Christopher Chong 2019 Picture by Jay Brooks©
“Making a perfume is like telling a narrative…” – Christopher Chong
As soon as in a uncommon whereas, a visionary finds his or her place on the earth. Apple had Steve Jobs, Chanel had Karl Lagerfeld and Amouage had Christopher Chong. In a shock announcement final month, Mr. Chong revealed that he can be leaving the famend Omani fragrance home after twelve years as Inventive Director. In a press launch from Amouage, Mr. Chong alluded to forthcoming alternatives, “This isn’t a swan tune, however moderately a brief interlude to allow me to give attention to new initiatives and new challenges, so watch this area. That is solely the top of the start.” Whereas he could describe his time at Amouage as merely the start, he, little doubt, reached the guts notes.
His imaginative and prescient for Amouage was emotional, contemplative and cerebral, cast by way of artistic parallels in music, historical past and thought. His success was predicated on his distinctive capability to liquefy the human situation. As such, I as soon as known as him the Sigmund Freud of perfumery. Within the phrases of Freud himself, “Love and work are the cornerstones of our humanness.” Looks as if the right place to start a celebration, a mirrored image on the person himself, the person with the imaginative and prescient for an artwork type invisible.
Christopher Chong 2012
“My artistic course of could be very private,” Mr. Chong mentioned in a 2011 interview with CaFleureBon, “It begins with a sense after which this sense is elaborated right into a story. I’m impressed by every thing round me.” One may flip to quite a few interviews Mr. Chong gave over time for a glimpse into his historical past and his coronary heart. A greater concept, I humbly advocate, can be to revisit the fruits of his labor, the fragrances themselves. Every spray tells a narrative; every spray tells his story.
Jubilation XXV and 25 (2008): Upon assuming the artistic helm of Amouage in 2007, Christopher Chong’s first launch was the pair of fragrances launched to commemorate the model’s 25th anniversary. Created in partnership with grasp perfumers Bertrand Duchaufour and Lucas Sieuzac, each the masculine and female variations of Jubilation evoke the feel and colours of a lush, crimson theatre curtain trimmed in gold. And this curtain is rising. The masculine variation, Jubilation XXV, incorporates the scent profile for which Amouage would come to be identified: the “Amouade” of silver frankincense, ambergris and myrrh. The crimson and gold I understand comes from the highest and mid-notes of blackberry, cinnamon and honey. Jubilation XXV was my wedding ceremony day scent and by no means fails to evoke fond recollections. The female counterpart, Jubilation 25, offers a nod to a bygone period of perfumery whereas remaining completely modern. This red-carpet stunner is a celebration of 1’s achievements, the components which introduced somebody to a degree in historical past and a celebration of what’s forward. This curtain doesn’t shut.
Amouage Memoir Man
Memoir Man (2010): Considered one of my all-time favourite fragrances, I used to think about Memoir (Man) as an olfactive journey by way of a haunted forest—whereas sporting a tuxedo. Working with Perfumer Karine Vinchon Spehner, the composition brilliantly juxtaposes the shrouded greenery of wormwood, absinth, basil and mint in opposition to the traditionally-formal and fougeric elements of lavender, oakmoss, tobacco and sandalwood. Greater than formal, greater than particular, Memoir is superbly melancholic. These conversant in the Japanese artwork and philosophy of Wabi-Sabi will little doubt admire Memoir’s understated class. The timeless knowledge of Wabi-Sabi teaches us that nothing lasts and nothing is completed. Memoir is for individuals who discover magnificence in impermanence, in shifting stability, in an unpaved highway.
Amouage Beloved (2013): For the creation of Beloved Man and Beloved Lady, Christopher Chong discovered inspiration within the 1980 movie “Someplace in Time.” Working with perfumers Bernard Ellena on the female model of Beloved and with Alexandra Carlin and Emilie Copperman on the masculine, each compositions discover the themes of affection and longing, time and rapture. Completely evocative, the summary nature of the fragrances permit for a novel, personalised interpretation of its themes. Once I reviewed Beloved Man for CaFleureBon in 2013, I selected to forgo itemizing the word breakdown and as a substitute—to higher illustrate the scent profile—selected a quote from the film: “I can nearly see him now earlier than me. What would I say to him if he have been actually right here? ‘Forgive me. I’ve by no means identified this sense. I’ve lived with out all of it my life. Is it any marvel, then, I failed to acknowledge you?’”
Christopher Chong Taking pictures Figment video in Barcelona 2017
Christopher Chong’s contributions to Amouage have been huge, profound and abiding. In a press release launched upon his departure, Mr. Chong mirrored, “I depart with monumental and enduring gratitude. I’m grateful to everybody who believed in me.” Mr. Chong, on behalf of all of us at CaFleureBon, I’m assured in saying that we believed in you; we imagine in you. The gratitude—monumental and enduring—is ours. We want you continued success and the very best of every thing. The curtain remains to be up and we will’t wait to see what’s subsequent.
–Michael Devine, Visitor Contributor
Christopher Chong’s Catalogue with Amouage:
Jubilation – 2008
Lyric – 2008
Epic – 2009
Memoir – 2010
Honour – 2011
Interlude – 2012
Beloved Lady – 2012
Beloved Man – 2013
Destiny – 2013
Sunshine Lady – 2014
Journey – 2014
Sunshine Man – 2015
Bracken Man – 2016
Bracken Lady – 2016
Myths – 2016
Seaside Hut Man – 2017
Figment – 2017
Seaside Hut Lady – 2018
Imitation – 2018
Reflection– 2018
Portrayal – 2019
The Library Assortment:
OPUS I – 2010
OPUS II – 2010
OPUS III – 2010
OPUS IV – 2010
OPUS IX – 2015
OPUS V– 2011
OPUS VI – 2012
OPUS VII – 2013
OPUS VIII – 2014
OPUS X – 2016
OPUS XI – 2018
The Secret Backyard Assortment
Blossom Love – 2017
Lilac Love – 2016
Love Tuberose – 2018
