Bold Verdict

Bold Verdict opens crisp and modern: bergamot, cardamom and pink pepper give a peppery citrus lift before the heart turns resinous with frankincense, juniper berries and myrrh. This is the cool, composed incense at the core of Amouage Decision, and the dupe renders it convincingly. The base brings warmth back - vanilla, cedarwood and a touch of patchouli rounding things into a soft woody-amber finish. Against the original, Perfume Parlour leans the vanilla sweeter and lets the austere mineral-frankincense edge relax, so it feels more approachable but less strikingly assertive. Projection is good early then settles, and longevity is solid for the price though well short of Decision's reported double-digit hours. A sophisticated, slightly serious incense-wood that suits the office, formal events and cool evenings.