Essence No. 3 Ambre

I came to this one quite late in the day apparently..... but better late than never! Absolute quality here from start to finish; the packaging is incredibly well presented and luxurious, while the bottle is really heavy and the magnetic cap is really strong too. The star though, without question is the juice. A beautiful, rich, warming amber fragrance with a very very slight bitterness at the opening, which is lovely and sets it apart for me. In fact, I find it incredibly reminiscent of Dior Privèe’s Mitzah, which is no bad thing at all! The comparisons do diverge along the life of the fragrance in places but not drastically imo, with the honey accord in Mitzah fundamentally setting the two apart. Ambre No.3 doesn’t drastically evolve and is fairly linear to my nose but again, that’s not a criticism by any means: the quality of the components and the hand (and nose of course!) of Francis Kurkdjian wouldn’t dare allow that to happen. I’m definitely getting vanilla in the dry down, working beautifully well with the patchouli, which is lovely. It’s rich, opulent and simply oozes class...... and at under £60, it really is a no-brainer if you’re looking for a stunning amber frag. If I’m being completely truthful, the only elements that let it down for me are the longevity and sillage. Given the density of the fragrance, I would have expected 8+ hours and a very good sillage but I personally only get 5 or so hours before it becomes a skin scent and the sillage is only moderate after the first 2 hours but as I’d be wearing it as an evening scent, those issues don’t have too much of an impact. Obviously, that’s just on my skin but nonetheless, I’m completely over the moon that I’ve discovered this beauty..... finally! I was so impressed with the overall quality that I’ve also ordered No.6 Vetiver & No.7 Neroli too and can’t wait to give them a try. I’ve got to give it to Elie Saab and Kurkdjian here; they’ve clearly thought about this line long and hard, not skimping or sparing anything at all. BIG round of applause !!!

REVIEW - ELIE SAAB ESSENCE NO.3 AMBRE What does it smell like? It just smells 'right'. Perfect. Smells like nostalgic fondness and good old times. Luminous. Perfumer - Francis Kurkdjian TOP - This has been the most difficult perfume for me to review. For two reasons. One it's blended so craftly that it doesn't anything out easily. You've to wait for each note to blossom and only then you can smell it. Two, because it doesn't change much from top to bottom. You get a initially sweet, caramelized and resinous blast that's kind of warm and smooth and comforting. MID - Again, it's very hard to identify it away from the top. Although you can sense some notes here and there. The thing with this Perfume is, everytime you sniff it you get a different blend. Sometimes you get caramelized amber, sometimes a smooth-sandalwood laden crewmy amber. Sometimes spicy-woody-resinous amber. Drydown - Same as the mid. Although sandalwood gets more prominent and the whole composition gets more richer and smoother overtime. There's some woody dark oomph provided by Patchouli here as well. It makes you curious. The way it leads you on. One note after another. You just want to sniff it again trying to capture the whole essence. Work of art. Feelings - It feels perfect. Imagine your old childhood room being struck by sunlight on cold silent autumn evening. This smells natural and just right. Very luminous and calm at the same time. Slows the time for me to be honest. Performance - 10-12 hours on my skin Good projection all the while. Usage - Men/Women over 25. Compliments - Don't wear it for compliments. Wear it for my personal recollection and mind. Rating - 10/10. Perfection in a bottle for me. Perfect representation of amber. Everything I've been looking out for till now.

I blind bought this based on the reviews here. I have a tester decant of MFK's Grand Soir so was intrigued by his Essence line creations for Elie Saab. I've been following MFK for a while and always wanted to own one of his creations (Aqua Vitae is in my To-Buy list) so when winter started here in Australia, decided to bite the bullet and just buy it. AND I'm glad I did. Been wearing it for some time (today is the 4th wear in the last few weeks) and am enjoying it more and more. WHAT a gorgeous fragrance this is! I will just copy/paste a few words from the previous reviewers who mirror my thoughts exactly as they are: Andy The Frenchy "....divine, like the other fragrances in the Essence collection: no fireworks, just smooth perfection" Sachin "It makes you curious. The way it leads you on. One note after another. You just want to sniff it again trying to capture the whole essence. Work of art. Feelings - It feels perfect. Imagine your old childhood room being struck by sunlight on cold silent autumn evening. This smells natural and just right. Very luminous and calm at the same time. Slows the time for me..." The above comment by Sachin describes my feelings perfectly. On a chilly morning such as today - this fragrance is just PURE perfection! Warm, natural, luminous and calming. On a side note - Aqua Vitae is the Summer version of this one (I have used it a few times from the tester decant), so am aiming to get that in a few months. Also purchased Essence No. 7 Neroli recently in preparation for summer and that is AS good as this one. Will write a proper review for that later.

Undervalued Have you ever met anyone that is clearly delivering below their potential? Does it frustrate you because you can see it but they cannot? You wonder, what would it take for this potential to be expediated? Certainly - confidence, commitment and desire are a must. I feel this Amber is the epitome of this, it could even be the most underrated amber I have come across. It is phenomenal value, mostly all naturals and MFK shines as usual. It resembles Amber Flash(which is also underrated) and Grand Soir (by the same perfumer and possibly the more "beefy" version of this scent[certainly a way more expensive version]) but still unique and subtle in it's own right. Is it too sweet? No. It is smooth and polished and airy and is it worth every penny? Yes. Indeed, it is an amber than can be layered with oud, sandalwood, rose, and musks. It is even designed to be layered but it has one weakness on its own - it is potentially too "light". There is another way to enhance value - scarcity. The more scarce something is the more valuable it becomes, like Saffron or Oud. In this discovery; there is a truth. This scent may be discontinued and then we will likely see the value skyrocket shortly after. So, inevitably true value will be seen by all in due course, but the savvy collector finds it first, before the crowd. All things considered, 4.45/5

I’m selective when it comes to amber scents. After testing two well regarded Amber dominant scents - Voile D’ambre by Yves Rocher and Ambre D'Alexandrie by Boucheron - I was unimpressed. My thinking....maybe there was nothing new to add to my list of favorites by MFK (Grand Soir) Serge Lutens, Annick Goutal, Hermes Elixir. But curiosity compelled me to buy a decant of this Elie Saab. And I’m glad I did because it’s GORGEOUS. I definitely pick up patchouli and sandalwood with an abstract amber. Notes listed above are not complete though. There’s a sweetness to this scent, maybe honey and a very good quality vanilla are in the mix, making this smell smooth and natural. What’s most unusual is that I think of amber as being a cold weather scent, but with Essence No. 3, Francis Kurkdijian has created a masterpiece that can be worn through all seasons. And I was able to find a 100 ml for around $50 U.S., so a total bargain to boot. I love this amber.

I haven't been the biggest fan of amber fragrances, but I found this one quite captivating. It should be mentioned that I have a penchant for sweet (but not overly so) gourmand fragrances, and it is the gourmandish aspect that has drawn me to this amber fragrance. From the outset, this has a short-lived boozy punch that gradually falls back to reveal a dry, warm, spicy and slightly resinous "traditional" golden amber accord. However, as this warms up on skin, a delicious sweetness unfurls - buttery smooth, vanillic, creamy and "biscuity," all while being opulent and tastefully balanced. This is a not an intense fragrance, but it has a strange quality of being rather voluminous while at the same time being quite delicate, rendering it a decently versatile choice for various times of year.

When I first sprayed Essence No. 3 Ambre my brain immediately recalled that I had smelled something like this before. And today it hit me while I was testing it again. This is incredibly similar to Byredo’s 1996 which I own and love except that this is the kinder, gentler version. The patchouli in here is pretty prominent and it also has that boozy-sweet quality I enjoy a lot. In the heart it’s dusty and smells almost like the pages of an old antique book. I love that smell and I wish that stage lasted longer. Longevity isn’t great but at its price point it’s ok to spray a bit more throughout the day if needed.

Elie Saab Ambre (2014) - light in amber - #franciskurkdjian creates a refreshing #amber accord that is sadly discontinued. I find Amber accords (a combination of Labdanum, Benzoin and Vanilla) too dense and heavy. Some are rich and sweet, while others take on a play-doh vibe. This one is in the middle with the Patchouli creating a moss-earthy effect commonly found in fragrances such as #coromandel . The perfume reminds me of a piece Amber on the tree, in the deep forest, while a light is shone upon it - seeing all its facets - culminating your exploration and journey.

This is an airy, skin scent, slightly spicy, slightly sweet, old school, read a book by the fireplace in your private chalet dans les Alps while there’s a blizzard outside kind of amber. Few reviews down, they mentioned ylang-ylang. Haven thought about, but it does make sense! Elie Saab ambre is so Francis Kurkdjian, it’s not heady, there’s few notes perfectly blended and so effortlessly elegant. Very sophisticated, no weird unusual notes used in unconventional proportions; just the classic simple notes - done right-

Divine vanilla-centric unisex amber that stays fairly close to the skin on me, great for everyday wear in cooler weather. I imagine a cathedral with sunlight streaming through the windows--there is a hint of sweet incense, old paper and wood, especially in the opening, but the vanilla and faint florals lift it skyward as it dries. I agree with the reviewer who said it has low silage and projection, but decent longevity. Overall effect is airy and calming, unisex, and office or church safe.

Very close to Grand Soir. the same praline, cinnamon sweet toasted, caramelized syrupy amber-the big difference is the lack of lavender and the base comes across more woody but very slightly. More notes than fragrantica has posted. Beastly siliage and phenomenal longevity. The issue is, now this is hard to find an people are overcharging for it. If you can get a bottle for around $150 and you love sweet, syrupy ambers get it. For $200 or more, just get Grand Soir.

This might be my favourite unisex. And my favourite amber. Elegant, rich, perfectly genderless. With an evergreen and marine edge. The amber feels so natural and multifaceted. The patchouli is very subtle and beautiful here with sandalwood rounding it all up. Balmy and resinous thanks to opoponax. Just perfect. Rather a cold weather scent, but I can see it being awesome summer evening thanks to the marine and forest edge. Very aromatic.

Oh my goodness. Now this...this is quality. You can definitely smell Francis' craftsmanship here. A rich amber overtakes your senses, followed by warm-balsamic and sweet, honey-like Opoponax that settles down into a base of soft patchouli and creamy sandalwood. It's a fragrance that is both elegantly refined and confidently sexy. A splitting image of its wearer, be they male or female. Another masterpiece from Francis Kurkdjian.

Opens sweet and a bit fizzy with a vanilla-like aroma, then in the mid to dry-down it smells like a delicious cream soda with some woody and powdery aspects. Imagine an aromatic sandalwood log and you accidentally spilled cream soda on it, that's how this smells (in the best way possible). It has low sillage and projection but has great longevity - I'd say around 8+ hrs. It's really, really good.

I tried this in the duty-free shop in Heathrow, and highly recommend it! It's a wonderful, warm, woody amber that is much richer and sweeter (with vanilla) than the notes listed here would imply. Sillage is strong, but not overpowering, and longevity is excellent. It reminds me of Madini Ambre (one of my favorites) with a more European twist. Definitely worth a sniff.

Imagine you have a gorgeous library in your house. All the walls are covered with wooden bookcases. It is 11pm in a Saturday and you have your favorite Scotch in your hand. You head to your library to chose a book to read while you have a drink. This fragrance is what you smell when you enter your library. Beautiful.

This is a lovely, light amber...I get vanilla and smoke - but do not detect any patchouli or sandalwood...this is a high quality scent that I see myself reaching for often...worth seeking out if you love amber and vanilla...

This is amazing, exceed my expectations. Its not too potent, dry down into sweet vanilla. I like this more than Ambre Nuit and Grand Soir. Only downside is it last 6 hrs max on my skin. Its a win blind buy.

@andythefrenchy You’re right, there’s ylang in this amber composition, it makes sense. Funny how the mind is tricked with the written word. Thank you.

Indistinguishably unisex. Not too sweet, and the woody and powdery aspect give it a dry and dark vibe. A very good buy at a discount.

Wow! Even at the current price, quite a steal. Love this! Buy it if you like Amber!

Do yourself a favour, buy this perfume and buy at least 2. You're welcome.

Another gorgeous amber by Francis Kurkdjian, Ambre is a warmingly spiced, sweet, resinous, deep fragrance with a touch of something that reads slightly medicinal/herbal (probably the patchouli) to my nose. As someone from south India, this scent brings to mind this deep brown, thick Ayurvedic concoction that is usually sweetened with some jaggery to mask the bitterness from the medicinal herbs, from my childhood. It is a fitting addition to this line of fragrances from Elie Saab, all of which are beautifully rendered scents to my nose. Ambre often gets compared to Grand Soir but in my opinion, any similarity ends with both of them being sweet ambers created by the same perfumer. The beautiful nuances in each makes them very different from one another and it would not be redundant to own both, if you wanted. Ambre is slightly more masculine leaning than Grand Soir but still, broadly speaking, a unisex scent. The former is like a viscous rich sweet syrupy liquid whereas the latter is more powdery and airy to my nose. Ambre sits closer with a smaller scent bubble and is a more intimate scent than it's cousin but performance is still very good, lasting a good 8-10 hrs with moderate projection and sillage. A good one for amber lovers out there, if you can still find it!

As a late sixties child, I'm familiar with 70's amber, and admittedly I loved the stuff when I was young. The air was essentially diffused in amber, patchouli, and sandalwood, and if memory serves, Coty had an assortment of the three (no opoponax) available in a wax kit. There are so many ambers out there, and it's hard not to "like" them at least, but I've grown out of them. Having said that, this is a fantastic amber. My favorites are still the Serge Lutens formations of amber--but those are often an "idea" or "abstraction" of amber. This is amber--the stuff I remember. The opening is an amber-patchouli quick bomb that fades (a little) into a more amber-sandalwood sweet honey smell. Longevity is quite good, 8 hours later--and--while I liked the scent well enough for myself, I got loads of compliments today (a testimonial to Amber itself)!

When I first spray what I smell is opoponax, which is a warm-balsamic and sweet, honey-like aroma. To me this opoponax additionally smells smoky like incense. There's a hint of ylang-ylang in the opening as well. Ambre is a unisex "amber" and I love it! It's unisex because initially there is a lot of sweetness and after the fragrance has dried it becomes more masculine and woody, which I don't mind at all. When it's dry the perfume develops a slightly powdery, spicy, creamy sandalwood finish. Yes, like all of the others in the line longevity and sillage are low to moderate. If a skin scent is what you're looking for you will be pleased. If a loud sillage monster is what you're after, you should look somewhere else. Beware this line is for people who enjoy modest scents. Sillage and longevity are both low to moderate. -

The reason why I had kept it for many years is that it gives me an immense old-fashion all-wood-decor library vibe just by sniffing from the atomizer. On me it always smells so smoky and heavy, not the perfect impression I would like to leave all around town. However, there was this once, I sprayed it on my husband right before he took our son to the park in a not overly hot spring/summer day. The scent he gave off by the time he came back really impressed me, warm resinous mature and classically sexy, I mean if I sniffed this off some random man in the park, I'd totally check him out. I assumed it might be because the scent had been warmed up by the sun or it could be down to different body chemisty between men and women.

The nicest sweet amber I have come across. Of sweet ambers I have tried recently Chopard Amber Malaki or Davidoff Amber Blend and I find them too thick and coarse. Elie Saab is, on the contrary, creamy and perfectly balanced between light and strong. The opening, which I initially found slightly strange, smells like it has some hay note in it, then it settles down to delicious creamy amber. Overall 9,5/10.

Reminds me a great deal of Armani Prive Myrrhe Imperiale, but Ambre Essence has very noticeable patchouli, and less incense. Also hasn't nearly the sillage or longevity of the Armani, but is still similar, nonetheless.

it has an amber/boozy whiskey Bentley intense character(but more rouner, not that synthetic screeching notes) but .... i expected much more interesting layers from Francis Kurkdjian

Amber has no smell, and even if it had one, there would be no way to perform an extraction. In perfumery, amber is a representation of the well-known golden-brown fossilized resin used in jewelry, supposed to mimic the idea of warm/conforting/soothing feeling felt when looking at it. It is usually just an easy to blend vanilla+resin accord. While I understand the perfume houses who list it as an olfactive note for marketing scopes, I still don't understand why fragrances websites and databases keep listing an unexistant "amber" note. That said, here, in the little flyer included the box, Kurkdjian has the honesty to talk about an "amber representation" (and list it as a note) and the notes listed are: patchouli, vanilla, labdanum, opoponax, ylang-ylang, sandalwood and jasmine. (the pyramid here is not accurate) Anyways, one of the main differences between the various fragrances in the "amber department" (aside of the nature of oils that can be natural or synthetic) is the nature and blend of the resin(s) used: sweet myrrh (aka opoponax, used here), bitter myrrh (myrrh), benzoin, elemi, labdanum (aka rockrose, also used here)... The other main difference (the major one in my opinion, that demonstrate the mastery of perfumery skills) is the extra "twist" added: i.e. bay leaf (Lutens Ambre Sultan), tonka+nutmeg+florals (HdP Ambre 114)... Here, Francis Kurkdjian used ylang-ylang, giving a fresh exotic twist, just as a subtle but fantastic supporting note. This "amber" fragrance is pretty simple and linear, but divine, like the other fragrances in the Essence collection: no fireworks, just smooth perfection. While I am not a fan of Ambre Sultan (it's more about bay leaf than resins) nor HdP Ambre114 (too powdery and sweet for my tastes), here, ES Ambre No.3 perfectly balances out all the notes and is the older (slightly shyer but wiser) brother of MFK Grand Soir (no surprise, it's the same nose). I wish it kept projecting well during the whole drydown, like in the opening, but aside of this minor drawback, the choice of ylang-ylang makes it a magic blend. The overall presentation is in line with fragrance: sober luxury with a simple packaging cured with attention to detail, and a simple but heavy glass bottle with magnetic cap meeting high-end lines standards. It may rank a (small) step below its slightly more complex and accomplished successor, but still, it remains a serious competitor to many more expensive amber frags. Given its affordable price tag at discounters, this is really a no-brainer! Ambre No.3? No... Ambre No.1! Perfectly unisex, 30+, best in cold evenings

Coca Cola amber. Just the right amount of sweet, feminine. Quite like D&G Velvet Amber Skin, but stronger and with longer sillage. I like Amber Skin so this should be perfect. For some reason I can't quite like it. It lacks the depth and well roundedness of Amber Skin, and something about the notes makes me viscerally uncomfortable, like I'm smelling something that should be good, but someone else has licked. Anyway, maybe get a sample before you buy

I really don't like this perfume.

this is too strong it gave me headache. I dont like it. I sprayed it on my hand and had to wash it 3 times and still didnt come off.

i hate it, it is nothing like Grand Soir... nothing!!! this smells like olive oil.... horrible!! i am lucky i sold my bottle.

I am loving this, I was lucky enough to find this on eBay for less than £60.00 including postage, loved it so much I noticed they had another bottle so I got that one as well, I usually use the older Guerlains as I like a perfume with attitude, on me this is like nothing I have ever smelt before, it's soft, slightly spicy sometimes and then I smell a sort of honey toasty biscuit smell, all of a sudden it changes again and I get a slight animalistic smell, it changes on me all the time so I keep smelling my wrist, as I move I get this beautiful smell and realise it's me, it sits close for a while and then I can smell it again, it's warm and snuggly, think softest cashmere, lasts a good 8 hours on me which is very good as even pure perfume doesn't seem to last that well on my skin, I have a friend who leans more towards soft florals but she says she would wear this as it's so interesting in how it keeps changing on your skin, I would wear this day or night , maybe even a very light spray in the summer,I will probably save it for going out in the evening , although I have 2 bottles I would never want to be without this beauty.

[Essence No.3 Ambre] ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚪️ POWDER - BUBBLEGUM - BREAD As an amber fan I was intrigued when I heard the opinions on this fragrance. I picked up a 10ml decant and have now worn this one enough to offer some insight. Upon the first spray, I get a resinous and almost bubblegum type scent (don’t read too much into the bubblegum as it’s incredibly minor and lasts maybe 30 seconds). Then it’s followed up by more of the resinous feel and a slight mustiness I liken to an old book but not nearly as jarring. For me the fragrance is fairly linear after the opening and only continues to get sweeter as the longevity processes. Overall this is a lovely Amber and a no brainer for any fan of amber and resins. I personally will not be picking up a full bottle as I’m more inclined to favour dry ambers like Issey Miyake Noir Ambre and Rook Amber. As the weather get colder as the year goes on I may revisit this one in time for winter. We’ll see.

I’ll start off by admitting I don’t own many amber perfumes (this Saab makes exactly two) because I mostly enjoy them in passing. Amber tends to strike me too thick and heavy for long-term wear, so I’ve consistently avoided them. But this...is stunning. The word ‘luminous’ springs to mind and it was love at first sniff. Anyone familiar with the Essences Collection will appreciate Kurkdjian’s interpretation of this perennial favorite; it’s recognizably amber but an intimate sort of amber that seems to be lit from within. I want to bathe it in but will control myself! I can’t speak to its longevity just yet but an hour in, it’s humming right along. A pretty linear scent but that doesn’t bother me at all because it’s so well done.

This smells a lot like Amber Paste, which I LOVE. I bought this blind when I heard someone describe it as smelling like Grand Soir, but more feminine leaning. I absolutely agree with that definition. Grand Soir is beautiful, but has a slight harshness that I always want softened. Well Essence No 3 Amber is that exactly. It is a bold and beautiful amber, rich with vanillic touches, but is not too rough around the edges. The juice is powerful! One spray on my hand and I am enclosed in a scent bubble. This one lasts for hours. I have no complaints with this fragrance and am very happy with my purchase.

I came across this because I was looking for something that smelled like Velvet Amber Skin Dolce&Gabbana because I can't afford that price tag of 200 quid, but then, this is 165 so a 30ml partial I have bought and am very very happy with. This is similar but not the same as VAS. It's brighter and more fizzy. How beautiful this is. To me it's exactly like the smell of cola. Like one of those cheap panda pop colas that are sweeter and over-flavoured, and it's absolutely divine! There is nothing screechy here. It's bloody lovely ❤️

Wow. I didn't think I liked amber anymore, except for Boucheron, which I love, but this blows even that away. Well, I guess it's in a different category because Boucheron is more crisp and lighter. They each serve their purpose. This is a deep, warm, damn sexy amber and every once in awhile I get a whiff of what smells to me of scrumptious cookies. My opinion is that this is expertly and perfectly blended and if a man were wearing this I'd chase him down the street. Mmm

To me, this is Grand Soir without the lavender in the opening, which has been the biggest challenge for me. Essence No.3 Ambre gets straight to the "point", aka amber. Sweet, warm and a bit cinnamony, slightly balsamic. Simple, but very elegant. And yes, sometimes the simplest things are the most beautiful. I am so happy to have found this.

I had this fragrance and haven't used it for a couple of years. It was a nice sweet amber fragrance very commercial and not something to stop and talk about. So after three years of owning this the fragrance gone off! It smelled horrible, it smelled like vinegar and patchouli, absolutely horrible , very bad quality.

i was thinking about the fragrances i own, and this one came to mind and i was thinking what should i do with it, should i sell it, should i gift it? No any of that, i told to myself, Garbage belongs to the trashcan ! Sweet, nauseating, unspecific and synthetic ..

If you love amber at its most beautiful, rich, honeyed and resinous, this is the fragrance for you! I detect ZERO patchouli while the amber lasts and lasts! A must for a chilly day when nothing seems to warm you up! Lovely and comforting.

On me this is a skin scent no matter how many sprays I use. And in less than 3 hours is gone. Not too sweet, not too powdery, pleasant scent, nonetheless, but no performance or longevity. At least I did not pay full retail price for it.

The goldilocks of Amber. Just right and well tailored. A super buy at discounters if you can find it. Unisex. Sillage grows upon first spray then settles down in a warm cozy haze close to the body. Longevity over 8hrs.

I find most amber fragrances too heavy. Not this. It’s light and effervescent like a cola. Really like this one. I had fun layering this with POTL Luctor et Emergo EDT.

I received a sample of this by mistake and wow, after the initial opening, this became what I wanted Musc Ravageur to be (Musc Ravageur without the strong urine note)!

OH MON Dieux , ambre , patchouli et santal !!! i hope to have the 1st bottle of this iconic combination , I believe , more i bet this will be the best

Dear hassan nasrallah my friend , well for me im greedy i want the whole collection !!!!!!!!!!