.
Portia
.
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:
- Ambre Céruléen by Huitième Art
- L’Eau d’amber by L’Artisan Perfumer
- Ambre Narguilé by Hermès
- Ambre Russe by Parfum d’Empire
- 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.
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.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
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!
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
Yes, bunheads unite! Hope your feet remained unscathed by pointework…
Eden d/c the amber resin a while back, such a shame 😦
LikeLike
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 😉
LikeLike
👍 on SSS Winter Woods, CM8!
Have you removed the vanilla pods from the “mother” oil or are you basically leaving them in to continue macerating?
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
WOW! What a knockout line up Brigitte.
Nice to see someone else loves their amber as much as I do.
Portia xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ambers are so perfect for that in between weather, right?
LikeLike
And congrats to Old Herbaceous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations, Old Herbaceous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
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!
LikeLike
I forgot about Ambre Sultan! Yes that is a good one too! And do get your nose on Mitzah…I like that one too.
LikeLike
Jyotsna!
I bloody forgot Mitzah. Although it IS an amber I don’t put it in the category because it has so many bells & whistles attached.
Portia xx
LikeLike
Lyric Woman is so gorgeous!
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
Congratulations on your win.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
YUM OH,
Ambre des Merveilles is gorgeous. So you do have a couple of ambers already?L’Artisan did a really good job back then and have continued with the quality.
Portia xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, I don’t own any, I’ve just tried the Hermes and Prada at Sephora. I have and like several L’Artisan fragrances, but not L’Eau d’Ambre, which I’ll have to try!
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
p.s. I now really want to try Ambre Russe.
LikeLike
Ambre Russe is amazing Crikey. Scott wears it a lot around here so I don’t get mine out son much anymore. Concerted efforts to this next 12 months.
Portia xx
LikeLike
Oh yesss! Beeootiful.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My daughter is on her second bottle of the E Coudray. 😊
LikeLike
Glad to see that someone else appreciates it.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
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!
LikeLike
Thanks, cassieflower, I’m in Aus, but will have a look around. Definitely worth having a full bottle.
LikeLike
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
LikeLike
The E Coudray is damn good.
LikeLike
Yep, a lovely drydown. And also a stellar lily frag!
LikeLike
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. .
LikeLike
OMG, I forgot about Ambre Loup…I have not worn it in so long but it is time to bring it out again!
LikeLike
Ambre 114!! I love it too and have a bottle here that gets regular spritzing. Where was my head as I made this list?
Portia xx
LikeLike
With so many lovelies in your collection how can you remember them all, right?
LikeLike
HA! Embarrassing but true
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
Another forgotten beauty – Grand Soir!
LikeLike
OOO Costume National 21! I had been meaning to try that one. Good to know it’s a great amber!
LikeLike
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 ✌🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
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
LikeLike
Unusual and wonderful indeed 👍🏻 and definitely YUM x2 🙂
Thanks for your short description of L’artisan, i will have to sample it ✌🏻
LikeLike
Milky rice? You and Portia have officially convinced me to seek it out!!!
LikeLike
That’s awesome Brigitte 👍🏻 Maybe after you get it and wear it, you could leave some impressions here 🙂 i am curious if you’ll fall in love with it ✌🏻
LikeLike
Ditto!
LikeLike
Rania J’s Ambre Loup. Profvmvm Roma’s Ambra Aurea.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
I like Prada Amber and Ambre Sultan.
LikeLike
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. 🤔
LikeLike
😮
What do you dislike about the ambre narguile?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I soooo dislike cinnamon, for a start. 😀 And it is sickly sweet, as well as spicy. Made me nauseated. Perhaps I would think differently now, a couple of years on, but seriously doubt it. I hate cinnamon. Oh, did I mention that? 😁
LikeLike
I think you may have mentioned your strong dislike of cinnamon before😉. I, on the other hand, love it. In food, beverage or perfume.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s all yours. I do however like Langdale’s Essence of Cinnamon in hot milk. 😊
LikeLike
I also forgot to mention that there’s a cinnamon schnapps called Goldschlager that I’m verry fond of🤪
LikeLiked by 1 person
Spice twins! I grew up with cinnamon buns as one of our local traditional baked goods and find cinnamon a must in apple cakes and many other types of food and beverages.
LikeLike
Voting up on the cinnamon. That’s why I want some vintage Youth Dew. Cassie, can you recommend any other fragrances with a prominent cinnamon note?
LikeLike
Have you tried Spicebomb? It’s well titled, but you might have to wrestle your hubby for it😏 there’s also cinnamon in the Ambre et Vanille so it’s a win win, have you sought out a sample yet? And, even though it’s now discontinued, you might catch sight of it somewhere, L de Lolita Lempicka was heavy on the cinnamon. Kicking my own ass that i didn’t stock up on this!
LikeLike
Jumping in — if you REALLY want cinnamon, try Dasein Autumn. It is a cinnamon bomb. But try it first, because some reviewers have hated it. It’s not sweet, it is cinnamon bark.
LikeLiked by 1 person
All cinnamon tecs received with glee 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Val, how do you go using cinnamon in your baking?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t use it. I will use allspice and nutmeg. 🙂
LikeLike
I found it sweet as well. While I don’t dislike sweet I did pass my sample on to a good friend who was dying to try it because sadly, the Hermessences don’t have much lasting power on my skin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe your fingers were slick with Musc Pallida 😱😂😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahahahaha. Damn good chance. 😄
LikeLike
Too many to list. Among others:
– SL Chergui
– TF Amber Absolute
– Arabian Oud Kalemat
– Dior Elixir Precieux Amber Oil
– Dior Mitzah
– Profumum Roma Ambre Aires
LikeLiked by 1 person
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.
LikeLike
I really hate auto correct…that should have been Ambra Aurea!
LikeLike
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!
LikeLike
OMG how could I have forgotten Amber Nude. I adore that😍
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
Hey Kathleen,
YOUTH DEW!!! Great choice.
I have Amber Nude but it lasts about 20 minutes on me and sinks into my skin without trace.
Is that Anna Pliska the one in the knitted bottle cover?
Portia xx
LikeLike
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!
LikeLike
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?
LikeLike
So many food ambers! I forgot about Ambre Precieux. Reading over everyone’s list, I estimate that I probably have 75%!of them either as a decant, a partial bottle or a FB (and maybe a backup).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I meant GOOD ambers, GOOD. I don’t think Amber tastes good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ALAHINE! Howe could I forget her. So good.
MMKinPA, we are amber twins.
Portia xx
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh GINA! I forgot the Annick Goutals!!
Naughty me.
Portia xx
LikeLike
Oooh yes Ambre Fetiche. Second bottle of this!
LikeLike
Can you say a bit more about Amber Flash? I have some of the other “Flashes” and I like them, but haven’t tried that one.
LikeLike
Love amber. Lots of my favourites already listed: Ambre Russe, Mitzah, Winter Woods, Mitzah, Ambre Nuit, MdO Ambre, Amber Flash.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can’t believe I didn’t buy a bottle of Ambre Nuit before it was DCd. BUMMER!
MdO Ambre is another that sinks into my skin.
Portia xx
LikeLike
Ambre des Merveilles is my only fb ambre. Time to bring it to the front row.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent choice AnnieA.
Portia xx
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
Hey Ingeborg,
I too am an Yves Rocher Voile d’ Ambre fan. YUM!
So wearable at any time.
Portia xx
LikeLike
I love the Amber Flush Body oil. It is such a rich and comforting amber!
LikeLike
My most fav. Amber perfume may be Ambre Russe while other likes include Lutens Ambre Sultan and Ford Amber Absolute.
LikeLike
Very nice selection Fazal.
Portia xx
LikeLike
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…
LikeLike
We are a crew of shameless enablers here Melanie.
Portia xx
LikeLike
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
LikeLike
Hey there Carole,
Lovely line up.
Mitzah is still available in Paris stores. They make a limited amount every two years. It only comes in 250ml bottles.
Coromandel is amber heavy to me also. MMMMM
Portia xx
LikeLike
I agree with you on the Coramandel. Amber to my nose too.
LikeLike
Yes, yes, yes on including Shalimar 🤩
LikeLike
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!
LikeLike
Same here Jackie.
LikeLike
HA! JackieB,
The Perfumed Court helped many of us down the hole.
Portia xx
LikeLike
I have a few in this category that I like, but I reckon Tom Ford’s Amber Absolute is the hands-down winner for me.
LikeLike
Did they re-release it, or reformulate?
LikeLike
I bet you smell lovely in it too Greg.
Portia xx
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
Hey Sue!
I love VC&A Ambre Imperial too. Delicious!
Portia xx
LikeLike
It’s probably pretty close to being my favourite amber xx
LikeLike
How could I forget Fort & Manle Amber Absolutely – so good 😊
LikeLike
Bloody hell Melanie,
Good call. Raise will be furious with me.
Portia x
LikeLike
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
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
…. And I forgot to mention Jicky which turns to amber quite quickly on me.
LikeLike
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… 🙂 ).
LikeLike
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
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here Neva. I’ll check my stash. I’m sure I have several with prominent amber notes, but they probably have loads of other notes as well.
LikeLike
Have any of you tried Estee Lauder’s Amber Mystique? Thoughts?
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike