Tag: Ambrée

Which amber scents are we wearing for Autumn…?

We don’t know about you, but we’re reaching for our amber fragrances, lately. With their rich, resinous character, amber perfumes are the perfect olfactory companions for autumn. Here we give a quick run-down of what makes a scent part of the ‘amber’ fragrance family, and suggest some glorious modern examples of amber perfumery to try…

 

Firstly: what is an ‘amber’ perfume? Well, these complex creations typically blend labdanum, benzoin, and vanilla to create a soft, sweet, and balsamic accord that wraps around the wearer like a cosy cashmere scarf. Amber fragrances are not only perfect for autumn but will continue to provide solace throughout the winter months. Their warm, enveloping nature serves as a balm for the soul during the coldest, darkest days of the year.

 

amber

 

In the forthcoming Christmas edition of our award-winning magazine, The Scented Letter, we’ll be delving MUCH deeper into the world of amber fragrances. We’ll explore the recent surge in popularity of these comforting scents, tracing the trend back to the first commercial ‘amber’ fragrance. One of our lead features will unravel the confusion surrounding amber resin and ambergris, distinguishing them from the amber accord many perfumers craft for their compositions. We’ve also had the privilege of speaking with some esteemed perfumers about their ideal bespoke amber creations. So, make sure you’re signed up to receive your FREE digital copy of the Christmas edition of The Scented Letter magazine when it lands – it’s going to be a gorgeous feast for the senses!

 

You can also buy fabulous, fragrance-filled back issues of this invaluable guide to the perfume industry in our shop

 

Meanwhile, to whet your appetite for the amber-infused pages to come, let’s explore four contemporary evocations we adore of this beloved amber fragrance family from the past few years…

 

 

 

 

Laboratorio Olfattivo’s Alambar, created by perfumer Enrico Buccella, is a sumptuous interpretation of amber. It opens with a burst of saffron and pink pepper, leading into a heart of rose and geranium. The base is where the amber truly shines, complemented by patchouli, sandalwood, and vanilla. This scent is perfect for crisp autumn evenings, its warmth lingering like the last rays of a setting sun.

£50 for 30ml eau de parfum bloomperfume.co.uk

 

 

 

amber

 

Maison Crivelli’s Ambre Chromatique is a modern twist on the classic amber. Perfumer Quentin Bisch crafted a scent that begins with a surprising note of coffee, which melds seamlessly into a heart of iris and violet. The dry-down reveals a sophisticated amber accord, enhanced by sandalwood and patchouli. This amber is ideal for those brisk autumn mornings when you need an extra boost of warmth and energy (and don’t we all?)

£205 for 50ml extrait de parfum harveynichols.com

 

 

 

 

amber fragrances

 

Shay & Blue’s Amber Rose is a delightful fusion of floral and amber notes, by perfumer Julie Massé. The scent opens with a lush bouquet of roses, softened by peach and brightened by bergamot. As it develops, the amber emerges, intertwining with sandalwood and patchouli to create a velvety base. Ideal for those who prefer their amber scents not to feel too cloak-like and heavy, it’s for autumn days when the sun still holds some warmth, bridging the gap between summer’s florals and winter’s deeper scents.

£65 for 100ml eau de parfum in our shop

 

 

 

 

 

Atkinsons’ Amber Empire is a truly regal interpretation of amber. It begins with a spicy blend of cardamom and coriander, leading into a heart of jasmine and ylang ylang. The base is a luxurious combination of amber, vanilla, and labdanum, creating a scent that’s both opulent and comforting. Absolutely wonderful to wear on those chilly autumn days (and nights) when you want to feel wrapped in warmth and luxury.

£148 for 100ml eau de parfum atkinsons1799.com

 

As we move further into the cooler (and sometimes freezing!) months, these amber scents offer a sensory reminder of the cosiness and comfort we seek during this time of year. So, as you reach for your favourite jumper and a steaming cup of spiced tea, consider adding an amber fragrance to your autumn and winter wardrobe. It might just become your new seasonal signature…

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Fragrance Family Friday: ambrée

As part of our ongoing feature – Fragrance Family Friday – today we focus on: Ambrée. What fragrances are found in this category, and which should you try? (Find a link below, too, for the perfect set to help you explore this category at home…)

With their spices, musks, incense and resins, the Ambrées are rooted in perfume’s own history, using many of the same ingredients today that were first enjoyed in the orient – India and Arabia – at the dawn of fragrance creation.

Ingredients like heliotrope, sandalwood, coumarin, orris, vanilla and gum resins are classically used within an Ambrée fragrance structure – though these can be tweaked, for men, women (and fragrances designed to be ‘shared’).

Seductive, voluptuous and with a va-va-voom, Ambrées tend to feel ‘grown-up’ – and many have a warm, heavy, diffusive richness that’s more suited to after-dark wearing.  They linger sensually on the skin:  they’re heavy on the base notes, which tend to last longer. However, there is a new ‘mini-family’ of fresher Ambrées, with a lighter touch, and a more ‘daytime’ feel.

Many of the original fragrance families have additions and cross-overs of sub-categoreies, so none of them are set in stone, and you’ll find much discussion in books and online, on eactly which fragrances should be in which families. Nobody seems to absolutely agree! So we’ll focus instead on some fragrances you might like to try under the umbrella heading of ‘Ambrée’…

Memoize London are a niche house that excel at crafting exquisite scents – Ambrées being a particular passion of theirs – celebrating ‘the importance of creating a harmonious balance between fragrance and emotion’. The discovery set has been curated to explore the Seven Deadly Sins, with ambrées being the perfect family to explore the sultry, addictive theme, hence why five of the eight fragrances are Ambrée in nature!

 

TRISTISIA

FAMILY: Ambrée
TOP NOTES: red roses, jasmine
HEART NOTES: vanilla
BASE NOTES: oudh, patchouli, civet, amber

A wonderful Ambrée blend with rich red rose and white jasmine top notes beautifully balanced with creamy vanilla heart wrapped in warm base notes of oudh, patchouli, civet and amber.

 

 

Avaritia:

FAMILY: Ambrée
TOP NOTES: orange , bergamot, armoise, Geranium
HEART NOTES: jasmine, cedarwood
BASE NOTES: patchouli, musk, amberwood, sandalwood

Moreish woods with unsparing jasmine will leave you craving for more. An Ambrée blend of amber and patchouli, with sweet musk, interlaced with vanilla and spices, and a top note of citrus and herbs.

 

 

ERA

FAMILY: Ambrée
TOP NOTES: saffron
HEART NOTES: iris, ylang ylang, jasmine
BASE NOTES: myrrh, amber, oudh, leather

A sophisticated and rich Ambrée fragrance that reveals a saffron top note that mingles with a beautiful iris, ylang ylang and jasmine heart. Exotic, warm base notes myrrh, amber, oud and leather create the depth in the blend.

 

 

SUPERBIA

FAMILY: Ambrée
TOP NOTES: rose, ylang ylang, orchid
HEART NOTES: cedarwood, sandalwood, saffron
BASE NOTES: oudh, leather, amber, musk, patchouli

A luxurious fragrance opening with floral top notes of rose, ylang ylang and orchid infused by fine woods resting on a bed of rich oudh wood, leather, amber, musk and patchouli notes.

 

 

BLACK AVARITIA

FAMILY: Ambrée
TOP NOTES: grapefruit, honey
HEART NOTES: ambrette, cistus labdanum, incense, Kashmir fusion, oudh, violet
BASE NOTES: amber, cedarwood, musk, powder, sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver

A woody Ambrée fragrance leading with top notes of grapefruit and honey. A luxurious heart of ambrette, cistus, incense fusion, kashmir fusion, oud and violet, rests on a base of sandalwood, cedarwood, amber, musk, vanilla and vetiver.

 

There’s much to explore in this sumptuous set and we know you’re going to adore it as much as we do. Apart from the five ambrée fragrances we’ve highlighted as a must-try, here; there are a three fragrances to explore, included in the set: Luxuria, a beautiful floral fragrance, opening with waves of juicy cassis and raspberry; Gula, a complex floral weaving jasmine and galbanum with sandalwood, vetiver, vanilla and black musk; and Invidia, a floriental (sub-section of ambrées) marrying white tuberose, orchid and ylang ylang with undertones of woodiness and tobacco.

So prepare to have your senses tantalised by these opulent ambrées and their equally fabulous floral and floriental friends – and be one of the first to discover this new fragrance house…

 

Memoize London Discovery Set £57 – find it here

Abercrombie & Fitch break the mould with new men’s launch First Instinct

Abercrombie and Fitch have been a brand synonymous with gorgeous boys, polo shirts, muscly abs and horse riding, but not any more. To go with a brand new look they have in store, all slick shirts and modern cuts, they’ve released a new fougère fragrance for men, First Instinct.

Inspired by the fearless male, perfumer Phillipe Romano created First Instinct with the hopes of blending a contemporary fragrance that took the fresh facets of fougère scents and combined them with the warmth of ambrées. And what he produced does just that.

First off, it breaks the mould with an unusual top note of melon; fruity notes are uncommon in male fragrances, and with good reason, but this melon blends beautifully with a gin and tonic accord to make for a sparkling and refreshing opening. Clean and crisp on the nose.

Moving on to an inviting heart of green and slightly aqueous violet leaves, there’s a touch of citrus that adds evermore to the freshness of the whole affair, it later trails off with a spicy but soft black pepper. The base is rounded off sweetly with cashmere woods, warm and rich amber, and sueded musk.

Housed in a sleek textured glass bottle that gives the affect of rippling water, we can picture it perfectly on the neck of a sea swept and sun-kissed man. We urge you to have a sniff.

Abercrombie and Fitch First Instinct £30 for 30ml eau de toilette
At Selfridges

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