Persolaise with Amouage's Christopher Chong - live interview feat. Rose Incense & Love Mimosa part 1

This is part 1 (of 2) of a KZbin live video streamed from the Amouage boutique in London on 21st June 2019. As usual: completely unscripted and unrehearsed. It features me in conversation with Christopher Chong, the long-standing Creative Director of Amouage who leaves his post at the end of the month.
When Christopher announced his departure, I asked if he’d like to mark the event with a live video on my channel, but the initial response he gave was somewhat non-committal, so I didn’t push the issue. However, when I arrived at the boutique for a meeting with him, I was surprised and delighted to hear him say that he wanted to broadcast a live video there and then. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as prepared as I’d have liked (no microphone, no lights, no wifi) but I didn’t want those barriers to stand in the way, so I just sat him down in front of my iPhone, crossed my fingers that the tech wouldn’t let us down... and off we went!
Thank goodness, quite a few people tuned in to the live stream (even though it was completely unannounced) and joined in the conversation with some excellent questions and observations. To them: a massive vote of thanks!
Sadly, the gadget gremlins had to make their presence felt at least once, which is why this video has been split into two parts. At around the 35-minute mark of part 1, we lost our KZbin connection and had to stop and resume. But never mind: as I’ve said here before, a video with a few issues is better than no video at all, so I hope you enjoy watching it.
As I type these words, the facility to replay the live chat is still available on both videos, so you can read the contributions of the viewers as they were made.
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Persolaise is not affiliated in any way to any brands, wholesalers, retailers or organisations involved with the fragrance industry. All reviews are entirely independent. Content is never 'sponsored' by any external agencies. Some reviews are based on samples provided by brands; others are based on samples obtained by the author. This has no bearing on the content of the reviews.
Copyright © 2019 Dariush Alavi and Parfums Persolaise. All rights reserved.

[@Perizaddancer]

This was the funniest, greatest perfumer interview ever! You guys are like brothers messing with each other. I love Christopher’s personality.

[@Persolaise]

😂 That was a fun day. Thanks for watching.

[@Narcissist_Police]

Christopher’s personality is just like mine! Love the quirky fun laid back style.

[@Persolaise]

Thanks very much for watching.

[@barrywa39]

I watched it tonight as promised. One of the best perfume 'interviews' I have seen. So funny. Dariush, you had the patience of a saint, and Christopher looked so innocent :)

[@Persolaise]

barrywa39 The patience of a saint? 😂 Don’t know about that. Thank you so much for watching, Barry. And for the high praise! I’m honoured.

[@elizabethchurch6969]

This was just delightful! Best "Odd Couple" I've seen in a while: you two are joyful! So much fun!

[@Persolaise]

Ha! It was quite a manic interview. Thanks for watching.

[@taffyj531]

Two of my favorite people in Perfumeland! You two were having such a great time; I was transfixed. Thanks so much for the interview (and part 2)!

[@Persolaise]

Taffy J Taffy, what a wonderful thing to say, thank you 😊Thanks for watching.

[@peggyhui901]

Watching post Live broadcast from Vienna today. Loving the banter between the 2 of you. What a bubbly person he is. I can appreciate that he can't tell us very much because there's probably an embargo on info or NDA. I have to check out that Mimosa one now. It could be my first Amouage purchase. Have not been too persuaded to, before. Too bad, it's almost like a Requiem to Christopher's departure from the brand. Best of luck and success to him in his future undertakings. Looking fwd to the nxt LAFS Mr.P but pls more of an advance notification this time?

[@Persolaise]

Peggy Hui Peggy, as always, thank you so much for watching. And yes, of course, I’ll always try to give you my usual notice, but this was an exceptional case. I honestly didn’t know he’d be willing to do the video until about ten minutes before we started the broadcast.

[@sheilaeggenberger5357]

This totally made my Saturday morning! Thank you, Persolaise & Christopher Chong.

[@Persolaise]

Sheila!!! How wonderful to see your name pop up in my Inbox :-) How have you been? And thanks so much for watching. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@sheilaeggenberger5357]

I’ve missed your madness, my friend! So good to reconnect! ❤️

[@Persolaise]

Sheila Eggenberger Madness?? 😂 I’m pleased it’s CC who’s brought us back together.

[@mysterybeta]

Missing the live stream aside, this is a great interview. Funny and informative. Thank you Persolaise and thank you Mr Chong!

[@Persolaise]

Thank YOU for watching :-) I'm so pleased we were able to make it happen.

[@MsTaffyPulls]

It was so much fun to watch this.

[@Persolaise]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@lgsoltek]

Wonderful! I enjoyed watching it. What a pity though that the most interesting part (about 2014) is inaudible...

[@Persolaise]

Tell me about it, Bill. So frustrating! Of all the sections in which we could have lost the signal. But I’m glad you’ve raised the issue, because it gives me an opportunity to write a few lines about it. Essentially, I said I felt that 2014 was a sort of ‘cut off point’ (with Fate and Journey) when the Amouage style became even larger, bolder and weirder, for want of a better word. As always, thanks for watching.

[@JohnDoe-xr5bl]

I've been learning a lot from you thank you sir

[@Persolaise]

That's a very kind thing to write, thank you. I always learn a lot from all my viewers.

[@admenocal]

Lyric man is superb, I wear it and so does my husband, stunning on skin. I am curious about Rose Incense and the Opus collection. Ciel, Reflection, Día, Honour, Memoir (women) and Lyric man are my favorites... wondering what Opus to buy.

[@Persolaise]

Lyric Man is one of my absolute favourites 😊 I hope you manage to choose an Opus. Thanks very much for watching.

[@MrAmirr76]

That was so good, thx a lot Persolaise and thx to your friend Chan as well.cheers from Stockholm/Sweden

[@Persolaise]

Amir Pi Thank you so much for watching, Amir. I hope you’re well.

[@le_journal_de_natalie]

I just watched this yesterday and was passing a new niche perfume shop today and noticed they had Amouage! So I quickly popped in despite my exasperated teenage son and promised to only quickly smell one. They had Rose incense! It’s lovely! You’re going to hate me for saying this but I prefer it to portrait of a lady. I feel that it’s happier and lighter. There are more of those rays of burgundy red light moving in it’s space in my perception.

[@Persolaise]

Of course I'm not going to hate you! Actually, I'm really pleased that, for some people, it ticks boxes that Portrait doesn't. Thanks very much for sharing. Did your son like anything?

[@le_journal_de_natalie]

@@Persolaise Oh no he refused to go inside. We already went inside a Douglas shop before that (it’s sort of like Sephora) and that totally overwhelmed him.

[@CHARDKAY]

Love hearing your voice Christopher!!! You look well!

[@Persolaise]

It's all those Amouage products he uses :-) Thanks for watching!

[@mortonwilson795]

Great to see you guys together! Hiya, Chris :)

[@Persolaise]

Thank you so much for watching :-)

[@lynnleglaire4819]

Great interview! Good fun. Very informative. You bring out the best in your guests...what a great talent. Thanks!

[@Persolaise]

Thanks very much indeed 🙏

[@clarezimberlin8729]

Christopher is cheeky & lively. 😀

[@Persolaise]

He's great fun! Thank you for watching.

[@Apassionist]

OK I had to subscribe since I am an Amouage fan and I think you like the house too so I like you for that haha. I am dying to know about Incense Rose and what about the Overtures? Would they be something like Overture Man & Woman or are they part of a new series that the standalone Incense Rose is from? So many questions and cannot wait to get further information about this!

[@Persolaise]

Thanks very much for watching and subscribing :-) I hope to be able to talk more about Overture in my next episode of Love At First Scent, but no, it's not part of the same series as Rose Incense. The latter is a Selfridges exclusive, whereas the two Overtures will be for Harrods.

[@calinbiris47]

With Mr Chong gone, Amouage has lost its way

[@Persolaise]

Thanks for watching.

[@algebraist1997]

This is an old video I stumbled on but I want to make a note that what Chong said about reformulation being costly comes with a caveat. The brands do not pay the oil firms for the labour of reformulation nor its consequences like repeated stability testing. Even in the original development of the fragrance, the firms only recoup costs from selling the oil itself.

[@Persolaise]

Thanks very much for this.

[@gauravjamkar2890]

You two are awesome.

[@Persolaise]

Thank you for watching.

[@blagoyyanchev8083]

That was so good Thanks Persolaise

[@Persolaise]

Blagoy Yanchev Thanks so much for watching 😊 Glad you enjoyed it!

[@blagoyyanchev8083]

@@Persolaise loved it :-)

[@Persolaise]

Blagoy Yanchev Thank you.

[@jennya6628]

😅😅😅 glad I watched this video. Had a good laugh.

[@Persolaise]

Wonderful. Thanks for watching.

[@umbertobehounek2342]

Interesting, Tankyou Persolaise!

[@Persolaise]

Umberto Behounek Thanks very much for watching.

[@valzalel5203]

Haha I loved this 😆

[@Persolaise]

I'm so pleased. Thanks for watching.

[@sabrinasjourney]

I want Love Mimosa

[@Persolaise]

It certainly made a wonderful first impression. Thanks for watching.