Amouage Homage : Fragrance Review

For me, a year is a long time to declare loyalty to any single perfume, but I only have to reach my hand for Amouage Homage to feel a wave of pleasure and serenity. Homage evokes something poignantly nostalgic for me—a memory, a gesture, something long lost and almost forgotten. On the technical level, it contains the elements I love—rich rose and jasmine absolutes, subtle animalic oud notes, crispness of amber and sensual sillage. It is not a fragrance that screams for attention. Even though Homage is quite potent—I need to apply literally a single drop, it stays close to the skin. …

While I enjoy Amouage fragrances for the quality of their ingredients and their willingness to explore the classical French themes of chypres, florals and orientals, I have always been a bit disappointed not to find more of the Middle Eastern heritage in their range. Traveling through the region, I have discovered some incredible combinations of woods, flowers and spices in the attars favored by the locals. These rich, alluring scents would almost have me follow women and ask them about their perfumes. After experiences like these, one begins to understand why Serge Lutens was so fascinated by the smell of the Moroccan souk and chose to leave France for Marrakech!

Discovering Homage makes me feel rewarded—it is indeed an homage to the revered Middle Eastern perfumery tradition, which is one of the most ancient and sophisticated. Given the inclination of Amouage, Homage is a gorgeous take on a classical attar rendered through the French perfume aesthetic—lucid and streamlined, with the sharp edges of attar and animalic ingredients gently softened by the modern musk and amber notes. Its combination of rose and frankincense is nuanced and faceted, supported by the citrus notes. Unlike most attars which retain their character over a period of time, Homage has a more interesting progression—from the bright floral bouquet to the creamy woods to the powdery musk. Certainly I can find elements that I dislike in Homage—the citrus can be a bit jarring, the amber too sharp, however overall it is such a memorable combination that I forgive it these little faults. If a mere memory of a scent makes me happy, what is there to complain about?

In the tradition of attars, Homage would work well for both men and women. It includes notes of Taif rose, silver frankincense, jasmine, amber, musk, silver oud, orange, lemon and sandalwood. It is available at Selfridges in London, Aedes in New York, Luckyscent as well as directly from Amouage website.

Comments

[violetnoir]

Hi V! I have a generous sample of Homage, and it is beautiful. I don't know if I would pay the money for it, as it is quite expensive, but I am happy to enjoy it while my sample lasts.

Oh, and it's also available from luckyscent, too. Not affiliated, blah, blah, blah...!

Hugs!

[Bois de Jasmin]

R, oh, I did not know about Luckyscent, thanks a lot for mentioning. I just added it to the information above. Yes, it is true--the price bites, but it really does last for me. I have been wearing quite frequently for the past year, and the bottle is still full.

[Flora]

Very nice review - have you tried the new Ubar yet, and if so, how do you find it compares to the original? It was always my favorite of he line and I was horrified when it was disconntinued. I suspect that Homage may become a favorite too!

[jesmith]

Yes - I have been using a sample of Homage - a nice fragrance. It reminds me a little of an attar I import from Saudi Arabia (Vision Fire) except (of course) Vision Fire is about a quarter of the price and made entirely without harsh solvents.

[Bois de Jasmin]

Flora, I have not compared the new and old Ubar yet. I used to love the original, and it broke my heart that it was discontinued. In my opinion, it was another Middle Eastern heritage fragrance from Amouage.

[Bois de Jasmin]

Jesmith, I agree. I have a whole bunch of samples from Arabian Oud, and many of them are along similar lines. However, the reason I can wear Homage more easily is because it is slightly more toned down.

[Marina]

What a joy it is to see you posting again! I have a difficult relationship with Homage. I find it undeniably beautiful but it is too rosy for me, don't know how else to put it.

[Fragrant Moments]

What a beautiful review. I must sample this creation. You grabbed me right from the beginning when you mentioned a year is a long tme to be loyal to a single perfume. I feel the same way about Rose 31 by Le Labo (not comparing but just mentioning). I'm glad I stumbled upon this review. I will have to give this a try.

[aPerfectDrug]

What a wonderful review. Now I believe Homage may become my Holy Grail. Do you know where can I sample it? Also I'd like to know where's the best (online) place to buy attars. Which ones would you recommend?

[Bois de Jasmin]

Marina, thank you. :) It is definitely heavy on rose, as most Middle Eastern attars. Since it does not have a very potent oud or wood note to back it up, the rose shines more.

[Bois de Jasmin]

Fragrant Moments, let me know what you think once you sample it. I also like Rose 31, which is such an interesting take on a rose.

[Bois de Jasmin]

aPerfectDrug, have you tried Luckyscent ? They usually offer a sampling program. Otherwise, The Perfumed Court is another great place for samples. I bought my Arabian Oud samples from them (I believe they came from Diane-Dragonfly, one of the sellers.) Unfortunately, I do not really know of a reliable online place to buy attars. I am still looking myself.

[aPerfectDrug]

Thanks for your reply! Unfortunately The Perfumed Court is out of stock of Homage. I'll check Luckyscent.

[Bois de Jasmin]

aPerfectDrug, Aedes also has it, but I do not think that they are giving out samples on it. If you are in NYC, that's the place to try it.

[aPerfectDrug]

Thanks for the tip. But unfortunately I live outside US. Have a nice weekend.

[Bois de Jasmin]

Hope that you will track it down somehow!

[Kess]

Is Montale Attar in any shape or form similar to Homage Attar? Just curious because of the name. Thanks!

[Bois de Jasmin]

Kess, only in very general terms--both are rosy and woody. Montale Attar is much closer to the traditional attar. Amouage's version is airier, lighter, brighter.

[si j'avais au moins]

Bois de Jasmin,

I tried Amouage Homage yesterday in NYC and was very fortunate to get a little sample of it along with Ubar (which I love very much). Homage starts with the most beautiful rose jasmine notes until the attar takes over turning the florality into a more leathery scent. I hate Black Oud, however if I had to choose anything with attar I would get Amouge Homage, it's so more refined than what Montale does.

[Bois de Jasmin]

si j'avais au moins, I will resample Ubar soon, just did not have a chance to get around to do it. Homage is definitely a quite refined attar, with none of the animalic pungency and heft of Montale's attars. I really enjoy wearing it.

[Dl]

In the amouage collection would you say that gold is in the middle eastern tradition? Do you prefer it to homage?

[Victoria]

I would say that Gold is quintessentially French, very different from the Middle. East inspired Homage. I wear Homage more often, but Gold is splendid.

[Dl]

Now I have to go smell it! I'm going to have to exercise some serious self-restraint given its price and how dithyrambic your critic is.
On a side note, I was thinking how Amouage, once the most expensive line, has become relatively "affordable" when compared to those new niche and exclusive lines. I mean 270 euros for 12 ml of attar ( which correct me if I'm wrong is at least as strong as extrait strength) or 200 euros for 50 ml of Gold seems reasonable compared to the 220 euros cartier charges for the (albeit wonderful) eau de toilette heure fougueuse or the 300 euros for by kilian's pure oud which from what i gather doesn't even contain real oud.