Saturday Question: What Are Your Favourite Amber Perfumes?

/ australianperfumejunkiescom

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Portia

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Hello Fellow Fumies,

Every Saturday we have a Question, an idea purloined from Olfactoria’s Travels. Everyone gets to chime in with an answer, chat with other responders and it is a fun event each week. Taking sides never means taking offence and everyone keeps it respectful and light, even though we can sometimes trawl the depths.

The idea is you’ll see it on the weekend or chime in through the week. Hopefully you will come back and see if anyone has responded to your comment and you can reply to them.

Over 100 responses I will draw a Scent Sample Pack (from my collection)
This week:

  1. Ambre Céruléen by Huitième Art
  2. L’Eau d’amber by L’Artisan Perfumer
  3. Ambre Narguilé by Hermès
  4. Ambre Russe by Parfum d’Empire
  5. Mitzah by Dior Prive

Last Weeks Winner: Old Herbaceous

eMail me at (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with your address please

Saturday Question: What Are Your Favourite Amber Perfumes?

AMBER! For quite a few of my perfumista buddies the amber accord is what dragged them down the fragrant rabbit hole. It has a warmth and richness that feels totally historic and old school yet also manages to be a part of the most modern fruit-chilis and fully synthetic creations. Alone, as a backing player or even as a final dry down amber feels ubiquitous. Especially as we are now firmly mid-seasons with both north and south hemispheres having cool evenings or more I thought a look at these burnished beauties might be fun.

It is also one of my favourite notes in the perfumed spectrum, so I’ll be looking for clues where to sniff next.

My Answer:

Ambre Céruléen by Huitième Art: Pierre Guillaume created a gold class sweet amber as comfortable as an old pair of jeans that fit you perfectly and have softened into your shape. It has an excellent life length, 7+ hours on me, with good projection and sillage.

L’Eau d’amber by L’Artisan Perfumer: Way back in 1978 Jean-Claude Ellena and Jean Laporte a very early niche amber. Only JCEs 3rd recognised fragrance and still available 40 years later. It’s simple and warm yet curiously complex the better you get to know it. My bottle is from earlier this century and each year it warms up just a little.

Ambre Narguilé by Hermès: Jump to 2004 and JCE strikes again with the bakery version of amber. Suddenly it becomes a spicy, floury, pastry extravaganza. Thick, rich and gooey. No matter how cold, alone or awful you feel Ambre Narguilé will hug you and hold you safe in its almighty comfort.

Ambre Russe by Parfum d’Empire: Of the four this is the most outrageous, in your face amber. Amber, cinnamon, leather, vanilla and smoke all meld together with the dry, stinging rasp of tea and vodka. This amber means war. It’s a campfire for traders and their packhorses to sit around telling lies and drinking to stave of the cold.

My Saturday Question to you is:

What Are Your Favourite Amber Perfumes?

120 thoughts on “Saturday Question: What Are Your Favourite Amber Perfumes?”

  1. On the very top of my list would be SSS Winter Woods which has very little smoke but reads as sweet resinous amber on my skin. Other ambers I have worn and liked- Eden Botanicals Amber Pure & Simple (oil based), Eden Botanicals Labdanum 10 % (oil based), Kuumba Made Amber Paste, Pacifica’s Spanish Amber (discontinued), Dame Perfumery Bergamot, Jasmine & Labdanum and my own homemade amber by combining Eden Labdanum with my homemade vanilla bean pod oil blend.

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    • Brigitte- your ambers are delightful. I might go chase the jasmine one. Beautiful jasmines are impossible to find off the vine! Sad the Pacifica one is discontinued.

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      • The huge bottle of Bergamot, Jasmine & Labdanum resides in my youngest’s room. I always know when he is wearing it because his room smells amazing!

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    • Brigitte, your path is similar to mine, I love Eden Botanicals…did you ever try the amber resin? I used to use it in soap. And I still have the Pacifica. Yum.

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      • Eden Botanicals is my downfall. I won’t even begin to tell you how much I have bought from that company over the years 🙂 I have never tried the amber resin but now I want to go and look it up! I finished the Pacifica Amber a while back. Such a shame that they discontinued so many beautiful fragrances. Also, Jackie, am I correct in that you are/were a professional ballet dancer? That is one more link between us although my pointe shoes I retired thirty years ago.

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        • Yes, bunheads unite! Hope your feet remained unscathed by pointework…
          Eden d/c the amber resin a while back, such a shame 😦

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          • There were quite a few oils that I wish I had stocked up on before they were discontinued by Eden. New Caledonian sandalwood absolute is the one that comes to mind. I actually preferred it over Mysore.
            Once a bunhead always a bunhead 😉

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      • WW is sooooo goood, right?

        This is now my third batch of vanilla oil (the first two were used up and/or gifted away). I am letting it marinate for as long as possible. I bought empty 4ml rollerballs for dirt cheap on amazon and will fill them with the vanilla bean oil for the middle Marzipan to gift to her friends at University for the holidays along with the 17 hand knit hats I am currently working on after having just made 15 hand knit scarves….I have been on a knitting frenzy as of late but the kids so appreciate it. She sent me a photo of the entire crew wearing my scarves. She has such a great and extraordinary large group of friends at university. She is very lucky.

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  3. It can’t be another Saturday already! Still catching up on last week’s posts!

    My ambers are SL Ambre Sultan, Hermes Ambre Narguile (it’s a happy, happy family amber), one of the Amouage Opus ones (but that was only several samplings. I ended up buying Lyric Woman (not an amber)).
    Mitzah gets raved about in these forums so it is on ze list!

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  4. I haven’t really found “my” amber(s yet, though I like the note very much. I’ve tried and enjoyed Ambre des Merveilles and Prada Amber. I like lots of L’Artisan and JCE scents, so I’ll have to try L’Eau d’Ambre.

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  5. The one word answer: mmmmmmmmitzah.

    Adding a couple of runners up…I also like the Dior Ambre Nuit, which is a rare rose that works for me. Warm and elegant. And Ambre Sultan which I love for the dryer take on amber, except when it goes into bay leaf overload.

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  6. E Coudray Ambre et Vanille, masterful blend of the main notes in the title with added spice. Prada Amber was another goodie, and does anyone remember Barbara Bui Le Parfum, that was one gorgeous frag. DK Gold has lots of amber in the drydown, mmm love that. I love the comforting layer that amber adds, a bit sweet but not cloying.

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    • I don’t have a lot of amber, but I love the idea and the feel of it. Depth and warmth and a little red-orange flame.
      cassieflower, funny you should mention Barbara Bui Le Parfum. I have a tiny sample of it, a kind inclusion with a purchase from a fellow enthusiast, I think. And it’s so lovely! I must find it again. Am I right in thinking that it’s a little leathery, too? I read an older article about it that suggested it can be found cheaply on eBay, but I haven’t looked as yet.
      I have Prada Amber but I am not convinced about it. It doesn’t feel deep and warm to me, so I am wondering if the bottle has turned. Again, should get it out again and have a check. I would love to have someone close to me who I could ask to check these things for me. ‘Here, please sniff. Does that smell right to you???’
      And congratulations to Old Herbaceous.

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      • It was a great scent. I haven’t had it for about five years now. So easy to wear, to me it was amber and pencil shavings mostly. I see it for sale from some Amazon sellers in the US but postal regulations make it hard to get elsewhere, without paying through the nose for delivery. It can still be bought for a song, though, so if you’re in the US pull that trigger and buy it!

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    • Thanks for the E Coudray Ambre et Vanille heads up Cassieflower, it’s not a house I’ve paid any attention to.
      DK Gold? The lily? Does it dry down to amber? I can’t remember. I’ll search it out in my cupboard.
      Portia xx

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  7. Love amber scents that are not cloying and too sweet. My favourites are Ambre Aurea, Winter Woods, Tabac Aurea both by Sonoma Scent Studio, Ambre 114, Miyako by Annayake, Ambre Loup and Ambre Noir by Brecourt. .

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  8. Hmmm…..my favourites are in this order :)) Grand soir – MFK, in the second place the fantastic Ambre Russe, and my fav nr 1 amber for me is from Costume National – 21 ❤️❤️
    I’m curious about L’eau D’ambre by L’artisan Perfumeur, is it a creamy type of amber? Is it also spicy? cause i see those notes in fragrantica.

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      • I do get some amazing spicy milky amber from it, i love it a lot. But it seems it depends on the skin a lot, like Portia said lower(milky, rice and tea). I mean imho it’s a blind buy worthy cause u will love this juice 🙂 but if it’s only for the amber note it is better to sample first ✌🏻

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    • Hey Alen,
      Interesting that you call Costume National – 21 an amber. My whole ride with it is milky lactones, rice and tea. How interesting. It’s so unusual and wonderful to wear for me. YUM!
      I find the L’Artisan creamy and the spices etc are bit players that help buff up the am,her rather than change it.
      Portia xx

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    • I really need to try both of those! Have heard especially much good about Ambra Aurea, but guess the price tag is similar to other perfumes from Profumum Roma.

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  11. The amber part of my brain has only recently started to work. My answer would have to be Mitzah. I recently smashed 50mls of it all over the gym floor. Luckily I am gonna get some more. #spoiled. I cannot bear Amber Narguile or whatevet it’s called. I like MdO’s amber quite a lot. And recently smashed 10mls of that too. Hmmmmmm. Must be a pattern here. 🤔

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    • Thank you for reminding me about Chergui. While I see it as more tobacco I would say yes, it IS a great amber too!

      also, seeing you comment reminded me of my second holy grail amber…L’Air du Desert Marocain….when I win lotto I will own a full bottle of that one, as you know I already thunked the mini you gifted me 🙂 I saved the bottle for my christmas tree decoration project, though.

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  13. Portia, exquisite amber choices! My favorite now is Parfum d’Empire Ambre Russe, and I need to sample your other three. Amongst my favorite ambers are Tom Ford Amber Absolute, Serge Lutens Amber Sultan, Anne Pliska EDP, Youth Dew and Youth Dew Ambre Nude, Pure Distance Sheiduna, Histoires de Parfums Ambre 114, Omnia Ambra, and Olympic Orchids Amber Labdanum oil.
    Looking forward to reading other’s recommendations!

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    • Thanks for reminding me that I also enjoyed Olympic Amber. That was an amber powerhouse. I am wondering if her Labdanum oil is similar to the one that I like from Eden Botanicals.

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      • I have Anne Plisak eau de parfum which comes in the pink and gold tall metal bottle. I believe the parfum is in a square glass bottle with the knitted neck and glass stopper. I covet that bottle as well!

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  14. Ambre 114, SSS Winter Woods, Alahine, Barbara Bui, Ambre Precieux, Ambra Aurea. Mitzah. Pacifica Spanish Amber. Olympic Orchids Amber-Labdanum oil. DSH Tunisian Amber, which I have in the body lotion – fragrant enough to not need the perfume. Can you tell I like amber?

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  15. My faves and best on the planet: Annick Goutal Ambre Fetiche, Annick Goutal Ambre Sauvage and Serge Ambre Sultan. I also like Taurville Amber Flash.

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  18. My two full bottles of amber perfume are L’Ambre des Merveilles and Dior Ambre Nuit. The first one is more for daytime, while Ambre Nuit feels more festive (I still use both at any time, but not really during the four warmer months of the year). I also like very much Moma di Orio Ambre and Ambre 114. I have not yet had a chance to try Alahine.

    Tauer Amber Flash is nice, but Tauer doesn’t ship here, so too complicated to get my hands on a bottle. Yesterday I received Tauer’s Amber Flush Body oil. It is my second bottle of this perfumed body oil, and I have nothing but praise for it, so good for my skin and sooo fragrant.

    Another cheaper option for amber perfume is Y. Rocher Voile d’ Ambre, a honest, simple amber. A miniature bottle has been living in my office, as EBP, together with various samples.

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  20. Wow, so many lovely perfumes mentioned. I’m writing them down! My favourite L’artisan L’Eau d’Ambre. I have SL Ambre Sultan and Prada Ambree, which I haven’t worn for ages. Mitzah gets so much love here – I best get a whiff somehow. I’m off to find my Histoires Ambre 114 sample and spray some Prada…

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  21. Hello,
    It’s fall here in Eastern Canada, complete with horrible wet weather, and rain, sleet, hail and fog-all in an hour. Perfect amber weather. I love the amber note in Shalimar. I also love the Prada amber, which to my nose is bout the freshest take on amber. I have the L’artisan amber bath gel, and body lotion. They’re a good straight up amber for me. Amber Fetiche is also a favourite. Does Coromandel have amber in it-my nose says yes. I think of it a an almost amber Oriental. This week a friend sent me her Dior Mitzah and I think it could be my favourite-why is it discontinued????
    Best regards,

    Carole

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  22. Years ago I was looking for amber scents which I could use to make soap and lotion, so the enterprising Mr B got on the internet and found TF Amber Absolute on this site called…Perfumed Court. This was gateway drug into total obsession, both with perfume and with amber!

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  24. Oh Gosh, so many.

    Ambre Imperial, Ambre Eccentrico, Ambre Sultan, L’Eau d’Ambre Extreme, Reminicense Amber, Ambre Nuit and Ambre 114.
    I have Ambre Russe but am not exactly enamoured by it…..yet.
    I am sure there are more.

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  26. Hi Portia, I love your list of ambers. I have Ambre Sultan, Amber Aurea, Mitzah and Ambre Precieux. Fall and winter are perfect to pull out the ambers and snuggle up with a good book.
    Sandra xo

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  27. I haven’t tried so many of the scents everyone has mentioned above so my list of favourite ambers is limited but I don’t really mind: I have Shalimar and Youth Dew Amber Nude, and they seem enough.

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  28. This post reminded me today that it was time to start wearing my amber perfumes. So I started with one of my favorites – By Kilian Amber Oud. But, in general, I have many favorites in this genre: Amouage Ubar, Bvlgari Black, Dior Ambre Nuit and Eau de Tommi Sooni II, just to name a few (but I could go on and on and on… 🙂 ).

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  29. It took me ages to come around to amber perfumes, and I think you had a lot to do with that Portia 🙂

    Clear winner for me is Ambre Russe. I loves it so much! Boozy, leathery, smoky goodness. Lasts a day and a half too! Runners up include Fire Amber Baby by Cult of Scent, Mitzah by Dior and Grand Soir by MFK. Great question P! X

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  30. When I first went down the rabbit hole, amber perfumes were the first I tried. Thry also remain the ones that are most likely to last on my scent eating skin. But I cant on the flip side I can’t wear them in warm weather. My favorites are Alahine, Pacificas Spanish Amber, Ambre Aurea, so more on the dry and ambergris side.

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  31. Portia, your post made me realize that I don’t have and don’t know many amber based perfumes. I recently had a sample of Ormonde Jayne’s Amber Royal and liked it very much. It’s a sensual, warm and rich perfume with jasmine and osmanthus.

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  33. Well lookey-lookey. It appears this lady has very few ambers in her collection 😱. Prada l’Eau Ambrée and PG l’Ombre Fauve. Maybe others with supporting amber notes, but that’s it! And I don’t know why, to be honest, cuz I really do love amber. Especially in Orientals. Guess I’ll have to pay attention to this topic, although I don’t really NEED more perfume.

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