What Is French Avenue Opus Magnum a Dupe Of?

French Avenue Opus Magnum is a clone of Amouage Opus XIV Royal Tobacco. Tobacco and incense lead the comparison, with aromatic spice and balsamic warmth underneath. This is a useful pairing to explore if the incense side of Royal Tobacco is a big part of its appeal.

What do they share?

Opus Magnum's opening lists incense, basil, cardamom and bergamot. Tobacco, fenugreek and lavender follow, then amber, Peru balsam, oud and tonka bean. Royal Tobacco has plenty of common ground: frankincense, basil, cardamom, bergamot, tobacco, fenugreek, lavender, Peru balsam, oud and tonka all appear in Amouage's description.

The herbs and incense matter here. We'd pay attention to those alongside the tobacco, because they help explain why Opus Magnum gets this specific comparison. If you want something built around sweet tobacco alone, have a look at the rest of the pyramid before deciding it's for you.

Where should you look for differences?

Royal Tobacco's published profile also includes anise, liquorice, elemi and several floral notes. Its base names frankincense again, plus vanilla, myrrh, birch tar, benzoin and more woods and resins. Opus Magnum's shorter list puts the focus on the central tobacco, incense and balsamic notes.

A longer list doesn't tell us which fragrance you'll prefer, or how much detail you'll notice. It does give you a few things to check in a sample: the liquorice-like side, the herbal opening, and how the smoky and sweeter parts sit together once the fragrance settles.

Is Opus Magnum worth trying?

Opus Magnum is worth a look if you enjoy tobacco with incense, herbs and a warm base. We'd be more careful if you're trying to replace one very specific part of Royal Tobacco, especially its anise and liquorice character.

Our Royal Tobacco alternatives guide covers more options. Use that alongside the note panels and current offers, then compare samples if you can. The shared notes explain the pairing; the balance of those notes is what will decide whether it's right for you.