Blooming Amber

Long-overdue proper sampling of Justin Frederico’s debut release under his own line, Frederico Parfums, Blooming Amber, from 2022. It’s a well-named, rich, bright floral amber that has a prominent feature of honey/neroli/citrus, fresh and sweet and resinous. It’s easygoing yet attention-grabbing and opulent, quite refined, and does not mimic previous releases, though it’s very much in the same broader family as Zoologist Bee—which is fittingly focused more on the honey—and Hiram Green Slowdive—which leans spicier. A really impressive release from Justin, whose work in the Perfumology line has been well-documented and -appreciated for a number of years now. The line is sold at Perfumology, and Blooming Amber in particular is priced at $185 for 50ml in parfum concentration, and there’s also a sample set of all five of the house’s releases (to date) for $35. I really look forward to trying the rest of his line, also. 8 out of 10

This fragrance is absolutely stunning. The honey note was the dealmaker on this scent for me: the subtle sweetness combined with a slight sharpness of neroli cut through the cloud of amber in such a unique and beautiful way. I’m going back to the store where I sampled it to maybe buy a bottle... crossing my fingers I can afford it!

This is wonderful. A beautiful non-sickly honey fragrance with some delightful surrounding fruity floral notes. Can’t stop sniffing this one 👏🏻

Honey, amber and white florals. I was prepared to hate this for a variety of reasons. But this is very nice. The two main notes play well together and there is just enough funk in here to keep things interesting. This is very feminine.

This smells like Jasmine and honey only. At first spray this smells fully feminine, then later it changes to more unisex. This becomes more honey dominant the longer the wear. This is actually really good but the 1st hour is too jasmine dominate, so you have to wait it out.

*Disclaimer This particular fragrance is not a part of my collection, my experience with it is limited. Review is based on 2 full wearings of an official sample. This creation truly lives up to its evocative name. A sweet yet sophisticated floral fragrance, it feels as though you’ve stepped into a garden in full bloom. While florals dominate the composition, there’s an intriguing twist that sets it apart, giving it a distinctive charm. My limited experience with an official sample leaves me unable to pinpoint the exact nuance, but it’s undeniably enjoyable and surprisingly unisex. My nose doesn't detect any citruses or lavender, but jasmine and honeyed neroli take center stage, supported by the delicate charm of lily of the valley. The blend is both elegant and refined, offering impressive longevity. As the fragrance dries down, indolic nuances mix with warm, ambery touches, creating a cozy, enveloping floral cocoon that lingers beautifully until the final notes fade away. For those who adore floral compositions, this could be a true gem. I would rate it a 7/10 personally, as florals aren’t my usual preference. However, its fair price and exquisite execution make it a strong recommendation for anyone who wants to smell like blooming bouquets. While I admire its artistry, I don’t see it joining my collection—though it might be the perfect addition to yours.

Blooming amber is a heavy white floral fragrance, which makes it a more feminine type of fragrance. It's so dominant in white floral that even at the top, I smell more floral scent than the orange ones. I can also smell lavender and honey but I don't like the combination in this format. When I tried that, I expected and searched for the woody notes in the base, as is common in such fragrance but there were no woody notes. Instead, the floral notes are sitting un ambery-musky accords. Although it seems that they use natural oils, the end result is one-dimensional. Another point that I don't like is that it's a heavy or thick type of fragrance, like the classic ones. This one has a common problem of many indy niche brands that the final result is not well-blended, or balanced. But it is more like adding and mixing some high-quality ingredients together, in high doses, to make a fragrance, without any balance or harmony of notes. I did not see any uniqueness or creativity in the scent. 5.5/10

Dr. J is a master when it comes to his creations! Blooming Amber his first for his own brand is a photo realistic dip into the honey pool resting on a beautiful amber base. Honey/gourmand fragrance lovers this is for you, at 25% extract it lasts 12+ hours. It is similar to Hiram Green Slowdive but softened by the lily of the valley, musk and cashmere. Two honey bees playing an amour cat and mouse game across a beautiful lush meadow rich with white flowers. They dip their stinger into the pollen enjoying the nectar they've collected as they move in a "bee" seductive synchronistic dance.

I don't believe I have ever hit *pay now* faster in my live. This fragrance sounds divine and worth the blind buy! The notes are similar to my absolute favorite, so I must see for myself:) Will come back after I receive and experience this scent!

Sounds lovely, too bad it's so expensive. But then again, aren't they all now? $8 for a sample is above my pay grade. Heavy sigh.....