Amberama

Amberama is another sumptuous, sweet entry from 4160 Tuesdays and Sarah McCartney, who seems to excel at this sort of vague genre (of ambers and gourmands) that I love so much. This perfume mainly consists of resins (amber, labdanum) and raspberries, though there is bergamot and iris early on in the fragrance, woods and musk in the dry down, and just a wee hint of black pepper throughout to prevent it from being over-the-top sweet. Still, the amber and raspberries tell much of its story, and it's mainly a sweet woody amber fragrance, categorically. It doesn't seem to evolve much on my skin, except for the brighter/heady-leaning components of bergamot and iris toward the beginning of the wearing. For the most part, it feels like 75%+ resins & raspberries, with about 25% woods, musk, and pepper. A good balance for a mostly-gourmand type of offering. At parfum concentration, it's unsurprisingly dense (along the lines of Maxed Out, the only other parfum concentration fragrance I own from this house). Amberama is not a loud projector, but is very long-lasting. Smelling it side-by-side with Captured by Candlelight (another new offering at Perfumology, and one I already own, which smells of sticky toffee pudding), there is a vaguely sort of sweet yet deep similarity, yet they’re notably different on skin. As for a more tangible comparison, Amberama reminds me somewhat of Kerosene Blackmail, which similarly pairs amber and berries, but is a bit darker, with oud. Still, the two fragrances feel like they’re in the same family of amber fragrances. At $180 for 100ml (currently the only US seller is Perfumology, both online and in their King of Prussia Mall storefront), its value is strong and very reasonable in the current market. It's now on my "to buy" list. 8 out of 10

Spring has not fully sprung and I decided to test 4160 Amberama before the weather turns warm. I’m fast becoming a fan of everything from this house, this one is not an exception. I own a lot of amber scents, so Amberama probably won’t turn into a purchase because I’m not madly in love with it. Still, a beautiful scent with no single note dominant. Described by the perfumer as a “woody amber” I’m surprised to see the raspberry note listed here first. But no matter on my skin it’s indeed a gourmand amber. My best guess would be some kind of vanilla and/or chocolate note is here too (but not listed by the perfumer). Stays close, very close, basically a gorgeous skin scent (but my skin soaks it up...more than normal people). The names of all the perfumes from 4160 are also fun. It’s fair to say that I have a crush on this house. Maybe I’m going to need a bottle after all.

Such a comforting and warm scent. Sometimes, ambery perfumes (in lack of a better word for it), can get a bit too dense and heavy for my taste, but not this one. The whiffs of raspberry gives a hint of summer and it reminds me about one of my neighbours garden, full of these happy berries. All those years ago I lived in the basement and the garden was kind of built above, on the other side of the apartment. The sun got filtered through the branches and created a beautiful light and with the berries, like small gems scattered around. Amberama also has a hint of dust or powder to it, like warm, dry soil and woods. I especially like to wear it on colder spring days or in beginning of autumn. A mood lifter.

This is a lovely lovely amber. I am a bit of an amber fanatic during the winter, then barely think of it the rest of the year, but if ever there was a wearable all-year-round amber, this might be it. Very closely related to Captured by Candlelight (minus beeswax) in the opening, but then mellows into very much it's own scent. It has spice, but not so much that it hits the back of your throat and nose, warmth, but not so much that it repels you, and sweetness, but not so much that it's nauseating. 4160 do these comforting hug scents SO well, I just wish I could afford them all!

Amber with a beautiful raspberry note This, along with its sister scent amber mambo, is very clever take on an amber scent.