Year: 2010
Notes: spices, tobacco, amber
Comment: Ambre Noire is part of the Collection Noire / Eau de Parfum review
Originally sampled with no real expectations, Ambre Noire is a commendable rendition of amber.
With a flurry of spices and an underlying pipe tobacco chord, the composition is raw, dark, sensual and exotic. Ambre Noire's closest point of comparison would probably be Serge Lutens' Ambre Sultan, but with the spices and tobacco replacing Ambre Sultan' herbaceous slant. Exuding an oriental warmth, it's also dry in its general demeanour, with a noticeable boozy nuance running throughout.
Unfortunately, as it further evolves, it becomes less engaging. The amber settles down and allows the tobacco to co-exist with it on an even keel, resulting in some of its splendour being lost. With a juxtaposing creamy and earthy drydown, the tobacco continues to pulsate alongside the amber in relative unison.
All in all, it's definitely one of the better 'off the beaten track' amber scents. But, even for an Eau de Parfum, its tenacity and sillage are both modest. If it had more substance, one would have enjoyed it a lot more.
With a flurry of spices and an underlying pipe tobacco chord, the composition is raw, dark, sensual and exotic. Ambre Noire's closest point of comparison would probably be Serge Lutens' Ambre Sultan, but with the spices and tobacco replacing Ambre Sultan' herbaceous slant. Exuding an oriental warmth, it's also dry in its general demeanour, with a noticeable boozy nuance running throughout.
Unfortunately, as it further evolves, it becomes less engaging. The amber settles down and allows the tobacco to co-exist with it on an even keel, resulting in some of its splendour being lost. With a juxtaposing creamy and earthy drydown, the tobacco continues to pulsate alongside the amber in relative unison.
All in all, it's definitely one of the better 'off the beaten track' amber scents. But, even for an Eau de Parfum, its tenacity and sillage are both modest. If it had more substance, one would have enjoyed it a lot more.
