I’m a girly girl. I don’t particularly like that statement, but in the end, it is true. I like the colour pink, I wear make up, I can’t for the life of me play ball games, I have long hair, I am not what you would call a tomboy in the least. When it comes to perfume I’m more open, but in the end it just comes natural that I end up preferring the more feminine scents.
Of all the Amouage duos, I prefer the Woman’s fragrance without exception. But now, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have found the exception. Of Interlude, Amouage’s newest release, I prefer the men’s version. Interlude Woman is challenging and genius, but Interlude Man is love.
Interlude Man was created perfumer Pierre Negrin, notes include bergamot, oregano, allspice berries, amber, incense, cistus, opoponax, leather, oud, patchouli and sandalwood.
Opening with a blast of smokiness – herbs and spices in a cloud of wood smoke, Interlude Man proceeds to unfold into a leathery, oud-y, ambery, thoroughly masculine but in the end, soft and warm tapestry of scent that envelops you and cushions you from all the blows the cold, bad world has in store.
Powerful and longlasting, Interlude Man reminds me of Guerlain’s Songe d’un Bois d’Eté, as well as of Amouage’s own Opus VI.
Interlude Man feels like a strong man with a soft heart, someone to protect you, care for you, be there for you. Oh my, can it be that Interlude Man is my knight in shining armor? That Interlude Man is the one I have been waiting for since the fairy tales of my childhood started conjuring up such an image in my impressionable, young mind?
I wear Interlude Man and almost feel like get carried away to the castle on my knight’s steed. The wind in my hair, feeling free and without a care in the world, because I feel the warm body of my saviour in my back.
I realize that I might have brought wrath of the entire feminist movement down on me with this post, but before the mean emails start coming – this is just a fantasy. Just one part of me that is there, equal to the part where I am Trinity blasting my own way through the world. We can be what we want, weak or strong, independent or addicted. We take on roles everyday, and we can choose them as we need them. Perfume is a way to take us there a bit faster.
Interlude Man protects me, takes care of me. My knight in shining armor takes me to his castle, where we live happily ever after.
The End.
Olfactoria's Travels 
You don’t know how eagerly I have been waiting for this review! I am so happy you feel the same about Interlude Man as I do. I also haven’t liked the Man versions of Amouage as much as the Women’s but, this is definitely the exception. As I mentioned before, I instantly fell in love with Interlude Man (from a blind test of both the Man and Woman before they were officially released) and after trying both several times I have not changed my mind (hence the FB purchase of the Man). And I love your analogy to a Knight in Shining Armor – don’t worry about the feminists 🙂
In the case of this duo, Man seems to have a great appeal to women.
I’m glad you liked my review.
I don’t just like your review, I looooooooove it to the max! So evocative that I felt every word you said and I can clearly see you and your shining armor passing me by 🙂
Cheers…
Thank you very much! I’m glad my review resonates so well with you!
I would happily be carried away to the castle on my steed, feeling the warm body of my saviour at my back if only, a) I had that beautiful horse in that illustration and b) my husband actually knew how to ride a horse.
Once again, you’ve written a delightful review that has me intrigued, curious and entertained. I am debating if I should find a split of these somewhere to purchase right now or if I should be good and wait until they are released here in the states and just buy a teeny, tiny sample to make sure I do like them.
I think your husband should learn to ride asap! 😉
Decisions, decisions… I can’t help you here, but both perfumes are ideally suited for cooler weather, so maybe it won’t be so bad to wait until they reach the US.
Ha ha! My daughter and I have been begging and begging for my husband to learn how to ride, to no avail.
Trying very hard to be good and wait.
Maybe it’s for the best. The man seems to be determined to stay off horses… 🙂
Now you made me curious about that one (although, I’m obviusly not a girly girl, since I do play various ball games, but can’t stand pink and don’t care for horses 🙂 )
This is ideal then, since it is not a perfume for girly girls. As a lover of Oud 27, I have no doubt you’d like this one too.
Has it arrived to Le Parfum already ?
I don’t think they will have it before September. I can give you some next time I see you.
Sounds like the good stuff,
Portia xx
Yup. 🙂
You’re knight in shining armour certainly is very handsome, he looks great in blue!
Like you I always find my love in the feminine offerings of Amouage’s duos (I must be a girly girl at heart :D) but with Interlude I am split equally between the two. I honestly cannot pick a favourite.
You are a girly girl at heart, and it was you who made me realize I love all those ultra-feminine tuberoses etc. 🙂
Interlude is a surprise in every way (just as Christopher said he wanted it to be).
It’s true. I spread my love of white florals around to all!
He’s very crafty that Mr. Chong, he just keeps throwing these curveballs at us.
He does! I think Opus VII will be an even greater curveball…
Have you smelled it? 🙂
No, he just told me about it.
Ah OK. Something to look forward to then! 😀
Absolutely.
Oh you really made me smile with this review, B! It’s fun to indulge in our fantasies now and again and what better way to do it than with perfume? I have been yearning for the right smoky scent forever, so I’m eager to try this when it comes out.
That is true, perfume is an excellent escape facilitator. 😉
What a fun review,Birgit- I am smiling here too,that’s how Sebastian Chabal smells in my fantasy lol
😉
The rugby player? Lol, that fits perfectly!
Woop woop, I think I am going to London this weekend but not sure if Harrods have it yet but I do know they have beloved in which I can sniff as well as a million other things. I only have a day though so may go home with nose fatigue. I am 100% not buying anything though. 😉
Yay, off to London!
Have fun, Andrea! Tell us everything when you come back!!!
Oh this does sound good, I am now 4 weeks away from my Epic bottle (and counting – can you tell) and have almost begun planning my trip to the Amouage Boutique – this is right at the top of my to sniff list! I found Guerlain’s Songe just a touch too hairy-chested and this sounds like if could be the softer version I dreamed of… uh-oh. Plus as a strong independent woman I have absolutely no issue channelling my inner-Cinderella!
Only four weeks to go! (Stay positive! 😉 )
I hope this is more your thing than Songe.
Oh, I love that fantasy, Birgit!! I really don’t care what the feminists think.
Thrilled to hear about this knight. He sounds drop-dead gorgeous, and if he bears comparison with Guerlain’s Songe d’un Bois d’Ete he must be.
He’s a gorgeous knight indeed. 🙂
I think it’s too bad you had to dismiss feminism-[something I’m pretty grateful for allowing me access to education, work opportunities, the right to vote, the right to have bank account and credit in my name, etc,] when you mentioned your fantasy of being protected and saved. It’s very vulnerable to publicly admit, “hey, I don’t want to be in control all the time” or ” I have fantasy’s about someone else taking over”, because what competent adult wants to be publicly judged as weak and helpless? You should just own your fantasies without projecting your own misgivings about such a reveal on those kill joys feminist. Besides, fantasies of powerlessness are very common, especially with men which is why Domina’s command such high fees.
Your blogs great and I really enjoy it.
I don’t feel especially vulnerable revealing this side of me publicly, and maybe I have to thank feminism for that freedom. I don’t want to dismiss the entire movement at all.
But I choose not to discuss this isssue. It’s not all about perfume, all the time here, but in this case, I’d like to stick with it! 🙂
I’m glad you enjoy my blog!
Aw Birgit, this was lovely! What a wonderful, vivid review – now I must try this! I consider myself a feminist, and I am not bothered by your fantasy one bit. I think one of the most powerful things we can do as women is claim ALL of ourselves, not just the aggressive “Trinity” parts. Being a strong woman does not mean giving up our vulnerability, or our desire to be loved and cared for by another – or our long hair and love of pink! Just as my favorite men are both tough and tender – so are my favorite women 🙂 xoxo!
Thank you, Wesley! We all have many sides, some perfumes help us access some facets more easily.
Birgit, I love love love this review. Jung and others believed each of us have many aspects. And we can call forth whichever one we like whenever. It’s all ok.
Wonderful writing.
Thank you, Amy! Jung had many good ideas… 🙂
Oh! I meant to say that the review was great as well – I ordered decants of both the man and woman Interlude, too!
Good for you! I hope you like them!
What a great review! I felt carried away by your description of being carried away 🙂
I’ve always been a little scared of Amouage . . . scared I am going to fall madly in love with one of their fragrances and suddenly be $200+ poorer 😉
That is an understandable fear and a very real danger. 😉
Epic was my first Amouage love and also my first bottle. Lyric and Memoir followed suit. Beloved is my absolute favorite of the house. Yep, very dangerous territory…
Perfume always is 😉 Bad for the pocketbook, but so good for the soul!
So true! 🙂
I’m conflicted… I’m not 100% sure but it seems like Songe d’un Bois d’été isn’t “my thing”. On the other hand, I almost loved Opus VI (still might). Of course I’ll try both perfumes from this duet and see if one of these gorgeous bottles makes it into my collection. Thank you for the heads up.
Maybe Interlude Man holds exactly the middle ground between Opus VI and Songe for you to love.
I hope you get your blue bottle of dreams! 🙂
I may have just decided on my first Amouage to try. 🙂
Yay! I hope you like it, no, I hope you fall in love! 😉
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