Memoir Man by Amouage

I’ve tried quite a few perfumes with this profile, and truly, very few reach the level of this beauty, Memoir Man. It’s so well-crafted, with exceptional quality in its components and admirable originality. Sure, there are others going in the same direction, but this one, ugh, stands out so much. Its longevity, while not a beast mode, delivers a minimum of 8 hours of pleasure without issues. In my opinion, it’s one of Amouage’s most underrated scents. The only drawback, and that’s true of all perfumes from this house, is that they are very expensive. Later I’ll explain my detailed review of this beauty that isn’t known or valued as it should.

Along with Interlude and Tribute attar, it’s the fragrance that has captivated me the most from Amouage. Lyric Man could also make the cut, but the dry-down leaves something to be desired in my opinion. It’s a contrast to the aforementioned ones, as here we perceive more of an ‘westernized’ Amouage scent, due to the very marked fougère (fern) facet. Again, the incense base is present, though it makes us think of this Omani house in a more diffuse way than in others from the brand. Frankly, I find Memoir Man very addictive. I think the culprit is the menthol accord. More than a desert or a souk, this fragrance makes me think of a dense forest on a humid, autumnal evening at dusk. The scent reminds me of the sadly discontinued Gucci pour Homme, but this one from Amouage, as expected, with more complexity. Performance is rather moderate, at least on my skin. Best for afternoons or nights in autumn and winter, and like all from this house, more suitable for special occasions.

This fragrance is evocative for me; I smell it and only think of a melancholic autumn sunset after going through an emotional moment. Ethereal sweetness, mysterious, almost inexpressive. In terms of materials, it’s a very elegant perfume with a somewhat green opening where you can detect absinthe, basil, and mint. After a few minutes, something smoky, resinous, and warm appears. It’s a very particular scent, where this combination of notes makes it singular. It’s very discreet with good fixation and longevity. It’s not a bomb, but it wraps you in a very pleasant personal bubble. To my taste, it’s an atemporal perfume, suitable for any time of year. In my particular case, I feel inclined to wear it on my skin. Most likely, it won’t suit very young men, as its scent is quite formal, serious, and more for adults looking for something elegant, discreet, and uncommon. My recommendation is for men over 30 with formal or semi-formal attire. Sillage 9.5/10, Longevity 8/10, Projection 7/10, Scent 8.5/10, Longevity 8/10.

Memoir Man is a scent I barely discovered, and it reminded me of my old man in his room. A touch of confinement mixed with tobacco, the volatility of a liquor flask, and next to it, some smoked fruit husks. The most beautiful thing for me is that the name couldn’t fit better with the above, ‘the man of memories,’ because even Pedro Urdemales couldn’t compete with my old man. Setting aside the emotional aspect, I think it’s a unique scent, green but not excessive, smoky, slightly sweet, mysterious, and memorable. I feel it’s very complex, with many woody nuances in the base, more moss, musk, vanilla, and vetiver, as if they all play a piano key every now and then. I understand that many might not be captivated, but in my opinion, both when I had little experience and now, when I have much more (though it’s never enough), I consider it an exceptional perfume. For temperate climates, for any type of occasion, though better if it’s to make a distinctive impression, slightly more masculine than feminine, and above all, an olfactory experience worth having. Note: 9/10.

There’s nothing similar in the market, nor anything that comes close. I would define it as a ‘spectral’ green perfume, elegant, mysterious, opulent, and sophisticated. A 10/10.

I can’t believe the quality they claim (I’m not even sure myself). It smells good, but the longevity and sillage are miserable for the price: barely 5 hours and almost no trail. If it cost a quarter of what it does, it might be acceptable, but there are Zara perfumes at €17 that perform much better, like Warm Black. A total disappointment. I won’t recommend it or buy it again; I’m trying to sell or exchange it already.

I don’t doubt its quality, although I’m not quite sure what it is. It doesn’t smell bad, but the longevity and sillage are low in my case and terrible considering the price. Barely 5 hours with very low sillage. If it cost four times less, it would be fine. Some Zara perfumes, at 17 times less, work better, like Warm Black. A huge disappointment. I absolutely don’t recommend it; I wouldn’t buy it again and I’m trying to sell or swap it.

I know I deleted my previous review because I didn’t like it, so I’m back. Memoir Man by Amouage completely departs from the house’s paradigms: there’s no trace of orientalism here. There is incense, quite a bit, but without the usual opulence. It feels ‘austere’. It carries notes like sandalwood that could suggest luxury, but it doesn’t. It’s smoky, but not ‘oriental’ like Interlude Man. It smells like a campfire in a boreal forest. What stands out most is grass and moss. It’s cold, clean, sober, and ‘gloomy’. It smells like a cloudy autumn/winter day in a taiga, with birch smoke and turpentine. Along with Bracken, Figment, and Reflection, it’s the most ‘westernized’ creation by Amouage. Still, I love it: despite being non-oriental incense, it has depth and a peculiar aroma thanks to the mint. It seems like English mint chocolate. Good longevity, moderate sillage. Ideal for autumn/winter, cloudy days, rain, or formal occasions. It’s ‘poetic’: it evokes endless lakes, dense forests, atmospheric black metal, and Rachmaninov’s piano.

Memoir Man is perhaps the worst perfume by Amouage. It has that notable opening typical of the house, but not spectacular like other works. Fresh and spicy at first, but then it crashes spectacularly in performance and scent. The performance is inexplicably pathetic for this brand: I barely smell overwhelming incense and unpleasant leather. Like with Arp, I can’t distinguish almost any other notes. It results in a very dark, dry, and almost imperceptible perfume. Whether it’s a reformulation or not, it’s a huge, incomprehensible disappointment. Scent: 2/10, Sillage: 3/10, Longevity: 3/10, Versatility: 2/10.

It’s quite green and woody, with leather and the typical Amouage incense. In the opening, the greens are noticeable: basil, mint, and absinthe, giving it a fresh herbal vibe. The incense isn’t as strong as in others from the brand, but it’s there. In the heart, it becomes more woody, losing the mint freshness. Sandalwood, mild oud, and leather fill the middle, without being too dark. Then it starts to fade on my skin, barely noticeable. I detect an amber and vanilla base, but it smells too close to the skin to distinguish nuances. The performance is poor: good for the first hour, then skin scent with weak longevity. It’s masculine, better for cold or temperate climates; heat evaporates it even faster. Personally, I didn’t like it; it doesn’t smell bad, but I don’t enjoy it; it’s not my type. Its low performance and high cost are a handicap. It could be more versatile than Interlude and less oriental; maybe that would appeal to some.

Don’t tell us fairy tales… ‘Mint Chocolate’. I’ve tried it twice and always thought that, despite its peculiarity, it reminded me of something familiar. The other day I said: ‘this smells like Nestlé After Eight mint chocolates’, a classic. The mint is quite noticeable; it’s unusual to use it in perfumery. I detect incense, oakmoss, tobacco, and vanilla alongside the mint. Memoir Man is attractive and dark; the black bottle already says it. It smells like winter, like night… what a treat! I’d ask for more projection on my skin, but otherwise, it does a very good job.

I have no words for this ‘amazing perfume’ by Amouage. Memoir Man captures the senses spectacularly. Absinthe or mint? I don’t know, but as a whole, it’s very personal and sophisticated. It has all-proof longevity and is very masculine. It’s one of those perfumes that immerses you in a forest atmosphere due to its herbal and woody facets. It gets a bit dark; the incense is responsible for that. I see it as phenomenal for autumn and winter.

Memoir is woody leather with fern. The green opening smells of absinthe, with lavender and rose that quickly yield to incense. This incense isn’t heavy: dry wood, leather, and tobacco just sweetened with vanilla and amber to avoid strong smoke. Everything turns a dark gray, conveying meditation, melancholy, and warm maturity. Rating: 7.5.

On my skin, it smells almost like pure absinthe; the leather and mint are barely noticeable. I can’t quite distinguish the other notes, maybe due to my pH or a reformulation. It doesn’t seem as opulent as other Amouage scents, though it does feel natural. I prefer the simple Gucci scent to this one, although Amouage wins on materials and longevity (12 hours: 6 moderate, 6 low). For men over 30 and cold climates. Maybe Interlude is better, but try before you buy.