Honour At House Of Amouage

House of Amouage, a leader in the art of perfumery, has recently launched its new “Honour” fragrances for both men and women. Drawing much inspiration from Puccini’s Magnus Opus, Madame Butterfly, Christopher Chong – Creative Director at Amouage – has managed to create two distinct fragrances that share the underlying essence of the Puccini classic - a tale of love, intrigue and tragedy.

Chong, who previously studied opera, possesses an unrivalled perspective into the way in which the art inspires the music; music inspires the art, which in turn inspired these signature scents.

Honour Woman is a layered masterpiece where each ingredient is laced with significant meaning and emotion. The strong top notes of Pepper, Rhubarb and Coriander, alongside the classic floral heart notes of Jasmine; Gardenia; Tuberose; Lily of the Valley and Carnation – representing romance and love; blend seamlessly atop the sharper, more complex base notes of Amber; Frankincense; Opoponax; Vetiver and Leather, which in turn also represent elements of danger, intrigue and tragedy much like the story itself.

Honour Man on the other hand, is a spicy and musky medley bursting with Black and Pink Pepper tops notes; with an injection of Geranium, Nutmeg and Elemi heart notes; before the woodiness of the scent is cemented by the Patchouli, Frankincense, Cedarwood, Vetiver, Tonka Beans and Musky base notes.

Giving a glimpse into the back-end of the creative process, Chong explains that, “I could not fulfill my responsibilities at Amouage without my chequered past, especially music. For me, perfume is about articulating the different colors of emotions and personal history.  It is all about the present reconciling with the past.  Perfumes are more than beautiful scents. It is a philosophy, a representation of life, living, who we are and how we want to define ourselves.”

It is clear that Chong has gone about creating two evocative and perfectly complimentary scents that will remain as timeless as their artistic inspiration. He has skilfully further juxtaposed the themes of opulence; innocence and tragedy displayed in Puccini’s work, through the use of glass crystal bottles; with the gold-plated accents alongside the white opal Swarovski crystal and the fragmented white butterfly wings paying homage to the vulnerability and fragility of Madame Butterfly.

The perfumes come in two sizes – 50ml and 100ml and are priced between $170 - $220 depending on size, and are on sale now.

For more information check visit: www.amouage.com 

Words: Keji Mustapha

Images: House of Amouage