To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
russeltorrent – :
It’s a soft scent with a noticeable orris note in addition to violets / rose with a leather backbone. I don’t detect much incense like your typical Amouage offerings.
It’s a refined, classy scent that doesn’t really stand out in any special way. Not personally a fan of an orris dominant scent, so I will be satisfied with my current sample (not FBW for me).
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ out of 5.
999_Alex_999 – :
Not groundbreaking but solid; in my opinion much better than half-a-dozen previous releases with forced wow-factors that end up as some chemical mess.
It’s a soft floral centered around orris (which reinforces the leather background), has a similar muted elegance as Dia Man.
KOSHAN64 – :
I got a PR sample of Imitation for man, which gave me plenty of opportunity to try it out on both my boyfriend and myself. I’m keeping it for me because the myrhh and violet I get from this are just DIVINE.
My nose can’t really seem to detect the leather here. The leathers I’m used to are Mimosa Indigo by Atelier Cologne and Bottega Veneta EDP – I guess they’re quite a lot harsher? (Feel free to educate me haha)
realrocker – :
Amouage: you neef to wake up! The last releases have meen mediocre at best! This one is an example! Almost everyonevwho bought it retail is reselling it! Do not get me wrong it’s not bad! The opening is harsh and plasticky but the drydown is sweet leathery goodness. It’s just not that unique and not that interesting. All my female friends rated it 5-6/10. It’s not bad but not wow either. Definitely do not buy retail. And Amouage you seriously need to get your act together: first the reformulations that you are denying yet everyone knows it happened. Second the mediocre releases that are out lately! Absolutely not acceptable!
vinnySagCasia – :
I’m female, and I much prefer Amouage ‘Imitation’ Man compared to the woman version. The woman’s version smells too complex as it’s busy, noisy and confused. The man’s version is more refined, with clean white florals somehow working in harmony alongside dark smokey incense, with a lush red rose perfectly placed right in the center. It reminds me of Frederic Malle’s ‘Portrait of a Lady’.
If a gentleman wore this whilst attempting to romance me, I’d straight away grab my coat as he’d successfully pull.
OrdedeNumdamb – :
When I first smelled Imitation Man I didn’t think much of it and kind of dismissed it. This was not due to disappointment like I had felt with Sunshine, Myths and Figment, just the composition was not something that I’m really into.
The opening did remind me of Mancera’s Sand and ‘S’ Aoud and somewhat like Sospiro Grazioso but it’s indeed the juicy violets that made it different and aroused a sudden curiosity in me. In the opening, I get the orris and something velvety with hints of petroleum and soft cured leather. The rose here is sheer (imagine a light sweet rose flavoured lollipop, the round but thin ones that look a bit glassy).
In the mid, there is a hint of indole here somewhere which is followed by some juicy violets. These are not like parma violets but smell very natural and have prominence over the weaker myrrh which is detectable under the violets and lend it that slight sickly oomph which got me interested.
In the base I do get some rose and woods. For me the violets remain throughout and is the most dominant note which I quite like. I don’t get any patchouli but I do detect something very faintly green (rose plant stems? Here the association with Dior Gris as indicated above makes a bit of sense but doesn’t fully follow through) and the citron with castoreum could be the indole contributing factors but I can’t specifically smell them. I also get a slight bit of soury/pungent note in the dry down which is more tolerable than what I experienced in Interlude Woman.
Amouage’s fragrance names always make me think and I can usually piece together the ‘feeling’ of the composition around it’s aroma but this one definitely has me baffled. Words that come to mind are, complex, demure, classy and it has some kind of a sophisticated aura about it. It borders on being unisex but leans that bit more feminine and I have absolutely no issues with that.
This is not a skin scent and it doesn’t project far, the notes are balanced out perfectly and stays with you for a good few hours (In my case it was about 12 hours involving sleep). I have repurchased this after having made the mistake of letting it go. What I have learned from this experience are two things; 1. Never let go of something good thinking there is something better out there (e.g. Imitation Woman) 2. There is no difference between the Oman and UK makes… which brings me back to point no 1… I have let so many good things go because of this misconception.
The quality is impeccable as usual as is the case even with the fragrances I don’t like from Amouage. Overall a very satisfactory release from Amouage for me personally, being a fan and all that and something that I am finally happy to own 🙂
korchagin16 – :
Just sampled this today and the drydown smells just like Cartiers Declaration d’soir.. its so close to my nose that I couldnt justify paying higher price tag..
sergy_333 – :
The Imitation bottle is notable. Not the one pictured here, but the real life bottle. A simple dark amber glass with golden signet and cap in the Amouage signature style. The look and feel of vintage and royalty combined. It is a piece to behold.
The scent is complex. I have to agree with those that have this as a leather, though it is a light leather. Combined with the rest of the base they serve as a mid-height stage for the floral- orris accord’s performing art.
I get a very dry opening, in that i say the smokey vetiver can not hide. There is a tightly compressed ball of floral, with something that resembles a dirty vibe. I realize i am smelling the Vinyl accord. I am not familiar with the scent of a brand new vinyl record. I have read it also resembles an electronic device, opened up or a circuit board. To me this is an incredible feat, slightly odd, weird and any other word you could think of. This is the show- the notes combine to create the digital or vinyl smell.
In the mid through the drydown as it loosens up, the floral/vinyl accord seperates and i get a bit of rose, the orris you could take a bite out of and mostly violet. Theres some saltiness from the patchouli, the telltale slight bitterness from vetiver and the soft leather note that lingers throughout. Overall Imitation is high art, a 70’s vibe that is not a 70’s smell, but is.
sveta0670 – :
Another head scratcher from the mighty amouage. Heavy orris and florals. I’m completely done giving this house the benefit of the doubt. Some may say I don’t appreciate amouage because I haven’t given it long enough – pfff! No thanks! A scrubber is a scrubber. This is a massive amount of Orris. This indeed does imitate a masculine fragrance – but not well. If you like orris, you’ll probably like this. To me, a complete disappointment and the end of my long, stinky journey with amouage.
Gurru – :
Immediately reminded by Andy Tauer’s Lonesome Rider, which I hated. Somehow, tho, this one having an Amouage twist makes it seem promising.
maxumaniakk – :
For me this is Amouage in a return to form, not that there was much of a slump to be fair because I liked Braken, Beach hut was hugely interesting, I think it’s just Sunshine and that purple one that was a rare miss step in my opinion. The name of this is a little weird and I can only deduce it would have negative connotations when applied to perfume. Why would you want to be an Imitation? There’s probably deeper meaning and a positive spin to be found in the marketing bumf…I’ve no doubt. Also I respect the reviews of Nick Zee but I don’t agree with him on this one. I can say categorically that Imitation doesn’t even smell remotely similar to Dior Homme parfum.
Okay so the opening is very floral and fresh but clearly has masses of depth and an obvious orris root base right out of the gate. This milky, creamy, leathery powdered nature defies the adjectives I just used to describe it because I might say that about a designer fragrance with an orris/iris base but this is clearly a higher calibre and that’s evident straight away. I love how soft and floral this scent is with violet and just the suggestion of roses. It has a classy base and I’m no doubt there’s some myrrh in here to keep in with the Amouage, incense aesthetic. The point is, individual notes are blurred by a wonderful chypre type concept and masterful perfumery. I really didn’t get patchouli from it but I have only sampled once and sprayed on a card which I kept for a week or so and it still smells fantastic if very faded now. This might be an Amouage I just can’t be without, I thought the smell was majestic, and for the man who has no regard for M/F fragrance paradigms. The performance is good and perfectly acceptable at a high price (not sure what the price is but I’m sure it’s not cheap!) I love it.
China – :
From the reviews below, “Imitation Man” is a “fleather” (floral + leather) oriental fragrance that would suit both sexes and pansexuals. lol…
I honestly look forward to buying this frag as it currently retails for $250 in my country!
illizitty – :
JUST CHILLIN’
This is like Imitation Woman’s more chilled out younger brother. While that diva is burning up the dance floor under disco lights and glitter balls, he’s vibin’ to some vinyl in his downtown studio, in no hurry to get anywhere at all….
Unlike Imitation Woman’s full-on dramatic opening flourish, this one opens with just a mild frisson. An accord made up of: a juicy fruity note (certainly not citrus – more like a sweet ripe apple); a plasticky vinyl note; and a slight underlying mustiness. The overall effect rather resembles the atmosphere of an old second-hand clothes or record shop.
These initial impressions are fleeting and after only a few minutes the whole thing has settled down into a smooth vinyl with a sweet/fruity veneer. I don’t smell the florals distinctly, and they seldom feel like real flowers – it’s more like they merge into this sweet artificial/plastic fruity accord.
The whole feel is quite airy and light for the first couple of hours. Not like an Amouage at all.
I tend to prefer the development after that, where our smooth retro lad gets a bit more tousled and ruffled: the base notes start coming through. There is a slightly rougher leather note in the mix, along with patchouli, and I can definitely detect castoreum if I sniff closely (but we’re not talking Epic Man levels of castoreum here).
Longevity is good; sillage and projection I’m still rather unsure about. As I said, it doesn’t feel too much like an Amouage, more like a high-quality designer scent. I rather wish the whole thing was a bit more pumped and amping, more like his Big Sis…..
Fantom1325 – :
great and interesting leather, beast mode sillage and duration, a real homage to the 80’s golden era of Alpha male powerhouses, this will make your hair chest grow and you will need a golden medallion on an open shirt and a selection of stereo 8 cartridges for your car stereo system!
Not for spotty kids or metrosexuals!
zavad61 – :
Smells like Moth by Zoologist, at least in the opening. Fascinating scent, but not for me. Definitely not office safe.
Sova1007 – :
Wow….Perfect . I’m addicted to it.
RomaBeter – :
Imitation is appropriately named since it imitates many masculine iris-based perfumes of the last decade. The most notable comparison is Dior Homme Parfum. You can see the pressure on Christopher Chong to capitalise on this trend, which he tried to do with dignity in Myths Man, But has had to completely capitulate in Imitation Man. Thankfully Imitation Woman fares far better for originality and many men may need to turn their mind to that one for a new Amouage fix.
I get lots of orris masquerading as leather, like it so often does. Because to give men orris without listing leather in the note pyramid might scare them. But when did real leather ever smell of powdery orris? Surely this is one of the most frustrating reconstructions of leather. It’s a fantasy accord I have never understood. In contrast, Tuscan Leather smells literally like treated new car leather and Hermes Bel Ami is virtually a new horse saddle. So why must perfumers continue with fantasy leather accords when the real thing can be easily imitated?
The “leathery” powderiness is accentuated by the violet flower, and the Turkish rose lends some much needed richness.
oleg.panasyuk – :
Just like a Violette Fumee by Mona di Orio!
rusdoxings – :
I would describe this as leather violet and rose. Very appealing, not the strong type of leather you will expect. The florals calm down the leather, give sweetness and some powderness from the violet. I like it, is nice and can be worn everyday. Usually I dont like the heavy leather perfumes but as said, this is not a heavy leather. It’s all ine between leather violet and rose.
Hoorrynes – :
أقل من المتوقع!
mooncat – :
copy of BENTLEY INFINITE RUSH WHITE EDITION exaclly the same
vitos121 – :
This is one big party from mid to the end of each decade when decadence was rife!
1977: Opening Night of Studio 54: When everyone interesting enough to Steve Rubell’s gruelling selection criteria (he was bi-polar, so it could be anything depending on his mood), was granted access to the most hedonistic ‘dancing ball’ of NYC, rubbing shoulders with Warhol, Michael Jackson, Halston, Diana Ross, et al while snorting cocaine, drinking champagne out of the bottle, and engaging in all sorts of sexual behaviour on and off the dance floor, fuelling the night with the DISCO beat.
1987: Closing Night of The Paradise Garage: When everyone nearly unhinging their shoulders or hips, voguing in ecstasy to the snares, licks and bass-lines of ‘larger than life’ underground tracks, enabling the forgotten and deprived to be what they wanted to be on the dance floor, fighting it out with nothing but their bodies to the 4 on the floor.
1997: Ministry of Sound London: David Morales plays his remix of ‘Plastic Dreams’ and I go apes*** on the dance floor like it’s 1999, dancing myself into the abyss of joint fatigue of early morning 6am.
This fragrance basically wants to conjure up all our associations and emotions we link to the artistic freedom expressed in nightlife of yesteryear: for that reason alone I NEED to own it.
Objectively, it is a very wearable modern chypre (even though we are told here that it is a floraleather oriental) reminiscent of ‘Eau Du Soir’ by SISLEY, ‘Ô’ de Lancôme and it even has some of the musky, aldehydic pungency of my beloved “Iquitos” by Alain Delon, that is long discontinued and gone…..I love the triangle that is Suede, Vetiver and Patchouli here.
The rose is very abstract and vinylised, (not vandalised, although you can interpret perhaps a Graffiti Rose of the late 80ies), like a shrink-wrapped vinyl record, eagerly waiting to be opened, as you take it out of your suede 70ies style designer tote (courtesy of Chloé).
The weird and wonderful castoreum (also used to fake vanillin, the genuine vanilla flavour, in cheap and cheerful ice creams) makes it all the more seedy and musky, if not a tad dirrty (like Christina used to sing).
VERDICT: The bass-laden dance version of its opposite that is Opus X (which is a Stradivari sit down concert). When a fresh out of cling-film wrapper Gogo-dancer, releases heat pheromones. Perhaps not a safe option for a job interview, but surely a pull in a night club, when you feel frisky. Sits somewhere between ‘Beach Hut’ and ‘Figment” and perhaps the most wearable of them all?
8/10 Not a masterpiece but an honourable and great attempt of trying to ‘Bottle up’ Hedonism.
Aerohoplenerisal – :
Tried this yesterday at the amouage boutique in Muscat, Oman.
It’s not as intense as I thought it would be.
The dominating note is leather. It is a sweet leather though. Perhaps suede sort of leather?
Definitely an oriental scent. And in my option, can be worn by both men and women.
I tried layering it with Oud as I do with most scents, and it smelt phenomenal.
Not amouage’s best, but much better than beach hut, bracken and myths!
Projection is 6/10
Lasting power 8/10
I’m going to get a bottle for my collection.
alshem – :
Just a short initial impression: in my opinion, this one mixes a scent of sweet /brand new/ leather, oily-sweet myrrh & slightly spicy rose with earthy/dirty patchouli. It´s supremely elegant & modern chypre, really appealing.