Amber Musk

Sooo good. Not powdery to me but more like clean soapy skin, maybe from the lily-of-the-valley and magnolia listed on Aerin’s site, moisturized with a coconut body butter and musk oil. Sandalwood adds a creaminess too, that works well with the cream from the coconut. Praline sweetens. Soft in texture, but there when snuggled close. Sometimes it presents intimately and other times there’s a projection that still is modest. Lasts for only 4-6 hours on skin depending on the day. Longer on clothes and I don’t mind this being on clothes. Although, this evaporates eventually from clothes. You'll never smell this on anything before doing laundry. Definitely a grab-and-go for errands, appts, groceries, etc and more of a signature for lounging in the house alone, with friends, family or your partner. It’s something I want to be recognized for in those settings and not really for intentional outings. Smells like I just oiled my skin or like the dry-down base of most fragrances. Alongside being a softer Mon Guerlain, Amber musk is pretty much a more affordable but still not that affordable version of FDB Santal Complet, which I will not buy again because the price is really due to the beautiful bottle. It was one of the best summer and year-round beauties. They both last moderately on me with very soft textures, blurred and rounded edges, so the performance may seem weak. Both linear, with an oiliness contributing to the texture. Like scooping some balm and melting it into your skin for a sheen. Although they have different florals, Amber musk definitely shares a close vibe with Santal Complet and both are perfect all year. Summer is the trickiest season for me with sweeter scents...unless there’s coconut. Now I can save on $345 and purchase Amber musk at 101 mL, one milliliter more, under 200 with a sale. I got this during the Nordstrom 30 percent annual sale. I don’t think I will ever get this at full price. Update: I bought my replacement bottle and returned it. Got the lotion instead because I think this scent makes the most sense in that form/texture and cost-wise, after the recent price hike to $210.

I have been looking for something to replace my beloved Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline EDP and someone on Reddit suggested this to me. While it’s not the same, it does possess the musky benzoin quality I love about that scent. And you have to appreciate that combo to appreciate this one. It is so warm, comforting, and sensual. I have a love/hate relationship with amber, so the fact that amber is actually in the name of this perfume really scared me, but this is an airy, soft, and cozy amber. It’s not a harsh burnt one, and that’s how amber gets on my skin sometimes. I’ll admit that this is pricey for a scent that could have better longevity and sillage, but it can be worn year round, there is really nothing that smells like it on the market, and the travel size is widely available. I honestly do not understand the comparisons to Wild Musk, which I only tried because it’s in the “smells like” section. Wild Musk smells like only musk to me, with maybe a little baby powder, not the same at all. I understand the comparisons to Burberry Brit and Amor Amor even less. BB is very citrus-forward and AA is black currant and vanilla on my skin. Not a fan of either one and I realize that everyone’s nose and skin chemistry is different, but I don’t think I’ve ever been more lost on the “smells like” section than I am with this perfume.

Whilst I understand where some of the negative reviews are coming from regarding price for a skin-scent, for me, the cozy deliciousness of this fragrance, coupled with the fact it shares similarities with a long-lost fragrance I really enjoyed, makes this a winner in my book. Amber Musk definitely smells like an offering from Cacharel, but I think it's reminiscent of the discontinued Gloria, which now costs the earth should you want a bottle. Gloria, with its amber-croissant-vanilla-custard-cherry accords (especially prominent in the body oil) was a super gourmand from before fragrances became syrupy-sweet, and this smells almost exactly like it. It is diffuse and light, but hangs around close to the skin in a wonderful hug. I also agree that it's similar to the fantastic original Chanel Egoiste, which had a buttery amber and pluminess, and you could also place it beside Lalique le parfum as a smellalike. However, because Amber Musk is so gentle and pretty, with a touch of baby powder, I find myself preferring it now I have a baby and a more sensitive nose. No, this isn't a show-stopper, but nor is it trying to be. Personally I love it, as in an industry saturated with high potency gourmand fruitchoulis, sometimes you may want something that is still tasty but more demure.

I've been testing this from a discovery set the last couple of days. The scent is gorgeous!! So simple and warm, easy to love from the first moment, perfect for a self-care moment or any day, any time. I would love to bathe in this! But.... either I am immediately anosmic to it after 10 minutes OR, as many reviewers below said, there is zero longevity. Anosmia is a possibility because I can't smell Narciso for Her. But, I used about 10 sprays this morning, on top of yesterday's 20-25 (or more) sprays throughout the day... and my husband could only smell it from one foot away (I had to ask him) and he said it smells really good, but is "very, VERY faint". I've burned through the entire discovery sample in a short time with only the most fleeting moments of enjoyment while it's still wet on my skin. Once it dries, it's pretty much gone. If they were to re-introduce Aerin Amber Musk with more oomph I would be first in line, I adore it that much! Lauder people, if you're reading this, please don't give up on this gorgeous fragrance! It would make a lovely suite of body products, to use as a signature scent or to create a lovely base skin scent.

Amber Musk is the perfect signature scent for somebody who doesn't like floral or fresh scents. If you're more into warm and cozy fragrances, this is for you. Amber Musk is the perfect warm, cozy, fuzzy fragrance for everyday since it's all of those things without being heavy or dark. It almost has an airy quality to it, very light and easy to wear. If you've ever used Amika hair products you already know this scent, because Amber Musk smells almost identical to those, it's 95% the same scent. I've reached for this more than any other fragrance in my collection since I bought it 3 months ago. I use Amika hair products and I always crave this after a shower. The longevity is not great, I get 3-4 hours before it's a skin scent, but it lasts on clothes until you wash them. Moderate projection. I feel like you need to overspray this one, so it's quite expensive for what you get. Scent alone is a 10/10, but I'll give it a 9/10 since it doesn't last very long on the skin.