Amber by Alec Lawless for Essentially Me 2010

/ australianperfumejunkiescom

Hello Uber Niche Nerds,

Not so long ago I got a request from a reader to try some stuff from the Essentially Me range. Instantly I went on point and found myself a sample set from this natural perfume crew crafted by Alec Lawless. Sadly Alec Lawless was killed in an on board boat electrocution in the shower, what a tragic and dramatic way to go. Now his website is no longer functional so you can’t go and buy any of the fabulous creations there either. Why am I writing? Well when I ordered from Essentially Me they were still functioning and I have had this fabulous fragrance sitting here awaiting moderation but something always got in the way of my wearing it, new samples, holiday, deadlines etc etc. Last week I finally bit the bullet……

Amber by Alec Lawless for Essentially Me 2010

Amber Essentially Me FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Spice, mint, caraway, thyme
Heart: Jasmine, lavender, rose, clary sage
Base: Labdanum, frankincense, sandalwood, myrrh, vanilla, patchouli

One of things that hits me straight off the bat is how little like an all naturals perfume Amber smells like. The opening could be any mainstream niche opening, big, sharp, spicy, herbal and slightly fetid. EXACTLY how I want my fragrance to open. I think mint is a note that I am drawn to, though here in a minor role it freshens up the green opening and makes it sparkle. It’s a funAmber Essentially Me Hans amber Pixabay and mildly feral extravaganza that every now and then gives me a hint of pizza fresh from the oven, hot, foody and a slight charring of the base, MMMMMM.

The heart maintains Amber’s green tinged opening and for once I can smell clary sage clearly, all wrapped up in its lovely bouquet that still maintains its soft echo of the herbal fresh open for quite a while. So this jasmine is quite breathy sometimes, today particularly so, and the indole is very reminiscent of fragrances of a bygone era. There remains something delightfully fizzy about Amber as it progresses, so unusual, and especially in a natural fragrance.

Photo Stolen Pixabay

The base incense and resins have come in under everything and made themselves noticed, they have been there all along in the background but as all the other pieces of the puzzle burn off they are left centre stage with an earthy patchouli and sweet, creamy vanilla. I wonder if the sandalwood is adding that creamy, lactonic touch? Is amber king? No, Amber has too much other lovely stuff going on to let the Labdanum/Vanilla become the ultimate thing in dry down but I enjoy the ride more because it’s still so unexpected, every time.

About 3-5 hours depending, no idea why sometimes it just lasts longer. Good projection for the first hour and then a soft halo around you that gives quite a good sillage till well into the second hour on as normal wear.

I think even if you are not an amber fan that this could be your gateway.

Portia xx

giveaway manoneileenPhoto Stolen manoneileen

Amber by Essentially Me GIVEAWAY

 

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 2 winners who will each get:
1 x 5ml decant of Amber by Essentially Me
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOW DO YOU WIN?

Open to everyone worldwide who follows AustralianPerfumeJunkies via eMail, WordPress, Bloglovin or RSS. Please leave how you follow in the comments to be eligible. I must be able to check that you follow so if you have an email address on your gravatar that’s different to your follow address then please email me so I know. Yes, you can start following to enter, in fact it’s encouraged.

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Please tell me your favourite Amber fragrance, or why you would like to try this one.

Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie Amber by Essentially Me GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-2Jr #Perfume #Giveaway

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Sunday 22nd June 2014 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winners will be chosen by random.org
The winners will have till Thursday 26th June 2014 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.

30 thoughts on “Amber by Alec Lawless for Essentially Me 2010”

  1. My favourite amber is Ambre Nuit, easily and by far. Second place would be a distant second.
    I follow by email, ty

    Like

  4. Ooh, amber. I love it all.
    Ambre Russe
    Mona Di Orio Ambre
    Ambre Sultan
    Ambre Fetiche full bottle plus emergency backup, so tragic!!
    I ask myself whether Alec Lawless has made an amber type like these, and would like to try it.
    I follow by email

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  5. Amber… I love amber. My favourite is Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens. Though I love Mona di Orio Les Nombres d’Or Ambre as well.
    I’m following you by email & wordpress. 🙂

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  6. Hi Portia,
    I love ambers, naturals (and ambers that don’t smell like naturals). I have so many ambers that I love but one stands out, Olympic Orchids Olympic Amber. I follow by e-mail and Bloglovin. Thank you so much for another great draw!
    Azar xx

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  7. My favorite amber is Hermes L’Ambre des Merveilles because it’s not “too” anything. It’s so easy to wear. I follow by email and on Facebook (although my FB has a different email address)

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  8. It sounds very nice, but it’s hard to concentrate on anything, really, given the horrific story that you tell about the creator at the opening. How horrendous!

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    • Yes, sad tale Neil. Too sad for him and his family, also sad for the fragrance world, and terrible that you can’t get the frag anymore, I was wearing it for the first part of today and I really like it’s whole atmosphere.
      Portia xx

      Like

  9. I follow via email, and my favorite Amber fragrance is L’Artisan Ambre Extreme. Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂

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  13. Hay, Portia, I’ve never heard of Essentially Me!
    Sad and undeserved end for Alec Lawless, very sad…
    Condolences to the family…
    Let’s hope that they will revive the brand.
    This Amber sounds lovely, though the notes seem incompatible at first glance.
    Amber is a favorite note, but the only fragrance with a prominent amber I have is Prada L’Eau Ambree. The others are just samples. I love L’Ambre des Merveilles – Hermes, Amber Oud – By Kilian, Ambre Fetiche – Annick Goutal, Atelier Cologne – Ambre Nue, Hermessence Ambre Narguile…
    I follow by email, and on FB.

    Like

  14. This review is of extreme import to the natural perfumery world!

    Alec Lawless is aromatherapeutic/natural perfumery royalty and history. From early aromatherapy days and marriage to another aromatherapy icon, Julia Lawless (The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils) and their company, Aqua Oleum to the development of Essentially Me, he has championed, educated and informed the world of botanical aroma. (He was also a psychotherapist.)

    This bottle, this draw, this is history. You will have with you what will soon be lost pieces of art to the world.

    there’s no need to enter me in the draw, i just won. 😉 but i did want to comment on how special this is and although i have never experienced Essentially Me products, i cannot imagine but they are exquisite, therapeutic and functional aromas.

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    • They are super special einsof. thanks for dropping in, I am going to enter you in the draw anyway.
      Portia xx

      Like

  15. I follow via email.
    What a sad story 😦 I have never tried an amber perfume before but you have described sounds awesome and I’d love to try it!

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  16. Hi Portia, thanks for the great review. Such a sad intro… Which makes this draw all the more special. And 2x 5ml is very generous for a limited product. I would like to enter – I follow by feedly and weekly email digest.

    I have a soft spot for ambers as they helped me get a foothold into the world of perfume. So there are a few which come to mind, but today I would reach for Ambre Russe by Parfum d’Empire. I’d also love to try this one – I mean, just look at those base notes! Yum!

    Thanks,
    Tina xx

    Like

  17. I follow by bloglovin username karins28
    and I would love to try this perfume because it has many scents I love combined , so I would love to know how it turned out 😀

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  18. I’m an email follower and I’d like to try this because amber is one fragrance I haven’t tried enough of yet. Although I do know Obsession is amber-heavy! 🙂

    Like

  19. I follow by email. I have a weakness for ambers, so have many. I can narrow my favorites down to: SL Ambre Sultan, Prada L’Eau Ambree, & Olympic Orchids Olympic Amber. Also Sonoma Scent Studio Ambre Noir. Oh God, I can’t choose. Thanks for the draw.

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  20. I follow by email, and I have too many favorite ambers to list so I’ll just choose MPG Ambre Precieux for right now 🙂 Thank you for the draw!

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  21. I follow by email and im looking for a new perfume as im getting just a tad older my senses change so now my perfume has to!

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  24. I like a lot of ambers. Ambre Aurea is really nice. No need to enter me. I’m with everyone else, that’s an awful way to die. Very sad.
    Anyway, I just wanted to say hi.

    Like

  25. Pingback: Rose Kashmirie by Marie-Helene Rogeon + Francois Robert for Les Parfums de Rosine 2007 « AustralianPerfumeJunkies

  26. I love ambers. Right now, I’m fascinated by Profumum Ambra Musette sent me a sample of.
    Follow you be email.

    Like

  28. What a tragic story. I don’t have any amber favourites, I wouldn’t even know where to start looking, so maybe this might be my time! Thanks for the opportunity. I follow by email, facebook, twitter. X

    Like

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