From summer 2019 to summer 2020: Amouage's creative interlude
Christopher Chong's tenure as Creative Director at Amouage came to an end in spring 2019. It marked the end of a 12-year journey during which Amouage grew from a relatively unknown Omani brand to the international recognition it enjoys today.
During the transition period, it was important for the company to take its time and not rush into a first new creation in order to properly define the next era of Amouage. Amouage therefore considers the period from mid-2019 to mid-2020 as a creative interlude.
Since summer 2020: a new creative era
The overall story will continue to evolve, as it has become quite autobiographical in recent years. It will encompass the different perspectives of a creative collective pursuing a powerful vision. For most people, the fragrances in this work go back to the roots of the brand in a way: rich, structured and intense compositions.
We have seen that Ouverture and Rose Incense are very well received, and they have that artisanal patina that gave Amouage some of its uniqueness. We are also bringing back some of the inspiration (and ingredient directions) from Oman.
Overpainting
Interlude Black Iris Man was approached as a kind of overpainting of the original fragrance creation. This gives the fragrance a new context in which the notes of iris and other ingredients become more resonant and powerful. The creative intention was to reveal different facets of Interlude Man.
Black Iris III
O'Keeffe's large close-up of an iris flower was intended to ‘make busy New Yorkers take the time to see what I see in flowers.’ People who often didn't take the time to engage with nature as she did. This detail of a black iris reveals a subtle colour palette that explores the subtleties of the petals and their contrasting tones. Georgia O'Keeffe, 1926
The fragrance: The inspiration
Interlude Black Iris plays the leading role in Amouage's latest introspective creation for men. The fragrance evokes a hint of disorder while maintaining a sense of balance and calm through the inventive use of iris, incense and myrrh. An orchestrated blend of technical skill and creative integrity, the fragrance takes a moment for self-reflection and personal discovery to compose inner harmony from outer chaos.
Top notes: bergamot, rosemary, violet leaves. Harmony resonates at the heart of Interlude Black Iris. Bergamot, rosemary and violet leaves conjure up intervals of chaos...
Middle notes: ...which are counterbalanced by notes of amber, incense, rockrose and myrrh. A layer of iris absolute and vanilla smoothes the heart of the composition.
Base notes: Notes of leather, oud smoke, patchouli, sandalwood and cedarwood appear in the base to add lasting depth and texture.
Interlude vs Interlude Black Iris
The Interludes of Black Iris, created as an overlay, use a delicate palette to smooth the facets of the original creation. A complex interplay of dark stoic serenity and buried vibrant energy that rushes upwards into the light. Compared to its predecessor, Interlude, released in 2012, Black Iris has a few differences:
3 significant differences
Top notes: The oregano and rosemary notes have been toned down, resulting in a slightly more tingling and moist opening thanks to the use of violet leaf notes.
Heart notes: Iris adds an extra layer of buttery smoothness to the heart of the fragrance, complementing the vanilla.
Base: The overall woodiness of Interlude Black Iris emerges more quickly in the composition than in the classic Interlude.
Both fragrance creations are Eaux de Parfum, created by perfumer Pierre Negrin in a concentration of 25% fragrance oil.
The bottle
The crystal glass bottle, bearing the signature of a man from Amouage, is introduced in a rich and intriguing midnight blue and black hue with gunmetal details accentuated by a sapphire blue Swarovski crystal. A vibrant palette of blue shades enriches the packaging in an abstract and conceptual representation of orderly chaos.
