Reviews of Interlude Man by Amouage
An obscenity. Toxic shisha-adjacent incense smoke, the kind you buy at Walgreens when you are 22 in an inconspicuous package that has a "scent flavor"—this one is "Forest Berry." Yes, oregano is burning in the pipe as well. The inferno is all-consuming.
Potency: Hookah smoked in a windowless solitary confinement cell while the herbs in pinch bowls of the mise en place for your Italian dinner sauce are lit ablaze atop dry woods. Projection and sillage: Popocatépetl.
You will act as a human incense stick for four hours. You won't smell like pizza but you will smell like cooking herbs. And very sweet. Instantaneously after this four-hour interval, it will turn into a smooth, still fruity, smoldering oud-sandalwood amber on skin that those next to you will be able to notice for a couple hours. For a few hours after that, it sits as a round, high-quality sweet oud-cedarwood/sandalwood skin scent with noticeable traces of myrrh and other high-grade amber resins that fueled the earlier conflagration. The quality of inputs and composition is nonpareil.
This perfume is interesting, transfixing even, and limitlessly appealing. But anyone with only modest experience in this world will just think, "That person smells like incense, the fruit kind..." I adore this too much to rate it negatively (I love smelling Interlude Man: simply incredible), but if you want the burn, just pick up Avignon by Comme des Garçons (2002), which smells half as interesting, but is a perfume.
Potency: Hookah smoked in a windowless solitary confinement cell while the herbs in pinch bowls of the mise en place for your Italian dinner sauce are lit ablaze atop dry woods. Projection and sillage: Popocatépetl.
You will act as a human incense stick for four hours. You won't smell like pizza but you will smell like cooking herbs. And very sweet. Instantaneously after this four-hour interval, it will turn into a smooth, still fruity, smoldering oud-sandalwood amber on skin that those next to you will be able to notice for a couple hours. For a few hours after that, it sits as a round, high-quality sweet oud-cedarwood/sandalwood skin scent with noticeable traces of myrrh and other high-grade amber resins that fueled the earlier conflagration. The quality of inputs and composition is nonpareil.
This perfume is interesting, transfixing even, and limitlessly appealing. But anyone with only modest experience in this world will just think, "That person smells like incense, the fruit kind..." I adore this too much to rate it negatively (I love smelling Interlude Man: simply incredible), but if you want the burn, just pick up Avignon by Comme des Garçons (2002), which smells half as interesting, but is a perfume.
There are three variants of Interlude Man: this the original, then 53, then Black Iris. Credit being given to Pierre Negrin's and Amouage's visionary and technical prowess, we have the rare ability to actually think of these three as a true trio - a three-part novel or film, if you will. More often than not, perfume houses and the composers look at flanker creation as marketing and cash-grab ploys rather than epic story creation, but not here. Interlude Man came first, so what is this original story that inspired an epic?
The first installment looks remarkably like the 2nd and 3rd installments - and they are quite similar, but with some very subtle and critical differences. Interlude Man smells like a smoky fire taking hold of a resinous-tree forest. Like all fires when they first start, the heat feels "cold" because there aren't embers radiating heat yet. You get that impression here; there's a fire, there is heat, but it's just getting started. The smoke is dry and clean, a lot of the wood is dry and aromatic and still unburnt, the resins are warm and starting to melt but yet are largely intact, the green and herbaceous foliage is still blowing in the wind. In context of the trio this perfume is setting the stage for the inferno of 53 that is to come, but it is a genuinely amazing story all on its own. It is absolutely riveting, captivating, and masterfully composed. The only issue with looking at these three perfumes as a broad story is that Interlude shares the same skin scent as Black Iris, but Interlude still feels totally complete on its own. I love this perfume, and the fact that Amouage and Negrin have somehow been able to turn this masterpiece into part one of a legendary three-part epic just makes it all the more special. Great stories stand on their own, legendary stories do too and leave room for more.
The first installment looks remarkably like the 2nd and 3rd installments - and they are quite similar, but with some very subtle and critical differences. Interlude Man smells like a smoky fire taking hold of a resinous-tree forest. Like all fires when they first start, the heat feels "cold" because there aren't embers radiating heat yet. You get that impression here; there's a fire, there is heat, but it's just getting started. The smoke is dry and clean, a lot of the wood is dry and aromatic and still unburnt, the resins are warm and starting to melt but yet are largely intact, the green and herbaceous foliage is still blowing in the wind. In context of the trio this perfume is setting the stage for the inferno of 53 that is to come, but it is a genuinely amazing story all on its own. It is absolutely riveting, captivating, and masterfully composed. The only issue with looking at these three perfumes as a broad story is that Interlude shares the same skin scent as Black Iris, but Interlude still feels totally complete on its own. I love this perfume, and the fact that Amouage and Negrin have somehow been able to turn this masterpiece into part one of a legendary three-part epic just makes it all the more special. Great stories stand on their own, legendary stories do too and leave room for more.
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Pierre Negrin masterpiece!
A monolith of perfume made by an exquisite and talentated parfumer: Pierre Negrin. Firmenich parfumeurs has been already proved that they are top notch class! Interlude, oh, boy!
A true olfactory experience, oriental to the core, opulent and ruthless. An amber and the most burnt-sweet-caramelized resins you can experience. Seasoned as it should be, with an Omani incense, as per the book. This is Interlude Man.
Congratulations to the great perfumer, Pierre Negrin, a truly talented and world-class nose! We have to give the Caesars whats to Caesars!
A monolith of perfume made by an exquisite and talentated parfumer: Pierre Negrin. Firmenich parfumeurs has been already proved that they are top notch class! Interlude, oh, boy!
A true olfactory experience, oriental to the core, opulent and ruthless. An amber and the most burnt-sweet-caramelized resins you can experience. Seasoned as it should be, with an Omani incense, as per the book. This is Interlude Man.
Congratulations to the great perfumer, Pierre Negrin, a truly talented and world-class nose! We have to give the Caesars whats to Caesars!
There's nothing subtle about this parade float of a spicy/smoky/amber/sweet concoction. That may not be a bad thing for some -- underspraying is not probable -- but it also reduces its overall utility. I got bored with it after an hour, washed it off, and applied Journey Man instead.
A very soft positive.
A very soft positive.
one of the best oriental scent available. Spice, incense, leather and wood (syntetic oud), really a masterpiece and the best amouage offer. is't unique and doesn't seem other fragrance, It's enough strong in sillage (not a monster) adn has a gooh persistence, For sure a man's fragnrance, i cant see these on a woman.
Simply put, the foulest most disgusting thing I've ever tried out of hundreds. Wipe yourself down in oregano oil from Amazon and call it a day. I give everything a chance but this was a furious scrubber in minutes. Can also be used as human repellant
Strong peppers and herbs - blacks and greens. All prickly and pointy and powerful. Eventually softens into a wet leather. Avoiding the word 'masculine' here but this fragrance belongs on the skin of someone who commands the room. I prefer Jubilation, but respect Interlude for the long-lasting powerhouse it is.
Peppery oriental opening, very incensey, I didn't get any of the fresh bergamot smell. Once again smells like an orthodox church or perhaps an upmarket healing crystals shop. I can appreciate the oriental mystique Amouage has adopted but I'm not sure they've pegged the western market. I guess they want to give their clients a touch of the rarest perfumes of biblical kings, with pricing to match. And that's great, it's very evocative for the moment. I just don't want it all day.
The sillage and scent trail are pleasant, but on my skin, it's a bit too sickly sweet. Maybe it's because of Amouage's incense-amber DNA that doesn't sit well with me. It also feels linear, and although the sweetness has depth and richness, it lacks complexity and nuance.
While this fragrance is attention-grabbing, some people may not appreciate the smokiness. The general public tends to prefer sweeter scents, but it can get complicated when combined with a smoky or balsamic element.
I recommend sampling before buying.
While this fragrance is attention-grabbing, some people may not appreciate the smokiness. The general public tends to prefer sweeter scents, but it can get complicated when combined with a smoky or balsamic element.
I recommend sampling before buying.
To my nose this is a mélange of Tom Ford's Tobacco Oud and MEMO's Irish Leather, in a delicate balance.
I perceive oud, a vanillaic tonka bean accord, incense, leather.
A beastly strong scent that is not for the faint of heart. Interlude doesn't quit for hours, 10 - 12 at least.
Very nice in the winter.
I perceive oud, a vanillaic tonka bean accord, incense, leather.
A beastly strong scent that is not for the faint of heart. Interlude doesn't quit for hours, 10 - 12 at least.
Very nice in the winter.
First out of the bag, this smells like a seriously real pine forest. The faintest mist of the juice lingers with immense sillage. It wears on me strongly medicinal, woody and slightly animalistic, drying warm and woody with clear herbal notes. The woody warm might be dark leather treated with birch tar or smoky oud wood. There is zero softness but also zero screaming edges or mens’ cologne vibe. The more I wear it, the more the cedar forest takes on slighlty powdery oakmoss notes, but overall, it's a melange of spicy forest with sap/resin and rich bark notes. A perfect dark Autumn gothic dreamscape. I consider this unisex. (I'm a woman and wear this without feeling like I got into my man's collection.)
Put it simply, it is a leather based scent.
Opening accords have a tinge of sweetness, woods and ash. It however settles into a brown leather base.. Like a new leather product. Smoother and lesser turpentine than Knize Ten.
Opening accords have a tinge of sweetness, woods and ash. It however settles into a brown leather base.. Like a new leather product. Smoother and lesser turpentine than Knize Ten.
It's nickname, The Blue Beast, even if it's been reformulated, weakened, is reason enough to cause one to doubt and question what determines their tastes and what demographic they too make up. Interlude: a pause or intervening time between one thing and another. Amouage's frag, not fragrance, is nothing of the sort, instead opting to make the interlude the main event, which is an all day and tiresome affair.
Unapologetically, Amouage's Interlude Man reminds me of a much nicer Joop! It's sweet, fairly unimaginable on a human, and very loud. Don't get me wrong. Interlude smells good, the oregano top note included. It's just that I can't imagine such a hodgepodge, supposedly Eastern mix of scent on human skin. Whereas Jubilation XXV, a fragrance I quite like, rests on fuzzy woods and musk in its base, along with a gorgeous incense, Interlude Man operates in the realm of more opaque resins, without necessarily evoking the bakhoor-fumigated spaces and ash that another Amouage, Myths Man, does.
Someone, somewhere, more than likely talked about shisha, the molasses-based tobacco used in a hookah, and I can see the analogy, so much so that I would prefer Interlude Man as a day after spray. Spraying my clothing, letting it sit overnight, and then dressing the following day, once The Blue Beast has had a chance to fade into its base notes that would require someone to hug me to smell its amalgamation of smoke and spice.
My demonic tastes include actually fumigating my clothing with incense, using oud oils, seeking out and acquiring samples and bottles of all the animalic, smoky, incense-based, Middle Eastern, scents this world has produced and yet Interlude Man does not convince. For your own sake, please don't be fooled. Almost no one can pull off this perfume. It is a good-smelling caricature of a world you don't belong to.
Unapologetically, Amouage's Interlude Man reminds me of a much nicer Joop! It's sweet, fairly unimaginable on a human, and very loud. Don't get me wrong. Interlude smells good, the oregano top note included. It's just that I can't imagine such a hodgepodge, supposedly Eastern mix of scent on human skin. Whereas Jubilation XXV, a fragrance I quite like, rests on fuzzy woods and musk in its base, along with a gorgeous incense, Interlude Man operates in the realm of more opaque resins, without necessarily evoking the bakhoor-fumigated spaces and ash that another Amouage, Myths Man, does.
Someone, somewhere, more than likely talked about shisha, the molasses-based tobacco used in a hookah, and I can see the analogy, so much so that I would prefer Interlude Man as a day after spray. Spraying my clothing, letting it sit overnight, and then dressing the following day, once The Blue Beast has had a chance to fade into its base notes that would require someone to hug me to smell its amalgamation of smoke and spice.
My demonic tastes include actually fumigating my clothing with incense, using oud oils, seeking out and acquiring samples and bottles of all the animalic, smoky, incense-based, Middle Eastern, scents this world has produced and yet Interlude Man does not convince. For your own sake, please don't be fooled. Almost no one can pull off this perfume. It is a good-smelling caricature of a world you don't belong to.
Herbal oregeno opening which is complex, interesting and kind of weird.
Dry down is spicy, slightly smoky with too much incense and a wee bit too spicy for my taste; my biggest issue is that the oregano shouldn't last this far into the dry down.
The artistry is appreciated, just not for me. Beast projection & longevity but a little much for me as I'm not a youngun anymore.
7/10
Dry down is spicy, slightly smoky with too much incense and a wee bit too spicy for my taste; my biggest issue is that the oregano shouldn't last this far into the dry down.
The artistry is appreciated, just not for me. Beast projection & longevity but a little much for me as I'm not a youngun anymore.
7/10
Amouage Interlude Man (2012) is one of the more popular Amouage scents for men among members of the "FragBro" sect of the online community, thanks to the hype generated by influencers on Instagram and YouTube reviewers. To be fair, it's not wholly undeserved because Interlude Man is prolific as they come among masculine takes on incense, combining dark, smokey, resinous tones with something sweet enough to keep the stuff from being gothic, unlike it's "man in black" sibling Amouage Memoir Man (2010). Pierre Negrin was tapped for this effort, and he seems to appear every now and then working for this house, so much of Amouage's olfactive consistency throughout their 2000's boom can be laid at his feet. Negrin does well here, and the notorious Amouage performance is also here in full force. The gorgeous blue bottle and gold cap is also a perk of ownership, but don't let the color fool you, this is the furthest thing from a fresh fragrance in any sense of the word.
Amouage Interlude Man opens with the odd culinary choices of oregano and allspice lifted by dry bergamot. The opoponax and olibanum in the heart are noticeable right away, merging with labdanum and amber as oddly heavy middle notes to make Interlude really thick. A bit of castoreum leather and fractionated patchouli continue this thickness, adding sweetness spurred by the amber into a sandalwood, vetiver, and synthetic agar base, completing the skin feel with a semi-scratchy woody affect that will last for a day on the body, days on unwashed clothes. Projection on this is utterly terrifying and in the heat could be oppressive. Interlude Man is surprisingly a singular blob of it's heart and base notes when dried, rather than having a sophisticated complexity like others from the house. Best used in my opinion for the bar scene or personal enjoyment because beyond that you're going to let everyone know you're looking for attention when you may not be trying to, which are pointed deducted in my perspective.
I like these kinds of heady fragrances but at the same time I don't, because I never seem to find a time when wearing them doesn't come across boorish. That said, Interlude Man is a striking artistic achievement of immeasurable density in the field of incense fragrances for men, simultaneously being darker than Memoir Man but with a touch of joviality that Memoir Man lacks in it's black hole of smoke. The "beastmode" bros are likely to love Interlude Man like they do Jubilation XXV (2007) for that alpha male dialed to 11 aesthetic it casts and again, if that's your vibe, good for you and all, but it's rarely me anymore. I'm all for a powerhouse fragrance, but I also like one that has layers to the approach, rather than an omnipresent gut punch like Interlude Man tends to be. This is a nice concept, but sometimes over doing it isn't a bold artistic statement, but rather just over doing it for the sake of being gauche. Neutral
Amouage Interlude Man opens with the odd culinary choices of oregano and allspice lifted by dry bergamot. The opoponax and olibanum in the heart are noticeable right away, merging with labdanum and amber as oddly heavy middle notes to make Interlude really thick. A bit of castoreum leather and fractionated patchouli continue this thickness, adding sweetness spurred by the amber into a sandalwood, vetiver, and synthetic agar base, completing the skin feel with a semi-scratchy woody affect that will last for a day on the body, days on unwashed clothes. Projection on this is utterly terrifying and in the heat could be oppressive. Interlude Man is surprisingly a singular blob of it's heart and base notes when dried, rather than having a sophisticated complexity like others from the house. Best used in my opinion for the bar scene or personal enjoyment because beyond that you're going to let everyone know you're looking for attention when you may not be trying to, which are pointed deducted in my perspective.
I like these kinds of heady fragrances but at the same time I don't, because I never seem to find a time when wearing them doesn't come across boorish. That said, Interlude Man is a striking artistic achievement of immeasurable density in the field of incense fragrances for men, simultaneously being darker than Memoir Man but with a touch of joviality that Memoir Man lacks in it's black hole of smoke. The "beastmode" bros are likely to love Interlude Man like they do Jubilation XXV (2007) for that alpha male dialed to 11 aesthetic it casts and again, if that's your vibe, good for you and all, but it's rarely me anymore. I'm all for a powerhouse fragrance, but I also like one that has layers to the approach, rather than an omnipresent gut punch like Interlude Man tends to be. This is a nice concept, but sometimes over doing it isn't a bold artistic statement, but rather just over doing it for the sake of being gauche. Neutral
Interlude man is a smoky resin type fragrance that reminds me of driving past a sweet smoky bonfire wafting across the road and it coming in to you're air vents.
As you'd expect from Amouage it's a long lasting juice that goes past 12 hours easily.
I bought a small decant and although i think it's nice i just can't quite pull the trigger on it for a full bottle as i know i won't reach for it that often.
But make no mistake it's a very popular frag and very good long lasting juice....a thumbs up...but not a full bottle thumbs up for me.
As you'd expect from Amouage it's a long lasting juice that goes past 12 hours easily.
I bought a small decant and although i think it's nice i just can't quite pull the trigger on it for a full bottle as i know i won't reach for it that often.
But make no mistake it's a very popular frag and very good long lasting juice....a thumbs up...but not a full bottle thumbs up for me.
It is just so strong. Oregano incense. Smoky, ashy, something sweet real deep inside. Its a commitment, it lasts so long, and scents everything you touch. Its more pleasant in the second half of the day. It just smells really good to me. Thumbs up. Fringe bottle worthy.
A fantastic, powerful incense from Amouage, multi-faceted with many different dimensions and accords appearing throughout its development. Interlude's opening is marked by a strong oregano note. Aromatic and fragrantly sweet, it jumps off the skin and makes itself known immediately. Meanwhile, resinous schemes and hazy incense swirls begin to brew beneath the surface. There's Interlude's dark side--a smoky concoction of ashen gray wisps over natural, resonant oud. Dusty and deep, with an intricate, labyrinthian sense of connection, Interlude's incense and resins blend in an harmonious, complex whole. It's the kind of scent you can get lost in. Following its various patterns and trails in your mind's eye, there's a meditative aspect to it, something which captures the imagination if you should let it, and in this regard it's extremely engaging. Interlude is ultimately an amiable scent however. I would not describe it as cold or bitter, as many incense fragrances often are. Instead, Interlude relies on a heavy dose of opoponax and amber to create a warm embrace, an enveloping cloud of sweet, honeyed resins which gives this fragrance its benevolent heart and in the end, provide a soothing, cheerful experience. Furthermore, the base rests on a very smooth, subtle accord of suede which provides a soft, plush cushion for all. If there is anything sinister about Interlude, it's like the gentle giant who intimidates and frightens us at first, but makes us laugh with endearing irony in the end. Don't allow the size of this one to scare you off--Interlude will warm up to you quickly and wholeheartedly if you let it. It's a fun scent to wear, sort of abstract, and something which takes you places along the way. For this reason, I don't recommend it for work or the office or even a date--it's the kind of scent to enjoy on your own time, a lazy weekend afternoon or quiet night alone. At the same time, it's a very intriguing smell, so it welcomes the right kind of company (close friends or loved ones). Interlude has excellent, ten-out-of-ten performance on all fronts. It's a bit heavy, so it might become overwhelming in hot weather, but other than that it doesn't scream any particular season at me, it's mostly a state of mind. Obviously, this gets a big thumbs up, and I even recommend it as a blind buy to the more adventurous fragonauts out there. For those who move with trepidation, it's best to sample first. Either way, be sure to try it! 9.5/10
This such a unique frag and a strong one at that.
I tested this in a shop two times before buying a full bottle and i do love this stuff. In saying that i find it very situational and definitely not versatile.
So the on the day i received my bottle i put about 2 sprays on and my partner came home from work about an 2 hours later. I kid you not as soon as she walked in the door she started choking and even in the room where i applied it she had to air it out opps! She does like it just not when shes tired from work and wants to sleep though! I have over 70 bottles and i know this one is powerful because she has mentioned a few times she can smell me in the next room. I have not had this with any other fragrance (I have other big hitters ie Aventus, Reflection Man, Pardon, Epic man, Eau Sauvage 2012, Ursa, Layton etc)
I love the sweet incense in this but the star of this for me is that Oregano note. It just lingers around and i do really enjoy it.
All in all a great release but it does lose a point for versatility and half a point because as much as this stuff is potent its not as long lasting as some would say. Although i have the magnetic cap so i believe these have been reformulated.
Bottle looks awesome also
8.5/10
I tested this in a shop two times before buying a full bottle and i do love this stuff. In saying that i find it very situational and definitely not versatile.
So the on the day i received my bottle i put about 2 sprays on and my partner came home from work about an 2 hours later. I kid you not as soon as she walked in the door she started choking and even in the room where i applied it she had to air it out opps! She does like it just not when shes tired from work and wants to sleep though! I have over 70 bottles and i know this one is powerful because she has mentioned a few times she can smell me in the next room. I have not had this with any other fragrance (I have other big hitters ie Aventus, Reflection Man, Pardon, Epic man, Eau Sauvage 2012, Ursa, Layton etc)
I love the sweet incense in this but the star of this for me is that Oregano note. It just lingers around and i do really enjoy it.
All in all a great release but it does lose a point for versatility and half a point because as much as this stuff is potent its not as long lasting as some would say. Although i have the magnetic cap so i believe these have been reformulated.
Bottle looks awesome also
8.5/10
Sweet woody incense!
Sweet in a very masculine way (reminds me the sweetness of "flying dutchman" pipe tobacco).
Woods, leather and incense equilibrate the parfume and madeit very smooth and mature.
Performance is on top, one spray could be more than enough for an office day.
What i find surprising in most of Amouage is their behaving (to my nose at least) depending on how musch spray you put on and how longer they are on your clothes...i smell them very different during the day. Other parfums, when increasing number of sprays, increase just their strenght and sillage, Amouages seems to turn into a slightly different fragrance.
I like it very much, and i can report other men liked it, women don't like it that much unfortunately.
Sweet in a very masculine way (reminds me the sweetness of "flying dutchman" pipe tobacco).
Woods, leather and incense equilibrate the parfume and madeit very smooth and mature.
Performance is on top, one spray could be more than enough for an office day.
What i find surprising in most of Amouage is their behaving (to my nose at least) depending on how musch spray you put on and how longer they are on your clothes...i smell them very different during the day. Other parfums, when increasing number of sprays, increase just their strenght and sillage, Amouages seems to turn into a slightly different fragrance.
I like it very much, and i can report other men liked it, women don't like it that much unfortunately.
This one I imagine is not for everyone. The sweet, smoke and spice will come at you hard, so u have to like that kind of thing, or else. It's my favorite Aoumage scent.
Sweet and smoky, evokes memories of smoking a fruit-flavoured narghile in a chicha bar in Beirut or Istanbul. Very interesting and original. I can see how you can have fragrance fatigue after wearing this all day though, so I probably won't buy a bottle.
Thick, sticky, resinous leather. Reminds me of the leather seats of older cars in which you just can't get a certain smell out of because it's been aged with it. After a few hours the incense in Interlude reminds me of the massive amounts of incense from church services (black frankincense resin, gold frankincense resin, styrax scented oil, maybe some myrrh).
The dry down at the end of the day, what is left on my skin before bed, is lovely, however I don't want to wait 8 plus hours to get there.
The dry down at the end of the day, what is left on my skin before bed, is lovely, however I don't want to wait 8 plus hours to get there.
This is so so very sweet. Thats all I get. Smells and feels like honey. Its loud. Its sweet. It give me a headache.
Sucha disappointment.
Smells great when you first smell it from the bottle.
Try a sampler for a few days....rather a year, since a sampler will last you that long, and then decide if you want to buy it.
Sucha disappointment.
Smells great when you first smell it from the bottle.
Try a sampler for a few days....rather a year, since a sampler will last you that long, and then decide if you want to buy it.