I have always loved the smell of amber in perfumery. Ages ago, I was told by a not-very-well-informed pharmacist-herbalist that amber aroma came from a tree — it was "just the resin" of a fragrant plant from India. I took him at his word until I went into a Beverly Hills aromatherapy boutique and asked for amber essential oil. The clerk grimaced and said: “There is no such thing.” Abashed, I did not ask for an explanation and one was not offered. Investigations commenced.
The scent of "amber" (as most of us know it) is an Indian creation — a blend of fragrant oils, waxes, gums, resins and powders. Amber is used in Ayurvedic medicine as a calming agent; its use relaxes one for enlightening meditation or…good sex. This fragrance blend may have been created to mimic the scent of rare and expensive ambergris — thus the name "amber" (derived from the Arabic word "anbar", meaning "ambergris"). Amber recipes vary widely, but most contain benzoin, sandalwood, patchouli, and frankincense; myrrh, vetiver, agarwood, cedarwood, and any number of spices and floral notes may be added to the mix. In the delicious-smelling, waxy amber cubes I buy to scent cabinets, boxes and myself, I can smell beeswax, sandalwood, benzoin, frankincense and a hint of rose. I love most ambers. Only ambers drenched with musk give me pause and remind me of a barnyard — smelled through a haze of perfume.
L’Occitane’s Amber is elegant and refined (perhaps too refined). It is sweet, powdery, mildly resinous, with a balsamic vanilla note. I wish one or two "loud-mouthed" ingredients had been tossed in — patchouli, cedar, smoky incense, or spice (coriander, cumin). I let several people sample Amber Home Perfume spray and the verdict was unanimous: all considered the room spray aroma "very feminine".
Amber Home Perfume is tenacious in both room spray and candle formulations. It smells "rich" but is reasonably priced at $23 for a 100 ml spray. The hammered-glass bottle is handsome and best of all: label-less.
Amber Home Perfume is available at L’Occitane online or in the brand's many boutiques.
Great article, Kevin! Amber is easily my favourite “note” in perfumery and was, like you, surprised to find that amber is actually a concept, a mimicking of ambergris, rather than a note per se. L'Occitane's home spray is just lovely, albeit a bit sweet for my taste, but Candid Fruit blows me away. Have you tried it?
Triple “oops” for the triple post!
Politely butting in to say: deleted your duplicates (this commenting system is not what it should be!) and I'm sure Kevin will answer you eventually, but thought I would let you know that Victoria has reviewed the Candied Fruit:
https://nstperfume.com/blog/_archives/2005/10/11/1289726.html
Feel free to butt in anytime, R
Thanks for the link, off to check it out…
I'll try the CF tomorrow…I work a block from the L'Occitane store. K
I'll have to try this, though it sounds like perhaps a bit too sweet for my taste. I adore amber, but only when it's “dry”. Has anyone tried L'Occitane's Neroli perfume? Incredible! Would be great to see a review here.
It is sweet. I wish perfumers (and perfume BUYERS) didn't love the amber-vanilla combo so much — drier, resinous ambers are my favorites too. I'll try the Neroli next time I'm in the shop. K
Is one of the most beautyfoul home fragrances very strong and very chic and in [colllaboration] with the candle is perfect.It is also availiable in the form of concentrated home fragrance which is an oil for use in a lamp vaporaiseur [the porcellain ring that goes up to a light bulb] and it gives a 24 hour room fragrance.
Another way of room fragrance is lamp burger .It maybe a bit costly but is also very decorative and it has a huge collection of perfumes the bests for me are Ambre and Sous le figuier a very beautyfoul fig fragrance. I use almost every day ambre both occitaine and berger and all my friends say i't s tha fragranced house.
There's also a beautiful version of occitane's amber in eau de toillete who resemblance the amber home fragrance but is more deep and is the most beautiful amber i ever used .Is one of my standard perfumes and i always have nice remarks and questions about it.You should review it.