AMOUAGE
LINE 618
2025
PERFUMER
Nathalie Lorson
pineapple
black pepper
peach
plum
frankincense
pine
heliotrope
sandalwood
patchouli
guaiac wood
leather
‘An olfactory expression of the value of time. Crafted through a revolutionary process: a double-infusion with sandalwood and artisanal oakwood barrels. Each fragrance is highly concentrated, containing 30% pure perfume oils, and underwent a meticulous six-month aging process, including a double infusion with sandalwood chips and oakwood barrels, resulting in a deep, layered scent experience. Housed in a new bottle – the first new design introduced by Amouage in 15 years – the Essences represent a pinnacle of olfactory artisanship. A single dot – the origin, the pure potential, the spark from which creation bursts forth. Spices ignite the composition with green aromatic freshness, while carrot and bergamot add a golden glow. At the heart of this creation, vanilla emerges as a paradox, both raw and refined, primal yet velvety. Wrapped in the floral warmth of ylang-ylang and jasmine, it takes on a luminous, almost celestial quality. The base is a foundation of sacred frankincense, deep sandalwood, and castoreum, anchoring the fragrance in the very roots of perfumery’s history.’ – Amouage
Part of The Essences Act II (consisting of Line 618, Remain & Sequence). After 6 of these (including Act I: Lustre, Reasons & Outlands), I think I can say that I generally like this line, with some standouts, but also that the barrel aging with sandalwood chips, as beautiful as it looks, doesn’t make for a significantly different or elevated end-result, at least not in all of them. In fact, I prefer the overall feeling of the Exceptional Extraits. This is especially true for Line 618, which is my least favorite of The Essences.
Line 618 has a Virgin Island Water-esque coconut water going on, with the added Amouage incense sweetness. It does change quite a bit, into a leather drydown. It’s pretty nice, but it doesn’t impress.
The coconut initially comes across more like earthy/dirty water, than a more gourmand coconut facet. What surprised me, after seeing the notes, is that the fruitiness is minimal; it’s there, but it’s subtle. I get some spiciness and a pretty musky feeling from the opening. Like a mix of clean and industrial.
As it dries down, two things seem to happen. As usual, it becomes a bit warmer, which in this case, brings out more of a coconut, sun-tan feeling. Making for a more comforting wear than the opening. It also reveals a pretty prominent leather. Although the scent overall doesn’t feel dark, harsh or heavy, the leather scent starts to dominante in the later hours. I feel like this whole leather phase is not touched on in first reviews that I’d seen for Line 618, which likely means the thoughts were based on a brief first impression, rather than a full wearing.
Definitely not my kind of scent profile, but solid for a wear test. It definitely feels like you should be able to find better alternatives for this one given the price-point.
