Reflection Man
Eau de Parfum, Amouage (2007)

Comparison of Reflection Man and Reflection 45 Man

This can be pretty straightforward. Both Reflection Mans are masculine, luminous white florals but 45 dims the lights to low.

They both open nearly the same way with a smooth, only slightly sweet berry type note and some herbs and pepper. However, out of nowhere, 45 throws this dark brown and oily woody note into the air, albeit briefly, that smells a bit saffron-like but the brand says benzoin. Ok, fine - not sure about that but I’ll buy it. The lights get immediately dimmed in 45. They both go to a stunningly beautiful and rich heart of indolic jasmine, metallic neroli, and dense orris. These flowers and orris are heavy, soaked in oils and pollen nectars and butter in the case of the orris. Keeping to the theme, 45 throws a green and earthy tonka bean note in to keep the lights low, like the flowers are below a layer of fresh compost in the dark. In RM the flowers are allowed to have some light cast on them; their pretty white colors allowed to reflect in the sun a bit while they droop with their nectar and oils. They both go to a woody and patchouli base that is rich, earthy, a bit peppery and also creamy, but, curiously, 45 seems to bring the lights up just a smidge by allowing some lightly-woody vetiver and incense into the mix, giving a bit of lift as if its concerned the surroundings are a bit too dark. Perhaps it should. RM will last at least 12 hours and you’ll still smell 45 (faintly) the next day, so maybe we can’t stay in the dark too long.

Both are unerringly gorgeous. Rich, supple, beautifully crafted, with every stage revealing something new but logically and aesthetically fitting, and keeping you wanting to go-in for one more big sniff. Choose the regular RM if you’re wanting something lighter (or filled with more light) and a bit simpler - or as far as both of those can get with Amouage. Choose 45 when dark, rich, stateliness is more your mood. Or choose both. I did. You can’t go wrong with either.

Oddly linear by Amouage’s usual standards. The metallic quality is a let-down but it is otherwise okay.

Sharp, metallic white floral. Its basically an upgrade on JPG Le Male, but this one showcases the more elegant part of that DNA. Too clean for me, in a weird metallic way. Best for work, but i cannot wear this, and i tried, no matter how much people think its easy to wear. Something in it does not work for me at all here, and i did give it a shot, maybe two or three for that matter.

Amouage Reflection Man..
This is a great scent! Someone needs to change their marketing plan though.
While the scent profile says man and some are saying it smells a little like Le Male from JPG...women need to give this a try (not saying this is misclassified in any way)

Scent blasts open in a non descript non offensive way. Smells like one of those old spice modern takes. It's loud. It's male. It's aggressive and then....
Then it dries down to a woody, sweet, powder with hints berries.
What are women looking for in 2023? Looking not to smell like their 10 year old selves. Tired of smelling like cloying sweet candy confections. Hate smelling like their old, albeit hip grandma. Eliminate the fruit, the sweet, the floral and the only thing you're left with are the unisex frags that you hope you lean femme or for the bold straight up male concoctions that pull out what you hate and leave only the good.

On a man...this juice is fresh woody spice with a hint of berries and spice. It's the scent t that make your girl fall asleep on your chest and have good dreams. It's the scent that does not have a big sillage but still lasts. It's the understated office heartthrob that every person imagines must smells magical and guess what guy? You do.

Amouage man gets 4/5 for longevity
It gets 2/5 for sillage as it dries quick to a lasting skin frag.
Beautifully blended sleeper frag.
Doesn't matter who did it, who concocted this scent first. Amouage smells great.
You have to decide if the $$ is worth it
Other posts indicate similar scents on the market. But here's the thing of you're spraying 2-3 times more for sillage and longevity just get the Amouage is budget can stretch that way.

Scent pairings:
Take Tom Fords Reformulated Noir Extreme to make this scent more unisex and interesting the sillage is off the roof with the pairing.

Anyone else out there pairing scents let know what you've done!

Scent score: 4/5

A very, very brief hint of pine & juniper quickly morphs into a sweet, light syrup of modern mall counter dribble.

I had high hopes for something much more interesting from this house, but I just get a slightly fruity, sweet blob of "pinkish" hue.

3/10

Bright and tinny and a bit bitter up front, softens into another complex Amouage powerhouse that lasts on my skin most of the day. If I put Le Male on one wrist and Reflection Man on the other, the differences are too profound for me to say they're similar. The overlap is in their 'fresh' nature, but Reflection Man goes very green and very floral, while Le Male goes sweet. I think of Le Male as a casual fragrance, one that can be worn at gatherings, evenings out, work (if one sprays lightly.) Reflection Man, like so many in the Amouage line, strikes me as 'special occasion' fragrances - black tie affairs - weddings - far more opulent than the Gautier fragrance which is more crowd-pleasing overall.

Amouage fragrances are overpriced. There, I said it. However, most people who have tried them find their favorite in the bunch, and once they find a favorite, it's hard for them not to obsess over the scent. Many, including myself, eventually break down and buy a full bottle (in my case, Jubilation XXV.) For the offerings we think are good but not masterpieces, we can't wrap our heads around why someone would spend so much on a bottle. I guess for me Reflection Man fits into this category. But if one thinks of these scents as 'special occasion' wears, it makes some sense. The bright, flowery (yet decidedly unisex) blend of Reflection Man would suit someone on a very special day in warmer weather. And as that special day turns to a special night, and Reflection Man's tinny florals soften into warmer woods (sandal, cedar, vetiver) and patchouli, you know your fragrance is taking care of you the whole way.

Solid, but for me not a stunner.