It's getting dark, make my way to work, close the doors
Behind me and spread my soul
Live my dream, my path I walk, my life I live, see in
My eyes
In my eyes - reflections! In my eyes - reflections!
These lines will certainly not sound familiar to everyone, yet they remind me of my student days, when, as we all know, one "reflects" the most.
And indeed, "Reflection Man" by Amouage radiates a smoothness and cleanliness that one could think to be reflected in it. At least that's how I interpret the name of this fragrance.
Amouage... it's all about opulence, the Orient, and niche. "Reflection Man" may not really fit in there, he is but rather straightforward, floral-fresh-sweet and even a bit boring, evil tongues claim, he is not at all "niche", at least measured by the Amouage standard. Thus, he is able to polarize similar to Layton of Parfums of the Marley, which yes similar properties are "accused".
Nevertheless, or just because of it, it is my new favorite fragrance! Niche or not, discussions about batch, etc. times aside (I'll get to it later) - the pure fragrance DNA is for me the best thing I've smelled so far (and I've already been able to test a few fragrances in the meantime).
Reflection Man starts peppery and slightly fruity, but directly also fresh. With some concentration can also definitely smell out the bitter orange. Already here the fragrance is something very special for me. It is yes said that the prelude "Le Male" should resemble, what I can not comment but due to lack of experience.
The fragrance then turns but relatively quickly in the fresh-floral (anyway, my favorite fragrance, see Sillage of Armaf), where you can excellently pass out the Neroli. Who knows Neroli Portofino or even just 4711 Cologne, knows what I'm talking about.
At the same time, the fragrance is not only fresh and floral, but also sweet, which is certainly due to the interaction of the various floral notes. So Neroli, jasmine and ylang-ylang yes also a radiant and lovely sweetness inherent. This holds back but just at the beginning still something, which benefits the fragrance development very much.
In the drydown, the fragrance is then increasingly sweet, supported especially by the sandalwood and cedar and of course the patchouli. Nevertheless, the fragrance is not overbearingly sweet and always retains a certain, noble freshness until the end. Some describe the fragrance as smelling like money, in the sense that wealthy individuals would wear this fragrance. This may certainly be because the fragrance exudes an elegance and class associated with successful people.
Speaking of drydown - now I'd like to touch a little on the discussion of durability. As you know, there is the "made in Oman" version here and the "made in UK" version (Oman is supposed to last longer). For me, it all started when I ordered a bottling here on Parfumo and was thrilled. So excited, in fact, that I decided to buy a whole bottle (I didn't want to have to spend another day of my life without this scent!). However, being troubled by the whole Oman vs UK discussion, I asked which version it was - it was the UK and the "magnet cap" version. And what can I say, with me the filling held say and write 15(!) hours on my skin; in the evening at half past five sprayed on, the next day in the morning at 9 o'clock still relatively strongly perceived (confirmed by my wife)!
The sillage is incidentally also not from bad parents and "reflects" strongly ab.
Nevertheless, I asked for an Oman version when ordering from Notino and received! Both versions start very similar, not to say identical; I could not perceive a difference. Especially in the beginning, the fragrance reflects really strongly. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that the bottling is a bit stronger after all and also projects a bit longer than the fragrance from my bottle. But this may also be imagination, or due to my now certainly setting olfactory fatigue, however, the direct comparison actually leaves no doubt. In addition, perfumes are to become stronger over time, as soon as a little more oxygen in the bottle is; from therefore it could possibly also be simply because my impression described here is based on the very first spritzers from a new bottle.
Also in terms of durability, the new bottle seems to have to make sacrifices compared to the filling. While the filling as described above easily cracks the 10+ hours mark, my Oman version already seems to make after 4-5 hours more or less flabby and is only noticeable when I press my nose full on the sprayed skin. From this point of view, I have to determine a difference (unfortunately), but here the UK version has the nose in front compared to the Oman version. What would still be to note, is that on my bottle the word "Reflection" is (under the Amouage lettering, which also seems to be new).
But as I said, this is all to be taken with a grain of salt and may yet change over time. Should this be the case, I will write another addendum to that effect. Here it should also be noted that my quantitative assessment of the fragrance refers to the filling, since the fragrance can obviously if he wants it (my Oman version wants just probably at the moment just not yet as I want :)). Writes your own experiences gladly here as a response.
The bottle is very chic and fits perfectly to what the fragrance radiates, so class, elegance and timelessness. The cap is magnetic and fits beautifully on the bottle.
Another interesting fact is that the cap is said to resemble Oman's traditional ceremonial dagger, the khanjar. This is still an integral part of the men's ceremonial, official costume to this day. I never understood this, why the cap should resemble a dagger, but after a closer look it becomes clear that the cap does not resemble the dagger as such, but the pommel of the dagger handle; and this even impressively accurate. Even the crystal is partially there (by the way, the cap of Amouage women's perfumes is said to be reminiscent of the dome / cupola of the Sultan Qabus Mosque in Oman). What I find less beautiful, however, is that you can see from behind through the bottle the glue with which the Amouage seal was stuck on the front of the bottle; this unfortunately prevents the maximum rating of 10.
Reflection Man is an "everwalker", certainly also a "crowdpleaser", but certainly not a "cheapie", to use just a few terms from the recently published perfume dictionary here on Parfumo. Beyond that, as I said, it's my new favorite scent, making it my "signature scent" (just ahead of Sillage by Armaf), as it really fits every season and occasion. So, enough reflected...
This is what I experience so, 'n puzzle piece from my life. This is what I
Sometimes I think, that's what I see
In my eyes - reflections! In my eyes - reflections!