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Xeroxddsfk – :
I agree with others, this isn’t a scent for everyone, but I love it!
Cigarette smoke? Yes. Like Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille with less Vanille, much in the same way that Nirvana Bourbon was Tobacco Vanille without the Tobacco.
This is sweet resinous pipe tobacco. And I mean, they NAILED IT! When I was a kid, we kept candy in these airtight glass pipe tobacco containers, that were just like the airtight candy jars you see today. No matter how many times they were washed, the rubber seals always retained the smell of the pipe tobacco they originally housed. As soon as I smelled this, it instantly smelled familiar and it took me forever to realize where I’d smelled this before!
This isn’t a scent for the prude, this is a scent for those who partake. If tobacco offends you in real life, you might not want to wear this – but you will likely still appreciate it on others as it’s still pleasant.
Notes aside, something about this also reminds me of the smoky sweet part of Tuscan Leather. If you like Tuscan Leather or Tobacco Vanille, you WILL love this!
The Elizabeth and James Nirvana series continues to amaze me with scent quality since Bourbon and Rose. (I own both) I keep finding resemblances with Tom Ford fragrances, and I’m personally not complaining about that at all. There’s nothing wrong with finding inspiration in other scents, and I think their creativity will benefit from it – and I believe it has with Nirvana French Grey, but I’ll need to sample French Grey a bit more before I can review that one.
Overall, projection is rather discrete, but this is another E&J scent that’s perfectly suited for both men and women and the scent quality is awesome!
oldemidow – :
The first time I sampled this, I thought I was in love with it. I certainly was with Nirvana Black! Now with this one, I’m confused.
The opening is a boozy vanilla with some woodiness and florals, but the boozy & slightly smoky vanilla steals the spotlight. Dark, thick, mysterious. Similar to YSL Black Opium to me.
The middle is an absolute nightmare on my skin! Straight up cigarette smoke. Not the sexy tobacco everyone’s raving about- I’m talking casino cigarette smoke. This part induces a slight headache for me.
But once I get past that part (and maybe rub some off of my skin) it settles down in a similar way to its opening but becomes a more intimate skin-scent version. The “casino smoke” has finally settled into a mellow, sweet tobacco with a trace of vanilla and florals still. Once it gets to this stage that I like, it becomes such a skin scent that there’s no projection 🙁 Oh, Amethyst.
Александр1616 – :
Not everyone would like this one but I love it.
To my nose it’s a boozey floral tobacco.
Very feminine in a Tomboyish way. Starts out dusty them turns smooth. It’s actually stronger as it dries. Very long lasting. 12+ Unisex if you love a feminine type scent.
I may sound like I’m contacting myself but basically this is very sweet and some ladies may find it a bit to masculine because of the tobacco note. This is not a fresh green tobacco, it’s a used ash tray type tobacco mixed with floral.
Some men may find it to feminine because of the floral.
I grew up when people would smoke like trains in the bars and clubs and well, basically this smells like The Black Rose piano bar did at 5am on a Sunday morning. Smoke, Grog, Sweat and Cheap Perfume. Now that, could be very off putting for many people. Call me crazy, I just can’t get enough.
If you love super sweet and love ashtray tobacco, with boozy type nuisance, give it a try.
It’s not for everyone as I said but for me it’s a A+
atlantaxxv – :
Amethyst is very smooth and creamy in feel. Nothing is harsh or ragged…just substantial smooth creamy waves all the way.
It’s relatively linear but it’s mostly vanilla infused tobacco over a sweet honeysuckle, with a grounding note of cedar that never gets annoying or artificial. Wears pretty quietly and lasts a good 6 hours on my skin. It definitely behaves in a manner that you could wear it anywhere, and not because it’s trying to be all things to everyone…it’s just understated and grown up enough to lend a touch of class wherever you may be, and is classy enough to wear to any sort of occasion.
Definitely Amethyst stays in line with their androgynous aesthetic, anyone could wear this perfume, provided they are fans of darker woody notes.
req – :
This was a blind buy and am I ecstactic!! This smells amazing, boozy, dreamy. The honeysuckle with the tobacco notes mixes so well. I would call this almost a niche scent. This is my kinda fragrance. I hope, I hope the longevity and sillage is great….pleaseee.
The bottle is gigantic whoaaaa. Happy about that. I got this on Zulily , yes I get a lot of my mainstream perfumes on there.
Quality is amazing! I going to try the other Elizabeth & James, Bourbon is my next buy.
MaXon51 – :
When I first got my travel-size of this, I really liked it. However, as time has stretched on I find the one-notedness of the honeysuckle (all I get on my skin) to be cloying. The travel-size is almost gone; I won’t be replacing it.
matdial – :
Very soft skin scent. Does not project at all – office-safe. Sweet tobacco. There is the tiniest bit of spice in here. Pleasant, sweet – Unisex.
I like tobacco scents but prefer some others: Tobacco & Mandarin by JML, Bvlgari Man in Black, Spicebomb.
This is fine – kind of a beginner’s tobacco for those who want to dip their toes in or those who want a subtler and sweeter scent – even though I would argue that tobacco is naturally sweet-smelling.
yamaha93 – :
As a guy this is probably one of the best perfumes I’ve smelled. Soft, warm, creamy, musky, powdery, a hint of vanilla tobacco, almost dreamy.
Recdan – :
Initially I was browsing Sephora when I saw the intriguing shape of the roller-ball bottles. I hadn’t intended to buy perfume on that trip but I couldn’t resist sampling the amethyst and black versions of Nirvana by Elizabeth and James because of the almost minimalist design. I took two strips of paper and sprayed both versions on the paper. Took a sniff of the bourbon version but decided it was very much not for me. i went home and allowed the papers to sit for a while while I went about my life. Weeks later, I decided to go back and pick up both. There’s just something so intriguing about the amethyst and black versions. I see them as almost a good/bad opposition. The amethyst is decidedly feminine to me with a sweet woody twinkle of honeysuckle. At the same time it is belying a spicy bed of tobacco and mystery. I feel like this is exactly the scent I would wear to a book store while reading Keats and Emily Bronte. It reminds me of sitting down with a cashmere sweater, reading glasses, and a cup of milky tea to spend the day with a good book. It’s beautiful like the purple stone it takes its name from, with its natural facets.
AIDEPESEASE – :
I just got this in the mail, but i am so disappointed… i was hopping for a sweet tobacco scent but all i get is generic sweetnes. Like a celebrity based fragrance. Also it is very short lived and almost zero sillage. I need to stop blind buy. I want my 70 euros back! This is a waste of money.
umci – :
Really a WOW fragrance. Warm, slightly sweet and smokey, with a floral edge. But in the end I decided that Tom Ford does this better, and I will be saving my money because silage and longevity are poor.
Tarwan – :
I have gotten a sample of this at Sephora and I think I am in love. The tobacco and woodiness are definitely present here but there is a sweetness that lifts the whole thing up and keeps it from being too intense or too masculine. I don’t find the tobacco to be smoky, it is more like a tobacco leaf that has just been dried, kind of similar to a hay smell with a little bit of that tomato leaf funk. Tobacco and tomato are in the same botanical family so they have some similar qualities especially in terms of smell. Again what I smell most of all is sweetness and woodiness, the sillage is not large but the longevity on clothing is impressive (3 weeks on my sweater). It’s not very complex but it is just absolutely cozy. Totally signature scent worthy, I bet I’ll end up buying a full bottle this fall.
masinmihail – :
I am a big fan of Elizabeth and James Bourbon, but this is my new favourite from their line. It reminds me so much of the original Just Cavalli that you cannot purchase anymore for some unknown reason! It is just a bit warmer than that.
This is the ultimate fall and winter scent, the scent is like cozy sweaters, fireplace, a sweet desserts. This will remain a staple in my fragrance wardrobe, I cannot imagine someone not liking this scent!
den003 – :
Absolutely stunning! Love, so instant, has never happened to me with a perfume before. Literally upon first sniff on the test strip, I knew that this would be my signature. (after many years of claiming that I didn’t bother with signature scents… nothing suits me that much… blah blah blah)
I’m not sure that I’ve smelled a perfume so perfectly balanced. The honeysuckle is gorgeous and sweet, without being overly sweet. The tobacco is rich without being overpowering. The cedar adds depth without being overly dark or woody. The spice rounds everything out without being sharp or strong.
Because everything is so well balanced really, it’s difficult (and not worthwhile) to discuss the notes individually. Overall, this fragrance evokes a sense of calm and well-being for me. It smells sophisticated and well-rounded. It smells expensive and classy.
In my opinion, the honeysuckle adds a light sweetness that would make this fragrance appropriate all year round (with a light hand in the Spring/Summer), except for maybe the hottest and most humid days of Summer.
Sillage & longevity are 7/10 for me. My skin tends to drink perfume, so it’s entirely possible that it would be better for you.
This would be a safe blind-buy for someone looking to add something with a tobacco note to their wardrobe.
Brodigin – :
Slightly sheer, creamy tobacco/honeysuckle upon first sniff. I really enjoy that the richness of the tobacco note is present without making Amethyst smell like the inside of a humidor. There’s an airiness that makes this very wearable. The tobacco becomes less noticeable during the dry down, and it becomes a powdery, woodsy vanilla with a beautiful floral note from the honeysuckle. The drydown reminds me of Atelier’s Vanilla Insensee somewhat, but less cloying and with a lighter touch on the powder.
Amethyst has decent sillage but I would classify it as one of those perfumes that wears closer to the skin. It’s a very cuddly scent without verging into gourmand territory.
I would say this is my favorite out of the Nirvana line so far. Once I’m done with my rollerball I’ll definitely pick up a full bottle.
G-grudastaya – :
Nirvana Amethyst is, simply, a stunner. I normally can figure out how to describe scents better than this, but it’s a sweet, woody tobacco scent… and I know that my description in no way does it justice… but I can’t figure out what else to say to help emphasize how truly incredible is is. This is one of those scents that I just can’t see anyone disliking, even though I know some people obviously do. It’s really beautiful and elegant but comforting at the same time. Projection is on the discreet side but the longevity is really good. A must-smell.
Kriss – :
Update. Being a heavy smoker, I just can’t do the tobacco scents. I thought this one might be an exception, but it’s making me nauseous. Apparently my rule about no tobacco notes has become law. I never liked mary kate and ashley, even as a kid I couldn’t stand em. I cant do any of their perfumes either. The stale ashtray and bourbon smells are creepy just like their haunted mansion mysteries and full house
alim595 – :
Ladies, I need help. I accidentally mixed up my sample of this with bourbon. Can someine help me tell the difference? The one I’m wearing right now smells like cigarettes and I haven’t tried the other yet but when I smell it I definitely smell bourbon. So Im pretty sure the one I’m wearing is amethyst. Lol. Go figure. One smells like tobacco, and the other, bourbon.
mrilia15 – :
This scent has lingered on my coat sleeve for about a month. No joke. It transfers to my long sleeved tops.
I tested this once on my wrist at Sephora. Two sprays, if I remember correctly.
Holy longevity Batman.
Not complaining!
inandawlita – :
I have ordered (blind bought) Black and Bourbon, but I have this one in a sample- yay!
I do love tobacco scents.
But…
This has very weak potency and sillage. I used about 8-10 sprays on clothing/skin and the light sillage is ALL tobacco. But the dry/un-smoked kind. It doesn’t smell like a smoker to me.
When I deeply inhale my shirt, I get a purpley-incense and white flowers that WOULD add to the composition and make it AMAZING– except for that shitty sillage/potency. Dammit. So overall, I don’t need this unless it’s an amazing deal.
On the plus side, the next morning my shirt had the same amount of sillage and I could still smell it. Weird. So longevity is ok? It is sweet, but in a spicy tobacco way– so it’s not candy or vanilla sweet.
I would get random weird whiffs throughout wearing, dry and spicy… so this could be interesting… but my cold winter test was a bust for the most part.
Geez, I hope Black and Bourbon are better.
v1187396 – :
Smells like an ashtray; really quite gross.
I’ve sampled several E&J perfumes, and the only one I like is Nirvana Bourbon. In fact, I love that one, so when I received a sample of Amethyst, which sounds a little similar, I was excited to try it.
First sniff, sprayed onto a cotton swab: I liked it, but less than I like Bourbon. I thought it had a full, earthy sweetness along with smoke.
On my skin: One spritz to the wrist… the horror! Something bitter overtook the earthy sweetness immediately. I was on my way out to see a movie, so I scrubbed it off (took a lot of soap and scrubbing, too!). The sample vial was still around, so I tried it again a few days later, determined to see if the bitterness recedes. Now I know it was just the emergence of the tobacco note, which grew more bitter and dusty over every minute. After about a half-hour, I asked my husband (an ex-smoker) to sniff my wrist without telling him anything about the frag. Verdict: “That smells awful, like stale cigarettes.” I will never reach the drydown. It’s not worth the pain to get there.
Убийца1977 – :
I love this – my new favorite in fact. I have been disappointed in this line other than Black, but this one is perfect for me. I adore the sweet tobacco, don’t get much honeysuckle other than the sweetness (which I could attribute to the tobacco if I wanted to), and am drawn to the warm, woody element of this. It lasts on me and I feel sexy and mysterious wearing it. Definite winner.
ra1ga – :
Warm fragrances are usually not my forte, but I really enjoy this scent. I love the spicy notes, and the honeysuckle sweetens it up just enough. I prefer to use this perfume when I’m feeling fancy.
nervy – :
This perfume is really addictive makes me crave something but at the same time I feel I can’t eat woods…the first thing that comes to my mind is wood. I also picture a unique girl in brown leather boots and a fedora hat wearing this…it smells exactly how Marykate looks lol. Also it sticks on the skin like shea butter. It is quite radical, unapologetic and different even loud(it has presence not the annoying kind) not sweet and innocent type but kinda sophisticated with all these positive qualities, however, I still fear wearing it outside of my bedroom as i called it in my previous review it’s quite “strange”. I wouldn’t say “unique ” as it smells like wood or leather…
PAVELS8 – :
It does smell like pipe tobacco and the outdoors. Warm yet crisp. There is certainly a floral in there somewhere, I guess that’s the honeysuckle? I think it smells more like an Airwick than something you want on your body. Maybe an Airwick at a ski lodge. Pretty, but not necessarily something that can or will melt into your skin. Though the drydown the next day might save it, the first day on me seems to suggest the dry down, even if more than pleasant, still wouldn’t be worth it.
Ankstenk – :
This reminds me of the first fragrance they put out decades ago called “One” but more sophisticated. The sisters seem to lean towards a very particular scent type. This to me smells of sweetened smoked woods while not unoriginal I find it a bit strange & would fit a male better or a tobacco lover. Hints of soft leather in their too…this is what I believe male frags should smell like in an idealistic world not that it does.
tttttank – :
This is a weird one. love the tobacco and pepper but.. OMG honeysucle trumps all spices and warmth. on me it smells like a somebody wearing sugar sweet perfume and smoking like a chimney.. Not a good picture
Claicetetebet – :
I was given a sample of this at Sephora. I was in a hurry so I didn’t investigate it. When I read it had tobacco in it I was super interested as it is one of my favorite perfume notes.
What a disappointment. In the first place, I agree that this vanishes before it dries on your skin. In the second place, it’s too sweet. I like my tobacco scents more on the masculine side. This is tobacco mixed with candy floss. And where’s the wood?
Now I’m not saying this is bad, as in, a scrubber. But it is not my style at all. And it doesn’t last. I’m glad it works for other, but not for me. Pass.
Peewhehardeby – :
When wearing this fragrance all that came to me was sexual campfire.
You get a woody smoky scent and fades into a warm seductive sweet smell. Very great buy!
denissaaa – :
At my house we have nicknamed this “cookies” because it smells like a vanilla sugar cookie after about 10 min. I like it, but don’t get much wood or spice, just lots of vanilla and sweet tobacco. A very comfortable scent, though why this is named amethyst is beyond me
sanich83 – :
Boy this is a caméléon scent ! Just bought my second bottle, I love it! I won’t be without it this winter..The tobacco isnt a note I typically disike, smells usually masculine to my nose, but in Amethyst, it is so subdued, so rounded and drowned into sweet, i detect a bit of the honeysuckle now..it is dewy..lthe soft tobacco gives the scent a bit of a spicy vibe..still feminine, warm, cozy ..works great with me!! I don’t get that cold ashtray vibe, thank goodness!
I get compliments when I wear it..pure cozy warm sensuous pleasure for me !!
wkb381speagoessenda – :
Was at Sephora today and smelled Amethyst for the 3 Rd time. I want to like this as I like the rest of this line or at least some of the line ,and love the cases, great for the purse and travel. However I can’t get around the intense tobacco smell. I wish it was much less and I would like this as the other notes are so nice. Love anything cedar and woody , but strongly dislike smoky tobacco scents. And that’s all I get from this perfume. Like a stale ashtray smell with hints of nice spicy woody cedar notes burried under. Disappointing 🙁
nds592speagoessenda – :
I wore samples of this for two weeks straight before deciding to buy a bottle (actually a roller ball because I just cannot justify any more big bottles of things :P). There is something so addictive about the sweet tobacco here and I just cannot explain it. Since tobacco notes generally repulse me, the fact that this one attracts me (A LOT) is a puzzle. It does away with the nauseating qualities of tobacco and yet retains its depth, smokiness, and allure. I am just smitten. It is sweet (much sweeter than the notes would suggest, but still not too sweet), smoky, and quite powerful. I find it lasts on my skin throughout an entire day of wear and a shower (I can still smell it faintly after that) and projects moderately for a majority of that time.
At first, I thought Amethyst was too similar to Bourbon to warrant owning both, but after a good few wears, I started to find significant dissimilarities. Bourbon is notably more woody (in fact, I would put oak in that one as the most noticeable note) and the wood comes off a bit more masculine. Amethyst is significantly sweeter and less woody. And after about a week of wear, I decided that I preferred Amethyst to Bourbon. It will definitely be my go-to this season. Oh, I also love the purple bottle! Purple and gold are so pretty together! 😛
cs_cs – :
I sampled this today in Sephora, as the notes intrigued me and I like others from this line. I did like it well enough, but I put into the same barrel as Black Opium and Kat Von D’s Sinner, although it is much more woody than jammy, which was a surprise with the name ‘amethyst’ evoking purple fruit for me. It’s the vanilla sweet+spicy, I think, that rings so familiar.
I wouldn’t turn down a ‘deluxe’ tester of it, but I won’t be going out to buy a bottle, either.
Katya23 – :
Rich,lush, creamy and powdery…fall in a bottle
qqq70 – :
At first spray, I thought I was going to hate it. All I smelled was ashes. It smelled like an ASHTRAY. But then, about 15 minutes later it developed into this sweet, smokey, woodsy warmth and I fell in love. If not for the soft silage to basically being a skin scent, I would be back at the store buying it right now.
Ardsa – :
On my skin, this is a sweet scent, with a touch of earthy, smoky tobacco and an even smaller touch of cedar. The predominant smell is just a generic, sugary sweetness. The sweetness seems fairly well restrained, but I think that’s only because of the super soft sillage. If this were any stronger, this fragrance probably would’ve given me a headache.
Super soft sillage, but moderate longevity.
Overall, Amethyst isn’t bad, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. I do think it’s a good addition to the Nirvana family of scents, though; it falls right in line with its brothers and sisters. I think anyone looking for something sweet will really enjoy this, but I’ll pass on purchasing. I enjoy a bit more depth and complexity with my sweet scents.
Ryaboff_99 – :
If you’re looking for a lovely tobacco scent, this is a good choice. Yes, it’s a soft sillage, but I’ve found if I spray a few more times it comes through. And the good news is the longevity makes up for for the sillage. It’s a much less sweet tobacco perfume than Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, which can be cloying to some. This is a more dry flowery tobacco scent, but still being sweet. Lovely. I am very impressed and happy with the Elizabeth and James line so far!
Greml-IN – :
I really love this perfume. When I initially applied it I immediately smelled a creamy, powdery and woody sweetness. I actually assumed it had amber and sandalwood in it. But of course I was wrong as there is neither in this perfume. Once some time had passed I was actually able to detect the cedar in it. The spices aren’t overwhelming and I have to say the notes are all blended really well. I loved this from first spray, to many hours later. I would say it doesn’t have a high sillage. (With many perfumes my husband will comment about it being to strong, but that didn’t happen with this one.) In summary,a great perfume but you have to like a certain amount of sweetness.
Medwc308Diobtetty – :
I never knew I could like tobacco in a fragrance. It doesn’t stand out and is blended really well with the sweet floral. Just gorgeous! I will be buying a full bottle.
dukhalin – :
Oh my Godd! this smells amazing on my skin! Soft sexy sweet creamy warm woody spicey. The spice/tobacco notes comes and goes but I think it just balances it out.The sweet creaminess stands out more often. I’m in love & can’t wait to purchase full size!
gogycrolfcino – :
Tried it at sephora and bought it on the spot….it is warm and creamy, develops so nicely on the skin…I can’t say I get any tobacco, or woods!? Just a hint of warm wood…Or they are very subtle….it is sweet, just enough…i found Bourbon too much, a bit unisex., thick almost…..Amethyst is prettier, feminine, it just smells great …will be a good one for fall cooler weather..,it smells very attractive..this is absolutely not unisex though..
Longevity is good, it just has that cozy vibe..
I find it more interesting that French Grey which didn’t really jump at me..
I get complimented when I wear it..people like it!!
sashacymbal – :
I agree with others that this is very similar to Nirvana Bourbon, however it is not identical. If you were on the fence with Bourbon, I’d suggest testing both alongside each other.
Bourbon is deep, warm, woody and smokey, while Amethyst is sweeter and more powdery. They open very similarly, but Amethyst develops in a direction that just doesn’t work for me. The sweetness is more syrupy here, and somehow there is almost no tobacco presence on me. The powdery dry down had friends saying I smelled like a stuffy old lady with her hand in a candy dish.
I’d like to try it a couple more times just to see what else there is in there. That beautiful purple bottle definitely turns my head every time too! haha
So yeah, worth a sniff, the whole line is unique and this is no exception. Wouldn’t mind seeing how it works on a man either.
Meuvu240intitytek – :
On me this is pretty similar to Hermessence’s Ambre Narguille (albeit sweeter), which has been on my “to buy” list for quite some time but I have been unable to convince myself to fork over the money.
I can’t necessarily pick out the honeysuckle and I don’t get too much of a top note experience. But the middle notes remind me of a gourmet apple pie; warm, sweet, slightly tart and lightly spiced. At this point it’s well blended, absolutely delicious and the perfect fall scent!
As Amethyst dries down, the sweetness and powderiness comes out. It’s almost like powdered sugar atop the apple pie. Honestly at times the sweetness gets to be a little much for me and I wish it was a little more toned down. But I suspect it will be less cloying in cooler weather.
The sillage is moderate at best and I definitely find myself spraying more of this in the initial application (as opposed to other perfumes). But once it’s on, I find it lasts a good 8 hours (not the best, but better than Ambre Narguille).
As for comparisons to Elizabeth and James’s Bourbon, I find Bourbon to be a lot less sweet, less tarte, drier and smokier. Bourbon is more of a smoky tobacco vanilla whereas Amethyst is a sweet tobacco with powdered vanilla sugar. Different experiences on my skin.
Will I buy a full bottle? YES! The similarity to Ambre Narguille is enough to convince me I need this in my life! Fingers crossed the sweetness will subside slightly as the weather cools.
appleee – :
This is what Nirvana Bourbon should have smelled like! Amethyst is the sweet and woodsy tobacco fragrance I have been looking for! You know the smell of flavored Hookah Shisha? It’s sort of like that, a syrupy tobacco. So many other tobacco fragrances veer too close to cigarette or smoke. This one stands firmly in the territory of vanilla and spiced woods. The honeysuckle is way in the back, meaning Amethyst becomes cozy and perfect for Autumn. The two new releases of French Grey and Amethyst are much better compositions than White, Rose, and Bourbon, in my opinion. This is on par with my favorite, Black.
sasharaspopin – :
I didn’t even realize this new release existed until I happened into Sephora the other day, so I really didn’t have any expectations at all going into testing it. I gave it one good firm spritz onto my forearm and browsed around the shop a bit. Here’s what I got —
First sniff: I think I might be anosmic to it entirely.
Five minutes, maybe: I lift my arm past my face to check out a package on a top shelf and catch something very pleasant-smelling. I bring my arm closer to my nose. Maybe this is Amethyst? It’s warm and soft. I think of a heavy, woolly sweater, maybe a light beige or brownish grey, the kind that’s old and expensive, not scratchy, and fuzzy from lots of years of use.
Ten minutes or so: The mental picture still develops. The nice woolly sweater on a deep brown cushioned recliner in front of a lit fireplace, a drowsy fuzzy tortoiseshell cat somewhere near. It’s evening and snowing… such a cozy scene. The scent wells up from my skin now enough to perceive it even with my arm away from my face. Having been born and rasied in a tobacco-growing region I’m familiar with the sweet, warm, creamy scent here – nothing like the ashy griminess of cigarettes. I don’t get much smoke if any at all. What little there may be is reminiscent of the nose-tickling sweetness of firesmoke from houses, inseparable from the overall softness and warmth.
An hour, ish: The wood has deepened and I get a lot of what smells to me like vanilla. It’s not entirely unlike Bourbon from the same house but it’s a different wood – the dustiness of cedar is apparent, unlike the dry cleanliness of oak – and this is less heady, more fuzzy. It stays close to the skin, a warm comfort scent. It’s quite beautiful and very appealing. It’s entirely that cozy feeling you get when you’re somewhere comfortable and warm and safe on a cold or rainy day. It lasts maybe 6 hours or so. Sillage is low. My only regret is how close you need to get for the full beauty of it. It becomes more like a vague honeyed-vanilla cloud as you move further away.
Afterword: My verdict is that it’s a quietly glorious fragrance, and the release is perfectly timed with the advent of fall. The scripted lines about “decadent luxury” seem a bit superfluous because the fragrance doesn’t need to be artificially elevated; it speaks for itself and there is still a little rustic-ness about it that lends to its charm. It may lead to effortless seduction, true, but more the sort of way your bed seduces you to snuggle into its covers at night than the way a lover seduces you! Still – cozy cuddles can lead to more. Regarding the notes, there is certainly tobacco and cedar in droves. What spice I perceive is not peppery or piquant, but a subtle underlying heat. The floral is well blended into the tobacco and the whole scent itself is blended in on itself, layers and layers of warm relaxed refinement, an elegant creature comfort.
In a word… inviting.
Edit: There is a rollerball? Oh, yes, will be adding this to my collection.
aligatop – :
I thought I’d fall in love with Amethyst, but on me it’s just “meh”.
It opens quite piercingly (honeysuckle), then quickly settles down to a sweet, expensive pipe tobacco scent with a hint of cedar.Eventually the cedar intensifies somewhat and I get sweet, expensive pipe tobacco in a cedar cabin. That’s it. Tobacco & cedar. It never goes anywhere from there. I don’t smell any spices, and the honeysuckle aggressively opens, then disappears entirely. On me, the spices never make even a ghost of an appearance,
Now, don’t get me wrong; I love the smell of tobacco. A LOT. And I love woody scents.A LOT. But, I don’t want to smell of some sort of cedar pipe tobacco. If the honeysuckle stuck around and the spices chimed in to support the tobacco and cedar, this would be a hit.
This is a scent I think you really have to try before you buy. I’m going to play around with it a bit more, but have the sinking feeling I’ll be returning it. It’s truly tragic (oh, first world problems) because Nirvana Black, White, Rose, and Bourbon lack the Sillage and especially the longevity of Amethyst. I much prefer the French Grey, but not enough to buy a bottle.
bella84 – :
This is nice. Slightly woody, sweet tobacco. Very creamy. Just a little bit spicy. Sadly I don’t smell the honeysuckle, I wish I did but this is still a lovely perfume and I’m happy to have a little rollerball of it.
wtgkztd1995 – :
A dead-on dupe of Le Couvent des Minimes Cologne of the Missions, dark vanilla wrapped in tobacco with a beautiful edge of cedar, but with longer lasting power (as you’d expect). This scent lies close to the skin, so the whole room won’t know you’re wearing it. But that’s not what it’s for, anyway. This scent is an award for those who get closest.
vasjamendr – :
Based on press, I wanted to like the Grey, it sound better to me for some reason. No good reason,