Amouage Decision 42 Review: Notes, Performance & How It Differs From Decision
A juniper tree. A bolt of lightning. One question: does it survive?
Amouage Decision 42 is a 2026 Exceptional Extrait by perfumer Quentin Bisch: the original Decision rebuilt at 42% perfume oil and aged six weeks, with a darker, smokier, more resinous character. It is an amber, woody, aromatic fragrance, sold as a 100ml bottle at $550.
What is Amouage Decision 42?
Decision 42 joins Amouage's Exceptional Extraits collection, where the Omani house revisits an existing fragrance at a higher concentration and longer ageing time rather than simply thinning out the formula. The number in the name is the concentration: 42% perfume oil, aged for six weeks (two weeks of maturation, four of maceration). It launched at Amouage boutiques and online on September 1, 2026.
It builds on the story behind the original Amouage Decision: a juniper tree struck by lightning, and the question of whether it survives or reaches for a deeper, more enduring life. Where the eau de parfum frames that moment as a bolt of energy, the Extrait leans into the aftermath: smoke, resin and heat.
Fierce, uncompromising and dazzling. That is how Amouage describes Decision 42.
Decision 42 fragrance notes
Amouage photographs each layer of the pyramid. Here is how it unfolds, from first spray to last trace.
Top
Pink pepper, bergamot, cardamom, neroli, cinnamon
Heart
Frankincense, juniper, myrrh, sandalwood, rectified pine tar
Base
Patchouli, cedarwood, vanilla, labdanum
Main accords: amber, woody, aromatic, smoky, resinous, warm spicy.
How does Decision 42 smell?
It opens with bright spice and citrus: pink pepper, cardamom and bergamot, softened by neroli and a touch of cinnamon. Several wearers describe this opening as warmer and more rounded than the original's sharper start. Within minutes the heart takes over, with frankincense, myrrh and juniper wrapped in dark pine tar smoke. The drydown settles into patchouli, cedarwood, labdanum and a smooth vanilla, dense and resinous rather than sweet.
Decision vs. Decision 42: what changed?
| Decision (Eau de Parfum, 2025) | Decision 42 (Extrait, 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Perfumer | Quentin Bisch | Quentin Bisch |
| Concentration | Eau de Parfum | Extrait, 42% perfume oil, aged 6 weeks |
| Opening | Bergamot, cardamom, pink pepper | Adds neroli and cinnamon for a warmer, sharper spice |
| Heart | Frankincense, myrrh, juniper berries | Adds sandalwood and rectified pine tar for more smoke |
| Base | Vanilla, cedarwood, patchouli | Adds labdanum for a deeper, darker resin |
| Overall feel | Bright, vibrant, unisex | Deeper, smokier, more resinous, woodier |
Performance: longevity and projection
As an Extrait at 42%, Decision 42 is built for staying power. Reviewers on Fragrantica report strong projection and wear that carries through the day and into the evening, with some noting it lasts longer than the original even though the eau de parfum projects harder in its first hours. It tends to sit closer to the skin than the original once it settles, so a few sprays go a long way.
Who is Decision 42 for?
It suits anyone who likes smoky incense, resinous woods and amber, and wants a fragrance with presence. The notes lend themselves to fall and winter and to evening wear. Reviewers often describe it as leaning masculine, though it is sold as unisex. If you found the original Decision a little too bright, the Extrait is the darker, more grounded take on the same idea.
The perfumer: Quentin Bisch
Amouage describes Quentin Bisch as a painter, singer, writer and perfumer in one, with an unquenched thirst for beauty and a talent for reinventing his craft through bold statements. He created both the 2025 Decision and this Extrait.
The bottle
Like the other Exceptional Extraits, Decision 42 comes in a higher-contrast version of Amouage's signature bottle with a glossy inner lacquer. The seagull grey colour echoes the palette of the original Decision. It is available in 100ml.
Where to buy Amouage Decision 42
La Jetée Perfumery is an authorized Amouage retailer. Shop Decision 42 Exceptional Extrait 100ml ($550) online with free shipping over $150, or visit us in Orlando, Nashville or Las Vegas. Want to try the original first? See Amouage Decision Eau de Parfum, or browse all Amouage fragrances.
Frequently asked questions
Who made Amouage Decision 42?
Perfumer Quentin Bisch, who also created the original 2025 Decision.
What is the concentration of Decision 42?
42% perfume oil, aged for six weeks. It is an Extrait de Parfum.
Is Decision 42 stronger than Decision?
It is more concentrated and more intense in character: darker, smokier and more resinous. Reviewers note it lasts longer, though the original can project harder early on.
Is Decision 42 unisex?
Amouage positions it as unisex, though many reviewers find the Extrait leans masculine.
How much does Decision 42 cost?
$550 for the 100ml bottle.
When was Decision 42 released?
September 1, 2026, as part of the Exceptional Extraits collection alongside Overture 41.
What does Decision 42 smell like?
Spiced citrus and neroli over frankincense, juniper and pine tar smoke, drying down to patchouli, cedarwood, labdanum and vanilla.