Lyric Woman 
Amouage (2008)

A low key scent by Amouage standard which is still unmissable. What's clever is how the bitter sweet Angelica rubs out the rough edges of Geranium which in turn lengthen and widen the rose accord. Rest of it is classic Amouage goodness. Love it.

Lyric Woman

Unexpected. The soft, powdery, mildly sweet, yet complex fragrance belies the fierce red packaging. Unlike the Amouage fragrances I've tested so far, no single note immediately sings out. This is well-blended, and dare I say unique? Arguably sweet with a slight fruitiness, it is nevertheless not foody. It's difficult to define, because while definitely an oriental and with all of those hallmarks including spiciness, it doesn't come across as spicy. Spices are a simple structure around the ethereal breeze of tonka and orris, highlighted by bergamot and filled out by white florals. At the drydown, it smells familiar. I can't place it, but I know it reminds me of Dior Addict and Iris Perle by Les Imodables. Pleasant, personal, pretty.

A bright and spicy opening blast characterises the initial stage: cardamom, orris,a touch of cinnamon and quite a bit of ginger - the latter's camparable brightness was a bit enhance by an influx of bergamot. Spicy, but not sharp and not dark.

The drydown turns floral, but thanks to some slightly bitter angelica it is not all floral softness and sweetness. I get a bit of muguet, a good lashing of a pleasant geranium, and a good bunch of roses. The rose never really unfolds fully, and blends in somewhat inconspicuously instead of taking on a lead role. This is more ascribed to a jasmin that developed a bit further down the track. There is an underlying restrained creaminess owing to an ylang-ylang, but again this does not come to full fruition and remains more of a forme fruste. All these notes blend in and remain intertwined; a team effort amongst equals if one expresses it in a positive manner, or alternatively a concoction that does not allow the notes to develop individual excellence if seen in a negative fashion.

The base displays the same characteristics: a nonspecific woodsy muskiness - a touch of a bland sandal breaks through occasionally - with a soft and slightly mossy patchouli, with a mildly sweetened undertone of tonka - again a mishmash focused on the collective impression and not the individual notes. The spiciness of the top notes is lingering still, have takes on more of and incense characteristic and displaying the spiciness in an attenuated strength.

In get moderate sillage, very good projection and and very good eight hours of longevity on my skin.

An interesting autumnal composition, with the top notes being the most convincing ones. The later stages are a bit too generic at times, and the sheer amount of different components can suffocate more than enhance each other at certain moments. Still, some of the ingredients are of high quality, the blending is excellent and the performance is very satisfying. Overall 3.25/5.

Well , I for one , am not breaking the positive streak of this fragrance...an exquisite Oriental masterpiece...totally unisex...i also prefer this much more than Lyric Man....opens with a volley of cinnamon accented juicy bergamot...for sure a rose fragrance , but the rose does not dominate or overpower the other notes....overall feel is sweetly sour, which i find to be a nice ccmbo...flavors and accents galore...other flower flavors accentuate the rose in the mid, and then a woody finish with traces of incense and a little bit of musky vanilla...gorgeous , exotic and erotic...

Lyric is essentially a well-crafted, spicy rose scent. But, oh, it is SO much more!

I adore Amouage scents. They offer bold fragrances that have clear personalities. Whilst the likes of Chanel conjure up a chilly air of sophistication & restraint (like the fashionista Aunt who air kisses & never hugs) Amouage scents proudly seduce you & envelop you in warmth. They are on another level.

Lyric is no exception: deep, sensual, creamy & bold. I find this perfume unabashedly raunchy in the most elegant way & it is all about the dry-down.

The syrupy cinnamon-rose opener hurtles up your nose & reminds me of iconic 80s power scents & glossy red lips - but ride out this slightly crazy stage & you will be greeted with the smoothest of sandalwoods & richest of roses, glazed in a vanilla-tonka butterscotch & tempered by oakmoss, frankincense & the tamest of patchoulis. The red lips now smudged by a passionate kiss, the clothes on the floor, hair tousled.

There is a traditional structure underpinning this exotic scent that gives a grown up feel to Lyric. It could never be described as carefree but it also escapes being stuffy & formal. The notes are all very well-blended as there is that wonderful Amouage frankincense weaving its way between the base notes. It smells expensive.

Sillage & lasting power are, as with most Amouages, formidable. Spray behind the knees for the most beautiful of wafts as you walk.

You've just had sex in a rose garden. For a moment, both you and your lover are speechless, caught in a moment staring into each other's eyes. After some time, she rolls over, but you grab her and pull her close and she laughs as you spoon her. She runs her fingers along your arm, and through the soft fur of the wolf pelts covering the earth beneath you. You press your nose into the back of her neck and you smell her sweat, detecting the vanilla coffee that her servants prepared for her that morning, the cinnamon and the sweet spices from her escorted walk through the markets that afternoon, the bit of smoke from the men's cigars at the polo game that followed. She moves to get up and dress, and you understand that it's your time to leave. Before you go, she leaves you with a kiss, and you notice that your clothes, too, have absorbed all of the scents from that moment in her rose garden. Her guards follow you back to your horse, and you wonder if, or when, you'll get invited back to see your queen again. Lyric Woman by Amouage.