AMOUAGE PURPOSE 50
*An Extrait of Skin, Memory, and Resonance
written ALBAN E. SMAJLI
Amouage distills time, memory, and olfactory science into something beyond mere scent—an artifact of human essence. Purpose 50 Exceptional Extrait embodies intensity, a composition that commands presence.
Sitting in his Oman studio, overlooking the alchemical heartbeat of Amouage, Chief Creative Officer Renaud Salmon dissects its creation. “We call it an exceptional extrait,” he begins. At 50% pure perfume oil, Purpose 50 demands a recalibration of what perfume achieves, engaging with the skin in a way that shifts perception.
PURPOSE 50 / Exceptional Extrait
— a composition that inhabits the skin, crafted with 50% pure perfume oil,
frankincense, sandalwood, and vanillin form a resonance of depth and presence
Quentin Bisch, the nose behind it all, approaches perfumery without hesitation. “I add,” he declares. “Why repeat something that exists?” Purpose 50 emerges as a crafted entity with depth and intention. This fragrance follows an anatomy. Frankincense forms its vertebrae, shaped by the Omani landscape—a tree that endures, producing a resin unlike any other. “I was rediscovering Purpose in the air, on people’s skin,” Bisch recalls. The transition from creation to wearer reshaped its identity. “I looked at the tree again—its roots, its branches. A human form emerged, standing, grounded.”
This relationship between raw material and human experience adds texture. Sandalwood moves across the skin, its caress deliberate and immersive. Vanillin enhances its presence, drawing the senses in. A specific rose appears, designed for structure rather than decoration, binding the elements with a weightless elegance. Perfume vibrates, and Bisch tunes frequencies, seeking a precise accord. Vetiver and papyrus establish movement, incense pulses through the layers. Each addition amplifies the foundation. Purpose 50 carries a distinct resonance, existing beyond the boundaries of tradition.
“I was rediscovering Purpose in the air, on people’s skin. The transition from creation to wearer reshaped its identity.”
Quentin Bisch on Purpose 50
PURPOS 50 / Exceptional Extrait
—an olfactory force shaped by Oman’s soul
Renaud poses the essential question: Why do people call this the archetype of Amouage? Bisch responds without hesitation. “It carries Oman. It exists in freedom.” Purpose 50 demands skin, movement, and presence. “We categorize perfume like we categorize people,” Bisch reflects. “Who elects the ‘best’?”
Purpose 50 Exceptional Extrait resists classification. It extracts something from the wearer, a perfume designed to be felt rather than worn. Amouage shapes a force of creation, its presence extending beyond words, living within the space between sensation and memory.