Amouage Interlude 53 Review – Everything You Need To Know
Interlude 53.
An eternal winter fragrance for men.
Amouage Interlude 53 was released in 2020. It is based on amber, smoke, and wood. It lasts 12+ hours on the skin with excellent projection. In this review, I will describe its smell and performance and if it’s worth it.
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Table of Contents
What Does Amouage Interlude 53 Smell Like?
If you’re familiar with the original, this version is less harsh and more rounded.
The opening has a decent dose of bergamot with a mix of spicy pimento and subtle oregano. Yeah, it is an odd mix, but it sure is interesting. Bergamot fades quickly, and resins and smoky woods fill the void. There’s an almost herbal quality lingering in the background.
As the scent progresses, it gets more mysterious. What I mean by this is that it gains depth from sweetness and is “dark.” The resins get more intense, mixing with smoke and leather.
Many will compare the mid to the smell of a church – but in the best way possible. These notes mix and mingle until they settle on smoky incense and resins. These accords make up the smell into the base and for the rest of the wear.
Amouage Interlude 53 notes:
TOP NOTES
- Oregano
- Pimento
- Bergamot
MID NOTES
- Oppoponax
- Amber
- Incense
- Labdanum
BASE NOTES
- Smoke
- Leather
- Oud
- Patchouli
- Sandalwood
Performance
Like a true Amouage scent, the performance is outstanding. Interlude 53 lasts 12+ hours on the skin. On the clothes, it will last days. As for the projection, it pushes out five to six feet for much of the wear before receding.
The versatility is limited because of the stellar performance. Interlude 53 is exclusively a fall and winter wear. This is from a combination of powerful aroma and scent notes. The woods, spices, and amber become overpowering in the warm temperatures.
In a four-season climate, you’ll get a solid five to six months of wear out of this. The warmer your climate, the harder Interlude 53 becomes to wear.
As for the occasions, it is casual wear. Solely for the reasons mentioned above. In close-quarter settings like the office, it has overwhelming projection. They’ll be able to smell you two cubicles away. Interlude 53 is best worn in open areas where it can air out.
Lastly, the likability and mass appeal are decent. Amouage scents aren’t known to be loved by all. They are artisanal developments of the highest quality. In short, this isn’t a decisive scent but one for acquired tastes.
Amouage Interlude 53 Clones
Interlude 53 has a few similar fragrances and dupes. The most similar fragrance is the original Amouage Interlude Man. As mentioned in the scent profile, this is basically the same but less harsh and more rounded. To many noses, Interlude 53 will be more pleasant.
The best dupe is Midnight Oud Ard Al Zaafaran. I don’t have experience with this fragrance, but based on the scent accords, it has similar prominent amber and smoky accents with more prominent fresh spices in the opening.
Final Words
A 100mL bottle is much more expensive than the original.
You probably have a few final burning questions. Is it worth it? And which should you choose, this one or the original?
Interlude 53 is ultra-high quality, a great performer, and everything else about this fragrance is fantastic. But because of its strength, I find it difficult to wear. On top of this, it doesn’t deviate much from the original. Only providing a smoother aroma.
Lastly, you get what you pay when buying Interlude 53. But I recommend comparing a sample/decant of the original and 53 versions to determine if the 40% price hike is worth it.
Interlude 53 is an excellent scent and a great winter cologne. Yet, don’t just limit yourself to Interlude 53. Check out the best winter colognes. All are just as good in the depths of winter; you might just find your signature scent.