Hello Ford Fans,
Tom Ford is an icon in his own right nowadays and still is doing amazing stuff in so many directions. When you look at some of the designers fragrance division it is so obviously a money grab whereas the Tom Ford fragrance line, produced with Estee Lauder, mostly sails so far above the rest that they feel like they deserve to be this expensive. Though to be fair if they were a third less the price I would probably own FBs of them all instead of just one. Are you reading Tom? So midway through 2013 the Tom Ford crew released a set of four new frags under the Atelier d’Orient subcategory
Rive d’Ambre (Atelier d’Orient) by Tom Ford 2013
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Citruses, amber, bergamot, bitter orange, tolu balsam, lemon, cognac, cardamom, tarragon, mint
Boy! There has been some terrible reviews for Rive d’Amber. If you adore Tom Ford’s fragrances for their enormousness then Rive d’Amber will leave you howling for more. To be as honest as I can I too am a little disappointed. The open is so lavish and citrus-y, it’s flirty, fun, fizzy and day-glo brightness is enough to chase the blues away, seriously. What a stunning opening. As the initial heat burns off there is a lovely green-ness that works beautifully with the citrus to bring some light and shade. So good, I enjoy it immensely.
Photo Stolen DeviantArt
Sydney is in 30+C heat today and Rive d’Amber fits the bill exactly for about 30 minutes when it becomes a very soft amber with just a hint of citrus memory floating through, so soft a skin scent that lets my skins fragrance shine through, like they are working in tandem. After two hours I’m basically left with a very soft wash of nothing, I think Mona di Orio did the same idea but much better carriede out in her Vanille. Rive d’Amber is not a bad fragrance but it’s also not the way I want my scent to live. I’m going to give the rest of my decant to one of Jin’s friends, I know she will love it for exactly what it is. For me, please pass the Neroli Portifino.
Photo Stolen Jennifer McCready… Flickr
Further reading: Kafkaesque and Notable Scents
Tom Ford is available in some Department Stores next to the Estee Lauder counter
Surrender To Chance starts at $4/.5ml
Thanks for dropping by,
See you tomorrow,
Portia xx
Australian Perfume Junkies 
I am still devastated they discontinued Amber Absolute :-((((
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Yes, did you stock up lou?
Portia xx
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Dear Portia, I don’t believe I had ever gone to any store intending to sniff ANY Tom Ford and this one does not compel me to do so either; however, the citrus and all the notes listed do appeal and if I happen to see a Tom Ford counter while perfume browsing, I may just ask to have a sniff. Thanks for the review!
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Hey there Hajusuuri,
Goodness, after all the hullabaloo surrounding Tom Ford I thought most had given him a quick sniff at least. He knows how to make fine fragrance, ghow to package it and how to sell it
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Hi Portia
I tried all four of the Atelier d’Orient scents. I agree that Rive d’Ambre is a not a blockbuster style Tom Ford which lasts and lasts but I think of it as a cologne with a difference – citrus of course but with unusual ambery, aromatic notes – I’ve sprayed it onto clothes and it lasts very well. I like that fact that it’s a bit more than a cooling citrus. My favourite of the four is Fleur de Chine. Glamour in a bottle…
Catherine
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Aha! A clothes spritz, I will do that Catherine. excellent.
As the set comes in I will try each one. This splitting business is heaps of fun.
Portia xx
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I liked this one on paper but not enough to put it on my skin at a store. I will try it eventually if I get a sample but my suspicion is that I won’t try to seek it out or spend money on any quantity of it.
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