepper interesting? It is definitely peppery, but smooth at the same time. Like black pepper liqueur.
yes, it’s a gentle, friendly pepper. maybe there’s some wood there that’s smoothing it out?
yes, I’m going to think of it as “Epic Shawl”, and I think I’d find it very wearable. I adore Dia, don’t have the problem with it being as big as some other commenters have said (Gold I absolutely cannot wear without being supercareful at the office – I feel like I can feel people’s eyeballs on me when I wear it), and was thinking of Dia as the wearable everyday fragrance, so Epic went right over my head. It’s so not an evening fragrance.
I guess “epics” go on and on and on, every day… “Epic Soap Opera”?
Probably the sweet sandalwood and vanilla helping out.
Epic soap opera, sure!
but then with a name like “epic” it might be OK that I was not thinking of it as an everyday fragrance. 🙂
I agree. It’s misnamed. It should be called Fundamental or something like that.
Hmm. Interesting to see all the praise on this one. This is the Amouage in their lastest, amazing string o’ hits (since the Jubilations) that just didn’t grab me at all. Oddly, I was talking to an Amouage SA/afficianado just last night and she confided it wasn’t selling well with her Amouage-wild customers here. Maybe it’s a Canuck thing. Oh well, I guess I should be grateful – more money to spend on Ubar and Lyric decants and (okay, let’s dream) Homage.
I see Epic as something someone with a lot of cash would buy for a daily wear fragrance. For the rest of us, though, there are plenty of less expensive fragrances that fill that role. The rest of the Amouages have more distinct personalities, I think. But as Robin always says, if a bottle fell into my lap….
See, and to me, my feelings about Lyric Woman and Epic Woman are a bit reversed. To me, Lyric is the “mundane” one that could be an everyday scent, while the complexity of all the ingredients of Epic make it special. Not that it’s “angular” or “jarring” in any way (and neither is Jub XXV to me), but it’s smooth and rich and luxuriously deep, and in comparison, Lyric seems more two-dimensional, or to have fewer notes harmonizing, or something.
You’re not the only one who feels that way. A couple of people here have said they prefer Epic to Lyris for similar reasons.
Wonderful review Angela! I imagine Epic like a fragrant blanket as well…..and while I do see a similarity between Lyric and Epic, to me they are for different moods. Epic is much earthier. I adore them both and the only reason I’m not hot on the trail of a bottle is that I have 2 decants (2? you say? yup–I adopted Rapples decant as it was languishing, unloved at her house!) But I will without a doubt, be having a bottle of this! I just love that beautiful Green bottle! So about March the hunt will be on. Actually, if I did it now, I would have enough to do some sharing….hmm…wheels turning at a furious rate!
Uh oh! Your finger must ache from making decants! I wish I had an Enabling Crown to bestow upon you.
hmmmm….visualizing…..a crown might be just a tad too ostentatious…..maybe a nice tiara instead…. 😀
Oh yes, a tiara is much more restrained!
and yet still so ME!
She has a MASSIVE enablers’ pin, Angela. We give her additional stones for it each time she succeeds. She needs to officially change her name on these boards to the Empress of Enabling! 😀
I would be happy to take some off your hands for you if you were to invest in a bottle 🙂
it may be a couple of months….I sort of went on a “perfume bender” last week and spent a bucketful of $$….but I’ll make a sticky note about this….feel free to email me ( I thought we had emailed back and forth previously, but maybe not) so here’s the info: Daisyloo82@gmail.com
If we get 3 or 4 people who want some we get it soon.
that would be “we’ll get it soon” bad fingers, very cold , type terribly.
Lovely review! When you say “is so silkily blended that when smelling it I visualize all its components woven together into a fragrant blanket.”, I immediately thought of Ormonde Woman-to me it’s just such a wonderful fragrance and I smell it as a “whole” and not by its seperate pieces (if that makes sense).
I’m waiting for the Epic samples that I “won” in the extrait contest. Can’t wait to try those.
That’s how I feel about Ormonde Woman, too. I love that stuff. I hope your samples come soon!
i need to try this ormande woman…
Yes! It’s a warm, moody perfume with almost the scent of grass and truffles. Some people hate it, but I love it.
Lovely review! I wish I had read it yesterday though – I just ordered my first sample order with Aedes yesterday and requested a sample of Lyric, but from reading this, I probably would like Epic more. It will have to go on the next sample order!
I prefer Lyric, myself. But Epic is a nice one. Who knows? Maybe they’ll throw one in the order.
Hi Angela – thanks for the lovely review! The only Amouage I have sampled is Lyric Woman and I sure did enjoy it. Your description of Epic makes my heart beat a little faster so I gather I would really like this one too. *sigh* SO many things to sample – it’s a never ending adventure. LOL
Oh, I know! I can’t keep up, either. I don’t always want to be sampling–sometimes I want to wear my favorites, too.
Ooh… it really sounds like I need to try Lyric as well. Why haven’t I tried Lyric yet?
Of course, maybe it’s because I have over 100 samples and I’m only about halfway through them – not because I’m lazy, but because I took a vow to wear the stuff I have more often and not sample every day.
Plus, it’s really hard to convince myself to sample something unknown when I can reach for Jubilation 25 or Bois des Iles or Cuir de Russie or Mitsouko instead… Of course, if I hadn’t sampled *those*, I wouldn’t know about them either.
Oh, the tragic dilemmas of a perfumista – I’ll be those signature scent girls don’t have these problems.
Oh Cynthia! You so perfectly articulated the dilemma!
Yes!
Random attempt at being helpful: I’ve started trying samples at night before I go to bed, usually one on each wrist. (Ok, sometimes *two* on each wrist, since there’s a front side and a back side.) That way I can wear something I already own throughout the day, but still work in my sampling. I was getting overwhelmed with samples, and this is how I dealt with my anxiety.
I test at bedtime, too, but then I go to sleep with my wrist under the pillow and can’t smell it anymore. It only makes it through half an hour of reading or so.
That’s how I do it, Miss K: Wear what I want all day, and by the time I get home (usually early evening), I have a good 3-4 hours many nights to put on 2-4 samples and test them out before I go to bed.
Ditto. By around 7pm everyday I’m onto my sampling. Usually I can test about 3 before bed. I definitely look forward to this little bit of “me” time at the end of the day!
I wish I could do that; alas, despite being a very light spritzer, my skin *will* hang on to scent for ages. This morning I put on 2-3 spritzes of Havana Vanille; 11 hours later, it’s still going strong. There is no way I could sample anything tonight and not have it mingling w/HV. Even liquid Tide and poison ivy soap can’t make me a blank slate.
What “sticky” skin! You’re lucky–except when you’re not, I guess.
WoW! 11 hours of Hav Vanille. My skin drinks that up in no time. Too bad as I really like it. 🙂
I’ve tried a few things that way – but then I miss the drydown unless I do it right when I get home. During the summer, it isn’t as much of an issue because the scents are lighter and have usually mostly dissipated by the end of the day. During the winter, it seems like most of my scents last longer and I can’t sample as soon as I get home.
I have to do something about my sample box though – and it’s not getting any smaller!
I hear you! But I still love my samples.
What? You haven’t tried Lyric? Must try Lyric. Especially since you like the others!
I know – it’s insane, isn’t it? Especially since I vowed to avoid this line. Now, it’s hard for me to revisit my old dept. store frags or try new ones – everything smells so “thin” or simple in comparison.
I can understand that.
Yes, Cynthia put our shared predicament so perfectly. I was thinking. A Certain perfumista buddy is sending me a sample of OJ Woman [squeee] so after reading some of the comments, I’m hopeful this will abate my lemming for the Epic. At least for a while. Maybe.
Of the two, I know I’d jump on the OJ Woman. Love that stuff.
Amouage is one of my absolute favorite lines. Jubilation 25 is one of my fav fragrances and Epic Woman is heading up to the top of the list as well. Funny that Lyric has never really grabbed me. I would actually describe the two (Lyric and Epic) in a different, almost opposite way from you.
I find Lyric to be cozy and soft, rather than brooding, probably from the vanilla in the base. I certainly wouldn’t call Epic brooding. It’s wonderfully rich and spicy-sooo perfect for a cold winter day. But I also detect slightly edgy whiffs of sharp woods and chewy rose that peek out of the spices. I just love how those notes pop out of my sweaters just when I least expect them! Yum.
I’m a huge fan of Jubilation 25, too, although I find it hard to wear everyday. Still, I cherish the travel bottle I have.
Interesting about your experience with Lyric and Epic! I love your description of it wafting from your sweater.
I have to agree with you, M. (And Angela, I know you won’t mind at all. You always welcome spirited exchanges. 😉 )
I don’t find Lyric bright and cold in the slightest — in fact, I find it the height of rich, velvety rose-incense-vanilla coziness — while I find Epic darker, woodier, a little sharper at first, more brooding, firmer: kind of like taking Baume de Doges, Silver Factory, Aedes de Venustas and El Attarine, mixing them all up, and then adding that indescribable Amouage opulence.
Isn’t it nice that we’re all so different, and yet we play so nicely together? Great article, Angela, as per usual. Thank you!
Dissenting opinions are always welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed the review.
You’re always so kind and balanced, Angela. Always looking forward to your next review. I’ve learned so much, have lemminged so much, have bought so much (happily) thanks to you. Now, if only I could magically acquire your knack for finding the Vintage Steals of the Century. 😉
I don’t know–it sounds like you have tremendous luck as it is.
Angela, I love reading your reviews, your writing is magical!
I think that I may be the only person in the world who did not care for Lyric. All I got from it was dirty hair that lasted hours and hours. Maybe I will give it another go now that the weather has cooled a bit. Epic, on the other hand, was pure magic. I have been treating my sample like liquid gold, but I just can’t afford to drop that much cash on a bottle! I think a decant is definitely in order!
Dirty hair! Ack! Sometimes I get that feel from a super vegetal iris.
It sounds like a decant of Epic is in order for you!
Lovely review… I love both Lyric Woman and Epic Woman. I find them both gorgeous…but would maybe give Lyric the edge. I’m lemming a bottle of Lyric big time and am seriously cranky about the fact that the travel set (4 x 10 ml) is only £80, or $130, in London at Les Senteurs (and will be even a bit less after the VAT refund…) and $235 here. What is up with that?? *vent, vent*
What IS up with that? Something sounds wrong. You could order from Les Senteurs, you know. Huge savings, it sounds like.
Yes, you know when I ordered something online from Les Senteurs, the VAT that was deducted was much more than the cost of shipping from the UK (but that was for a £180 purchase), so it seemed like a bit of a deal in the end.
Must.resist.ordering.Lyric.unsniffed.
Resist, resist.
I think I have your email *somewhere*…. and I still have that Secretions Magnifique… and I think I have a Lyric sample I haven’t finished up, since I now have a decant (thanks to Boojum).
lol – are you threatening me with Secretions Magnifique? Our resident enable-in-chief has offered to toss in a sample of Lyric, so I think I’m covered, but thanks!
I think the Secretions Magnifique was for me. 🙂 (Glutton for punishment…)
I actually shouldn’t say that – Secretions Magnifique is another scent that I have not samples. Mostly from fear.
Yes, fear the SM!! You’re right, Miss K, I promised you the Sample Vial of Death. Email me… I’m so behind it’s not funny.
It’s truly disturbing that I’ll probably sniff this abomination if I ever see it when I’m at NM or Saks, isn’t it?
Yup they are on sale right now. I was going to spring for a Dia set but those sold out super-quick.
I’m pretty sure that Les Senteurs ship to US 😉 *puts on Daisy-style Amouage enabler hat*
Don’t you mean tiara?
Ha! I’m not sure if I qualify for a tiara, I’m not quite in the same league as Daisy.
Well, they do call me Dangerous Daisy Super Enabler 😉
Oh Angela—can we get the bling on the tiara to spell out “Dangerous Daisy”??? that wouldn’t be tacky, would it?
Bling it out, add some spinners, a few pyro effects, and top it off with a grill made Amouage bottles!
Tacky? What’s tacky about a tiara? Pure class, even if it does spell out your title.
lol careful—I’m warming up to the idea….
Oh no…off I go to check out the shipping cost…
Thanks Angela for your lovely review of this beautiful perfume! First I didn´t get your “reference” at all to Ormonde Woman (also one of my favorites!:)) Had to ponder for a while… But, I do get some of the same feelings when wearing these two: I feel empowered and focused (collected). But with Epic also (at the same time?) mischievous and happy – it is so WARM (my SO finds it really sexy) and it makes me feel “cool”, in both senses of the word, if that makes sense at all? Sometimes when wearing Ormonde Woman, I get a feeling of something “bittersweet”. It´s almost too beautiful (heartbreakingly beautiful) to bear…
Totally off topic: Angela your review of Chanel no 22 (and after reading yours, I also looked up Victoria´s on Bois de Jasmin) made me finally decide to get a sample of it from TPC (Les Exclusifs version though); it arrived yesterday. I can´t understand why I waited so long to try this it! It is a gem! Thanks for making me discover it! Can´t wait to try the extrait… 🙂
For Daisy: I looked up Epic after reading a comment you made last year as to how fantastic it is. Thank YOU for making me discover this beauty! BTW, I am “Labben” on the google group 🙂
Hi Labben! I’m so glad to see you here! (waving enthusiastically!) Epic is amazing…..I’m burning thru my decant like mad. It’s a little scary how much I love the Amouage line–they’re sooo spendy. I keep hoping that they’ll decide to offer all the fragrances in those 30ml special travel bottles. I’ve even emailed them about it –not quite begging —to no avail. ah well, that’s why there’s decants! 😉
I agree with you–Ormonde Woman and Epic don’t smell the same to me. But they have a similar feeling. Ormonde Woman is more edgy and more personal somehow, but it’s a warm, fuzzy blanket of scent, too. (Gosh, now I long for a spray of Ormonde Woman.)
I’m glad you discovered No. 22!
Lovely review, Angela.
Thank you!
I decided to wear this today in honor of your review (like I really need a reason to wear Epic) – it’s funny though, because I never really noticed the cumin before, just a peppery, spicy scent. Today, all I smell is CUMIN! Although not sweaty cumin, thank goodness.
It’s a very subtle, non-sweaty cumin, that’s for sure.
And I wore OJ Woman (eek, sample almost empty!) today in honor of all the OJ Woman comments!
Goodness! we smell lovely!
oh–so I put on some OJ woman….and please note that while I agree that it has a similar vibe to Epic, I don’t think they smell the same…..and J walks in and says: did you just put on Epic??
Darn kid.
Funny! I agree, though, they definitely don’t smell the same. But I think they have a similar “way” about them.
Interesting review, Angela. And timely, as just a night ago I had about four different Amouages on my arms and wrists sampling them. I have wondered how much you can cross the gender line on these, as not a lot of the men’s offerings catch my interest, especially the Epic Man. I like it better than I have in the past, but still, it’s no Jubilation XXV! Maybe all the better since I don’t want to be dropping the cash all over the place on this house. But, I am intrigued by Epic Woman and its golden tones. I guess Joe loves it so it must be doable! I do love Jubilation 25 (women’s of course) a lot more than some of the others in the men”s lineup.
Although…Gold for men made me think of Joy in parfum of all things, with its animalic rose and jasmine, so go figure!
I’m wearing Epic, but I wouldn’t say that it’s especially feminine. I would think that a man could wear it with no problem.
Oh, good! I will have to go through and try the others. Jubilation 25, with its cumin-woody goodness doesn’t feel especially feminine, either. It’s kind of like some of the Montale line, and a general feel for Middle Eastern perfumery in general that doesn’t play by the same rules.
I agree with Cynthia–Epic Woman is great on men.
I have to admit liking Gold for men better than the version for women. Jub XXV is, of course, a knockout, and Jub 25 is one of my favorites, too. I really do think Epic Woman is fairly unisex.
The only two that would most likely be too fem. for a guy, would be Gold w. and Dia w. –they are very floral & feminine. Lyric w. is very woody on me, not so much rose…..Ubar has enough citrusy notes to sit it in the Unisex camp.
I agree. Gold and Dia are probably the most traditionally feminine.
There’s an Amouage six scent sampler going for $50 on Beauty Encounter I’m seriously considering. I’ve held out for nearly three years, but Jubilation 25, Ubar, Lyric and Gold for women are *really* tempting, and there’s just something easy and glamourous about a well made perfume that uses quality ingredients and marches to their own beat, not what the current trend dictates.
I understand the temptation. Sample sets can end up being money savers in the end if they keep you from impulse buys.
i like all except reflection
somethin in lyric woman sometimes makes me feel like NOT wearing it ( a little nauseating!!!)
I totally love jubilation 25
here comes the blasphemy
i prefer jubilation 25 to my edp mitsouko!!!!(hides head in arms and is really glad i am so late on this post)
I feel it is a stronger smell
I salute your courage! To tell the truth, although I cherish my Mitsouko, I probably Jub 25 more often…
oh and i think i might prefer ow to epic after spot reading many of the posts above
You really must try Ormonde Woman.