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fvn877speagoessenda – :
What a beast of a fragrance. From that initial blast of amber to the amazing dry down. This is amazing in every way. It’s a shame that it was discontinued. However, you can still pick up large sample sizes online (even 100ml). But be ready for a hefty price tag. Worth keeping in your collection.
winer0587 – :
Smells like royalty. It’s a cold weather fragrance for the most part but I’m sure it can be worn during summer evenings or rainy days. For amber fragrances this has to be in the top 3 on the planet. On the plus side you wont find many people wearing this as it is discontinued.
Fredi777 – :
It reminds me of the Amber in Soleil Blanc. It probably is the exact same amber used in it. Up close it’s smoky and haylike but from a distance delicate and sweet. This may not be everyone’s cup of tea though. It’s a very true Amber. I hope Tom Ford releases another smoky fragrance like this but with frankincense and myrrh. My mom said I smelled good when I wore this so it must have some appeal.
slavic1980 – :
Unfortunately, I’m a little disappointed – and it’s not the fault of the fragrance. I have always loved amber as a note in my fragrances, and I was searching for an amber “soliflore.” Unfortunately, Tom Ford’s Amber Absolute isn’t what I’m looking for. On me, heavy heady smoky incense. Burning wood. It brings to mind the occasional whiffs of smoke you get from your clothes and hair after a bonfire. Not even a hint of vanilla on me. A scent I would personally regard as much more masculine than feminine. Wonderful composition and performance. Sadly, not what I was searching for.
InfichHic – :
This scent just didn’t do it for me, If I had to sum this one up then it reminds me of L’Occitane Bavx Edt with legs, I’m a big fan of Tom Ford especially Oud Wood and Noir, I’m so pleased I pulled up a sample of this first as I was thinking of going for a blind buy, lucky I didn’t.
DJTOYS – :
Am I the only one that thinks this is remarkably similar to the iconic and now defunct Gucci Envy for Men?? Tom Ford also created that in his Gucci days, before leaving on bad terms. Perhaps this was his way of recreating one of his best pieces.. most of the notes for Amber Absolute are in GE.
Either way I love this fragrance!
315477 – :
This smells pretty darn amazing. I can’t detect individual notes too much but it basically smells of a very oriental amber with frankincense and vanilla, with Middle Eastern vibes and a touch of smoke. It smells very gourmand and has the aroma of a very high-end luxury chocolate dipped in some sort of Middle Eastern sweet. It’s very mysterious and dark yet sweet but in an edible way. It kind of reminds me of the idea of standing in a Middle Eastern spice market but beside someone smoking hookah and selling exotic sweets. I also detect something that smells like very authentic and realistic cedarwood (not the synthetic kind). Sillage is beastmode while longevity is also beastmode.
5/5
Kedrboy – :
A very potent rendition of amber, primed with incense and spices. It’s the big brother of Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille.
More aggressive than Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan. Has some resemblance to Andy Tauer’s L`Air du Desert Marocain, but the incense and darkness are amped up here.
Evokes a serious mood that means all-out business & sophistication.
Superb 4.5 Star
гимлишахтер – :
I’ve got a 8.4oz of this that I am never going to finish. PM me if you’d like me to make you a decant!
nke969bedyWelty – :
Beautiful amber fragrance, wrapped in smokiness whilst lying on a bed of woods. This is a man’s scent, a confident, well dressed classy man. I love it, one of the best from his Private Line. Need to add to my collection. Perfect for formal evening wear in thr colder months. The vanilla adds some sweetness in the backbone, without being overly prominent.
nelipa2 – :
Nothing special. Simple Amber with incense and Vanilla. It is something between Ambre Sultan and Marquis de Sade. But De Sade has much more stronger projection and longevity.
СЕГР – :
Fragrance -Amber Absolute Tom Ford
Bottle from – 2015
Amber Absolute is a sophisticated,heavy,balsamic,dark,smoky and powerful scent.It is a sensual and intense interpretation of amber and incense with a nice touch of moderatly sweet vanilla and a hint of resins.It has some similarities to Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens.
Longevity – 10/10(10+ hours)
Silage/Projection – 9/10(several feet away for the first 3-4 hours)
Weather – best in autumn and winter
Age – 30+
Compliments – 7/10
Scent – 8,5/10
Main notes according to me – amber,incense,vanilla,olibanum,labdanum.
The drydown is beautiful and smoky and i get some – sweetness,vanilla,resins and amber.
Emotions – dangerous,mysterious,decadence,dark vibe elegance.
Occasion -perfect for special occasions and formal events.
Try before you buy.Don’t blind buy this one.
boxivideokurs – :
Absolutely Beautiful Juice!
So confused as to why this had to be taken away again! such a perfect fragrance with perfect performance and projection!
bought 3 back up bottles incase it never returns. its just that good!
10/10
likon – :
Tom Ford worked with nose Christophe Laudamiel to create his Private Blend offering, Amber Absolute. Laudamiel has been the creative genius behind many successful names such as Estée Lauder, Harvey Nichols, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Thierry Mugler and Tommy Hilfiger.
Amber Absolute starts the show with an unbelievable frankincense opening, dense, gentle and smoky. At the heart, notes of amber and woods wiggle their way in. This fragrance truly develops into one of the best amber scents available. Amber Absolute has a fabulous burnt carmel accord that dominates the heart of this fragrance and is warm, smooth and inviting. The vanilla base is slightly sweet and very pleasing, giving Amber Absolute a creamy richness without being overly sweet or heady. The addition of Labdanum assists in balancing this fragrance, but not in the typical powdery finish. It is more luxurious and plays more of a supporting role for the dense amber structure. This is truly a opulent concoction.
Many have compared this one to SL Ambre Sultan. I suppose there are similarities in that both are intense amber frags with a good hit of spices. But where AS draws its sillage from honeyed undertones, AA goes for the booze.
I put it on and the depth is immediately emphasized with Cognac effluves, it’s dizzying in a good way.
Less herbaceous than AS, this one goes for deep darkness, it is thick and dense but not syrupy or cloying.
And its longevity is off the charts!
Amber fans will appreciate this one.
A little goes a long way with Amber Absolute. Sillage is very good and longevity is amazing. This fragrance can still be going strong well over 15 hours after application. Like a fine wine, Amber Absolute only gets better with time. Please don’t make any hasty decisions within the first hour or so. This fragrance needs time to develop for a full appreciation of its complexity. If you are a true lover of amber, this is a fragrance that you shouldn’t live without.
elf_ind – :
Be careful with this perfume: don’t spray too much! It’s so strong, that it feels like it fills whole space around me. It’s good when you go outside and wind and fresh air defuse it strength.
As for aroma itself – it’s good from the moment you spray it till it disappear (after hours and hours!). Amber and vanilla in 50-50 combination. It could be also called Vanilla absolute – amber is not dominant here.
Mebzu578Negeltzex – :
The best ever. The true meaning of a complete fragrance.
arabik – :
Un parfum fort, coriace est très glamour a la fois,
son coté ambré, boisé et encens lui donne un aspect majestueux, sa projection est vraiment trop bonne ainsi que sa longévité, il est surtout conçu pour les personnes qui aiment s’imposer avec leur parfums et donner une allure zen et sénior
il a vraiment tout pour plaire
KilaFeeniatut – :
went to Neiman Marcus Yesterday, smelled maybe a hundred of fragrances, then went to Tom Ford counter, smelled some, and they had a small bottle of amber absolute, By far the best Fragrance I have ever smelled. What is that? how could he discontinue it. I’m not good at notes and I don’t think we should care about it so much, But man, this fragrance is really amazing. Try it if you can.
atorreteothed – :
Oh gosh, it feels so taboo to give a negative review of something with so many positives, that it’s almost impossible to do. It’s like an invisible force compels us to reinforce the weight of opinion – or at least keep diplomatically silent if we disagree.
I adore many a Tom Ford, but Amber Absolute’s strong smokiness with Guaiac-type woody notes just does not add value to my world. After a 1 hour trial and mustering my very best ‘other people’s positive reviews’ bias, I could not go on…
I’m not sure why, but I find AA sickly and just not ‘nice’. It has a kind of smokiness that comes from burning sage incense and cigars, plus those fresh-but-not notes characteristic of some woods. Clash all that with subtle vanilla (which I usually love) and I start to feel slightly nauseous.
Shame. I can feel the quality of this, but no, just no.
MALVI – :
I’m glad the feature on here let’s you click a fragrance that it REMINDS you of but not SMELLS EXACTLY LIKE. Because AS is way doughier, and is missing incense. Those two facts make them very different IMO. The first blast from AS does very much remind me of AA but then they go two separate places, it is two such different places that I did not buy AS but I did AA. Compared with Opus VI to me they are so different it’s not worth comparing. Opus has a florally-soapy aspect and no smoke. Now Opus DOES compare with Fiore d’ Ambre. But Opus just doesn’t have them same resinous woody gooey amber vibe at all to me.
Malax – :
Beautiful and deep amber. That is the strongest accord I get which is what I hoped for. I wish it radiated more on me and lasted a bit longer but it is lovely. However I have Spiritual Sky’s amber oil and even though it has no other notes it is way cheaper. Nothing earth shattering here but lovely and warm with a spiciness to it. To add to this, I get a faint note of patcouli and a bit of a leather scent. Definitely smoky in a good way. Almost reminds me of campfires. Very nice overall.
Kipenie – :
The best;-)
Rodemir – :
This really is divine but it’s so similar to Ambre Sultan, except Ambre Sultan has more edge, is more original, and a lot cheaper. So I can’t justify buying this over Ambre Sultan. But if I got it as a gift, I would love the person who gifted it to me forever! I probably will buy a decant anyway lol. Even if it’s not super original, TF hit it out of the park with Amber Absolute.
parapodiya – :
I FINALLY got my mitts on a 100ml bottle of this GLORIOUS STUFF :o) Like the reviewer below me……10/10 Masterpiece & what more can you say about this fragrance. DIVINE.
insa – :
What more is there to say about this beauty. 10/10 Masterpiece and I’m glad I own a 100ml bottle!
kostik81 – :
The best word i can sum up Amber Absolute with is:
Ancient.
This smells like something has been made in ancient times, B.C etc, you name it…
The incense overpowers the amber on my skin for the most part but it’s not smoky, it’s more of an “edible” handful of incense resins slowly dancing on the skin.
Amber does make a grand entrance when first applied but again, it’s all about those dry ancient incense resins on me.
Vanilla plays beautifully here, carefully peeking behind the resins in a gentle way, adding more comfort and warmth to the whole structure. And the way it does it is simply brilliant.
Let me say this: If Sahara Noir is the grand ceremony of smoky frankincense, Amber Absolute is the whole preparation before the ceremony.
So in a way, Sahara Noir takes over where Amber Absolute left off.
Straight to the top of my favorite resinous scents ever.
An ancient beauty.
kate33333 – :
To put it simply, I bow to Amber Absolute.
To my nose, the opulence is immeasurable in this one. It is the kind of scent that stimulates all my senses as if high voltage is passing through my nervous system. My eyes roll back, my mind travels, my hormones explode, my inhibitions collapse, my anxiety vanishes and I only see good in life.
As we have moved deeply into the winter, Amber Absolu performs at its best. The chilly wind on my face counterbalances the voluptuous smoky ambery warmth supported by an abundance of olibanum and notes of vanilla and resinous woods. So thick, so viscous, so full-bodied, it conjures up an image of a dark brown intoxicating aromatic nebula moving slowly in waves off my chest.
As time passes, the incense rises higher to power and AA becomes darker & intensely smoky and peppery, creating images of dark medieval Gothic chantries, secret rituals & forbidden mysticism. A meditative, dramatic and spiritual creation of unprecedented supremacy.
But this is all about me.
To my disappointment, the majority of friends and relatives that have had the chance to test AA do not seem to share my enthusiasm. They find it off putting due to its “intense smokiness” wondering why someone would want to smell as if “the fire alarm is about to go off” (a weird perception if you ask me).
But this is all about them.
Amber Absolu is a treasured masterpiece in my private collection.
One of a kind.
10/10
afactor – :
A really nice amber. But it smells almost indistinguishable from Kuumba Made Amber Paste oil that I bought for a dollar. I think I might prefer that over this because its richer.
nazar605 – :
With December comming around , I put Amber Absolute into my top 5 again.
I cant remember wanting to keep my hand right at my nose for so long. It is a very beautifull, raw, simple, natural scent.
I have the original vintage, which is the most raw. The labdanum is got to be one of the greatest smells in nature. AA transports me to Israel, and I can imagine scraping the labdanum resin from the Rock Rose bush, and this is what it may smell like.
The Amber or Labdanum is the heart, but it is nicely embelished with fine blending of vanilla, and great warm woody notes.
The fragrance smells a bit toasty, nutty.
Just full of warm, woody goodness.
This is one of my two favorite Private Blends along with Italian Cypress, they are the most manly of the PB’s for me, and AA the most raw and natural of them all.
Rating: 10/10
God Bless you. John 3:16
evanescence – :
I finally tried a small sample of this, and I am rather disappointed.
Previous reviews lead me to believe this was the best amber out there, but unfortunately it is not (Far from it to be honest).
I love Tom Ford’s work in fragrance, he makes bold choices and is not afraid to do something a little different.
However, this is basically the same as Ambre Sultan, which was released long before AA. For the record I don’t like Ambre Sultan either.
With that in mind, even though I do not like either of them, I would buy Ambre Sultan if I did, because it is a third of the price and is essentially the same.
I think the discontinuation/ re-issue of AA has given it a bit of a “Mythic status” that it does not really deserve.
L’Artisan’s L’Eau D’Ambre Extreme still remains my Amber of choice.
vsem-privet – :
Dark ,boozy ,elegant sweet. It is the dream perfum with longevity that u wish for.
Love love love
But not a complemint getter 🙁
Have it for yourself. But a must have.
qwerty1234563456 – :
I know I’m a sucker for amber type scents. Therefore, when I got my hands on Amber Absolute, I definitely was not disappointed! The strength of the incense and the warmth of the amber give off a distinguished appeal!! I believe it leans more towards the masculine side; however, a confident woman can easily pull this off. This is love at first sniff! Definitely made towards the colder evenings, the fragrance radiates off the skin really well!
duzer4 – :
I finally found a 100ml bottle of Amber Absolute and boy is this juice luxurious! At first spray there’s a tangy bitter bit on my skin. That changes within 20 minutes. Shortly after I definitely enjoy the aroma of warm amber perfect during the fall and winter months.
Longevity and Silage is excellent lasting well past 10hrs
Finally thoughts,
What I really find interesting about this juice is that there’s a transformation from tangy bitter vib, then to a warm vib from vanilla/amber and finally it take on a really warm smokey incense/frankincense/smokey blend.
In all this juice is definitely worthy having if you enjoy a robust aroma! 9.5/10
zym – :
Tom Ford Amber Absolute perhaps is as known as much for its power as it is for its quality, falling into the group of Private Blend fragrances (like Tobacco Vanille and Noir de Noir) that are regarded as extremely powerful for EDPs.
The note breakdown is relatively simple and straightforward: amber, incense, vanilla, labdanum, and woody notes. Overwhelming, the amber, vanilla, and incense dominate the experience of the fragrance. In essence, it’s a pure expression of amber mixed with the sweeter vanilla and the spicier/floral elements as well.
I compared Amber Absolute to a few other amber fragrances (Tauerville Amber Flash, By Kilian Amber Oud, Le Labo Benjoin 19), and what’s obvious about Amber Absolute is that it’s perhaps the sweetest amber-dominant fragrances I’ve ever tried (while still being spicy and smoky due to the incense).
I have a 30ml decant but intend to buy a full bottle as the 2015 release is a limited edition, still, to my knowledge, available only at Neiman Marcus / Bergdorf Goodman in the US, and it’s not difficult to imagine that it’ll be discontinued again as the 2007 was.
Again, one of the great performers of all time and certainly of the TFPB, and a must-try for amber lovers and lovers of sweet gourmand winter fragrances alike. Superb.
10 out of 10
Dimmu Mur – :
Finally got a chance to smell/wear the vintage and to be honest compared to the reformulated(which I guess is also now discontinued again apparently? Blah)version off hand couldnt really tell much difference. Maybe the vintage is a little stronger? But that could be me with a placebo effect trying to find something different. Maybe I need to wear them both more but off hand I couldnt really tell a difference.
Speaking of it not around anymore. I gotta be honest im still surprised. I still remember some reviewers saying that the scent was unwearable, its not a scent that can really be appreciated. Its to strong, etc etc. Like those were reasons its gone.
Having had experience now wearing both in public around different people, around younger girls to say that probably dont give a fuck in general if what im wearing cost me a few hundred bucks if you get what im saying. Well… I do get compliments on wearing this. Ive never had anyone tell me I smell out there and strange if anything. I dont have enough of it to say its a crazy compliment getter or something, but the fact is considering some horror stories ive heard about this I just dont really see it. Maybe its because im a light sprayer in general im not sure…
Anyway its a little harsh I suppose at the beginning the incense is pretty strong, its a little thick, and the wood is perhaps a little stanky. But as it starts to dry down the sweetness really comes out, and you get just a great sorta vanilla amber frosting spread out all over a woody base. Its really quite nice.
Performance is not a bomb for me like some people, but maybe thats cuz im easy on the trigger. But longevity is good and ive gotten compliments on this 8-10 hours after its been on people have asked me what im wearing and that I smell good.
So ya not a huge fan of the opening as it is a little out there for awhile, but even then, as long as someone isnt up on your junk the scent trail of this is still generally pleasing I think, and after that you get a great long dry down that even when taking a lot in at once everyone can enjoy I think.
As for the comparisons to TO I dont really get them. TO is legit pretty hard to pull off I think unless your vibe is right for sure.
Энгельс – :
I picked up a bottle last year while travelling around the US (it is criminally difficult to find in Australia, as previously mentioned).
Upon first application you are slapped in the face with a spicy, incensey, amberish tidal wave, and you think “woah! too much!!”. However it settles within 30 minutes to a very nice amber scent. It does however fade to a more sweet vanilla after 4 or so hours, so by the end of the day I smell like a warm, slightly spiced, vanilla treat.
I always get compliments when I wear this, so the sillage and strength are good. Would I buy it again? Probably not. There is nothing complex about it, nor particularly intriguing. But I love having it in my collection for those days and indeed nights, when only a warm amber scent will do.
krett – :
After reading fables about the immortal Amber Absolute I was fortunate to get my hands on this rare gem.
Most re releases of popular Tom Fords don’t make it here to Australia so I counted my blessings when I saw it available.
I’ve been after a full bodied robust amber of this quality for quite some time after acquiring Hermes Ambre Narguile ( very sweet and syrupy with a honey/cinnamon note) and Dior’s Ambre Nuit (dominated by rose and pepper which drowns out the zephyr of amber in my opinion,still high quality nevertheless but not what I was truly looking for)
I was also dancing around Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan but didn’t pull the trigger on that one and so glad I didn’t.
When you first spray Amber Absolute the incense is immediately evident and a pungent medicinal vibe from the labdanum and myrrh fills up your nostrils.Its intoxicating and quite full on in those initial stages.
The opening stanza reminds me of the incense note from Tom Ford Bois Marocain.
Amber is still there but not quite taking centre stage.
The amber appears to grow in intensity the longer its on my skin and the smooth vanilla,which is not overly sickly sweet, blends nicely during the mid to drydown stages.
The rough edges are smoothed out at this point too,becoming less medicinal but still intoxicating.
Longevity is a respectable 8 hours,by that stage its a smooth wafty vanilla and amber skin scent with a twist.
I wouldn’t say Amber Absolute is a particularly alluring scent but I don’t think that it is meant to be either.
Its more a statement perfume and definitely not one for the faint hearted as its quite loud and proud.This is one of those fragrances you wear for yourself.It has that cosying feel to it after the initial onslaught.
Most definitely a autumn/winter evening fragrance and I can’t wait to wear it as the evenings start to cool.
Thanks for bringing this one back Tom as a first time AA believer.
nictofik – :
I put a small quantity on my neck and both wrists. It has been going strong for hours. This is potent juice on my skin. I quite like the richness of this fragrance. It has a greasy, frankincense, beautiful amber smell. This fragrance smells high quality and it is.
If you can afford it, I highly recommend this. I picked up a small decant and may increase the decant size next time around.
izw382Negeltzex – :
I love Tom Ford fragrances and I have more than a few, but this one is not my favorite. It has a dusty, dry and heavy feel. Smells somewhat dirty, and not in an interesting or sexy way. Reminds of the old school fragrances like Pour Lui by Oscar de la Renta. This is not a good blind buy…try it first.
falled – :
Shortly after I got into niche perfumery I discovered Ambre Sultan, but I found the opening a little hard to stomach, and I wanted something darker, so I was excited to learn that there was a supposed amber powerhouse that resembles AS, except it was discontinued.
After all the hype, fans and I rejoiced when Amber Absolute came back; I finally got to try it!
Unfortunately it didn’t meet my expectations.
It resembles Tobacco Oud at first, but the amber “punch” only lasts ~5 min, then turns into an uninteresting shadow with very low silage.. Inferior to both TO and AS I thought…
I gave it another try some days later and had to wear a jacket because of the weather, and as soon as I took it off, my arm RADIATED with this sweet resinous (almost chocolately) juice; this is when I finally understood the comparison to AS, just a little less sweet, warm, and feminine, but sprinkled with light smoke, dust, and masculinity! Apparently all it needed was some warmth from the skin! Now I like it as much as AS!
*However, I DON’T think Tobacco Oud is a failed attempt to recreate AA; it has a darker, more complex & aromatic opening and is different in drydown.
vagner – :
Absolutely beautiful fragrance. It’s dry, rich, warm and smokey/incense with a sweet undertone. My dad said it smells of ‘hippy sandalwood’ which must be his way of describing incense. This is my favourite fragrance in my collection so far
Zhenya26let – :
DIVINE!!!
…Peace…
gurwin2010 – :
This perfume is back in production,i saw it at 2 websites
alexfssp – :
So what to say, this is the sent that introduced me to the TOM FORD house of fragrances. I have been wearing this sent since 2008 and as a matter of fact my decanter has a serial number of A67 (June 2007). I sprayed it on a piece of paper in Neiman Marcus (Las Vegas) while searching for a Robert Talbot Seven fold tie. I thought it was repulsive along with Purple Patchouli and left the paper in the car. When I returned to my car about an hour later there was this wonderful incense and amber sent that filled my car. Right then I went back and bought the decanter!
For the last 7 years it has been a real journey trying to conserve the only bottle I had. I found that it is best during the winter months but will work during the summer when layered with Mandarino Di Amalfi. One spray is all you need because it is as extremely powerful juice. I still have 60% of the decant left to illustrate how little is needed. The hang time on this fragrance is unreal, I have under shirts that I have washed and the sent is still detectable! I have gone 18 hours and the fragrance was still going strong on my skin. While I have several others bottles from the house AA is by far my favorite with Plum Japonais a close second. Plum Japonais (PJ) is much more versatile that AA! AA is in your face fragrance screaming “you will love me” if not I really don’t give a *hit because I’m just that bad *ss, while PJ is just beautiful and seductive fragrance. When AA was released again earlier this year I bought 2 extra decanters on the spot! PS there is no discernible difference between the new and old fragrances. Tobacco oud does have a similar base (incense in particular) to my nose minus the tobacco note so I can see how it may have been made to replace AA. This fragrance is a beast and worth every penny!!!!! This fragrance does remind me of Christmas and like Lavender Palm (being LA in a bottle) I feel this is defiantly Christmas in a bottle 🙂
Update 3/15/16: So I’ve had the new and old versions for a little while and there indeed is a small difference between them. It’s very subtle (and it could be the aging process of the old one), not bad but subtle. The new version is a little more wearable and a little less in your face. I only noticed the difference when i had both bottles sitting next to each other. Both are still worth every penny!
Shtoha – :
I smelled this at Bergdorf Goodman(NYC) a few months ago. It was still technically the summer season so I knew this would not work for me at that time. I heard it was a great scent and heavy but I did not know exactly how it smelled. I was talking to the Tom Ford sales rep and mentioned this fragrance being discontinued and was upset Italian Cypress was being discontinued. She lit up with joy and pulled out a small sprayer bottle and said that the Nieman Marcus brand was the only company in the US to get the scent. I smelled it and immediately thought of Christmas. The scents in the air of sweetness in stores from colognes. Baked goods. Anything sweet and delicious. I fell in love and knew I needed to own it. I have worn it from Thanksgiving Day until New Years Day and then it is back in the cooler until next year. I need to preserve this as long as possible since it is now discontinued again from what I was told.
sergey77 – :
For me, this is a perfume of two halves, the first half being amber and the second half being incense.
Unfortunately, I find both of those halves to be a little too extreme. It opens as an incredibly sweet, syrupy amber. The vanilla is strong. At first, it felt warming, comforting and all round lovely, but after a while, I started to sicken of it, much like eating too much of a gorgeous dessert. If there’s such a thing as too resinous in an amber, that’s what this is for me.
The second half sees the amber fade somewhat and the sweetness is replaced by strong incense. If you’re an incense lover, this will be right up your street, but for my personal tastes, I only enjoy incense when it’s fairly restrained. Here, it catches at the back of my throat and slightly itches at my nose. It is unashamedly smoky and heady.
It’s a powerhouse, that’s for sure. I’d advise spraying very lightly. Too in-your-face for me, but obviously well loved by many.
Strong sillage, 8 hours longevity.
shumacher12 – :
my love for this house is out of control i personally own a few of the private scents exclusively so you know im a tom ford fan boy lol but im defiantly not a fan of this scent 🙁
it opens with a almost sweet blast of amber thanks to the vanilla followed by smoke and incense which is where this scent begins to turn for me
the smoke and incense is very dominant and some would even say harsh but like the yin (amber sweetness) and the yang (smokey incense) it helps balance this out even tho i would have been ok with just the yin ;P
if i had to compare this to anything else id say tobacco oud which i happen to personally find easier to wear
anything past 2 or 3 sprays and thats me being nice would clear a room as it seems to always be firing on all cylinders which makes this one hard to wear (projection is beast mode)
if this was used as a room spray (expensive room spray) or blended into a candle it would get more love from me but i can defiantly still appreciate the artistry behind this
in my humble opinion even tho you can get a similar experience from Serge Lutens – Ambre Sultan at a fraction of the price it simply doesn’t compare in quality so if your in the market for something along those lines make sure you stop and test this one
on to the next
CREK – :
This the ONLY amber fragrance I’ve tried that I like, and it is more than like; it is love. I loathed SL’s Amber fragrance because of the unbearably medicinal stench. I’ve tried countless others but none can hold a candle to this.
I am reminded of the crisp, resinous aroma of fallen leaves in autumn with a bit of smoke from a distant fire wafting through the treetops. This is quite the powerhouse; just two or three spritzes and it lasts all day and into the deep night. While there is a bare hint of something medicinal, it mellows out finely on my skin to a rich, warm somewhat animalic and completely true amber.
There is a shot of booze here as well; a high-end cognac served up. I would wear this at a gentleman’s club, sitting next to a roaring fireplace with pipe smoke swirling about.
I have found it layers beautifully with TF Santal Blush as well as Olympic Orchids Woodcut. Santal Blush to me is a bit bland on its own but morphs into the most lovely autumn fragrance once Amber Absolute is introduced. Woodcut gives it that burning leaves smell so if you love a smoky aspect to your fragrances (and I do) then give it a try.<br