Amouage has launched two new perfumes, Figment Woman and Figment Man.¹ They’re the two in the pretty aqua/blue bottles. Figment Woman is a white floral that manages to remind me of gardens in places much prettier than where I live, radiant floral perfumes of the late 80’s/early 90’s, Old Hollywood and Claude Monet paintings. Let me explain…
The opening of Figment Woman is a HUGE jasmine with something that reminds me very much of black licorice. I then realize it’s something like star anise, warm and spicy. The florals shift between jasmine and a minty tuberose. I had a feeling in the beginning that this would be one of those suffocating white florals. It isn’t. The heart is a full-bodied white floral that isn’t heavy nor is it sheer. It’s a weaving of gardenia, tuberose, jasmine and lily. On my skin, there’s a lot of lily, so much so that I’m reminded of a perfumes like Donna Karan Gold or Tom Ford Lys Fume except Figment Woman lacks any sweetness and wears like fresh florals (which I prefer). It dries down to something that is floral but greener and drier. But, also more woodsy. It reminds me of iris root and a very dry vetiver (UPDATE: it’s that papyrus note).
I feel like every time I wear Figment Woman, I get a different version of the perfume, almost like a flanker of itself. It’s always a white floral, but I pick up on its different components. Some days it’s more of a a Southern magnolia. Other times it’s a heady, cool tuberose and jasmine. Then there are the times it’s a huge bouquet of pollen-y Asiatic lilies. It’s not an easy one to review. It’s a white floral that’s prettier than reality and a dry, woodsy base that never really ventures too far away from “floral”. It’s not sweet; it’s not dirty. It’s just well, really pretty. I can see people that dislike white florals not really getting the appeal of this one. People usually just smell “pretty princess white floral” and move on. But, for those of us that like boisterous florals can appreciate how Figment doesn’t rely on other notes (like vanilla) to make the composition more palatable to those that don’t like florals to begin with. Figment Woman is a floral for people that love florals.
Notes listed include sichuan pepper, saffron, gardenia, tuberose, jasmine, orange blossom, lily, ylang-ylang, cassia, orris, papyrus, incense and patchouli. Launched in 2017.
Give Figment Woman a try if you like pretty white florals. Or perfumes like Amouage Honour Woman, Donna Karan Gold, Tom Ford Lys Fume, McQueen by Alexander McQueen, Heeley Ophelia, Cartier Baiser Vole, Nasomatto Narcotic Venus and/or Gucci Bloom. As I’ve already said, don’t even bother trying this one if you don’t like white florals.
Projection and longevity are average to above average.
The 3.4 oz bottle retails for $315 at Osswald. Samples are available for purchase.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Tuberose, jasmine, magnolia and lilies. It’s a big bouquet of white flowers dusted in fresh spices. I like it. I love the bottle, but I’ve never paid over $300 for a perfume soo….yeah.
¹I’m posting my review of this one tomorrow!
Want more reviews? Try…
*Disclaimer – Sample provided by PR. I am not financially compensated for my reviews. My opinions are my own. Product pic from the brand. Tallulah Bankhead pic from fanpix.net.
Amouage perfumes are so gorgeous. And so expensive. I’d love a bottle of Opus X… except for the price. Much like Opus X this sounds lovely and beyond my means!
I just wish they’d come in a smaller 1.7 oz (or smaller!) bottle! I don’t think the price would be so *terrible* if it were available in smaller bottles. I mean, it’s still expensive but hopefully wouldn’t be $300+.
[looks around suspiciously] [leans in] [lowers voice] … so… there’s no fig in this? really? you’re kidding. [straightens] [voice falls into natural register] OH. Well, maybe I’d like to try it.
Incidentally, I got my 100ml bottle of Memoir Woman about 5 years ago for just under $200 from a guy who sells testers on ebay. He lives in Saudi Arabia but has a relative in California who ships his ebay stuff. Ruth (Daisy) vouched for him, and I’m pretty certain my bottle is legit. Don’t know if he’s still in business, though. (Also, I love Memoir W, but I don’t think I’ll ever use up the whole bottle. A little of that stuff goes a long way.)
Right?! I was also expecting fig in both of these…but nope. There’s none at all.
I remember a few years ago a friend of mine ended up buying 2 bottles of Amouage on Fragrancenet or one of those discounters. I think he ended up paying about $150 each for the 100ml. They arrived and we were pleasantly shocked to see that it was real (even did a side by side test from a tester at a store). So, I guess I’m saying (and you too!) that it is possible to find a more affordable Amouage if you look around or take a risk.
I adore Memoir Woman, but same. I’d never get through a bottle so it doesn’t seem like a good “value” for me.