AMOUAGE
JOURNEY WOMAN

2014

PERFUMER
Alberto Morillas
Pierre Negrin

Osmanthus
Apricot
Nutmeg
Jasmine
Cardamom

Honey
Mimosa
Jasmine Sambac
CedarWOOD

Tobacco
Saffron
Cypriol
Vanila
Musk

Journey Woman is one of the Amouages that I overlooked the most. I’m sure I’ve smelled it some years before this review, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. Wearing it again, I’ve come to the conclusion that this is (easily?) among the best women’s marketed Amouage releases (and perfectly unisex).

Most of the women’s marketed Amouages were among my earlier samples, when I started my fragrance journey and frankly, I wasn’t too interested in most of them; favoring the men’s releases like Jubilation XXV, Dia Man & Reflection Man. The ones that always stood out to me were Epic Woman (Epic 56 is my favorite Amouage anno 2024), Sunshine Woman and Lyric Woman. Journey Woman… I incorrectly slept on.

It’s quite stunning. It has the clear honey scent from the first minute, but it doesn’t overpower in the way that honey often does. Or maybe I should say, while the honey is strong and candied sweet, the composition has a lot fighting back. It feels properly in balance with florals. Fruits are there, but in the way you often get the peachy tinge in tobacco or (osmanthus) leather scents, not a juicy of outspoken fruitiness. Overall, Journey Woman feels retro, but homely, comforting; like potpourri and it’s perfect for the moody Autumn day that I’m wearing it on.

Almost powdery florals, that subtle hint of fruitiness, all coated in ever-present honey. It’s one of those fragrance that I can view in multiple ways, depending on what I focus on. My first though is honey-floral, very powdery and classic. But if I look at the notes and imagine earthiness and tobacco, I can easily see Journey Woman as a great, somewhat unique styling of a honey-tobacco. The saffron and fruitiness are both well contained for me.

I don’t find it dark or daring, but the sharper and dry texture is something I have to be in the mood for. It’s cozy and really sweet, but not a gourmand honey or vanilla scent to be sure. I can imagine people finding it outdated, but in my rediscovering it, I would rate it highly. I bought Sunshine Woman a year prior for example, but I think Journey Woman is a more intriguing offering. I think I’d also pick it over Lyric Woman at the moment (recency bias much?).