Spring’s Sexiest Scents: Amouage
It’s often the little details that add the most impact. Fragrance is one of those subtle touches that can be completely transformative. It’s the invisible finishing touch. Fragrance, after all, is about creativity, expression and translates the ultimate idea of femininity. It’s something you identify in a certain way, whether it be evoking a memory, a feeling or inspiring a fantasy.
The gorgeous blends of Amouage are confidence, sophistication, luxury and a unique creative mastery in a bottle. The highly esteemed Creative Director of Amouge, Christopher Chong, sat down with Modeliste to giving us his ultimate tips and insight to finding the perfect scent, what he loves most about Spring and his inspiration behind creating some of the world’s finest perfumes.
photo by Mark Kean
Modeliste: What to you is Creation?
Christopher Chong: There is no definitive process. Creativity is all about freedom of the mind and heart, spontaneity and translating the intangible into something tangible.
Modeliste: Tell us about Amouage? What defines the line and makes it so unique in the industry?
Christopher Chong: As a brand, we will always uphold the highest standards of quality and maintain our creative integrity to make beautiful and unique perfumes that sing and tell a very different story. We pride ourselves on using raw ingredients of exceptional quality and do not sacrifice our standards to produce a mass consumer product. Consumers nowadays are looking for a difference and want to stand out, which is why they are drawn to Amouage. We are making our own trends rather than following them to cater to customers who appreciate true artistry in perfume creation.
Modeliste: What key elements go into creating your fragrances.
Christopher Chong: Honesty, Integrity and Creativity
Modeliste: What was the inspiration behind your latest collection?
Christopher Chong: Opus X is inspired by the internationally acclaimed film The Red Violin, which tells the story of a perfect red-colored violin that travels from owner to owner over four centuries and five countries, inspiring passion and depicting the fate of each of its many possessors. In Opus X the key ingredient is the many and different facets of the Rose to create a transient rose, which represents the stories the violin has experienced during its travels. These stories become the soul of the violin.
Modeliste: Your latest collection Opus X. Describe what it smells like?
Christopher Chong: Opus X is a woody, floral fragrance that’s all about contrasts: radiance and darkness, innocence and seduction.
Modeliste: What type of woman do you imagine will wear it?
Christopher Chong: A feminine yet daring woman who likes to stand apart from the crowd.
Modeliste: How did you translate sensuality and emotion into a scent itself?
Christopher Chong: When creating a perfume, I interpret what I see and feel into scents. All that happens around us can be translated to a much more intimate level. Life experiences are my inspiration as is music and I express my vision through a series of narratives. As Creative Director, I ‘sing’ various song cycles and would describe it as bottling art and emotions.
Modeliste: How do continually evolve the line?
Christopher Chong: It’s an instinctual process. Also, it’s important to evolve gradually so there’s always something new and fresh about the collections.
Modeliste: Do you think a woman should always have a ‘signature scent’?
Christopher Chong: Not necessarily. Perfume is a very personal preference and people look for a fragrance that works with their skin chemistry. I believe that a beautiful fragrance is one that speaks to you on an intimate level, it should touch your heart and stir emotions that are personal to you. My advice would be to choose a fragrance that speaks to you.
Modeliste: Any fragrance Tips?
Christopher Chong: Never go shopping for fragrance with anyone and never get too manipulated by other people’s opinions of the fragrance. No one can tell you what works best for you. Only you know what you like and don’t like. Shopping for fragrances is a very personal experience, which is also a time for you to get to know yourself better.
Modeliste: What’s your favorite scent?
Christopher Chong: Each one of my perfumes represents a part of who I am so, it is not possible to say which one is most like me because I impart a bit of myself in each one of my work. But I hold special affinity to some of my creations that challenge the norms and conventional tastes. Fate for Men and Opus VII from The Library Collection both give me hope that there’s truth and honesty in creativity.
Modeliste: What can we look forward to with the line?
Christopher Chong: We’re looking forward to launching a man’s and a woman’s duo in the main collection in June.
Modeliste: What you love most about spring?
Christopher Chong: The end of long dark days! I feel spring has so much energy and it’s very inspiring for creativity. Spring gives an abundance of newness.
Christopher Chong’s Top 5 picks for Spring!
- The Midnight Flower Candle Collection – Happy Candle ‘Happy’ resonates with a spicy and woody blend that evokes vivid memories. Wonderfully warm top notes of Cinnamon, Clove and Nutmeg, together with a heart of Rose, Heliotrope, Plum and Almond, narrate the fondest memories of a loved one’s life.
The base radiates the final stage of the healing process with long-lasting, fresh notes of Pine, Patchouli, Sandalwood and Vanilla.
Presented in red Italian glass holders, the ‘Midnight Flower’ candles are specially formulated with the best mineral wax to diffuse the strongest possible scent and will burn for a generous 40 hours.
Opus III is a radiant Floral Oriental inspired by the art and science of the creative process, from the darkest moments of frustration to the brightness of enlightenment and discovery. The daring heart notes of Violet, Jasmine, Orange Blossom and Ylang-Ylang are perfectly introduced by the top notes which include Mimosa, Nutmeg and Thyme. The earthy, woody notes in the base anchor this vibrant fragrance
Journey for Woman opens with a melded composition of magical Osmanthus, Apricot, Jasmine Tea, Nutmeg and Cardamom. The heart radiates with a floral accord of Indian Jasmine Sambac abstract, Freesia and Mimosa, highlighted by Honey from Provence and dry Cedar Wood. An unforgettable encounter is evoked in the base with radiant Saffron from Iran and pipe Tobacco blended with daring undertones of Leather, Vanilla, Cypriot and Musks.
The ultra-rich body cream. Formulated by renowned French experts, the range is perfumed with the highest concentration of fragrance possible, and the products harmoniously layer and nourish the skin with the finest of ingredients. Created with signature properties to invigorate the natural vitality and radiance of the skin, the collection delivers high performance with exceptional results for all skin types.
Fragrance Family
Floral, Fruity and Leather
Top
Apricot, Jasmine Tea, Osmanthus, Nutmeg, Cardamom
Heart
Jasmine Sambac, Mimosa, Honey, Cedarwood
Base
Pipe Tobacco, Saffron, Vanilla, Cypriol, Musk
- La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Moisturizing Cream
White Caviar Illuminating Moisturizing Cream brilliantly reduces discolouration as it brightens and firms. The pearlescent powders in this luminous lightweight cream illuminate your skin as brightening ingredients help make age spots fade away and stop new dark spots from forming. All the while, skin is firmed and deeply moisturized.
- Santa Maria Novella Sandalwood Soap
These men’s soaps made with real, whole milk, soften dry and razor burned skin. Triple milled, each bar is hand molded one by one using 19th century equipment, aged for 60 days in ventilated cabinets, and then hand-wrapped. The all-natural whole milk formula, in which no dried milk or defatted milk solids are used, gives you the entire benefit of whole milk’s amazing skin softening properties with it’s rich lather. Because each soap is hand pressed, it will last about three times longer than ordinary soaps while maintaining its shape and scent. Suitable for all skin types.
