Ambre Gris

Love it. Ambre Gris is a little shape shifting wonder: It goes from spicy, turns to floral (remaining miles away from mainstream florals), flirts with salty while being balsamic-powdery, and all the time it is also woody. The opening is spicy. I mostly sense the myrth and benzoin, and at first they suggest that there is something thick and strong to be developed from this opening - but no. A twist, the first one: balsamic-flowery. Immortelle. Ambre Gris relaxes in about 10 minutes, showing its floral face: slightly spicy and quite balmy benzoin stays, but immortelle takes a leading role, and tuberose definitely features suporting role (i don't sense it every time). Immortelle is present right from when spices relax, and almost to the end. To those who wrote that they could not smell any flowers at all: I had bushes of immortelle in front of the house where I lived before: it has bitter-sharpish-sweet, slightly citrusy, more aromatic than flowery smell. Immortelle's scent changes a lot while flowers go from blooming-fresh to oily-dry. This in Ambre Gris is semi-dry, saturated immortelle, almost like the one used in oils, more spicy-aromatic than flowery, and I think that's why so many reviewers didn't recognize it as flower. Immortelle in Ambre Gris is this kinda citrusy-spicy, vibrant and fresh thing that peeks out right after initial spicy opening relaxes. Immortelle is what keeps the woody, spicey and balsamic side of fragrance up and light and fresh almost all the way. This kind of flower treatment, when combined with woods or balsams is more likely to be found in niches: though the scents are not the same - in SL's Ambre Sultan similar mediteranian spicy herbs (oregano, bay leaf) keeps amber and woods fresh and light, in Casbah the contrast to the heavy and dark notes is Angelica, in ETRO's Greene Street there is distinct basil to contrast powdery ambergris... So, if you tried any of those, I hope you'll get the point. Then again - next twist: Ambergris. Salty, velvety, musky. While immortelle borrows freshness from the background, ambergris takes a central stage. It is just a bit salty and powdery, and soon to be joined with musk and woods. Now, if you're familiar with the base notes of CK's Reveal: Balmain's ambregris-woods-musk combination is fuller, better, more refined and mature kind of the similar scent: a little salty, a little powdery, a little musky - feels like skin. Warm, naturaly salty skin. Tender salty warmth, to the point erotic. In this phase, I can't help but wonder if CK has taken just this little salty-musky-woody-powdery fragment of this multilayerd Balmain's beauty, replaced not so common immortelle with more familiar iris, and streched that into a whole perfume. Then - a twist, again. The last: Woods and musk. In the very end, musk and woods take over, turning the fluffy balsamic-musky scent into more serious, trully unisex bracing, velvety woody. This Balmain is great. Tender, round, but with the spine that the men could appreciate and the woman could enjoy on themselves. Not too demanding, somehow unpretentious, but stil very serious shapeshifting wonder from Balmain. This is great fragrance for suprisingly little money. If it was bottled under a different name and house, as some niche, for egzample, Ambre Gris could easily go for about 100 $. Or higher. Highly recommended for all cross-genre lovers and all woody-oriental-spicy lovers. * Strong like (2nd bottle, but won't buy third) * silage: moderate (arms lenght, but persistent) * longevity: long lasting (8+ hours) * weather/time: moderate to cold. I wear it from mid-autumn until early spring. Day. Night. Casual to semi-formal.

I bought a 75ml Ambre Gris bottle online, and it was a blind buy. I just bought it because I saw the perfume's notes in here and thought it seemed absurdly intriguing and interesting and I had to buy it. I love benzoin and to see it in both opening and bottom notes was a surprise. Well, what can I say? I definitely DO NO REGRET IT. What a masterpiece! This is a beautiful spicy animalic balsamic dream. It smells oriental and mysterious to me, in a very good way. I am wearing it on my wrist right now and I can say the opening notes are VERY SPICY, they ended up tickling my nose and I enjoyed it very much - I love aldehydic and spicy notes exactly for stimulating more than one sense! The first 20 seconds after you spray it on your skin are DOMINATED by pink pepper and cinnamon - they weaken a little as time goes by, but they linger until the end, you can smell them even among the bottom notes, which is quite impressive - this perfume stays basically intact after hours, changing only very slightly. Seeing tuberose in the middle notes made me worried before I bought it because usually tuberose is in very boring florals , the contemporary fragrances you see nowadays. This is NOT the case. The tuberose here is smoky, adult, mysterious. It gives a sensual (not innocent or girly) vibe to the fragrance. Immortelle is not overwhelming but it is an ESSENTIAL component in this perfume - it helps give the fragrance its beautiful, mesmerizing smoky quality. But the king of the fragrance, in my opinion, IS DEFINITELY BENZOIN. I bought it because of benzoin - I love the benzoin in Givenchy's Pi (but it is masculine) and I was looking for a feminine benzoin for myself. WOW! BEST CHOICE EVER. This is basically the female Pi, since benzoin dominates the fragrance just like it does in Pi. The deep sweet and mysterious fragrance of benzoin, together with myrrh, make this perfume smell absolutely oriental, sexy, intriguing. I cannot forget the importance of musk and ambre gris in here - musk makes the fragrance balanced and ambre gris makes it even sexier and more animalic. It smells like a vintage niche and very expensive perfume. Yes, this is a relatively cheap perfume but I could swear, if blindfolded, that it was niche, something by Serge Lutens or Kilian. The only con is that the silage is not that great - well, I love perfumes that fill a room. Longevity is fine and it lasts at least 6 hours on my skin. Ambre Gris is an underrated gem. It is NOTHING like anything I have ever smelled before. I can only compare it with Pi, but to me, Pi is Ambre Gris's masculine equivalent. It has the same touch of smokey chocolate and incense that Pi has - the same sexy and mysterious aura, but now destined to be worn by tasteful, strong women. Also, it is very, VERY BALMAIN and it perfectly captures the essence of the brand and the image of the BALMAIN woman - a powerful, feline goddess who has many secrets and treasures.

I love this; liked it instantly, though that was to a great extent because it seemed so familiar. I thought I'd managed to narrow the possibilities down to Samsara and/or Basi Femme, but now I think it might be the eponymous Boucheron. You work with what you've got. The thing I love the most about it is that despite the for me cosy, sweet, somewhat posh feel of this, the final evocation is for me that of a remote south [next stop, Antarctica] coast, somewhere in the rocky, bepooled littoral zone, tide far out, with that tough, grapey brown seaweed extending as far as the eye can see. On a strangely still, sunny day to dry the driftwood. Solitude, space, wild ocean. One day I'll go back and try it again without Flowerbomb's fruitier [as Theorema is fruity, like dried cloved oranges] contrast further up the same arm. It doesn't seem very complicated. Woody, salty, not too soft. Just great. I am yearning for that dream southern ocean coast in a bottle. Got chills reading a review further down that explains all the imagery that was evoked, right down to sun-dried driftwood. Must get, and also try those that others say are similar but 'bigger'. Next day; I have just read on another site someone's perception that Laguna is a variant of Ambre Gris. That means that in this reviewer's perception the converse must apply. Anyway for me it's a case of Bingo! or Eureka! or some other triumphantly joyful term. Because Laguna is my fave of all time. I can't see the similarity apart from the ocean evocations which I don't think is particular enough to have been that reviewer's perceived common ground. But it may well be there, because I fell for Ambre Gris very fast, and I think it will be a lasting thing.

Back in the ye olde 90's, my mother developed an obsession...with the classic formulation of obsession for men. It's a potent perfume, and she sprayed herself up and down with it. She sprayed the vents in the car. She sprayed it everywhere. I was traumatized. If there is any one thing I seek in perfuming myself, it's to avoid all things remotely obsession, which in theory should be easy. Not that long ago, I bought creed's sublime vanille. I enjoyed it, but at some point I noticed a very distant whisper of obsession just like that stupid Kate Moss commercial. Fast forward to now, I received ambre gris today. I can't believe it, but here I am with another slice of the olfactive pie that comes together to create the vintage obsession I am trying to avoid. I looked up the formulation to make sure it wasn't just irrational residual shell shock. Ambre Gris shares many of the most dominant notes in obsession: amber and cinnamon. It makes this perfume unwearable for me. That said, the supporting cast of Ambre Gris makes it far more palatable than obsession. It's sweeter and more feminine with an oceanic note. Potent amber. Whomever vibes with would wear it fantastically. It's very well blended, balanced, and chic. The spice & amber makes it tend toward cooler months. The picture it paints in my imagination: looking out at the ocean on a cool overcast beach in Maine with a lot of driftwood, wearing a cashmere sweater. It's grown up, but not too old or young. It has strength, but it's not overbearing. I may come back to it someday. Edit: "Someday" is sooner rather than later. I had my BF smell it when he got home from work. LOVED IT. ̄_(ツ)_/ ̄ Help, I'm stuck in the obsession vortex!

There is something subtly seductive about Balmain Ambre Gris. I think it must be the ambergris (or rather its synthetic reconstruction), which is one of the few individual odorants that I don't own, so I can't be sure I am picking it out correctly. Well, if fine authentic ambergris smells like this but better, then I finally understand what all the talk is about. It is a fairly subtle skin scent, with the following associations to me, in order of prominence: cool amber, salt, skin, sandalwood, sex, earth, sweet. Surely some of the fascination with ambergris stems from the preposterous fact that it is sperm whale bile secretions used to coat giant squid beaks and passed in their feces (probably not in vomit, as is often stated) that has floated in the ocean for 20 years and looks like a rock, but it would appear that some of the fascination is indeed the scent. To my nose Balmain Ambre Gris is completely unisex; in fact I increasingly wonder how many male-appropriate scents lurk in the vast and confusing arena of women's perfumes. Since the women's perfume market is so much larger than the men's, I suspect that a lot of perfumes are labeled feminine without much thought (payback for the bad old days when cars were marketed only to men, vanity mirrors on the passenger side only please!). All I can rule out for now (for my preferences, mind you) are those that are mostly rose or overwhelmingly bright floral. I often like my scents bigger than this, but Ambre Gris has captivated me - I am ready to do your bidding mistress. Tell me where to lie.

I feel honored to have a large bottle of this beauty on my shelf... by the way, how gorgeous is the bottle? Could not more perfectly represent the magic it holds inside. A perfume with an immortelle note is not easy to find, and I love the herbal, vaguely salty, slightly hay-like aroma of it. Immortelle is a fine co-star in this production, with the star of the show being ambergris, as the name implies... although it is not listed as a note, I believe the combination of musk and amber in this one give that animalic impression of ambergris... two of my very favorite notes, ambergris and immortelle, in one perfume! First blast is a bit unisex, leaning toward masculine, for me, with a zing of what I would sense to be bergamot... not at all unpleasant, but not what I want this fragrance to be about, either. Happily, the "zing" graciously exits moments in, and I am left to loll about in the velvety blanket that is Ambre Gris... I applied heavily last night, and, upon the drydown, decided that the scent reminds me of a cat napping on a carpet in a shaft of filtered sunlight through a curtain. The musk in this is so perfect as to give the idea of warm cat's fur... that velvety patch right behind the ear. The sillage is modest, but this is kind of something I want to keep between myself and a person very close to me. As I mentioned, I sprayed heavily last night, and Ambre Gris was still going strong when I woke this morning... such a lovely reminder, that I was compelled to go back for more. Yes, this has earned its place in the top 5. :)

TL;DR: if someone could bottle the joy and comfort of the holidays, this would be it. Ambre Gris has been in my collection for a long time, closing in on ten years, and it's a scent I almost exclusively wear around Christmas time. Now that it's been discontinued, I'm going to treasure this bottle even more. I honestly couldn't imagine my collection without it. Ambre Gris opens with a dry, spicy blast of cinnamon that's reminiscent of opening a tin of spiced tea. There's a hint of pink pepper (which I don't normally love, but do enjoy here) and a faint whiff of smoke. After the dry opening, it warms on the skin expanding with cozy resinous notes and the lovely sweet, smoky quality of incense. It's golden and comforting and reminds me of coming in from the cold to a house with a warm open fire and freshly baked cinnamon loaf. There's the barest hint of a floral lurking underneath, almost like you've been hugged by someone wearing a floral perfume and there's a whisper of it lingering on your sweater. Over time Ambre Gris develops a slight creamy quality, while still retaining the rich warmth of the middle. I get hints of smoke, wood, rich vanilla and dark chocolate. It lingers on the skin and clothes for hours, and I love every stage of this magnificent perfume. It's such a shame that it's no longer available, so if you happen across a bottle or a sample I definitely recommend giving it a test.

Ambre Gris is a cool cuddly fragrance. What is 'cool cuddly'? Well if 'warm cuddly' is a happy, wiggly puppy then 'cool cuddly' is a mature, self-contained cat. Ambre Gris has a warmth but it is not sweet or gourmand. The cinnamon is actually rather reserved and the amber is moderate. It is a very comfortable fragrance to wear. In spite of the rather formal look of the bottle, I find it a bit casual. I would wear this to work (which I am today) and I would wear it to a casual, friendly activity. I would wear it when I'm relaxing at home. It isn't powerful enough to stand up to a big evening clubbing or a formal event but, hey, I don't get that formal very often. As far as longevity goes, its not bad. I'm at 5 hours right now and it is still very evident. This isn't a sillage monster at any point so it hasn't faded very much. In a perfect world, I would probably reapply it at the 6-7 hour mark. It definitely passes the 'I keep sniffing myself' test. When it comes to gender in fragrance I am always reluctant to assign male or female to a scent because they shouldn't have one. Wear what makes you happy. In traditional terms this is pretty unisex. If you want to smell super duper feminine, this probably isn't the one for you. If you like something a bit more gender neutral then this might work for you. I think this would smell great on a man or a woman.....or anybody.

What. Has. Happened? I clearly remember this smelling dirty and a bit "ugly" on me. I wasn't convinced at all, since I felt there was something really off in the fragrance. Something... that smelt an awful lot like... well.. like a crotch. Ehurm. But... now? Now I'm convinced that there has been a reformulation, OR, more likely, that the tester bottle I sampled from had turned bad. Because now, now it's like the most amazing thing on earth. Me and my colleague started to discuss perfumes (as always) at work one day, and she mentioned "Ambre Gris" and that she was about to purchase a 100 ml bottle. I was suprised, and started do discuss my experiences about this and that I did not care for it much. Well, she couldn't have that, of course, so she actually brought the bottle to work a couple of days later and spritzed me down. Oh boy. No more crotch. It was a lovely, salty, flowery, powdery, musky fog of amazigness. Cozy and warm. Like a sweater. A sexy sweater. It has a way of tricking the mind of thinking that this is the smell of YOU. Your skin. Your smell of sexy. Instant buy. Sniffing it on me now makes me wanna wrap my self in grease, doing an enfleurage on my self, Jean Baptiste Grenuille style, haha... Haa... ha. Just kidding. No I'm not.

Mesmerizing. Enchanting. Intriguing. I’m lost for words on describing this gorgeous complexity of a scent. It envelops the air around you with magic; a dignified sensuality. It is the perfect oriental for me. A mix of warm cozy resins, soft spices, salty skin, a hint of smokiness blended exquisitely. The main according is the balsamic resins but every other not is there to nuance it beautifully and cut any sharp edges so it comes out as a very smooth and bewitching oriental. I’m usually not one to reminisce on discontinued scents; I believe there is so much beauty out there to explore. But AG will be sorely missed when I run out of my bottle. I’ll cherish it but will definitely wear and enjoy it to the max. I could die tomorrow. Note: although the name and color may lead you to believe it’s mainly an ambergris perfume (the salty oceanic slightly animalistic accord), it is mainly an amber perfume. Ambergris is still there you occasionally get a whiff of a salty note in the background but it is mainly resinous. The benzoin is the the main component of the amber accord. They gave a subtle hint in the name by adding a space between Ambre and Gris which now translates as grey amber. It is warm amber with hints of salty grey ambergris.

I bought this blind based on the reviews and am thrilled to say it did not dissapoint! I couldn't be happier! This is indeed a treasure! First, I just need to say that the bottle is very opulent looking and the sprayer is the best I've ever had! The juice is phenomenal! I envisioned it being a bit warmer based on the notes, but the pink pepper opening is light and almost fresh! It does remind me of something I can't put my finger on. The warmth of the spices and slight sweetness round out the fragrance leaving only a smooth complex and changing fragrant journey that is very pleasant from start to finish. I get a fair bit of musk and creaminess that reminds me very much of Jaipur Saphir ( which I used to wear the crap out of, I loved it so much!)in the drydown. I think this is far more refined and well calibrated though. It stays close to the body, but I kept catching whiffs of the sillage in various stages of the development. It lasts easily 12 hours+ on my skin. All in all, a very comforting, cashmere wrapped type of scent, great for cooler weather, this is one I will be wearing a LOT of in the fall/winter! Great value for a very expensive smelling, high quality fragrance.

Love at first sniff! The reviews here are superb, and I don't think I could add much to them except to say that I think this has just enough masculinity in it to actually make this a unisex fragrance (it seems to be categorized here as for women). I think Ambre Gris would lovingly embrace anyone who wants to wear it. Warm, cozy and comforting, yet light enough to wear it on a hot humid day. I am not skilled enough yet to pick out what I smell, but it is ambery with a tiny saltiness to it and a soft muskiness that makes it light and snuggly. I didn't smell the other notes. It is very comforting for me, it reminds me of how your young child smells after having a bath and she snuggles next to you waiting for you to read her a bedtime story; it has that touch of realness and beauty to it. I don't care how "synthetic" this is (I ordered it from Amazon for only $35 USD), this is gorgeous! I think if I were to smell a man wearing this, my knees would buckle! I have been hoping to find a fragrance like this (warm, quiet, amber, sweet, cozy). I agree, please be careful when applying this, do not overspray! Beautiful! Thank you all for your reviews, this one is a gem!

this fragrance had been recommended to me by several members here when I asked for help with a classic, warm, spicy fragrance. I love cinnamon fragrances but kept avoiding sampling this and I have no idea why! But I am glad I finally did. Wow. This is amazing. It is not the cinnamon/spice works that is Cinnabar. The cinnamon here is more in harmony with the myrrh and musk and just enough of a creamy, timeless fragrance. This is a "snuggle fragrance". Warm, elegant and just breathtaking. It very quickly moved to a "LOVE" for me. I truly don't get much in the way of florals here and from what I read from other reviewers, I am not alone in that. And I think it could easily be unisex. Edit to add. It is also long lasting on me over 8+ hours and on clothes even longer. I can often smell it on my skin the next morning, very faintly! Projection is good, but not overwhelming. My coworkers can smell it if I walk by them or am standing next to them, but not in the next cubicle. I would say that it stays close, less than arm's length, but is not really a skin scent. And I am sooo not good with describing sillage!

I want to thank you all for the reviews as it prompted me to purchase this. What a great lovely scent for the upcoming cold weather. Let me first start by saying my initial impression before the spray hit my skin was oh God I made a big mistake. But no sooner then it hit my wrist and as I sit here and it continues to transform I am loving it. I think most of the reviews are accurate. It is a warm, spicey lovely scent. No florals here so if your a flower person don't get this one. If you enjoy warm cozy scents this is for you. I could see this one being unisex but it is not masculine. The bottle is very fitting for the lovely juice within. I wanted to UPDATE approx. 7 hours later that I can still strongly smell this lovely scent on me. The lasting power is absolutely better then ANYTHING in my current collection. This stuff is just really good and long lasting. The hubby loves it too. For the mere price r $30 I don't think there is anything else out there that can out do this in lasting power.

Ambre Gris is an oriental; balsamic and spicy, but also a bit sweet. What makes it stand out from other scents, is the salty note from the immortelle and ambergris. It blends so nicely with the creamy cinnamon infused warmth, like a fresh sea breeze in the background. There is also a fizzy soft drink effect, I read in reviews of other fragrances that this is the myrrh. There is no huge developement apart from the cinnamon and sea note vanishing a tad as more warmth and sweetness come through, but the scent in itself is complex enough to make up for this. It's also strong and long lasting. To me this is a beautiful gourmand, but not a very girly or sugary one. I think I would enjoy it in autumn especially. If I find this somewhere cheap I will get it... I think I saw it at TKmaxx a while ago, hope this chance pops up again now that I know the scent. I understand why it gets compared to L de Lolita Lempicka, they both have immortelle and cinnamon, but Ambre Gris is less sweet and vanillic.

Amber Gris is a nice, not too sweet, very soft, very lightly spicy scent. Suitable in any climate, year round. Great for the office, or anywhere, as it is non offensive, with moderate silage. Great oriental for beginners, since it's not too complex or heavy. Perfectly unisex, long lasting. Amber Gris is VERY different from most ambers. Unlike warm, sweet brown ambers, Amber Gris is dry, very lightly gently sweetened, and quite salty. Is it beachy ? Yes, salty, but no fishy smell at all. Is it sexy ? Yes, like a mermaid is sexy...aloof, unreachable, enticing, unique, exotic, a siren. Amber Gris is only slightly warm, like an ocean breeze, early on a summer morning. Amber Gris is very classy, smells like a unique high end expensive fragrance, but sells for a wonderfully low affordable price. Unobtrusive, Amber Gris is also great for layering, to tone down sweetness in other fragrances and make them last longer. I LOVE Amber Gris !

There is so much hot debate as to what notes are included or discluded in Amber Gris. I think this is possibly one of the most frustratingly incorrect and misleading notes pages on Fragrantica. Straight from Balmain's website: Top notes: Pink BERRIES, sage Heart notes: Tuberose, frangipani, myrrh essence, incense Base notes: Grey amber infusion [so yes, AMBERGRIS, NOT AMBER], benzoin, tonka beans, cedarwood On me, Amber Gris is indeed very sweet and creamy and smoothly animalic. I'd never know there was benzoin if I didn't read the notes list, usually benzoin has at least something of a "texture" to it. I'd like it to project a bit father, but it lasts easily 6 to 7 hours on me. The berries, frangipani, and tuberose all play off each other so perfectly, the sage gives the sweetness an interesting herbal balance, and the myrrh brings with it a balmy brightness which plays up the marine flavors of the ambergris.

Very warm and comforting skin scent without smelling too much like a traditional "musk" scent. I definitely get the woods, and I agree with Madrona that there is a hint of pencil shavings (which sounds weird, but it SO works here!). Longevity could be better, but I also notice that many of my samples from Perfumed Court (which come with dabbers instead of sprays) don't last as long as people here say they do, so my issue with longevity could be easily rectified with an atomizer. I think this would be very comforting in winter, but I also wore it today (80 degrees) and didn't find it inappropriate at all. I do get a very slight hint of tuberose, but I wouldn't describe this scent as floral. I think the tuberose just lightens up the wood note, blending it beautifully with the musk. I don't smell cinnamon at all, and the pepper is very faint to my nose.

I absolutely love this fragrance. Because of it, I understand why people have a signature scent. For me, it provides a feeling of safeness and security. It's as if nothing can be amiss while enveloped in its warm and protective embrace. If something were to dare go awry, the creamy benzoin and sacred myrrh act like a balm to soothe the slight. I feel like I emanate both strength and peace while wearing this. Yet there is an invitation of sensuality in its sweet and salty undercurrents. The amber acts as an underwriter of acceptance. If I were Ambre Gris, I'd make the sea my shrine, the hearth my home and pleasure would be my intimate familiar. I can't get enough of it - anytime, anyplace, any season. I'd become it if I could. Needless to say, it is a presiding and permanent resident in my perfume pantry.

Thanks everyone for your comments on this fabulous fragrance, as they inspired me to search for Ambre Gris, despite i'm not into oriental perfumes. It was worth searching. Oriental fragrances usually appear to be too heavy for ash blondes' pale skin. But this well-balanced and long-lasting fragrance is smooth and light, while each phase of its developing is well-articulated and intensive. As many commentators have already noted, Ambre Gris is comfortable, warm, lightly spicy and lightly sweet. It's good both for socializing and for a private aromatherapy :) And it comes in a well-crafted bottle. A delightful acquisition to the fragrance collection. p.s. I agree with Jht4060 that Ambre Gris could become a smooth male fragrance too - if the sweet note in it will interact well with the skin.

I blind bought this for a ridiculously small sum many years ago and wasn't keen. At the time I disliked any trace of powder in perfumes and this has a spoonful or two. Over the past year I've 'trained' my nose to appreciate powder, so decided to come back to this. It's delicious. It goes on a bit like a spicy incense mallet to the face, but the dry down is a resinous, gently spiced, gently sweet delight. A bazaar on the spice trail. It has a touch of saltiness that mingles with my natural skin salts really nicely, but I don't get the aquatic metal of ambergris like the notes suggests. At all. I can't believe I didn't love it and nestle it amongst my favourite amber frags. I was going to sell it, knowing it's rare and sought after - not any more!

At last zoka have changed amber on ambergris in Ambre Gris and Kenzo Indigo, yay! Coz in every topic "Recommend Me An Amber Fragrance" first of all people would suggest Ambre Gris as such. But it does NOT have an amber note. It was very misleading. Amber is in Ambre Sultan for example, Ambre Fetiche of Goutal Ambergris is now synthetic of course, its ambroxan, yet it so recognisable in every fragrance, it has salty-sweet and musky aroma, lingering and calling to your inner-self smell. Smell of natural instincts due to chemical molecule I would say:p Kind of aphrodisiacy as it's hard to forget fragrances with "ambergris" note and if it appeals to you - you will wear it till the last drop.

Bought this as a blind buy due to my newly discovered love for Balmain perfumes. To me they're some of the most unique scents I have, and this baby is no different. I'm actually a little torn about it - when I smell it up close I'm not really a fan, but if I smell it from just a tiny distance it's absolutely gorgeous. I can relate to the reviewer saying that it sort of smells 'natural', because it has this musky twang to it that's sort of undefinable. The spicyness definetely has a masculine side to it, though I wouldn't say that this is unisex in any way. This scent is mystery in a bottle - and I'm sure it will invoke ambivalence in most people. I am, however, pretty sure I love it. :)

It took me a while to decide, but I have tipped from bemusement into deep, deep, deep love. This scent is such a lovely journey, from the marine, almost masculine opening to the warm cinnamon and benzoin dry down (with the immortelle meandering through beautifully). It's got insane longevity on me, and modest sillage with 3-4 sprays -- enough for me to know it's there without having to bury my nose in my wrist, but not enough to get dirty looks at work. It's a very versatile scent with regard to venue: unique and sexy, but also tasteful and discreet. It's probably a bit heavy for summer wear, so thank God I live in a place where summer barely happens!

This fragrance is indescribably beautiful, and I would liken it to the most creamy, elegant silk that has ever rested against my hide. There is a sweetness to this, and the resinous beauty of amber, but there is no fruity wallop to render this into a cloying, attention-whore mess. This scent is to me like a swirl of the finest perfumes I smell at the opera, as everyone settles into their seats. The overture is beginning and the diva is behind the curtain, ready to dazzle us. Wait until you see her encore! If you like a womanly, elegant fragrance of distinction, I'd be comfortable to recommend this as a blind buy. This is high on my MUST buy list.

Thanks for helping me with the blind buy, Fragrantica! I adore this scent and the staying power is really decent. I won't attempt the sophistication other reviewers well-versed in well, how ambergris should smell. It's definitely a skin scent, a little sexy but too subtle to raise any eyebrows in an office setting. Just what I was looking for. There's something of a tang to it as well, not exactly sour or like perspiration, just something I can't put my finger on. It comes off your body in waves like finely-milled soap. This is the fragrance I've tried and instantly known I wouldn't feel "dressed" without it. It's like my No. 5.

Truly gorgeous!!! This is one of my favorites and one of the strong holy grail contenders in my collection. Ambre Gris is an absolute treasure. This is a must have for those who love amber, myrrh and cinnamon, but also tuberose lovers as well. With Ambre Gris you're treated to a delicious oriental; a sophisticated and regal fragrance. Semi-sweet, semi-spicy, salty and luxurious. It's reminiscent of a cashmere blanket; cozy, sensual and rich. I have a 3.3 oz bottle and I also have a backup bottle. It's that serious. lol When I put my nose to my wrist I instantly think of gold and the wealth is symbolizes... that's Ambre Gris.

Longevity is not so good, on me! BUT!!!, BIG BUT.... This fragrance is unisexually amazing! It is balmy and ambery but I get a lot of the benzoin/musk as solid notes. It just works... It's wonderfully seasonal for fall and for those "in between" moments... I This scent identifies the person who wears it.... The only problem IMO, you have to have a bottle handy to reapply to experience the "wow" factor that comes with the first application.... It lingers on clothing better, fyi... Bottom line... great buy for those who are attracted to the notes listed... I blind bought, with some members' assistance; very satisfied!!

Oh, how did I wait sooooo long to buy this ?? !! I love this scent. Aromatic,yes, touch of myrrh, yes, peppery, yes....and the ambre gris..YES !! I do not really get any tuberose....???...but I will survive, even tho I like tuberose. This is a classic scent....unisex, for sure. Ir starts off pink peppery, then...myrrh/amber vibe....then aromatic muskiness. Again....like I always say...you have to be patient and explore this fragrance...let it transform and develope. I find it goes threw a few stages when I wear it. I find it "different" than anything I currently own. A true gem !!!! Projection/sillage are decent.

This is the prettiest fragrance I have smelled in a long time...well since two days ago when I re-tested L' Heure Bleu. I have always loved tuberose in fragrance but this one has a very light, sophisticated presence. Rich and creamy, AG suits me well, it lasts all day and surrounds me with a buttery sweet tuberose that cuts through the amber sparingly enough that they both get to share center stage. I really want this on my have list, AG is too lovely to be left sitting on a shelf. What a perfect balance of notes that not only work well together, but compliment each other effortlessly.

Warm, subtle, puts me in mind of a thick, camel-coloured cotton coverlet. While wearing this scent, I feel cared-for and enveloped in a "don't you worry about anything" kind of love. The myrrh is what I notice most adding to this feeling, there's not so much floral which is a good thing with this particular scent. It is grown-up but without the strict responsiblities of being a little older, a little wiser. Soft and very agreeable for both day and night. I was pleasantly surprised because I was wondering how the unisex ability would end up on my female skin, but it works nicely.

When you first put this on you get a strong cinnamon spicy smell with pink pepper. On the initial dry down the cinnamon sticks around but the resins make up the foundation of the scent. The myrrh is prominent and you can smell the incense and benzoin. You get a whiff of a salty animalic scent from the ambergris but it's not overwhelming. It's been over 8 hours now and the main accords are still the resins and the cedar plus tonka bean. It's a rich oriental woodsy smell. I definitely enjoy it and will continue wearing it. Sadly it's discontinued, otherwise I'd buy a full bottle.

Extreme comfort in a bottle. I had this a few years ago and swapped it. I just had the desire to try it again and purchased a new bottle. WHAT WAS I THINKING NOT KEEPING IT? It's gorgeous I mean drop dead gorgeous. The Amber, that stout bottle with the awesome gold golf ball cap. This fragrance is just incredibly stunning. So much in fact I am going to pack up most of my winter scents and stick with this one exclusively. If you enjoy amber with a touch of cinnamon and live in a cooler place where you are experiencing winter this one is ideal. Lasting power is fantastic!

This has to rank up there with the most blind buys for any perfume, either for the bottle alone or word of mouth. There were the initial orders for it because they assumed (or wished) it would be some gross version of ambergris that would be unique but totally unwearable, then the word of mouth that this was a heavenly unisex amber scent, and now it's still whispered about in some groups among friends and perfume enthusiasts. I heard someone describe it as incredibly sexy and like a warm cashmere sweater, and I was sold. Another blind buy. I'm on a winning streak.

This is a new favorite. I usually gravitate toward big sexy spicy orientals, but I don't feel like they're always appropriate for work and other everyday events, so Ambre Gris is a perfect solution. It's elegant, sexy, and feminine, but not overpowering or brash. It's understated enough to wear to the office but doesn't make me feel boring, stuffy, or unfeminine. I do wish it had more throw and longevity on me--or that it came in other forms so that I could layer it--but every time I catch a whiff of it I feel happy. It's a classic beauty and my new go-to.

Okay, lets do this! *spritz* Let it simmer a bit.. Let it dry down yes... *sniff* - Ooh... nooo... *sniff* - No. *sniff* - Defenetly not. Too dirty. *sniff* - Or... actually! ... No. *sniff* - WAIT! ... No... no... *sniff* - OH YES! YES!.... No.... *sniff* - Oh why is it so hard to.. THERE IT IS! No.. *sniff* - Goddamit. *sniff* - Hey, now it's pretty goo...ooh.. No. *sniff* - Ok no. Or? Maybe? Maybe just a little? Ok. *sniff* - Ok definitly not a no. But not a yes either. *sniff* - Back to no. *sniff* - Back to maybe. Repeat until infinity.

This was amazing - discontinuing their whole lineup was heartbreaking. Smells like you had slow, meaningful....'relations' by the fire. Smokey, musky, it's gentle - slight bit of creaminess hides behind everything else. Insanely good on bare skin. Nape of neck under your hair, another spray on your back and one on your stomache/down your front - people will follow you just to catch the scent, but it doesn't smell like perfume, it smells like pheromones and gentle lust.

Oh.. This is beautiful. Subtle... I didn't know what to expect reading all the different reviews and descriptions. I love the woody aspect of it... It's not sweet to me. Ambery balmy woody. Do have carbone that my husband loves to wear... The woody note in it reminds me of it... But instead of incense it's amber. It's a really free description because I'm not good at verbalizing notes... I just smell. :) this is going to be a nice comfortable smell for autumn.

Ambre gris is a very warm, balsamic and sweet scent. Extremely pleasing! It's great in winter. It's also very easy to wear but different then what the majority is wearing. This is a great option for those who want a warm and oriental fragrance without reaching for something that has a lot of vanilla. It stays close to you but lasts quite a while. I will be spraying a lot of ambre gris this winter. Will be a good one for layering also!

This is such a wonderfully warm comfort scent for me. I don't detect any pepper thank the Lord. On me it's a sweet amber balsamic powder bomb in the same vein as Prada Amber and Shalimar. I could swim in this stuff! I think I'll have to get a backup bottle. Definitely in my top 5! Sillage is good, longevity moderate and price excellent! Definitely unisex. If you love balsamic ambers please do not miss out on this one!

This is simply heaven in a bottle. Truely a Masterpeice. I can not stop wearing, Balmain's Ambre Gris, and I have been wearing it for around 6 months now. If you are searching for something rare and different, and you still want a modern fragrance with an old world, classic feel, this might be just perfect. It lasts easily on me for over 8 hours. No soap or leather, just pure creamy, powdery divinity.

I did'n know that two perfumes could be so similar like Balmain's Ambre Gris and Jill Sander's Sensations. Ten years ago i bought Sensations and it has been my signature scent for a very long time. Today, after a blind order (which I made because of the beautiful notes listed here), Ambre Gris has come, and I almost couldn't believe how similar those two are. I don't regret because I love them both.

I have a tiny little decant with a drop or so. --- Thick delicious resins, incense, spices and something vaguely reminiscent of human live bodies, that sort of volatile sharp note that isn't very deeply fragrant but lets you know that a warm living human is beside you? I do smell the tuberose, but here the resins take main stage, and I love it for that! I wish I had it.

Still smells like the aftermath of slow lovemaking on a warm autumn day, as you stand to put on your partner's discarded flannel shirt, scented with his personal cinnamon tinged musk. Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful. It still boggles the mind that Balmain discontinued their perfumes, and makes me grateful that my immediate lust for more demanded I hoard a few bottles.

Very Beautiful! If you're into the Resin-y ones, try to find it before it completely vanishes. It's a Resiny, Spicy, Smoky and Herbal goodness. I wish I could single out the Tuberose, but I don't. Mildly sweet, so perfectly Unisex. It stays close to the skin, doesn't really project much, but I'm not too upset as it really smells divine..

Pleasant but thats about it. Very mildly ambery, spicey, slightly sweet and musky marine salty skin scent on me. It seems very feminine and definitely not a fragrance for my fella. No where near as strong as SL Ambre Sultan or similar to SL Gris Clair of which I have both and love. The longevity is good. I love the bottle.

this perfume is beautiful and is very much similar to prada l"eau ambree...it has no sillage ...its beautiful in warm weather...i wish it stayed longer or maybe thats the beauty of it that u never get enough of it...thanku dina for your suggestion to smell this beauty

I really like this and hope to get my own bottle soon. I wish I was good at describing notes, but to me it smells fresh, like you just got out of the shower and used a very nice soap. A tiny bit masculine could be unisex? It just smells fresh and clean to me.

This has been a constant in my wardrobe for many years.Unique, softly elegant & very feminine.It puts me in mind of a confident, stylish woman who doesn't need to broadcast her arrival.It's also one that benefits from warmth, so for bedtime...but beware!

Subtly rich and hints of depth. The cinnamon is very soft and lightly sweet - sometimes I'm not even sure cinnamon is in here. Waivers between being a cuddly scent vs the salt tinged feeling of two bodies recently having had sex. Shame it was disco'd.