The Brief: A New Chapter in Arabian Mythos

When Amouage launched Guidance, it was more than just a perfume, it was a portal. Part of the “Odyssey Collection,” Guidance marked a bold step into modern storytelling, marrying ancient Omani olfactory traditions with new-age fantasy. The brief? Create a fragrance that feels like a poetic oracle,dreamlike yet grounded, otherworldly yet intimate. Something that could lead its wearer, gently but powerfully, through both emotional vulnerability and strength.

The name Guidance suggests protection, purpose, and prophecy. Amouage wanted a scent that doesn’t just speak it guides. It belongs to a trilogy that explores introspection and self-realisation, and this one feels like the maternal, mystical core of that trio.

This wasn’t to be just another luxurious Middle Eastern floral. It needed to glow, not roar. To shimmer like silk in a desert sunrise.

The Artist: Quentin Bisch, the Alchemist of Emotion

Enter Quentin Bisch, the French nose behind Guidance, who has become a master at infusing modernity into classical structures. His fingerprints are all over cult favourites: Delina by Parfums de Marly, Angel Nova by Mugler, and Narciso Rodriguez for Her Musc Noir Rose but Guidance is Bisch in a more meditative, artistic mode.

Bisch took inspiration from the raw materials synonymous with Amouage’s DNA rose, frankincense, precious woods but softened them, layering them with milky fig, smoky vanilla, and soft suede. He described the creation process as crafting “a spell” and Guidance does have a bewitching, storybook quality. Think of it as a scent woven like an incantation its silage as expressive as poetry murmured by moonlight.

The Scent: Creamy Spellwork and Blushing Smoke

The moment you spray Guidance, it opens with a pink pepper and pear sparkle subtle, not fizzy. A fleeting brightness that gives way to what I call “the heart hug”: a rich, silky osmanthus and rose duo. The osmanthus here is divine not jammy, but fleshy and nectarous, with just a tease of apricot. The hazelnut milk and saffron accord slide in like satin sheets, making the entire composition feel gourmand, but never edible.

At the heart of it is Frankincense, ever the Amouage signature, but this isn’t the resinous, ecclesiastical incense of Interlude. Here, it’s softened, veiled in vanilla and sandalwood, like smouldering embers wrapped in cream. There’s also akigalawood, a peppery, patchouli-esque note that gives structure without stealing the spotlight.

The dry down is long and sensuous: suede, ambergris, a touch of smoky leather, but all very well-blended. The projection is moderate but persistent, it stays close, then reappears like a thought you can’t shake.

Who Is It For?

If Delina feels too pink and sparkly, and Oriana too sugary, but you still want a luxurious floral that feels nurturing, enveloping, and wise, Guidance is your scent. It’s for women who want their perfume to speak in lowercase cursive, not shout in all-caps. Think desert goddess meets soft power executive.

It wears beautifully in cooler weather but blooms subtly in warmth. It’s not necessarily “office-friendly” it’s too poetic for spreadsheets but for evenings, date nights, rituals, and moments of quiet inner power? Sublime.