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Why amber perfume never goes out of style
These cosy blends are as strong as they are sophistciated
When you think of a perfume that inspires confidence, what springs to mind? While it’s true that many empowering fragrances make their mark by entering the room before you do, not all notes need to scream to get their point across. That’s exactly the appeal of amber: quiet yet commanding, it makes for a truly sophisticated fragrance.
“Amber takes centre stage with its strength and depth,” says Núria Cruelles, perfumer at Loewe. “To me, it’s perfect for adding a touch of comfort to fragrances, and complements other ingredients, ensuring a rounded feeling.”
Amber is a resinous, slightly sweet accord (rather than an ingredient in its own right) often used to bring warmth or depth to a scent. It can be concocted from a blend of resinous and musky materials – think vanilla, patchouli and musks – that combine to create a lasting cosy effect on the skin.
"The scent is fragrant and fascinating, reminding me of the smell of babies when they are just born, with that sweet and delicate yet slightly ancestral essence," says Cruelles. “It's so distinctive: to me, it’s addictive.”
While amber’s inherent warmth often sidelines it into seasonal wear, an amber fragrance shouldn’t be confined to the winter months: in fact, there are cult classics and intriguing new launches out there that feel perfect for sun-drenched days, marrying the emotional appeal of a skin scent with a sophisticated depth. Here, see the bottles we’ll be wearing all year round.
The best amber perfumes to buy now:
Created by master perfumer Jérôme Épinette, Victoria Beckham’s heartfelt ode to her time in California combines that cashmere-sweater cosiness with salty coastal air. Like driving along the Pacific Coast at sunset, it’s bracing and warm in equal parts, with a twist of rose in the heart.
Cruelle’s latest creation for Loewe, Agua Drop is a surprisingly light take on amber. The aquatic freshness of a traditional cologne is combined with a comfort blanket of soft, solar warmth that lingers close to the skin.
From Byredo’s Night Veils collection of potent extraits (a single spritz is all you need) Vanille Antique is a woody, ambery scent that shakes off the saccharine associations of vanilla. There’s a jammy plum note in the heart that lingers deliciously on skin, and a woody trail that’ll change any preconceptions you have about gourmand perfumes.
Dior has combined the warm-skin sentiment of amber with rose in this beautiful interpretation. It’s comforting and feminine in equal parts, and sure to please any classicist.
Another fragrance marrying amber and rose, Sana Jardin’s Tiger By Her Side is an empowering, intoxicating scent that’ll boost your confidence in a single spritz. Vanilla and incense round out the complex marriage of notes, resulting in a masterfully balanced warm and spicy trail.
Opening with a burst of rich and warming amber notes, this harmonious blend of ambergris accord, patchouli, tonka, vetiver and vanilla is the epitome of class.
A favourite of the Bazaar UK beauty team, this indulgent, Parisian inspired scent makes a convincing case for spicy amber notes. Combining base notes of Brazilian tonka bean, vanilla and amber accord with Spanish benzoin and cistus labdanum, this dynamic perfume is warm to its heart.
Inspired by the scent of Marrakech, this auric elixir is truly aromatic. It puts gilded amber notes at the forefront but also invites patchouli, benzoin and labdanum for the ultimate spicy hit.
This audacious scent draws its inspiration from Gabrielle Chanel's astrological sign: Leo. A brave yet slightly sweetened scent, it balances leathery labdanum, bergamot and vanilla.
Fans of a sandalwood scent will adore this idyllic summer scent. It boast notes of tuberose accord and warm amber; a ready-made holiday perfume if ever there was one.
If you like to make a statement with your scent, try this extravagant blend of spicy nutmeg, herbal patchouli and Turkish rose. Think a direct train into the opulent vibrance of the 1930s.
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