You can’t mistake an Amouage fragrance. There is no doubt that they possess incredible presence and quality. Unfortunately, for me, Interlude Man wore me and not the other way around. I know, you’re thinking to yourself, “you need to go easy on the application with an Amouage scent”. True; but I followed that rule. I just found that after wearing this all day, it just really wore me out.
WHAT I SMELL: A quick splash of bergamot and Juniper berries which quickly moves into smoky incense that weaves in and out of a warm amber and a heavy creaminess. Interlude Man stays in this state for quite some time while the smoky incense remains dominant over the other notes. This fragrance has a powerful and commanding presence. After many hours what I was left with was dry and woody incense; ever-present, ever potent.
From the Amouage website:
Interlude for Man is a spicy and woody fragrance inspired by chaos and disorder masquerading an interlude moment of harmony in its heart.
Top Notes: Bergamot, Oregano, Pimento Berry Oil
Heart Notes: Amber, Frankincense, Cistus, Opoponax
Base Notes: Leather, Agarwood Smoke, Patchouli, Sandalwood
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: What I envision a Victorian opium den smelled like. The setting is heavy, dark and thick.
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE INTERLUDE MAN: smoky, serious, weighted
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT INTERLUDE MAN: The Candy Perfume Boy, Chemist in a Bottle, Parfumistan’s Blogg
BOTTOM LINE: I am having a hard time thinking about when and where I would want to wear this fragrance. It does not comfort, it controls. That scares me!
- Bone Rating: 3 out of 5 possible bones
- Scent: Oriental Woody
- Classification: Masculine
- Nose: Pierre Negrin
- Expense: Approximately $215 for 50ml EdP
The Scented Hound 
August 17, 2012 at 8:05 pm
I see this interlude was too long for you 🙂
With me and Interlude Women a strange thing happend: while I liked it the first time I tried it disappeared from my skin in a couple of hours (and I was slightly disappointed since usually most Amouage perfumes stay on me forever); the next time I tried it and didn’t like it as much – but I could still smell it on my skin the next morning. So it’s true that time a perfume stays on your skin is in a direct correlation to how much you dislike it. Now I’m a little afraid to test more: what if I hate it this time? 😉
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August 18, 2012 at 4:56 pm
I really like your theory and am prone to believe it! I went out this morning to mow the lawn and as I started sweating the Interlude came to the surface again 15 hours after last applying it. I just can’t escape it!
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August 18, 2012 at 2:48 am
That one seems to me appropriate one to secretly splash a drop on your boss ;-). To give him/her some halter. Sorry I can’t get that picture of my head since I’ve read your review. And I have a little evil smile on my face.
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August 18, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Civava – so nice to hear from you. I like your mischievousness, but that would mean that I would still be surrounded by it!
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August 21, 2012 at 3:51 pm
😉
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August 18, 2012 at 3:09 am
Interlude Man seems to be a love it or hate it scent. I thought it was good, but not outstanding, plus I liked Interlude Woman much better!
Great review, it’s nice to see how other think about something I already tried and reviewed. Different approaches make me want to try again and check if I agree.
And thanks for mentioning me 🙂
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August 18, 2012 at 5:00 pm
I have heard good things about Interlude Woman, but I think I’ll hold off on pursuing it until I get past Interlude Man 🙂
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August 18, 2012 at 5:38 pm
It’s interesting: if I’m not mistaken, Birgit (Olfactoria’s Travels) liked Men version more than Women.
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August 18, 2012 at 5:56 pm
I see that. Different strokes for different folks. It definitely makes things more interesting when you can hear completely different viewpoints! Now, you need to decide where you sit in the spectrum 🙂
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August 19, 2012 at 4:18 am
Yes, sure! Still I’m not going to buy it…
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August 18, 2012 at 3:42 am
I’m glad to see you review this. Last time I went to Selfridges I wacked Woman on one hand and Man on the other.
The men’s Interlude – well, the amber/incense/vanilla base to me just screamed “MYRRHHHH OMG MYRRRHH ARHGHGHGH!!!” making me pull my Tilda Swinton face again – 😐
Can’t say I enjoyed either – but I prefered Woman (I’m so difficult). Still, neither of them are for me, I haven’t found an Amouage that is 😦 I’m not cool.
Anyway, glad you had a similar experience 😀 Do try Woman though if there was at least something there you enjoyed, you might find it lighter (with a bit of fruit :))
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August 18, 2012 at 5:02 pm
I like the Tilda Swinton face reference. I think we need to start adding that to our lexicon… such as “this fragrance was way over the top and didn’t agree with my sensibilities – completely Tilda Swinton”. Thoughts?
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August 19, 2012 at 2:40 pm
HA! It’s ideal, I love it Steve hahah, I’ll throw it your way soon and surprise you with it!
A classic shot from such a highly overrated film 🙂
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