Amouage Opus II Library Collection

Opus II of Amouage Library Collection is stylish and stylized. There's not a hair out of place or a spot on its expensive shoes. Like every Amouage perfume I've ever tried, The Opus perfumes are so well-made it makes me wonder how so many other brands get away with producing and selling dreck.

The overall impression is of a gender-neutral ambery fougere, crisp and understated. You can't go wrong wearing Opus 2: it's office appropriate, confident and would never distract you from any task at hand. A clean, slightly floral/green lavender with a dry backbone and a smooth dry-down would always smell good. A man wearing Opus II on a date would be well-received and complimented, though I doubt there's any real swooning to be had over this perfume. It's so nice, but not sexy or dramatic in any way. A woman can just as easily wear this Amouage creation and let you know she means business, has great shoes and an investment portfolio better than yours. She might still have an old bottle of Chanel 19 hiding somewhere, but she moved on after grad school. The calm woody incense dry-down of Opus II goes better with the big windows in her new apartment and its minimalistic decor.

I like Opus 2, I really do. It's so easy to wear and smells like a million dollar. But I find it lacking in the soul-stirring department. It's a matter of taste more than anything. I prefer some drama and color in my perfume, some quirkiness and perhaps a sense of humor. The official notes claim there's musk in there, but I honestly can't find it. At least on me, Opus II doesn't show any skin.

Notes (from Luckyscent): Lavender, Absinthe, pepper, pink bay, Jasmine, rose, cinnamon, cardamom, Cedarwood, patchouli, amber, musk, incense

Amouage Opus II Library Collection ($325, 100 ml EDP) is available from Luckyscent, Aedes and other authorized Amouage retailers around the world.

Art: The Gentleman by Craig Alan