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tryuitocxz – :
Bought a small tester sample of Opus IV, sprayed it on my wrist and quickly realized how in similar vein it is to Hugo Boss Baldessarini concentree, but without the incense and bitterness. Baldessarini is more fruity and WAAAAY more appealing, suave and classy in smell. In my view, why blow big money on Opus IV when you can spend a heck of a lot less and smell REALLY good with Baldessarini concentree??? Trust me on this one, thank me later! 😉
MefBadiaimpep – :
Cardamom, caraway, elemi and incense bomb on me. Many of my favorite notes! I agree with the previous reviewer, AveParfum, that it’s not a total masterpiece, but so good.
TANK_VY – :
This is predominantly bubblegum on me, with a touch of incense. If forced to scrutinize, I pick up a lot of cardamom (which I think contributes a lot to the bubblegum scent), some cumin, and some elemi into the drydown. Very fruity. I only see citrus in the notes, but it’s not citrusy at all. It’s fruity, just like pink bubblegum.
My tastes these days lean towards perfume with no sweetness at all, so compared to those fragrances, I find Opus IV pleasantly sweetened. Not sugary. Sweetness due to resins.
I sense something floral in the mix, but I can’t name a flower.
Out of the fragrances I have sampled from the Library Collection, I find Opus IV to be the most like what we “expect” from Amouage.
Just throwing in my personal opinion, but since their new artistic director came on board, I appreciate the variety of fragrances that Amouage has been putting out. Seems like they are exploring more genres. At the same time, I really just want another big, bold Oriental, loaded with incense, like I am used to from them. So this one is great because (as someone else mentioned) it does remind me of Fate Woman, due to the spice blend and the gentle sweetness of it. While it’s complex, it is more delicate and less in-your-face than all their classic stuff. Amouage Lite, I guess….
I wouldn’t call it stunning nor a masterpiece, but I enjoy it. For me it’s a winner.
jupiter888 – :
The nose behind this so called fragrance wanted to mimic a scene of which you accidentally broke a flask full of intense smelling type of a spice while you were at a spice shop in India maybe, and regretting it.
alexpuv – :
I am still indecisive about this one, I think that I dislike it.
It smells like a combination of cumin and sweat – not usually the scent I go for.
Having said that, the scent is well balanced and executed – just not for me.
andrej79 – :
Sadly the cumin overwhelms everything else for me. After eight hours I can start to detect a lovely balsamic sweetness under the cumin but that’s far too long to wait.
zarinatska – :
Wow, this is awesome. Nobody does spicy blends like Amouage, This and Fate are great examples. Bravo!
vaadym – :
This one is wickedly devilish. Either you will want to scrub it off after the first 10 minutes or you are so flabbergasted that you want to see what more it has to offer. This one goes in every direction. From CDG to Tauer to of course Amouage. Deliciously balsamic, on the verge of being raw and animalic to being a typical resinous scent. All of the spices are easily detectable at one point of time during the maturation of this scent but it maintains a somewhat wearableness about it. Most likely not to many but I think fans of the legendary Tauer 02 LDDM such as myself will at least like this one even though you may not consider it full bottle worthy as it lacks a certain sweetness about it. It’s pretty much dark,dry and spicy with a hint of warmthness.
derdiok – :
یک عطر خیلی خوب از برند آمواژ
این عطر اصلا تغییر نت بویایی نداره و عطر ساده ای است. در این سایت قید کردند که بوی غالب اول عطر زیره هست. در حالیکه به نظرمن اینطور نیست. زیره حداکثر 30 درصد از کل ساختار عطر رو پایه ریزی میکنه. بوی غالبی که تقریبا در تمام مدت طول بویایی عطر قابل شناسایی هست؛ صمغ لامی است. من فکر میکنم علت اینکه بارزترین رایحه ی این عطر زیره قید شده؛ این هست که اکثر کسانی که در این سایت عضو هستند؛ مثل ما شرقی ها از زیره به مقدار زیاد استفاده نمیکنن و در نتیجه شناخت کافی و دقیق از نت بویایی اون ندارند. در ضمن لامی هم صمغی است که خیلی کمتر شناخته شده هست و برای اکثر قریب به اتفاق مردم بوی این ماده ناشناخته است. به همین علت در قضاوت بین نتهای این عطر در این سایت در این یک مورد بنظر من دقیق عمل نشده. همونطوریکه گفتم نت غالب عطر در اکثر عمر عطر صمغ لامی است و زیره در پس زمینه قرار داره و اصلا مثل سایر عطرهای ادویه ای در جلوی سایر نتها و بصورت غالب وجود نداره. زیره رو با بوییدن دقیق عطر متوجه خواهید شد؛ ولی لامی اجازه ی خودنمایی به زیره نمیده. از نظر من بوی هل محسوستره تا زیره
این عطر از نظر من خیلی شبیه به عطر آکاد از برند لوبین هست. ساختار بویایی این دو عطر خیلی زیاده. با این تفاوت که در اپوس 4؛ پس زمینه ای از یک بوی ادویه ای ملایم وجود داره ولی در آکاد این حالت دیده نمیشه
پخش بوی اپوس 4 متوسط رو به بالا است و از نظر ماندگاری از دیگر کارهای برند آمواژ کمتره و حدود 6 ساعت یا یکم بیشتر دوام داره
cheap soma – :
The opening is somewhat unpleasant like Jubilation IIV, but not as strong as Jubilation IIV. It is very short lived though.
After 10-15 minutes on the skin, it transforms to one of the spiciest, most mysterious, and most elegant scents I have ever smelled in my life. The journey continues for easily +15 hours on the skin. I can even smell it after I take a shower.
It is subtle, yet everyone within 5ft notices the smell even after ten hours on the skin. It reminds me of a vintage box of jewelry, antique, or an ancient place.
A must have in any collection.
AlexMIK – :
“اُپِس 4”
اُپِس 4 عطری فوق العاده براساس ترکیب رایحه هایی از میوه ،گل و ادویه هست،
رایحه زیره سبز و کمی دود و طیف زیادی از میوه ها یه بوی عجیب و بسیار دلچسب رو به این عطر بخشیده.
کیفیت رایحه ها بسیار عالی هست، پخش و دوام در گرما و تابستان بسیار بالا هست بیش از 24 ساعت دوام و بیش از 5 ساعت پخش بو با یکبار اسپری روی پوست.
اگر مشتاق به رایحه های خاص ولی جذاب ودرعین حال شاداب هستید این عطر گزینه خیلی خوبی هست، بازخورد خیلی خوبی هم روی اطرافیان داره ،هروقت این عطر رو استفاده کردم اکثرا میپرسیدن چی زدید؟
بررسی خود را بنویسید!
hotaxis کامنت:
(سایت لوکس بایر (با امکان تست سمپل
bobby – :
Along to Avignon the most ”Churchy” fragrance that I have ever smelled. Although, the majority of fragrances by Amouage are very heavy on the incense aspect. But Opus IV it’s ”too much incense” at least for me. It’s very thick.
Apart from incense I detect aslo elemi, labdanum and musk. Totally unisex. IMO only for Autumn and Winter and perhaps for cool spring days. Incense fragrances for Summer aro too much crushing.
Scent: 7
Longevity: 9
Projection: 9
Sillage: 9
Uniqueness: 7
Versatility: 6
Originality: 7,83
duxa1 – :
Amouage’s Library Collection is an excellent opportunity to discover a more experimental line of this reputable company. Although it does represent a certain digression from its classic line with its typical references to Middle Eastern traditions in perfumery (while producing resolutely modern fragrances), Amouage’s principal philosophy, which places great emphasis on the quality of materials (both raw and synthetic) as well as their masterful blending, is undeniably present in the line.
Opus IV is a spicy fragrance from top to bottom. Its head is dominated by the tangy smell of coriander, which is soon coupled with cardamom. After their brief tête-à-tête, another major player enters the game- cumin. I’ve come to appreciate cumin in perfumes, but I’ve also experienced that it can turn very naughty if not handled properly. Even though Opus IV’s cumin is far from delicate and therefore I’d advise all avowed cuminophobes to stay away from this perfume, I find the way it’s been treated and blended into its structure nothing short of remarkable. I believe it is thanks to the inclusion of cumin that the scent gradually adopts a sweetish (but never overly sweet!) character.
To be honest, there isn’t an awful lot of development in Opus IV. However, the resulting composition is so well put together that there is no need for any dramas here. Sometimes class and elegance can be expressed in just a couple of words or, in this case, notes. Deceptively simple yet brilliant work.
olena-kotenok – :
A newly acquired favorite!
Very human, in the sense that it doesn´t feel like a perfume after a while on the skin; it blends so well with my chemistry. The CUMIN in this is what creates this quality, it´s so close to human, fresh, male sweat that it complements and enhances the more desirable olfactory notes of the human body.
I must also comment that cumin is very different from caraway, as it is wrongly listed as here. Caraway smells and tastes a bit like anis seed, while cumin has this human body note which, to me, is very alluring.
Reminds me of a well behaved, spicier version of my beloved Al Oudh from L´Artisan Parfumeur, but is by far not as wildly, suggestively sexual as Al Oudh.
Initially I thought the cardamom was too overpowering, but this mellows down after a while and turns into a more musky base note, quite soon in the drydown.
It´s definitely a very oriental fragrance, but isn´t at all heavy and can easily be worn even in warmer weather.
This was a blind buy for me and only proves that one CAN be lucky, if the notes appeal to you, do your homework and read the critiques here on Fragrantica. Highly recommended and bravo to the creators of this heavenly juice! My new signature fragrance!
Deaherype – :
How can I describe the smell of Opus IV to you? It makes me think of the Egyptologist, Howard Carter, opening up a treasure chest in an ancient Egyptian pyramid. The scent of spices, incense and papyrus scrolls making him close his eyes in momentary bliss, after smelling what others have not for thousands of years. Or perhaps an ancient long lost library somewhere filled with otherwordly lore. To me, this is the smell of sacred knowledge, the esoteric, something mystical and undiscovered; and I absolutely adore it.
vitovito – :
I like spicey perfumes but this?? Uummm ….. NO! I now know that cumin and caraway are not for me.
deman.s00 – :
ive steered clear of the Library range from Amouage since most of them seem to be powder floral based from what i read.
but when this bottle came up at a ridiculously low price, i snagged it.
i am SO GLAD i did, as if anyone went by the reviews written here, they would never buy it.
Body sweat? if i could produce sweat that smelled like this, id be chuffed! perhaps some need their olfactory glands serviced!
this is most definently a cumin bomb, with that note holding precidence throughout the whole affair, and it is strong, so if you dont like spice, or cumin, then this Opus is not for you.
I however, love spicy frags, and this hits every note i love. The citrus notes are really background and one can easily miss them, but sit back and enjoy the scent, youll find a mix of differing things going on.
personally, i am not a floral mix lover, and most frags that contain heavy florals put me off,
now this does hint away with rose, but again its masterfully blended to just take the edge off the spice.
all in all, this is a warm, smooth velvety fragrance, one that will inevitably get attention, and for me, it has an air of class.
vlad75 – :
I used to think that VI was the best from this collection until I bought a bottle and then promptly started to hate it (go figure), but I always recall liking IV as well. Well, here I am several years later sampling IV again and it’s solid enough, but I’m just reminded that the Opus line, generally speaking, kind of blows.
This one’s an herbal, cumin-centered incense that’s loaded with my arch-enemy, cardamom. (When I rule the world, cardamom will be banned as, with a few exceptions, I consider it to be one of the main destroyers of otherwise fine perfumes.) But my preferences aside, IV is an herbal resin affair with a stinky cumin quality. It marries Epic Man and Fate Man, to a degree, but whereas neither of those are particularly Eastern, Opus IV drags its cultural baggage along behind it; it’s authentically exotic in that it doesn’t feel like it’s faking it in any way. Underneath the truckload of spices, there’s a resin combo that’s cut with buttery flowers and a slight vegetal / sap effect. It’s a relatively dry fragrance, but there’s just a touch of sweetness peeking through from some undisclosed floral. It brings to mind a Georgia O’Keefe landscape — perhaps “Rust Red Hills” (Google it) — although the color impression I get is more blue and orange than burnt sienna. Once the spices die off, it feels more comfortable to me, and even though it’s not quite to my taste, I do still think it’s one of the better offerings from the Opus line (which, as previously mentioned, blows). If you’re into exotic, eastern scents and can handle a heavy dose of culinary herbs and sweaty cumin, then you should probably try and get this one up your nose.
ciberdez – :
The openinig is a blast of dry and dusty spices. About 30 minutes later spices became brighter and a little warmer. Another 2 hours and I could say that the frag is unisex because finally I smelled some sweetnes, but not like amber. Sugar. Watered sugar. Like you put a lot of it in a cup of black tea. Sweet and a little smoky. 5 hours after initial application I smelled rose behind spices. Another hour and I could sense slightly rotten or overriped friut close to pear, but it was not it. I had similar experience with rotten fruit note in Ubar, but in Ubar it was more pronounced. Overral , this is interesting fragrance. Too masculine for my taste, I normally prefer feminine perfumes, and if it is marked as unisex it is better stay on feminine side! Being an Amouge fragrance I expected better projection, the longevity is good, but not impressive. There is not much development going on, but it is not linear either. I like it and will use my decant, but I will not consider a FB purchase.
beolagzer – :
If you’re an impatient wrist-sniffer and don’t wait the ten or so seconds it will take for the alcohol at the instant of application to evaporate, you may notice that even the alcohol smells expensive, like a good brandy. Good old Amouage! Their attention to detail never fails to please me. Opens lemony-citrusy but with tremendous depth, not an astringent citrus at all. Resinous, spicey, woody, fairly short-lived for an Amouage perfume, with sillage that will not inadvertently maim innocent passers-by, this is a clean and pleasant perfume with a handsome face and nice tailoring.
Meksx734Diobtetty – :
This is to be sprayed on food to give it a spicier odor but not on humans
Марисабель – :
straightaway, i’m knocked out by that spice-punch! it’s not as pungent as regular cumin, i’d say it’s ‘black cumin’, or ‘shah-jeera’ in hindi. it’s a milder pungency, less offensive and more suitable for perfumery. there’s smokiness in the background as well as other spicyness. it’s what you come to know, love and expect from amouage.
that said, it does smell quite familiar though. i’ve smelt this before in amouage. i’ve been trialling and reviewing a whole heap of amouages recently, i’ve smelt this before somewhere. maybe epic or honour? i’m not sure where, but it’s familiar. either way, a solid offering here. wonderful, noticeable and truly amouage…
virisus – :
Well said Hemp….. With the crap going on around us….. It’s truly nice for many of us to find a little escape and refreshment in the information and exchange on this site….. It’s too bad that even in this pleasant and uplifting forum that ugliness still manages to work it’s way in somehow…. Ty for your courage!
mashkerz – :
@Hemp
I can’t speak for others on this wonderful melting-pot of website, but I’d certainly rather smell like a man of arabic nationality that might have not bathed than a sweet-smelling, foul-speaking racist like yourself.
ganibal666 – :
@Hemp: you are a vulgar and classless individual……. “Dirty & unwashed armpit” is warranted if that is your take, but how dare you incorporate the word Arab into the mix?!?! Are you really that idiotic?!?! Please take your vitriol back to the cesspool it came from you ignorant fool!
MarmEvevora – :
Opens with a strong body odor almost sweat mixed with florals…I have to give this a little more wear..intriguing
sirusL – :
For me, the best scent by far of this inexorably overrated House – but even then, this is not all roses.
Opus IV is one of those linear-blend scents where the notes all appear as one whole, with little or no progression.
I got the ‘spiced bubblegum/foody’ theme a few others have mentioned full-on after 15 minutes. It smells pleasant, smooth and even classy time to time, but not really one to wear or consider totally comfortable. It’s better than that sounds however. An ‘Elegant’ bubblegum maybe.
It’s sweet and spicy in perfect balance – with a touch of freshness at the start (sweeter citric grapefruit) and a little powder once things settle down. Nothing herbal, chemical or sharp as this isn’t one of those millions of fougres/animalic-ouds on the niche market these days.
I like the authentic spices and the cumin / coriander doesn’t have the b.o. effect on me but it probably is intense enough for it to have the effect or people who are indifferent to the note. So, basically for some they will still feel the spices are heavy here but they are nicely blended.
The notes listed above sort of explain themselves; lots of Amouage’s trademark Frankincense, mixed up with boatloads of caraway and labdanum that has seemed to replaced any vanilla/amber.
For me the spices are soft – most of the times – because they’re (almost) smoothed out nicely by the sweetness and my skin deals with spicy sweetness pretty well; but it is very powerful, the the room was filled in just 1 full spritz from the glamorous sample vial.
So it can get stuffy very easily and it definitely is not safe for the summer. It certainly is not going to pull any young person away from their Hugo or Chrome. That is the biggest problem still with this house.
Amouage have chosen not to use any woods here to add real depth to the softness which is a little strange but then, they may have simply wanted this to have that soft-effect in full but actually I always thought woods would help support the citrus on top better.
So, it’s pleasant-smelling, soft-but-potent spiced bubblegum in a bottle. Just a bit disappointed that more could have been done on the base in the end, but one of those that could cause a love/hate divide. For me it’s just ood-admiration, but I would pass if considering buying a bottle.
I still have to mention that I’m not impressed overall by the Amouage House, most of their line features ingredients that are still too left field and their compositions are still way too heavy handed with the orientals saffron, spice and incense. This is, you could consider their ‘eau de cologne’, lol.
Also since last year especially there’s been a clear trend in other Niche houses slowly but surely pushing towards more populist offerings using ‘safe’ blends and appealing notes.
But Amouage has decided to stick and stay and I think this is not in the best appreciation of the meaning of Niche. They have had a good go in Opus IV towards a ‘popular’ type of scent but my opinion is that the other Houses like Montale and Mancera are far ahead in the game and have recently made very good releases that have put Amouage out of contention for me.
But still I give it credit for doing something towards mass appeal finally, so I’ll be extremely generous with my score.
My rating: 7/10.
Scent quality: 10/10.
werebraky – :
I’m going to give this perfume the benefit of the doubt since the quality and richness of the ingredients is obvious, but for me this is pretty much how I smell when I’ve been cleaning with Pinesol. I can pick out the individual notes and the longevity is impressive but the balsam and caraway are having the same effect as those little pine trees you hang in your car. Bad skin chemistry strikes again. Alas.
Brodiaga91 – :
Wowee!!! What a little stunner this is!
For me the jewel in the crown of the Opus collection…reminds me a little of Fate man with the strong cardamom and other cooking spices.
But that takes a few minutes to develop and like many Amouage fragrances the transitions are frequent as the mixing pot swills around and settles itself down on your skin.
The opening is supreme, heavenly I get a huge fruity, juicy, refreshing mandarin and citrus then comes the typical cumin/fenugreek/caraway/cardamom etc… spices and ton of incense, also floral sweetness coming from something all this with a musky base. This fragrance is complex but somehow peaceful and has a mellow meditative vibe about it.
I’m a fan!
Mawric – :
Spray this one and leave far behind your miseries,
your failures, your lost chances and through a
wormhole go to a south indian (hydrabadi) wedding where
guests are chatting, teenaged girls are giggleing, a soft music is played in the background
and spicy hot biryani is served to
guests.
Taleb is right. But this is Biryani rice and more.
This may not work for someone in India but to
a western nose this could be perfumed nirvana.
I get a little bit cardamon, lot of cumin, corinder and mace
though mace, (which I think is seperated from nutmeg)
is not mentioned here.
Drydown is the best part. The spices get mellowed
and sweeter. Would I recommend it? Yes. Partly becoz
the money is also spent for a good cause. But a better idea would be to test it before spending
so much.
marina.dibtseva – :
I really wanted to enjoy this one, especially if not for the reason that Amouage donates 50% of sales of this fragrance to HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Program in Oman. Much to my dismay however, I am easily able to sum up this fragrance in two words; CUMIN BOMB!!! (85)
lingusvat – :
Opus IV caught my attention. It feels and it smells like a well made perfume.
The opening is spicy, little sweet with a minor incense smell.
Then it becomes sweeter with more incense. It’s not my type of scent, simply because it smells like ‘stick incense’, BUT I have to say that Opus IV is a delight (if you are into or want to try an incense fragrance).
Even with the incense and sweet notes, the perfume stayed calm and close to the skin.
It feels exotic…maybe I’m changing my mind. Now I can smell less of the incense and more of some fruit notes.
While I debate in my mind if I like it and where can I wear this scent, all I have to say is that Opus IV is a fantastic, different and of excellent quality fragrance.
sobaka2000 – :
Taleb hit it on the nail, this is Indian Haiderbad Biryani in a bottle, the end.
scales – :
Indian Biryani rice…this delicious quintessential indian dish, that comes with your choices of prawns, or chicken or fish or meat, is what I am reminded of when smelling this concotion….the cumin note distracts me, but does not make me ignore the Biryani effect…it adds a layer of sweetness too, and dries down to that sweet tangy cumin..kind of strange but lovable to the appreciator of such takeoffs from your normal spicy aromatics…very warming in the winter. Longevity is 24 hrs…amazing on that.
friehouri – :
Amouage OPUS IV offers a strangely unfamiliar yet somehow familiar swirl of scents, which in turns evoke memories in my mind of various objects: old books, wet straw, damp sisal rugs, the sandalwood incense at Pier 1 Imports, the gurjum resin I smelled in a Montale perfume, the sour scent of chamomile tea…
Yes, this composition is extrarodinarily complex. I’m not sure what to think of it, to be honest. It’s definitely not feminine. Is it masculine? No, I don’t think so. It’s more like the scent of things than people, it seems to me. OPUS IV is a foreign scent because it combines so many different kinds of things from very different places, that I feel as though I’m looking through a kaleidoscope.
I don’t think that I would want a full bottle of OPUS IV, but it is certainly an interesting experience. In some ways, it reflects the complexity of a library, filled with thousands of books filled with millions of different ideas. It reminds me of the Borges character Funes el memorioso…
baha – :
Overwhelming perfume… I would suggest thinking twice before even trying this on yourself, because it’s kind of disturbung fragrance for some people. I wore it yesterday and it caused headache for some more sensitive people in my environment (after only two sprays!). Of course, I am not dicouraged by that – I love this perfume! It’s a serious and strong juice, not every person could wear it. Staying power and sillage is really huge.
The smell itself really reminds me of an ancient library. I imagine Library of Alexandria, where dusty papyruses and manuscipts absorb all those exotic scents of antique scenery: Egyptian spices, Arabian incense, unfamiliar herbs of Middle East, brought by travellers and merchants. Smell of those absolutely unknown and obscure times, which are said to have been rich and opulent, but one can doubt the really existed. Smell of unreality and past.
It smells very poetic to me – obviously, it always happens when you think of perfume in a poetic way. I’m a huge fan of incense, tried lots of them, and in my opinion this mix of incense, labdanum and spices deserves to be properly evaluated and appreciated in whole context of perfumery. As someone mentioned – nowhere similar to minimalistic Cardinal or CdG series. Definitely worth respect.
wlkr – :
On my.skin its realy smell coreander anisstar and after a few minute it change to arabian food like arabian rice with arabian curry. when my frend smell they said they feel like to eat me imagining im the arabic cuisne..
Soorsskergy – :
I had fun living out my little my sample journey with Opus IV, it was short-lived, enlightening and controversial, but nonetheless I wish to share it with you:
13:35 : two sprays. one on my left wrist, one on base of throat. hit by an overwhelming blast of coriander/saffron/cumin. as though I had snorted it straight out of a spice container in an indian restaurant. wowsers.
13:40: coriander still. tempered by a ever so slight squeeze of lemon (barely recognisable though).
13:46: for the first time I detect something else other than coriander and saffron. It’s a flower of some description can’t place it. I’m now smelling like fragrant saffron rice.
13:51: at this point a musky, animalic element has chimed in on the action. I’m smelling the smooth leather interior of a brand new, well kept sports car. I’m on an interesting journey.
13:57: coriander is still staking it’s claim. I thought something else might have been more prominent by now. But not as of yet…
14:06: at this point in time I can detect both rose and musk, but they are lingering softly in the peanut gallery while the cumin, coriander and carraway still take centre stage.
14:52pm: by the time the coriander has settled down a bit, the overrall punch of the fragrance has died down. I’m left with a dainty whisp of musk and woods, but lo and behold the coriander and cumin are still laying my table!
15:07: after close to 2 hours of this olfactory assault of coriander and cumin i was too over it to notice anything else. An interesting story to be told, with some bold characters narrating, but not for me, I’m afraid.
Verdict: Too much coriander, cumin, carraway seed overload. I started out in an indian spice kitchen, and felt like I was trapped and held hostage in it with some little glimmers of hope along the way – just out of my reach.
p.s I inclined to agree much more with Velb95’s review than originaldeftom’s. Somethink tells me originaldeftom may be “affiliated” with Amaouge. Let’s get real here: the cumin/cardamon/coriander overload is just a bit too much for most people’s standards! You do wind up thinking shall I just jump in the shower now?
DUHOOOO – :
I was going to write a review for this wonderful scent, but then realized that sky76sky’s review says everything I could possibly want to say about this scent, and quite probably much more eloquently than I would have said it myself.
I need to quote originaldeftom’s review as well as I find this particular line to be oh so spot on: “Absolutely beautiful and a very warm citrusy, spicy, herbaceous concoction full of yellow, orange and marigold tones….like an olfactory sunrise…on your skin.”
Simply put, this is a great scent and one of my autumn favorites (my other autumn favorites are L’Anarchiste, Bois de Turquie, and the underrated Davidoff Adventure).
Dzhin – :
Opus IV actual pyramid:
Top Notes
Coriander, Lemon, Mandarin, Grapefruit
Middle Notes
Elemi, Cardamom, Cumin, Rose Berries, Rose, Violet Leaves
Base Notes
Peru Balsam, Labdanum, Frankincense, Animalic Notes, Musk
Among the Opus series, IV it’s probably the more interesting (still waiting to try VI, though). I would personally classify it as a sweet incense bomb. Spices and light citruses serve as an introduction to a massive smoky woody/incensey base with pronounced animalic undertones, musk and rose patterns. The huge balsamic component and the labdanum provide a consistent dose of sweetness to an otherwise severe concoction of resins and spices leading the fragrance towards opulence and thickness.
Downline: If you’re up for a minimalistic incense a-là Cardinal, you should porbably stay carefully away from Opus IV, instead, if opulence, complexity and power is what you’re after, this is surely worth checking out. Very good prjection, 10+ hrs lasting power, perfectly unisex.
Rating: 8.5/10
Larifan – :
Ok really!! This one is a horrible concoction of something bad and terrible. It’s lost in between something. I rec’d a sample of it today and my daughter said yuk! What’s that mom. I have never smelled anything of the sort. Imagine mixing chanel, tom ford and theirry mugler’s angel together. What aroma would you get? A most hated brew! That is what this one smells like. Wow! I”m so glad I aire on the side of caution in regards of clicking my mouse to order things from this line. One must take it slow with this Opus. O’h by the way, Opus V is straight. I mean damn straight. I’m getting that for my hubby.lls
zenit72rus – :
Yes, yes, yes.
This scent is like reading a beautiful, ancient novel that slowly unfolds & unfurls, page by page, on your skin – strange, compelling, addictive, exotic, timeless. If you like resinous-incense scents, you will love Opus IV. It is deep yet translucent, rich yet never sickly, incense-smokey without the fire.
The fleeting opening is citrus & quite bright: green & luminous with a fresh astringency. It is as glowing & gilded as the rising sun. There is a rosey, fruity aspect, too: but here the fruits are dried, candied, chewy and exotic, dusted with rose petals.
In time the resins & cardamom begin to warm in the intense dry heat. There is incense – the good kind: a little churchy, a little hippy, a little exotic. The paired-back sweetness & resins on hot coals lend a touch-of-the-sauna to Opus IV.
Underneath, I am aware of a sharp metallic note – never unpleasant, just intriguing. I burn frankincense & love this tangy aspect it imparts. I do not detect any sweaty notes AT ALL (& I often have trouble with cumin in perfume). The dryness is delightful – I love a parched scent! Sunbaked papyrus pages in a desert where gnarled trees ooze resinous sap & the ground smells of baked clay.
It is neither masculine nor feminine; not quite eastern, never western…this is one of those rare scents that will transport you away from the hububb of your life. I would enjoy this on any skin as it has an otherworldly quality & a story-telling ability that I admire in perfumery.
Opus IV is, like others in the Library Collection, big, bold & vocal but never vulgar or brash – it has breeding & lines. If you like your perfumery “pretty” or “clean & simple” stay well clear because th