Words by Maya Avram
When we talk about amber fragrances, there’s no one-size-fits-all. Amber is an accord – a curated blend of plants, spices and fruit, which means that no two are the same. “It’s basically a ‘fantasy’ note, based on conceptual creation rather than a direct extraction,” says Aamna Lone (@perfumeconnoisseurz on Instagram), a fragrance expert trained in chemistry whose dedicated social channels have amassed almost 150K followers across TikTok and Instagram. “Amber accords vary widely depending on a perfumer’s vision or creative direction. For example, Opoponax (an earthy resin) may be added for its rich, honeyed and animalic depth, while Ambrofix (a synthetic note) offers muskiness and effervescence.”
The amber accord is designed to take you on an emotional journey, ever since the perfumers of Ancient Egypt first alchemised labdanum, frankincense and benzoin. Here, we curated the new ambers that carry that tradition with pride, honouring times and places with their warm, enveloping profile.
Exclusive
The latest collaboration between Ex Nihilo and master perfumer Jordi Fernández, this perfume pays tribute to evenings in Dubai, or, more specifically – the moment between twilight and dusk, when the red sunset gleams over the city’s awakening nightlife. Injected with juicy mandarin and raspberry it’s the perfect summer amber.
Part of the Goldfield & Banks’ Botanical Series, which celebrates potent local herbage in the brand’s native Australia, Tales of Amber is earthy and resinous, evoking the feeling of sun-warm skin. “There is an Australian DNA, an earthiness to its aromatic notes,” said Dimitri Weber, founder and CEO of the brand. “I’m all about ingredients – what you see is what you get.”
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Expanding on the alluring Armani/Privé's 1001 Nuits Haute Couture series, Cuir Nu is a rich melody of unlikely combinations. Perfumer Delphine Lebeau developed it over a couple of years until she felt the scent perfectly captured Mr Armani’s sartorial decadence, balancing masculine leather and coffee with romantic rose.
Exclusive
For this Harrods exclusive fragrance, Jo Malone London embarked on a journey through the mountains of Andalusia, Spain. After scouring the region for a sample of Labdanum that aptly captures the luminescence and earthiness of the hills during golden hour, Celine Roux, head of fragrance at the brand, bottled the sample that smells like a perfect summer evening.
Amber is closely linked to mysticism, a dynamic best captured by this glowing scent. The raw materials that went into creating this fragrance came from China, Somalia and India, seasoned with notes of incense and benzoin that make it light and wearable no matter the season.
As every perfume connoisseur will know, Jusbox’ universe is a bridge between its founder’s love of music and creative olfactory vision. Golden Serenade is a homage to The Glenn Miller Orchestra’s 1941 rendition of Chattanooga Choo Choo, an iconic swing tune that captures the warmth of that era.
A scent created on the foundation of our shared values – namely craftsmanship and tradition – Reflets d’Ambre honours our 175th anniversary with a warm olfactory embrace. Its amber accord base exudes a powerful allure, balanced with sharp pink pepper and lofty grandiflorum jasmine, coming together in a delightfully complex profile.
With amber melding together ingredients from far and wide, the link to travel only feels natural. Complementing notes of Indian cardamom, dark woods, patchouli, incense, vanilla and rose create a layered profile that begs a second (or third) spritz, while added Mirabelle plum oil offers a hydrating dry down.
Fantasy is interwoven deep into Mizensir’s DNA, so you can expect its ode to amber to be equally legendary. Made with ambergris, whose origin has been contested since the dawn of time (and even rumoured to be dragon slime), this luminous perfume maintains its vitality thanks to a surprising blend of citrus, florals, woods, musks, and finally – bourbon.
While its warm profile lends itself well to autumn, different notes blends make amber incredibly versatile depending on the season and weather. “Amber has a strong silage, so it can be worn in summer to prevent a cloying smell, which can happen in warm weather,” says Lone. For a signature summery blend, she suggests layering your amber with lighter notes, such as aldehydes or citrus.
“Gourmand notes tend to pair harmoniously with amber accords,” says Lone. “Incense in particular is fabulous to partner with amber, as seen in revolutionary fragrances like Mitsouko from Guerlain. There also is a rise in ‘boozy’ ambers that incorporate rum, whiskey or other traditional spirit notes. This combination is extremely popular due to the photorealistic smell that is still highly wearable.”
According to Lone, the rare ingredients that go into the most luxurious amber fragrances warrant a high price tag. “Many amber fragrances are made. Formulated with ingredients like ambrettolide or labdanum, which are far less volatile, they evaporate more slowly and boast greater longevity and projection,” leaving you deliciously fragrant for longer.
Handpicked by our editors, writers and buyers, these new fragrance drops will quickly become the favourites you reach for again and again.
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