Outlands

Scent Profile

Top notes: Frankincense, Cardamom, Elemi, Lemon, Bergamot, Sichuan Pepper

Heart notes: Patchouli, Anise, Coriander, Saffron, Cumin, Orange Blossom, Wormwood, Geranium, Rose

Base notes: Frankincense, Vanilla, Amber, Benzoin, Oud, Opoponax, Birch, Ambergris, Labdanum, Maltol, Musk

Why We Carry This

We stock it because Zarokian let the citrus fight the wormwood and cumin instead of smoothing them into something safer, and that tension carries all the way into the resinous amber base.

Character

Accords: Citrus, Amber, Woody, Smoky, Spicy, Patchouli

Perfumer: Cécile Zarokian

Cécile Zarokian built this as an Essence de Parfum, Amouage's aged 30 percent concentration, stronger and longer than the house's standard Eau de Parfum line despite the similar name. Lemon and elemi open bright, but cumin and wormwood show up early in the heart and keep the citrus from reading as simple freshness, more bitter herb garden than fruit bowl.

Eleven notes crowd the base alone, oud and birch tar among them, and the effect is a resinous amber that lands darker than the citrus opening promises. It sold out within hours of its original release, which says more about scarcity than everyday performance; on skin it runs warm and a little smoky rather than showy, so anyone expecting a bright citrus cologne straight through the day will be surprised by hour two.