Sel d'Ambre

I blind bought this one and have no regrets AT ALL. The opening blast is one of my favorite openings of all the fragrances I've sampled. This is where the resins burn the thickest, the only part of Sel d'Ambre's lifespan with a heavy feel. Post-opening, everything melts together into a masterfully-blended, mysterious beauty. The ambergris is easily detectable here (hence the "sel"/salt), and the olibanum becomes more of a frankincense specifically - it's cooling, just like how true frankincense oil feels when it touches the skin. There's an airy quality to Sel d'Ambre as well that transports me to what my mind imagines is a desert night. The gold and black color scheme and interesting shape of the bottle conveys the fragrance perfectly - something ancient, something ethereal, the container for something a pharaoh would wear. I wouldn't even really consider this an amber-forward fragrance; it plays more of the 3rd place on my skin compared to the ambergris and olibanum, while the Rukeri tea accord (kind of like a Rooibos red) and orris accord work together to provide depth and to smooth everything out in the far background. The very light animalic tinge (only heavy in the opening) from the ambergris truly puts a stamp on the uniqueness as well. The far drydown (12-14+ hours later through a shower) leaves only the cooling frankincense and orris to be found. There are maybe other fragrances I can name in a similar scent family, but I truly can't say that this smells like anything else I've tried. Bisch's perfumery here with Sel d'Ambre reminded me again why I love niche perfumery so much. Just when I think I've smelled everything, I come across a unique gem like this. In my opinion, S'dA deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as transportive classics like Au Coeur and L'Air du Desert Marocain. It's not gonna be for everyone, but it's definitely a favorite for me. 10/10

Revisited this as it had been on my mind. This is a future masterpiece. This is a genuine combination of Amber (the resin accord) and ambergris (whale vomit or whatever it is). Whether there’s any real stuff in it I highly doubt it. It is deep, dark, sexy and alluring. A proper grown up amber. It has the similarities with Tom Ford’s Amber Absolute in the sense that it’s smokey, spicy, woody. and resinous. But in the mix comes an animalic salty ambergris. And it’s this part that I’m addicted to. This addition is what made me want to get a FB. The frankincense plays a supporting role but never overtakes the amber giving it that incense vibe. I think the tea balances things out and keeps it from getting overwhelming. Call me crazy but deep in the dry down I get hints of Gucci Pour Homme 1. There are woods and spices in here that are not listed. A perfect cold weather date night scent. Performance wise it’s well above average. Projects very well and lasts until the next morning on skin and over a day on clothes. For me the highlight of an interesting and avant garde collection. Ebene and bleu infini were my other picks that I would consider. Packaging and bottle are worthy of the juice inside.

I tried this fragrance in Neiman Marcus around ten days ago. It is delicious, powerful, warm, and enveloping. It is lush and rich amber resin and labdanum with a bestial longevity. I have had a blotter for one week, and the fragrance keeps going and getting better. This fragrance is incredibly enticing. However, I need more experience to fully understand how it would develop on my skin. Sel d'Ambre is much more potent than Ambre Nuit from Dior; it is more subdued and elegant. Sel d'Ambre differs from Grand Soir MFK because it doesn't explore the sweet amber-vanilla territory that defines Grand Soir." It is also less stinky in a good way (meaning animalic) than Ambre Sultan from Serge Lutens or Musc Ravageur of Frederic Malle. It is a particular scent that is not suitable for blind buying, especially if you are not into amber scents. The presentation of Sel d'Ambre in person is stunning and looks a lot better than in the pictures. This weird gold-black square bottle with the letters crossing the corners of the fragrance looks different and pretty. More pictures and reviews are on IG: @marulovesperfumes!!!

I didn’t expect to love this as much as I do. Sel d’Ambre isn’t your typical sweet, syrupy amber. It’s dry, mineral, and structured. There’s a subtle salt-air quality wrapped around warm resin and woods that makes it feel elevated without being heavy. On my skin it feels sharp and composed rather than cozy. It doesn’t project loudly or demand attention. Instead, it gives a quiet sense of control — calm, steady, and confident. What I appreciate most is how complete it feels on its own. It doesn’t need layering. It doesn’t need added sweetness. The balance between the dry amber and the airy mineral effect makes it feel modern and refined. This is the kind of fragrance I’d wear when I want mental clarity and a composed presence. It’s important without being stuffy. Polished without being cold. If you’re looking for an amber that feels mature, controlled, and subtly powerful rather than gourmand or opulent, this is worth trying. Scent: 9/10 | Longevity: 8.5/10 | Projection: 7/10 | Overall: 9/10

This is my first Balmain that I’m trying and already found an absolute hit for me. Such an addicting sparkling amber, like the Oud Minerale bottle is what it feels like. Slight bit linear, had a nice incense and subtle tea and becomes more dry and powdery over time, the amber is gorgeous and salty, long lasting stuff that stays on skin for 6+ hours I am getting a fb for sure!

Lovely spice fragrance, woody and deep. I'm also getting a clove vibe too. Perfect for autumn evenings, it's lasting nicely but won't take over the room. Definitely sensing tea and powdery in the dry down. Thank you Balmain, a keeper!

Lighter and sweeter than Amber absolute. But really like the salty ambergris in it. Highlight of the collection. Overpriced though.

Wow is the opening of this perfume ever gorgeous? sheesh!!! Immediately the olibanum which persists and crudely, is the main theme of this perfume, but it's not all about that, I want to say a sweet but not saccharine accompaniment (could be the orris listed in the notes here?) but the quality and sparkle of the olibanum gives a really chic, classy feel. So the Olibanum is evident throughout and settles to more of that once the top notes fade, this can be a difficult balance, to not get that Avignon, Mark Birley...Etc... Frankincense sort of dominant thing, and I think this avoids it well. I can't quite figure out what's going on, it's not complicated and I think that's the charm here. The amber accord is warm but quite mineral like, modern, comparisons to Serge Lutens amber below I find a bit puzzling and the Sahara Noir comparisons might be valid, unfortunately I can't recall the smell, I remember loving that perfume though (foolishly not enough to buy it) so they might be on to something? Enjoyed this then, and it's in a lovely bottle, haven't mentioned that on my reviews of the 'new' Balmain collection so far but I think they are among the prettiest around. Still not worth retail but what is nowadays?

Very well made perfume and beautifully presented. The hero note is fully olibanum with a warm amber foundation and the barest of tea aroma. There is a bit of a dirtiness to it underneath but done in an elegant way that adds depth and dimension. This is a grown up, somewhat serious, high quality perfume. The color I associate with it is brown, burnt orange, deep purple, very autumnal, cool evenings outside.The price is too high, but that’s just how perfumes are priced these days unfortunately. My favorite of the new Balmain releases!

Got my nose on this; it's like slightly sweaty and musky skin covered in a warm ambery oil and snapped tea leaves. Very salty on the opening that lasts for well over an hour, gets smokier as it warms on my skin. Cold weather only for something like this. Definitely worth sampling.

Sweaty sexy mosh pit. I’m getting a bottle.

All of the descriptions are very accurate. Opens with a sweet and salty (very salty) slightly smoky amber. Dark and resinous, there is an over brewed tea, almost minty vibe there as well. Definitely Middle Eastern in its composition. The olibanum is fresh and crunchy. You have to be in the mood and dressed all the way up for this one. A nighttime roof top party in Dubai with all black tux, black shirt and velvet loafers.

Black tea and reminiscent of machine oil with a distinctly metallic and heavy note. It evokes ambergris rather than amber. There's plenty of frankincense. As it develops, especially toward the middle and end, it turns into a classic amber-frankincense scent. Unfortunately, I just couldn't bring myself to like it :(

this smells like bad breath to me

Balmain's Sel d'Ambre literally means amber salt, ...not ambergris. That distinction is important here, as it explains much of what one actually smells when sampling this perfume. While this is indeed primarily an amber scent, it is also rendered sharp with ample, unlit frankincense (olibanum), ...and then heavily salted. If it helps, envision a salt grinder cranking freshly cracked, coarse-ground sea salt directly into the bottle. The sensation is that salty, ...but that alone is not ambergris, which isn't present anyway. For those that love very salty marine scents, ...and don't feel like layering what they already have with a serviceable amber fragrance, ...then this ready-made salinated amber brew by Balmain might truly fill a need. Personally I'm enjoying sampling this odd curiosity. I so often do with these deliberately outré scents, ...but where would I ever wear this? ...Answer: most likely nowhere. Edit: After smelling this a while I'm beginning to feel a tad (sea?) sick. I feel like I ate a whole bag of pretzels or something.

Excellent olibanum, augmented by rich amber accords – dry, salty, full, yet radiant. Sel d’Ambre is a twinkle in the midnight darkness – a wandering gust on the cool night of a scorching hot day – gathering incense smoke, saline air, and glowing wood embers. The ambergris effect comes through clearly: mineral, warm, and slightly animalic – caught between cliff, dune, and tide. Though structurally linear, the slow, steady, and graceful unfurling of its materials is not merely a pleasure to behold, but a reward.

This was a love at first sniff for me, it's absolutely gorgeous. Off my skin this has a similar feel to Rose Incense by Amouage without the rose. Very dense olibanum and ambergris forward scent supported by amber as well as a hint of orris & tea. Very resinous, smoky, and mineral. To be honest I'd probably call this more of an incense scent than an amber. Lasted 12+ hours off my skin, noticeable but not suffocating projection. Genuinely one of my favorite fragrances I've tried in a while!

A rich ambery labdanum frankincense fragrance with a slighty green fruity (granny smith) opening. The fruity note becomes more plum / date in the evolution. Between B683 Extrait, Ambre Sultan and Tom Ford's superb but discontinued Sahara Noir.

There was a syrup medicine I used to have that smells exactly like this. Not my vibe but smells lux.