It’s sweet, powdery, warm, and can evoke thoughts of alcohol – what could be more appropriate during these cold, dreary days and dark nights? Amber has long been a popular perfume ingredient, particularly in the Ambrée category. It’s featured in multiple perfumer portfolios, spanning the niche (with the likes of Ambre Noire by Angela Flanders and the gloriously seductive Musc Ravageur by Frederic Malle) – to the bigger names of Elie Saab, Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior.
We’ve noticed amber swirling in many of this season’s latest and greatest scents, and handpicked some of our favourite sultry winter warmers…
Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir £86 for 100ml cologne
Buy it at: Selfridges
Nothing says Christmas quite like a limited edition flacon of Jo Malone. Notes include raspberry, pomegranate, plum, jasmine, pink pepper, musk, amber and clove. A warming, almost resinous mix, reminiscent of mulled wine, bottled in an icy-etched bottle, wrapped in a ruby red bow and capped with a cherry-like lid on top. (We love the candle too!)
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Rose Explosion £130 for 100ml eau de parfum
Buy it at: Selfridges
Viktor & Rolf – cult fashion house and creators of blockbuster fragrance Flowerbomb – bring you Rose Explosion, a re-edition of the polarising scent, here created especially for the Middle East. Notes include Moroccan Turkish rose, bergamot, pink pepper, jasmine, olives, oudh and amber.
Etat Libre D’Orange Rien Intense Incense £130 for 100ml eau de parfum
Buy it at: Harrods
Warm and comforting and perfectly powerful. Rien Intense Incense is an Ambrée woody creation, with notes of aldehydes, caraway, bergamot, roses, iris, incense, patchouli, moss, labdanum and amber.
Written by Alice Crocker