Ambre D'Alexandrie

Liquid Resins traded with Ambergris from the beaches of Alexandria... Sprayed this on and I was completely bewitched. The amber is very liquid-y and vanillic (after the initial phase that's powdery resinous) with a touch of grittiness in the base from tobacco and ambergris. As the base notes build to a crescendo, it takes on more fruity raisin-like nuances from tobacco for a dry leaf tobacco accord. Just mesmerizing. Love it. Overall it's a liquid'y amber-benzoin-ambergris scent with near-raisin & tobacco nuances that read like incense in some facets. There's very little tree-bark for resin in the desert, but the write-up states this scent is meant to evoke trading of resins, spices & ambergris (which was often collected from the beaches of Alexandria after sun-aging to acquire its sweet, earthy, marine, animalic, tobacco, fruity & radiant scent). Opens with a burst of vanilla, tobacco and benzoin. Tobacco here has the dried fruity nuances of a dried tobacco leaf, and the effect is near raisin, more of a raisin pie filling really, that deepens into a gorgeous, rich & multi-faceted amber-labdanum heart, resting on an ambergris & musk base. There's a nice mix of traditional amber and the fruitier benzoin-tobacco blend, and alongside there's a faintly salty facet. Overall I get an raisin-tobacco ambergris scent, with the other notes recognizable but serving to enhance and support the ambergris accord. This has amazing performance, but the warmer scent profile wears especially well in cooler weather, and with aging it gets better and better if that were possible Overall: gorgeous unisex liquid-y ambergris scent with excellent performance. It's a love for me. 10/10. Enjoy! Contrast to Angels' Share By Kilian: These are different, but there are similarities with the liquid-amber-benzoin & apple/raisin-pie facets. This has a more powdery, soft overlay with more hints of incense-y tobacco throughout, but both have excellent performance. (For comparison to Angels' Share dupes, please see my reviews for Fire Your Desire Paris Corner & Inner Angel Bath & Body Works). Contrast to Khaltat Night Attar Collection: These are different, but there are striking similarities with fruity, resinous amber. Khaltat Night is leans more cherry-cinnamon, while Ambre d'Alexandrie is more near-raisin & tobacco. Both have excellent performance. Contrast to Amber Rag & Bone: These are different, but there are similarities with the liquid-y & vanillic amber that leans boozy. Amber Rag & Bone leans more vanillic & boozy, while Ambre d'Alexandrie leans near-raisin pie & tobacco. Ambre d'Alexandrie has stronger performance, but love them both for different reasons.

Resins traded with Ambergris from the beaches of Alexandria... Beautiful amber-benzoin-ambergris scent with near-raisin & tobacco nuances. There's very little tree-bark for resin in the desert, but the write-up states this scent is meant to evoke trading of resins, spices & ambergris (which was often collected from the beaches of Alexandria after sun-ageing to acquire its sweet, earthy, marine, animalic, tobacco, fruity & radiant scent). Opens with a burst of vanilla, tobacco and benzoin. Tobacco here has the dried fruity nuances of a dried tobacco leaf, and the effect is near raisin, more of a raisin pie filling really, that deepens into a gorgeous, rich & multi-faceted amber-labdanum heart, resting on an ambergris & musk base. There's a nice mix of traditional amber and the fruitier benzoin-tobacco blend, and alongside there's a faintly salty facet. Overall I get an raisin-tobacco ambergris scent, with the other notes recognizable but serving to enhance and support the ambergris accord. This has amazing performance, but the warmer scent profile wears expecially well in cooler weather. Overall: gorgeous unisex ambergris scent with excellent performance. It's a love for me. 10/10. Enjoy! Contrast to Khaltat Night Attar Collection: These are different, but there are striking similarities with fruity, resinous amber. Khaltat Night is leans more cherry-cinnamon, while Ambre d'Alexandrie is more near-raisin & tobacco. Both have excellent performance. Contrast to Angels' Share By Kilian: These are different, but there are similarities with the benzoin apple/raisin-pie facets. This has a more powdery, soft overlay with more hints of incense-y tobacco throughout. Both have good performance. Update 10/27/24: Sprayed this on today and was completely bewitched. I had forgotten how gorgeous this was. Powdery & resinous at the start with a touch of tobacco that reads like incense to my nose at first. As the base notes build to a crescendo, it takes on more fruity raisin-like nuances from tobacco for a dry leaf tobacco accord. Just mesmerizing. Update 03/22/25: Wearing this today, as it turned cold again. The vanilla is aging and it just keeps getting better & better, including performance-wise. One and a half sprays (how did I manage that? not sure I could repeat the half spray) to the back of my hand created a nice scent bubble around me that's still going strong after a few hours. I suspect there's liquidamber in here, and the amber is very liquid-y and vanillic with a touch of grittiness in the base from tobacco and ambergris. Love it.

Ambre d'Alexandrie pays homage to Alexandria, which was one of the most important cities in the world in ancient times. Inside the Boucheron La Collection represents the importance of the city that houses the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria (one of the Seven Wonders) and which flourished in the commercial part, through the distribution of products (mineral and spices) that came from the East, attracting the stone hunters. The amber represented mystery and it was used to improve jewelry. Its warm color served as inspiration for this fragrance, which was created by Jean-Christophe Héraut and composed through the union of benzoin and vanilla, as well as a narguile accord (obtained through tobacco), at the top of the olfactory pyramid, making way for labdanum and amber notes, in the heart, towards the base of ambergris and musk. On the skin, Ambre d'Alexandrie is the most powerful within the six fragrances of the collection. With just a few sprays, the fragrance exudes majestically and can even bother if applied in excess (or in hotter days). It carries the DNA of Arabian fragrances, uniting the style of the East with the West in a very sensual way. It has one of the most effective combinations in perfumery, when the intention is to portray the Middle East: amber, tobacco, vanilla and resins (myrrh, frankincense, etc.). Another example would be the use of roses, saffron and incense. But that’s not the case. Ambre d'Alexandrie is, at the same time, sweet and dry, seductive and aggressive, feminine and masculine. Sometimes the vanilla dominates, but in seconds the tobacco note appears. Then, a light facet of leather emerges, but the musk comes and confers lightness and a silky content. According to the company, the olfactory competitions would be Ambre Orient (Armani Privé) and Tobacco Vanille (Tom Ford). Ambre d'Alexandrie is that kind of fragrance that transports you to a movie in the desert, riding on an Arab horse, wearing the turban and the clothes of the region, having a warm landscape with golden hues as a backdrop. In my opinion, a great hit that delivers what promises.

Boucheron Ambre D'Alexandrie is a sophisticated and timeless fragrance that showcases a beautifully realistic pipe tobacco note at its opening. This tobacco is rich and reminiscent of unlit pipe tobacco—think of that satisfying aroma when you open a fresh tin, with subtle hints of vanilla, apple, and raisins. The opening is both warm and nostalgic, offering a sense of classic refinement. As the fragrance begins to settle, a delicate salty undertone, courtesy of the ambergris, emerges in the background. This saltiness adds a layer of complexity to the fragrance, complementing the tobacco beautifully. The transition is smooth and deliberate, giving the scent an added dimension of warmth and intrigue. Gradually, the amber takes center stage, with the pipe tobacco lingering in the background, adding depth and character to the overall composition. Eventually, Ambre D'Alexandrie evolves into a rich, salty amber skin scent, which retains its warmth and longevity for hours. This final stage is soft, comforting, and incredibly appealing for those who enjoy ambery fragrances with a subtle hint of tobacco. In terms of quality, Ambre D'Alexandrie excels. The materials used are of high caliber, and the fragrance is well-balanced, making it both wearable and versatile. It is perfectly unisex and ideal for both casual and formal occasions. While the style of a tobacco-amber fragrance is not groundbreaking, Ambre D'Alexandrie executes it exceptionally well, offering a classic yet luxurious experience. For those who enjoy amber and tobacco notes, this fragrance is an excellent choice, especially considering it can often be found at a discounted price. It offers outstanding value for money and is highly recommended for those seeking a refined, elegant, and comforting fragrance.

I like this a lot! And if one doesn’t own or hasn’t tried a lot of amber-vanilla fragrances, this one might be a great addition to their collection. Unfortunately, as much as I like it, I don’t feel like I need a full bottle. I’m hoping to find something a little more unique and with a slightly better performance, as this one is a little too close to the skin for my taste. But that’s probably intentional, since a sweet fragrance like that might end up being a little cloying if it’s too loud. Other than that, great blend, all notes are there, you can definitely feel some sweet tobacco and a faint animalic aspect coming from the Amber gris as well, specially in the opening, but although this isn’t my favorite note, I definitely don’t mind it here. It’s warm, sweet, and kind of syrupy, leans a little feminine, but I wouldn’t mind smelling it on both genders. I can definitely see where people are coming from with the honey note, I don’t know if it’s the amber-vanilla-tobacco mix that creates this effect or if there actually is an unlisted honey note, but I can definitely feel it, hence I’d recommend this fragrance to everyone who appreciates that particular note as well. UPDATE 10/10/21: Forget about what I said, this juice is addictive. Like @Madyana said above, if you let it “ripen” for a few months, this transforms into something else, way deeper and richer, and even performance is better. Tested my decant on different occasions and the more time passes, the better it gets. I am obsessed and I even slightly prefer this to my beloved Angel’s Share - it’s more versatile as it is less spicy (no cinnamon), and I find it to be warmer and easier to wear. Give it some time and you’re gonna love it.