Meander
Amouage (2020)

This is an interesting perfume and not what I, personally, would typically expect from Amouage. This is a very light, very lush, green scent. The top notes of olibanum, carrot, pink and black pepper conduct an affectionate little dance with each other that gives a sort of minty or citrusy effect, without actually being minty or citrusy. It's fresh, slightly nose tingling, and sweet but in the way carrots are sweet when cooked, not outright sugary. The pepper subsides, but the carrot remains and blends with the heart and base notes of orris, rose, cypriol, jonquille, olibanum resins, vetiver, and sandalwood. The carrot plays very nicely with the orris, rose, and jonquille. The combination of the carrot with the florals gives a sort of green mango impression. The resinous and woody notes are very tame and restrained; they're there, but never really make their presence known - happily sitting as a calm foundation for all of the other ingredients to build upon. In the final dry down, after about 4hrs the vetiver and sandalwood gain strength and presence to create fresh, clean, green wood accords for a gripping yet strong skin scent that is absolutely lovely.

I'm not sure how it's doing what it's doing but it is captivating. Meander has an airy and cooling wetness, like a fog, but it doesn't feel wet or thick, in fact, it's quite dry after a lot of time and close study. It should also be said that because they did not skimp on high quality ingredients, not that Amouage ever does, it has another effect that is quite different from your typical green freshies in that it feels substantial, enveloping, elegant, and regal, whereas most green freshies feel like an effervescent spritz that tries to immediately escape to the air. Not Meander though. Meander wants to hug you, and stay close. A great companion to meander with.

The color of the bottle gives an indication of what type of fragrance you are going to wear. Green and slightly earthy, this gem is a vetiver lover's dream. This one is a change of the ordinary for green earthy scents. A nice bit of sandalwood is in there to assist in the earthy mood. I have worn this in the heat which was pretty safe, but I think this will work best in the fall season. You will be noticed in a nice way with this one. 8/10

Opens with a lemony olibanum but is quickly overtaken by sandalwood. Orris butter, carrot seed, pink and black pepper also add body. Starts to lean feminine largely down to the iris but jonquil I think also assists. I'm not taken by this and it's a departure for Amouage. The olibanum takes a back seat to what starts feeling like a synthetic sandalwood along with vetiver and a bit of cypriol. Yeah, no thanks.

Meander diverges from the typical Amouage line by incorporating iris, sandalwood, and fresh green spices. It presents a green character, distinguishing itself from the resinous and ambery profiles of others in the collection. Olibanum assumes a subdued role, allowing the orris and sandalwood to take the spotlight. The inclusion of cypriol oil introduces a mossy green vibe. Overall, Meander stands out as a noteworthy fragrance in the lineup.

Frankincense, sandalwood and vetiver, layered with chalky carrot seed. On me, this is very warm, very dry, linear wood. Calming. Like napping inside the hollow of a fragrant, sun-bleached log. Or relaxing in a wood-paneled dry sauna at some luxury spa. It remains consistent and potent throughout the drydown, simple and stunning.

I'm really enjoying Meander. If I smell closely, I can recognize how some of the named notes are contributing - The sandalwood adds butter, the incense adds creaminess, the iris adds perfumey depth, and the jonquil adds fresh yellow florals. But really, it all melts together into a rich, buttery wood smell with bright, sunny, lemony florals on top. Without reading the notes or reviews, I would have assumed this was mastic, with its lemony frankincense smell, mixing with a buttery lumberyard sandalwood.

I almost always enjoy buttery incense wood perfumes, and the addition of the uplifting, abstract florals on top is really clever. The juxtaposition of the flowers with the peppery piquancy of the incense is fantastic, transcending gender and instead adding a holographic brightness that swirls over the more grounded woody incense elements. Nicely done!