Amarige

(Review of an original formulation from 1994) How can you not like Amarige? Honestly? Sure, understandably it might not be your bag - but free yourself into liking something you may never have a desire to encounter again! It’s a liberation like very, very few, and very conducive to this big, wide, weird world of perfumery. Although, I suspect many are smelling/rating a reformulation that occurred in the early 2000s, and indeed modern formulations of Amarige are a mess. I have a couple big bottles from the original formulation even though I rarely wear them, but when I do I call back to a word I only just used: liberating. The character of Amarige smells like an aloof and carefree, joyous liberation from all constraints and stresses. Yes, there is a lot of overlap with Carnal Flower. Ropion and Malle seemed to have no compunction in releasing a very close facsimile of Amarige, but the key to Carnal Flower is tempered opulence and luxury, and careful attention to details as Ropion frequently displays superb mastery of. Amarige couldn’t care less about luxury or detail. In fact, its character seems to suggest that such things are distractions and weights to a true joie de vivre. So, don’t buy into most of what the echo chamber is selling (unless your nose cannot tell a difference); as an owner and longtime devotee of original formulations of Amarige and Carnal Flower I can say with strong conviction that they are sufficiently different. You get a sense of Amarige’s larger than life personality immediately upon the opening with its massive dose of lactones. Ripe and fleshy peaches scream yellow sunshine and sticky juices running down your chin. A watery and sour plum pairs alongside, accented by honeyed orange blossoms and violets. The fruity florals in combination with quick and sparkling aldehydes create a sensation that is so bright it is nearly hesperidic - and certainly blinding. But be of no doubt that the star of Amarige will launch itself into the air nearly as immediately: that big, green, heady, sharp, sweet, and almost violently happy tuberose. Every time I smell it I feel happy to the point of laughter and tears. It’s just such an outrageous character! Its emotionally-impossible-to-contain aromas are matched only by the force and speed with which it projects and sillages into the air. If you cannot walk with a big grin on your face today, do not wear Amarige; a dour look plus the way you would smell would make sense to no one who will be smelling you from many feet away. The floral heart layer shows more of a restrained character than the opening, but it’s the difference between a toddler screaming while laughing versus a toddler running around while laughing. While the tuberose settles in to its character, a citrusy green jasmine helps to keep the edginess while ylang-ylang does a significant amount of heavy lifting with its creamy, custardy, and tropical aromas. I should make note at this point, since I haven’t already, that Amarige is sweet, but it’s not sickly, syrupy, cloyingly sweet, rather a naturalistic very floral honey, pollen-like, and fruit-sugars sweet. It’s addictive - like we’re told sugar is, under today’s modern medical science knowledge, and count me hooked. The final dry down is a focus on musky, creamy, and floral sandalwood, the musks trying for a bit of white soapiness as well, and a good dose of earthy and vanillic tonka. Here is where we get the Ropion (most of us) know and understand as he achieves an impeccable balance and attention to detail without losing any of the puerile energy of the preceding layers. The base and skin scent take the volume and energy down another notch, but it is still far from quiet or docile. The sweetness keeps the activity level high while the sandalwood rattles and hums its vibrant, creamy, floral, woody character with the musks. Now for an admission, and no secret to those who have read my reviews of tuberose perfumes before: I’m a sucker for them. I have a bias. I cannot help it. What pushes me over the edge into dislike territory are sickly sweet qualities, lumpen density and lack of breathability, lifeless and deadpan deliveries, and too many gaps in the general accords or specific notes of an aroma chem in an attempt to be cheap with the formula and to not fill in those needy spaces with smart material choices. Amarige doesn’t strike out on any of those counts. Today is the day that I want to finalize my thoughts and my review on Amarige because I am in an elated mood, it’s a gorgeous summer day, and it just seems like a great moment to wear Amarige. I find myself beaming and gleaming right along with the perfume, and I’m just as happy as it is to be alive.

This is a perfume that I have come back to again and again and I had to acclimatize my nose to it again, but Amarige is really quite lovely and ultra feminine. So iconic and unmistakable, too. I have always loved it since my mom used to wear this back in the mid to late 1990's, along with Organza. I remember even stealing both perfumes from her from time to time to wear as a little girl! Such memories 🥰 Amarige makes me super happy when I smell it and it makes me think of both sunshine and the spring. It must be the ylang ylang and mimosa giving it that yellow floral burst of happiness! This perfume is equally white floral too and I can smell the bright orange blossom, creamy gardenia, sexy tuberose, indolic jasmine and very luscious and sweet black locust. For me, the black locust and the tuberose are really the stars here. The Brazilian Rosewood and the peach, plum, berries and violet are also prominent in this fragrance but never make the white and yellow florals take a back seat. It's very juicy, lush and sweet from the fruit and the rosewood gives it some character. The violet and the musk in this gives it that old world powderiness that is very nostalgic and pleasant smelling. I can smell the soft sandalwood in the background too but this isn't an overly woody perfume. It kind of smells like Amarige could be a white flower tree like a black locust tree that's heavy in beautiful white black locust flowers that are heavy in pollen and the bees are pollinating it and making honey from it. The tree is ripe as are the flowers and fruit nearby it. A beautiful young woman in a long diaphanous white wedding gown and cathedral length veil marries a handsome man under the tree. She throws her big white bouquet at the end of the wedding towards the women at the reception and jumps onto a horse with her husband, the horse galloping off into the sunset with the newlyweds riding it. Amarige is very bridal smelling, as its anagram of the French word "mariage" meaning "marriage" would have one believe. I got 10 hours of wear of this perfume on me and it had a sillage of 6 feet. Everyone that has passed by me have said that I smell incredible while wearing this and they always ask me what I'm wearing. A nurse at a hospital even thanked me when I sprayed it on! I love the bottle for this perfume too and I think it is just as beautiful as the liquid inside. I love the bright golden color of the perfume, the beautiful curves of the bottle and the lovely see-through white glass cap that looks like a ruffle of white chiffon or some other similar material. Luca Turin was for sure wrong when he said that this perfume was bad and shouldn't be worn near anyone. Nothing could be further from the truth! Amarige for sure is a juicy, syrupy and honeyed white and yellow flower concotion for the eternal goddess in all of us. White and yellow floral lovers, this is for you!

I love, love, love Amarige! This was my signature when I was in my early 20s. Grandma? No. My grandmother was clean and smelled good, but she didn't smell like Amarige. I'm sure I wrote before about my love Amarige. There was a magic between us. I wore it day and night and I got a lot of compliments. Even if I didn't, it would make no difference. I also grabbed a couple of critics, but I probably went with heavy hand that day. Worn in small amounts, just two sprays, it made wonders on me. Of course, it's a very complex fragrance and so full of nuances, it's warm and fresh, deep and luminous. On me gardenia and gentle true sandalwood popped out. I think it really bloomed on my young skin in springtime. Powerhouse perfumes are recommended for wearing in cold weather, but many floral powerhouses give their best in spring with lukewarm climate. After a few years I stopped wearing it. I think that the magic broke up. I blamed my own curiosity and fickleness, but now... many years later I think that reformulations broke it. Amarige has gone through many reformulations. The first biggest one I believe killed the sandalwood. What Amarige can you have without that luscious sandalwood? It was Floral-Woody and it became Floral-Musky. Not the same anymore, but still good. The box went from full border in colours to half vertical border in colours. I still kept Amarige in my collection. Other formulations gradually killed it. It became more and more musty and still beautiful! The last reformulation is due to the removal of Lylial. The box is now red with only a thin gold border. For some time I've seen both boxes in shops. I tried the new version and I almost didn't recognize my Amarige. It's not bad but much simpler, more blended, more modern and at the same time more flat, but it's a nice perfume, just not magic. Amarige was a powerhouse and very daring. It smelled like the sun in your face and it was a masterpiece. When you touch a masterpiece you broke a hardly found perfect balance. The formula leaks on different points. It's not like working on a drugstore bathgel. Now when I read what I suspect Gen-X reviews and some YT "influencer" just out of kindergarten talking about grandma's poo, it makes me a bit sad. For them. For sure they are not smelling the first original Amarige. Many reviews stemmed out of these videos. It seems like let's attack something. How do I attack a perfume in these sad '20s? It's OLD. Old as an insult. Ok, keep your expensive gummy glycemic tuberose if your mom is rich or stick to those sickening wannabe-L'Interdit-but-I-can't if you don't find yourself in silks. BTW poo/toilet is the indolic side of white flowers.When well done, is pure bliss and you won't even smell the toilet.

Dear Readers, What can I say?, I enjoy this perfume over the years and its part of my collection on my mantle and collective memories even though one experience is from someone's else's memories that hers is now mine, let me tell you why. Firstly, I was introduced to this perfume as a teen when a family member worked in a perfume boutique and when I smelled this in its bottle I was enrapture by its bright and warming floral's and to my delight my sister gave me a miniature bottle splash of it that I used until it emptied with use and to this day I still have it in my collection, The other experience Im sharing ,its origins come from when I worked as a nurse in a nursing home doing my duties in caring for my patients and there was one lady that was mute ,paralyzed and alone despite the room being wide enough for 2 more patients to be her roommates but she was the only one there ,alone in such a grey place. I remember she was my last patient for the night and when i was putting her to bed after her bath , I looked in her drawer for a comb for her hair and lo and behold my eyes were gazing upon a old friend, Amarige from Givenchy, a lotion, and vintage too, the same shape like the perfume bottle but all solid white and the cream was golden, I asked my patient was this her's, she could not speak but nodded a yes and I said Ma'am excuse my boldness but you have fabulous taste, would you like me to put some on you tonight?, and she nodded again of yes, and then I put on her skin and tucked her to bed, the fragrance was of garden of blooming flowers in that dark shady room that I even forgot how dreary it was and as I tucked my lady patient in ,she had her pale skin became a sweet pink and her eyes closed with a expression of she was seeing something and I know she was seeing and feeling a memory of a time that the perfume transported her there and a tear grew out of her eyes and I asked her if she was feeling good now ? meanwhile i wiped her tear off and caressed her light coffee brown hair and she nodded by my touch and in a whispery strained voice she said "thank you" with her eyes still closed as in still holding on to her memories of this perfume but answering me out of gratitude, and that night she slept soundly as my co-workers reported to me that she did not made any fuss that night and the room smelled gorgeous but thought it was the flowers from outside her closed window. Dear readers, it goes to show that perfumes do bring a joy even in the most dreary of times and this experience of the lady patient is now my own as evidence of being witness of the power of fragrance and delighted to own a bottle of it myself Viva Amarige and the house of Givenchy!.

This is probably the craziest perfume story - Back in the 90’s if a woman did not wear Amarige, Dolce Vita and Paloma Picasso you were not considered part of the club at the hospital I worked in South Florida. I used to work with this woman, her husband used to buy her tons of fragrances, she used to wear different ones to work. I was a starving college kid who was working to take care of my younger siblings, I did not have enough money to buy these fragrances. One day I managed to purchase a small bottle of Amarige, I took it to work to show off to the ladies to let them know that I deserved to be part of the elite group (that was so childish of me, trying to fit in when I was simply a young kid) I left work, had to rush to school, I tripped on a rock, fell hit my head and hurt my hand, the perfume bottle broke right in front of me. I did not cry because I almost died, I was in tears because my perfume bottle broke. They took me to the emergency room to make sure I did not have a concussion, my only worry was my perfume (You can tell I was a nut back then, don’t worry I am still a nut just a different one now). The emergency room physician who took care of me was laughing at the fact I was more worried about a broken bottle of perfume instead of my head. Fast forward to one week later after my near-death experience, someone delivered a very large bottle of Amarige to my desk with a note stating “A beautiful girl shouldn’t cry over a broken perfume bottle, she is pretty with or without perfume”. The entire time I was thinking, Jesus wanted me to fall because he knew I deserved a big bottle of this juice. (see I told you I was a nut bag then) I never found out who left me that awesome gift, I had an idea it was either the physician who took care of me or one of the CT Scan technicians. If the person had identified himself, I would have married him on the spot and have his baby just so he could keep buying me perfume lol. Moral of the story – don’t try to fit in, stay just the way you are because later on you will fall into the right crowd. That vintage bottle is gone, I repurchased it not too long ago, I must say there is not that big of a difference except the vintage version was a little bit stronger and lasted longer on than the new one. This is one of the reasons I share my perfumes with other people. I give perfumes to strangers who later became friends, friends and family members. You never know the difference you can make in a person's life when you share the love of perfume.

Blind bought this, figuring it would be an awful reformulation that’s unwearable or very much not my style at all... but holy crap, this is gorgeous! I love white flowers. I love carnal flower. But I never was too into other Ropion frags I tried. This is beautiful. It still smells high quality and expertly blended. A big beautiful bouquet of flowers. I honestly don’t think it smells old. My mother never wore perfume, i have no memories of old ladies wearing this. I know I’ve smelled it before but never associated it with any age or type of woman. It’s going right in my “classy” white flower collection. I do wish the cap were a bit better, mine doesn’t seem to stay on very tight and is a bit awkward. A must for tuberose lovers! I sprayed it along side a few other tuberose frags I was sampling, and didn’t label them. It took me a good minute of my brain searching through my realistic white floral lily/tuberose centered collection to figure out which one this was. It’s unique enough to own it even if you have some of the more popular others. The florals in this aren’t drowned out by the million other notes, nor do they turn the florals into a completely different scent. Some of my fav white floral / tuberose scents currently are White Peacock Lily by DS & Durga, Lys 41, Flora Carnivora by Henry Rose, Patio Botanicae, Gucci Bloom Profumo do Fiori, and Carnal Flower. This isn’t quite like any of those, there’s a strong yellow flower vibe to Amarige, but it dries down to a very classic gorgeous tuberose. I feel like it’s a cousin to scents in those families. I do remember smelling this a few times this in the past. I kind of remember it being a bit stronger, sharper, and louder back in the day. I don’t find the current formulation to be sharp at all, it’s quite smooth, and even when I spray heavily it never gets suffocating or fills the room. It seems the current reformulation has had the sharp edges smoothed out and projects about as loud and long as the other white florals I mentioned. I do need to spray a bit heavier and reapply once or twice in colder weather when I’m wearing heavy clothing, but once I get a scent bubble going, it lasts longer. On paper and some clothing, this will last for days. I could smell the test strip just waking by it the next day. I don’t believe the newest formulations are so strong though that two sprays will project across the house for 24 hrs, unless maybe you’re very sensitive to white floral scents.

Along with Ysatis, Amarige was one of my favorite scents from the late 80s/early 90s. Talk about a "flowerbomb" - the original Amarige put the perfume known as Flowerbomb to shame in terms of it's volume! Not comparing the two, just pointing out that this was a huge floral. I remember giving myself one spritz before getting in a crowded elevator and becoming very conscious of the fact that not everyone was as appreciative of this beauty as I was! What can I say? I was young!! The reformulation is faithful to the old juice as I remember it. It is simply less of a bomb, while maintaining the same notes. Longevity is good for an EDT, and the sillage is far less potent than the original, much to the delight of elevator riders throughout the world! In my opinion it is a far more successful reformulation than Ysatis, which has lost it's depth even though it remains enjoyable and wearable. If you love big, unapologetic florals, grab a bottle. It's very affordable, and never fails to make me feel happy and beautiful. EDIT: This is as good a place as any to get this off my chest, so here it goes! I am soooooo over hearing about how some perfumes smell like grandma! First of all, it is outrageously offensive to suggest that just because someone reaches a certain age, one must avoid smelling like her or him at all costs. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, as fragrance is subjective. And yes, different styles dominate certain eras, so a fragrance most definitely can evoke a certain place, time, or person. But a beautiful scent does not cease being beautiful simply because the times have changed - reformulation not withstanding. There are reasons why certain perfumes withstand the test of time and others fall into oblivion. Certain scents are more geared towards the mature and sophisticated and others towards the youthful and adventurous. It is as much a state of mind as anything else. In my opinion, calling something an "old lady" or "grandma" perfume is really rather narrow minded, and insulting to those of us at a certain age who have been around longer and withstood the many styles that have come and gone, while the truly great ones from each decade endure. Just my two cents, as an "old lady" with an open mind!

Last year, I planted a little gardenia in a pot, not knowing its scent, knowing only that its inebriant, wonderful perfume could fill a room. I wanted it inside my bedroom, was dreaming of it, as a hopeless romantic. The little gardenia is much smaller than a standard one and could stay in a pot over the table. I lately found out I had to grow it outside, in the garden, though. I love gardening, but it was really really challenging to take care of it and I deeply longed to see it bloom. After moving to a new house, my gardenia got happier for some reason and gave signs of willing to bloom at last! Then it happened: tens of buds appeared!!! When I saw the first flower open, so perfect, so beautiful, I dived into its scent and... WOW!!!!!! Rapturous! It was the scent of being heavenly in love! Passionate and pure as true love, strong and sweet and happy and deep and bitter... Full of desire and overflowing happiness: like being love and being loved back. A bride ardently waiting to be in the groom's arms... the moment it finally happens!!! I am single but in the night those buds bloomed and the perfume of those gardenias filled the room from outside (they were out in the garden!), I could taste the flavour of being a happy bride. The sweetness and agony, the pleasure of longing, the joy of love. A few months later, I heard about Amarige and the "marriage" idea of this perfume... And I got so curious! I bought a decant of 1 ml and tested it twice, to be certain of this: Amarige is the very scent of the little gardenia I have! The perfumist recreated the natural scent of this gardenia in such a similar way I dare say it's one of the most "natural" perfumes I've ever known. It's the scent of a fresh small gardenia straight from the garden, with its full complexity!!! So natural and inebriant as the flower. No to mention it fills a room the same way (I love it!). Oh what a wonderful thing to be able to spray it all over my skin!!! Wow! I want to buy 1l now! And who knows... maybe find true love? Is it such a challenging thing, as growing my gardenias til blooming...? Well, never mind, while I don't find true love, I can wear Amarige and feel eternally in this heavenly garden, in love with all this beauty!

Amarige is old school perfumery. French, classic, chic, big, bold bouquet of flowers and basket of fruits, three types of woods, tonka beans, vanilla and amber. It’s really a lot of notes and accords mixed in but Dominic Ropion never fails to create magic! As probably everyone knows by now, Amarige is at first and foremost a strong blend of tuberose and mimosa. Two of my most favourite flowers. There’s supporting floral notes consisting of gardenia, jasmine, ylang ylang, orange blossoms, rose, neroli, carnation, black locust, violet and orchid! This composition makes Amarige the scent with the biggest variety of flowers ever created! Possibly, it’s not a checked fact... There’s a bunch of fruits mixed at all levels. We have mandarin orange, plums, peach, blackcurrant, red berries and a cassis leaves note. At the base level we have a classic mix of vanilla, tonka beans, amber, musk, cedar, sandalwood and Brazilian rosewood! It’s a lot of various notes thrown in but it’s working well. Somehow all those flowers and all those fruits are softened up by a creamy vanilla and the trio of woods! Like many other scents of the 90’s, Amarige is undeniably unique. Complex. Strong. Elegant. Seductive. Loud. But very recognisable as far as scent goes. This, Champs Elysees, Samsara, Tresor, Angel, Chanel No5, Poeme, are perfumes that made history! Keep in mind that Amarige is not your typical spring-summer scent. Better said, it will work during spring and fall. This is a beast of white flowers and yellow flowers combined with tons of sweet fruits. This is not a warm, hot and humid day type of scent. It will choke you out. As expected with older releases, can be found these days during sales for the same price like a Billie Eilish scent. So, so affordable for what it is and how it performs! But this is not for the 20 something years old people, it’s a fully grown up scent. I would say thirty and above.. It’s absolutely delightful!!

I first encountered Amarige at an airport, when a handsome man at the duty-free counter looked at me and said, “I know which fragrance will suit you.” Flattered and intrigued, I watched as he picked up the bottle and sprayed it on me. As the first mist touched my skin, an explosion of orange blossom, plum, and mandarin enveloped me. And in that very instant, as I gazed into his piercing blue eyes, I was no longer under the cold fluorescent lights of the airport. I was transported into the warmth of Amarige itself - golden light mingling with the soft pink of a sunset, suspended in a perfect, fleeting moment. In the depth of his gaze and the glow of the fragrance, my journey with Amarige truly began. I adore the tuberose in this perfume. The mimosa is magnificent - I believe it is what gives the composition its golden aspect. The bouquet is immense, a true explosion of flowers. Yet the carnation adds a vivid, slightly spicy edge, reminiscent of clove. This floral journey lingers very long. It evokes romance, love, and all the beautiful, sometimes forgotten sensations of life. Perhaps after about six hours, woody, vanillic, and amber notes begin to emerge, marking the conclusion of this journey and the transition into its final, intimate phase. Amarige is intense, long-lasting, and never linear. While one might expect it to be heady, on my skin, it remains perfectly balanced. This is a perfume of distinct character. Its romance is not innocent or naïve; it is mature, serious, and profound - a sophisticated celebration of love and union. Bravo, Dominique Ropion.

Una fragranza turbolenta e gialla,satura di fiori gialli e bianchi e polline,odori intensi e narcotici che quasi stordiscono,sa di primavera concentrata. Evoca veramente le primavere di trenta anni fa, quando il cielo era sereno e il clima era naturale, il sole era giallo e puro,il venticello svolazzava e portava polline e fiori dappertutto. Non è elencata da nessuna parte ma ci sento una forte ed intensa fioritura di Pittosphorum,proprio come quello che si sente nelle strade a maggio giugno vicino al mare. E' un profumo puro,solare e luminoso, non è misterioso, non è oscuro . E' perfetto per uscire per strada, passeggiare,andare a una cerimonia,a un pranzo ,ma a mio parere non è indicato per serate romantiche,cene erotiche o occasioni intime poichè è veramente troppo luminoso e troppo intenso. A suo modo è un bel lavoro, un bouquet ricco e sfarzoso come ce ne sono pochi, il bouquet è elaborato similmente a Cabotine, knowing, cabochard,ricchi di fiori e erba e con un sottofondo fruttato che li rende fluidi. Lo sto amando sempre di più pian piano che lo uso. Ho descritto una edizione recente, ora ne ho avuta una vintage del 91 e infatti si sente una notevole differenza. Innanzitutto è più garbato e naturale,si sente un mandarino gradevole,tutto il bouquet è più morbido e delicato,più intimo e sensuale,l'effetto narcotico è naturale e seduce con armonia. Rimango sempre della mia idea che i profumi vintage sono sempre migliori di quelli moderni sia per qualità naturale che per morbidezza.

Amarige (versione 1991) in primavera come adesso, è uno dei miei preferiti. Non so esattamente cosa abbiano annusato quelli che lo recensiscono come profumo per vecchia signora,troppo vintage, o con alttre sciocchezze. I profumi cambiano sulla pelle di chi li indossa e trovo davvero comico definirlo "troppo"vintage." Forse la gente ormai è addomesticata a credere che i buoni profumi siano quegli intrugli puzzolenti di adesso,tipo La vie est belle o quegli oudh finti di montale che sono orrendi. Ma lascio a ognuno il suo gusto. Amarige è un turbine di fiori gialli e bianchi,una nota di mandarino delizioso,mimosa e tuberosa e fondo di cashmeranide,muschiato. Non è possibile sentire una nota sola perchè il bouquet è evoluzione. Questo profumo è stato copiato in ogni modo, un po da Narciso sublime dell'erbolario, poi da nishane con la sua tuberoza esasperata, lo rivedo anche in "la chasse aux papillons" e nel tentativo di Atlantide di terenzi,molto tossico e nauseabondo. Ma l'originale amarige anni 90 resta il migliore. Ropion ha creato delle meraviglie olfattive come questo, jungle di kenzo,ysatis, alien, e poi ha iniziato a fare cose noiose tipo carnal flower, e altri odori monotoni che restano fermi e non hanno evoluzione né profondità. Dico purtroppo perché comunque sono i pochi rimasti oggi,in mezzo a una marea di profumi tutti uguali senza emozioni.

Amarige is a beautiful fruity floral scent. Don't let the affordable price fool you. This does not smell cheap and how could it be when it's GIVENCHY! This is fruity summery scent opening up with a juicy peach. It's syrupy with maybe a touch of apricot and a little citrus. The fruitiness is not like the fruit notes in today's perfumes. This is definitely a strong 90's fruity floral. It just means it's even more delicious. Apply lightly because this stuff packs a big punch. The sweet fruit then leads to the florals. To my nose this is mostly ylang ylang and mimosa. This is a bright 'gold-yellow' and white floral. The jasmine tuberose gardenia trio is there but not coming through as a big white floral. The one white flower note that stands out is the buttery creamy tuberose. The carnation is also there. Sweet florals and somehow oily or sticky in a good way. The smell gets straight to your head. Sweet and feminine very beautiful. You have to be into florals to get this fragrance.The dry down is part musk and mostly sandalwood. It's a warm smoky dry down. The perfume lasts all day long. The sillage is fantastic. Everyone can smell it on you and I get no complaints. To me this perfume is happy, romantic, luxurious.

if Narciso is a creamy white gardenia, Amarige is more golden and juicy. the “mariage” of gardenia, mimosa, tuberose, and tart stone fruits is WOW. about 30 minutes in, there is something unidentifiable happening which you can only detect sideways from a couple feet away, something indirect and “greater than the sum of its parts.” something to do with the combo of rosewood and tonka bean, perhaps? not GREAT performance, as expected from a current EDT — BUT i over-applied it in the evening and could still smell a lingering peachy tuberose during the night. and the next afternoon when i got up, the after-smell was a nice granny lotion with hints of sandalwood and tonka. so. not bad, not bad at all. Amarige apparently had quite the reputation as an obnoxious, trashy tuberose bomb back in the day, BUT it has clearly been reined in quite a bit, and i don’t think that’s a bad thing. i had no experience with the original so i cannot speak to what the changes were. but the current version still has something lovely and unique to say and, though it isn’t a shout, it definitely isn’t a whisper. musical accompaniment: “1/6” by Sunmi “...don’t wanna feel anything: take my pressure to the moon, astronaut” /current edt

I had smelled this perfume from my mother collection, one of the most beautiful flory perfumes ever, I think if I remmeber this perfume similar to the DNA of "Avon Rare gold", but "Amarige Givenchy" was launched before. Well mixed perfume from many yellow and white roses with alittle of sweety plus woody Amber powdry base, I agree that this perfume is nostalgia and I hope to find it in perfume shops again. In general. "Avon Rare gold" give me this feeling of nostalgia when I use it with classy elegant feminine feelings. This fragrance suitable to wear it at night or during the day, in all seasons. It lasts along time. أعرف هذا العطر فهو كان من ضمن مجموعة والدتي، وهو من أجمل العطور الزهرية على الإطلاق، أعتقد أن هذا العطر يشبه الحمض النووي لعطر "رير جولد من أفون"، ولكن تم إطلاق عطر "أماريج من جيفينشي" قبله. عطر ممزوج جيدًا من العديد من الورود الصفراء والبيضاء مع القليل من الحلاوة في قاعدة من العنبر والبودرية والخشبية، أوافق على أن هذا العطر هو الحنين إلى الماضي وآمل أن أجده في محلات العطور مرة أخرى. بشكل عام، يمنحني عطر "رير جولد من أفون" هذا الشعور بالحنين إلى الماضي عندما أستخدمه مع مشاعر أنثوية راقية وأنيقة. هذا العطر مناسب لارتدائه ليلاً أو نهارًا، في جميع الفصول. يدوم طويلاً.

My best friend and I went to school together since we were 6 years old until high school; the kind of friendship that lasts forever, even if we live in different countries now. Her signature parfum in 1993 was Amarige (we were 17), and we were both crazy about Amarige (but of course, only one of us could wear it). I switched between Fleurs d'Orlane, and Eau d'Orlane. I would steal my mum's Paloma Picasso or Dior Dune for the weekend. But we both were obsessed with Amarige. Now I'm awfully nostalgic of the 90's strong scents and I love reading everyone here commenting how they are fortysomething and they used to wear Amarige in their twenties. It's difficult to find a tester at the stores, but I'm very tempted to buy one bottle for myself just out of nostalgia. My style in fragrances changed a lot since then, so I'm not sure I'd enjoy it. I would probably spray them on a jacket or a sweater, when going for a walk, but at home or at work it might be too much. (I tend to wear Jean Claude Ellena's either Porto Bello or any of his Aquas, Solis, Mysteri and my favourite Aqua des Minimes all summer and it makes me so happy!)

Amarige is so happy and bright smelling and is like a golden white and yellow floral syrup of goodness to my nose! It's almost as if butterflies and flowers are about to burst out of the bottle when you take off the cap and spray it. Oh so very flirty and very girly in the best possible way :) It is mainly about the tuberose, the fruit notes, the mimosa, the gardenia and the ylang ylang in this to me, over a bed of creamy sandalwood and rosewood. I get the fruit and berries too. Amarige was the perfume that got me into white florals and tuberose when I first got it as a teenager back in 1997 when I first bought it with my own money. Nothing is as nostalgic smelling as this perfume to me and it makes me think of my high school in Lincoln where most of the female teachers and students would where it... oh the 1990s! You only need one spray on each pulse point and this beauty just lasts and lasts like a beast, as many of our perfumes did back in the 1990s. Such amazing sillage too. You need confidence to wear this, since it will announce your arrival as soon as you enter the room! 5 stars from me :)

When I was in high school, my class went on a trip to Grasse and toured the Fragonard factory. It was one of the most magical experiences of my life. On the tour, they told us about the development of Amarige, and the thousands of flowers required to create every bottle. Feeling nostalgic, I just picked this up. It is, at this point, a STEAL of a buy. It gives me all those old ‘90s vibes. Lately I’ve bought a few vintage bottles, trying to get a sense of how my nose has changed. Compared to the scents I love today, this is incredibly organic. Almost rotten if you fully spray it. It’s the same organic floral scent I can’t stand in any Amouage perfume. But on this it dissipates fast, and then you are left with a lovely LOVELY classic creamy white floral. I’m going to wear this this spring by spraying in the air and walking through. I think that’s the only way to do this in a way that feels modern. Those who enjoy some of the very luxury niche fragrances from houses like Amouage, that most likely use a high percentage of natural materials, are likely to enjoy this.

🗣Givenchy Amarige: If The Beautiful Actress/Film Star Michelle Pfeiffer Was Or Ever Could Be A Perfume, She Most Certainly Would Be This One!! Think Of The Pure Timeless Elegance Like Shown In The Film (New Release) "Murder On The Orient Express"!! All The Riches And Pure Opulent,And Luxury it Encapsulates Enclosed In It's Heavy Glass Bottle!! This Givenchy Fragrance Simply Is The Best Of The BEST!!! (I'd Place It A Firm Second After Givenchy Ysatis Which Is My Number One Givenchy Fragrance Of All Time) Launched Back In 1991, This Fragrance Is Pure Timeless Elegance And Luxury Full Stop!! And I've Always Enjoyed Wearing It (I Wore This As My Signature Fragrance While Working In A Large Luxury Department Store, And It NEVER Failed To Draw Me Compliments From Other Staff Members To Management) Nor Is It One Bit Dated Either!! This And Ysatis edt Firmly Remain My All Time Favourite Givenchy Perfumes!! That I Honestly Could'nt Live Without!! Again It Wear's Perfectly On My Skin For A Good 15+ hrs!! The Usual Standard Of Givenchy Quality!!

Amarige is a vintage vibe fragrance that I wouldn't mind wearing. Vintage in a good way, not outdated. I'm certain that I've smelt Amarige along with Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant on someone's mother during my childhood in the 90s so it brings comfort and happy memories. I didn't see this perfume in our stores before so when I noticed it I've immediately grabbed it and tried since it was an EDT. I thought, if I didn't like it it will disappear soon. Well, I was wrong... Projection, sillage and longevity are very strong considering that Amarige is EDT which was a surprise. I believe it can be worn throughout all seasons but I'd be careful during summer heat. This is a complex fragrance with white flowers that bring elegance. Gardenia leaves that clean vibe and the mixture of fruits, vanilla and tonka give sweetness. None of these notes are dominant or overpowering. Not even jasmine that often becomes the most noticeable note on my skin. I'm considering buying this perfume as I'm 30 years old even though this scent turns me into a child.

For one, I love Amarige in its own right. But Amarige is also sentimental for me because it was my late grandmother's choice for special occasions. She was a modest and humble woman, a teacher and charity worker, and the epitome of a dutiful family woman. What could be more suitable for her than a sweet and realistic bouquet of radiant florals? I will always keep a bottle in my grandma's honor. Aside from the memories, I just plain love it... perfect for spring and summer. It's quite literally like walking in a garden where all the flowers are at their peak. The fruits and base notes are there to add some support and warmth for this floral orchestra. On my skin it has a honey undertone to it, and I am not picking up "powdery" at all. If anything, more like a very high quality soap - but not powder. It's so realistic that I find it hard to believe people call this "old lady". I get that it's an early 90's creation, and yeah, older people have worn it, but... it just smells like flowers! Classic and still very wearable, imo.

Holy beautiful! I cannot believe I never took the plunge and skin tested this lovely lady. It is hard to pinpoint all her notes. I definitely detect the heavy Tuberrose. Then there is that lively Mimosa. The Gardenia is there too with a delightful creaminess. Then there is a woody vibe on the drydown I believe to be the Ylang-ylang and Sandalwood. I also get hints of Rosewood. I believe this to be the most beautiful mixed floral I have ever worn. Gabrielle Essence seems to attempt to replicate this. But....Nada. I spritzed her on at the department store and was sold. I felt luxurious and womanly for hours. I went to online consignment and picked up a vintage. The sillage and longevity are astounding in this vintage I bought. Moreso than the modern formulation I first tested. Regardless of the formulation this lovely is perfectly balanced and perfectly stunning. If you are looking for a nineties style floral that will knock you (and everyone around you) out of your socks, this would be it. Try it!

This is a scent that lifts your spirits, inviting and soul soothing at the same time. Beautiful. It has been my favorite perfume scent since I first smelled it in 1992. I reviewed it here in 2017 and the formula had not changed then and I did another update a few years ago. It's early 2026, and I just got a bottle again. I do notice the formula has changed a bit, it is less rounded in the opening before it dries down but after about 30 mins it dries down to what I remember and love. This is a powerhouse fragrance with exceptional and lovely scillage. It's just as potent but doesn't last 12+ hours on skin anymore, now like maybe 6? I always keep roller balls to place my favorite fragrances in to carry with me to refresh through out the day as needed. It does last on clothes and pillows though and I woke the other morning with the scent still on my pillow and it was so heavenly. Made me happy before I even got out of bed.

There is something so dreamy, luxurious, and soft about those 90s yellow floral scents. I visualize a moodboard full of yellow, golden-like images with dreamlike light beams. It's like a memory you can't recall, or something you've never experienced, yet somehow you know the feeling. Givenchy Amarige is that for me. It's bright but melancholic, blurry but full of complexity. My first ever luxury perfume came from randomly testing scents back in the day, and Lancome Poeme stood out to me. So maybe I just have a weakness for mimosa and well-blended florals in general. This one reminds me of Poeme a lot. The emotions feel very similar. I'd wear it in the daytime all year round, honestly. But I'd definitely be mindful of how I look that day! It's not a random, casual perfume, you need to match its elegant vibes. I can imagine this being a beautiful choice as a wedding perfume for a bride.

This is a perfume that makes me feel youthful and bright when I put it on. I love everything about it - the classy bottle, the uplifting and attractive scent that hits you immediately, even the colour of the perfume matched perfectly with how it makes me feel. It is an extremely well blended perfume that smells great from top notes to base notes. I picked up on the mimosa notes immediately now that I am getting more familiar with how it shows up in perfumes. I don’t think the sillage is big with the newer formulation but I am certain if I use more than 5 sprays, it would be bigger. If you love pretty florals mixed with fruits, this is a very safe choice to blind buy. I will definitely buy it again. I can wear it on its own and also blended with another fragrance to make it even more delightful. It’s a love for me and it performs well in the heat of Nigeria 🇳🇬.

Made an account just to comment on this masterpiece. I'll try to keep it short, because I could babble about this for hours. Screechy? Sure, if you overspray, as two sprays are more than enough. Outdated? No, but definitely a classic. This is creamy florals dipped in honey, followed by the smoothest woods. To me this is sweet at first, but not cloying like a sugary gourmand. Soon it mellows out and oh my gosh does this change by the hour, it is mind blowing! Longevity and silage are so great, that I'm so disappointed at other perfumes in this price range, I never end up buying them because in this economy?! Puh-lease... Mind you I'm not a trained nose, so I'll try to convey the emotions this brings. This is pure love, happiness and joy. This is a warm, welcoming, confident lady, at peace with herself, unafraid to showcase her soft yet powerful femininity.

Bought a 30ml if Amarige on a whim from Boots, however there wasnt a tester available so it was a blind buy, but I really wanted to try it. On first spray, the indolic note scared me but then once it dried down and settled it became a beautiful bright creamy floral. It is vintage, but I think its that kind of scent that can still get you compliments. My partner really likes it, but I have noticed he prefers classic floral scents on me rather than the modern sweet gourmands. I'm 36 (my partner is 34) but I've always been an old soul so I naturally gravitate to more classic/vintage scents, and Amarige is no exception. I really wish they still made fragrances like this, and I hope this stays forever. And yes, I am definitely repurchasing a bigger bottle when I finish the 30ml. ❤️

Tengo 35 años y este perfume me acompaña desde los 15, cuando el chico que me gustaba me dijo que era su perfume favorito. En realidad, claramente era el favorito de su madre. Corrí a comprarlo y no me despegué de él 20 años después. Soy ecléctica con las fragancias pero me gustan las florales, así que Amarige aplica. Me enojo un poco cuando lo tildan de anticuado. He atravesado muchas fragancias, ninguna, ni una sola, me dio tantas fuerzas como Amarige a los 15 y a los 35. A veces me atrevo a usarlo en verano (35 grados argentinos) con la conciencia de que me vuelvo un ser insoportable para muchos. No me importa, hay algo en esta fragancia que hace que solo importe lo que me produce a mí y no a los demás (como sí sucede con el resto de las fragancias)

Givenchy Amariage is the closest thing I have to a signature scent. It's pure nostalgia! I wore this perfume all through my 20s and still keep a big bottle on hand. Like with most 90s fragrances, it's difficult to recognize individual notes in the mix, but I have never thought of it as a true floral perfume. I get plum with some florals in the opening, then mostly creamy ylang-ylang, before it settles into something ambery, musky, and warm. Amarige smells sultry, seductive, sexy. It's a diva fragrance that turns heads and hangs around long after you're gone. I was wearing this scent when I met my husband. He was allergic to most fragrances but smiled and said I smelled "amazing and wow" (later I found out he was holding back a sneeze 🙃).

I'm surprised that this perfume has received so many mixed reviews. I got a vintage miniature and am totally in love! Sweet and happy white flower syrup. Just smelling it makes me feel happy. A very beautiful, large bouquet of tuberose. But perhaps if I had gotten a full bottle of this, my impression might have been different. I have a miniature one, so like a classic parfum, I only apply a tiny amount that touches my finger from the top of the bottle. Even though it's an eau de toilette, a small amount is enough to smell, so if it was a full bottle spray bottle, the scent would probably be too loud. If you find the Amarige to be too loud, I would suggest transferring it to a flacon type bottle or to a smaller spray volume atomizer.

i had read about amarige and also smelled a bit in an empty mini bottle and was hooked. i knew i had to get some and found a small vintage bottle recently. it opens with a lot of tuberose, mimosa and gardenia. i also sense peach, ylang ylang, sandalwood, amber and vanilla. a peachy/ambery yellow/white floral. i have tried a lot of similar scents from the time period that this was released and i really like them, but this has immediately become one of my favorites. it is stunningly beautiful and intoxicating. the type of perfume that makes my eyes roll back in my head when i take a big whiff. <3 words can't really do this one justice for me-it just brings up a lot of imagery and feelings which is what the best perfume tends to do.

this is a cloying, sweet, slightly alcohol-y fragrance. it's like a ginormous bouquet drenched in rum, definitely beastmode, and the sillage is almost ridiculous, it's just a big, proud, golden and almost dizzying, intoxicating fragrance; however, it's my mom's signature scent and, to me, it smells like a beautiful woman in her 40s getting ready to go to her daughter's ballet concert. it definitely smells cloying, but it's never too much, it just comes off as classy and almost warm, safe (if it's even possible). it's just a beautiful perfume, and it feels like it comes from a memory of your childhood. not a perfume i'd wear, but a perfume i'd purchase a whole bottle of just to smell it on sad days.

Special occasion only! This smells so luxurious it requires a good opportunity to wear it. I can imagine vintage beauty wearing creamy white fur coat and golden jewellry. It is winter and she applies this perfume right before going to a glamourous ball. This fragrance is rich and creamy, the jasmine stands out which makes it super feminine. Long time ago there was this Avon's Skin So Soft line and I've had the body balm that smelled very much alike. I enjoyed a lot the feeling of a luxurious lady:) Now I always keep a little sample of Amarige in my drawer. Sometimes i like to spray it on my body and put a sweater on - feeling festive and fabulous all the way! Even without the special occasion:)

I remember this like it was yesterdsy. I was in a shop called Ma Damme in Bucharest. It was the mid 90s. Was looking at clothes and then I saw this perfume bottle with a gold juice on a shelf. I didn't have money to buy anything. Was a young student window shopping. But I sprayed this perfume on the back of my hand. I remember it was very cold, must have been winter. The perfume hit me straight away and it was love at first sniff. Put my gloves on and went home. The perfume was on my glove for over a week. I had to buy this and I did. I can still recognise this perfume whenever I smell it. It just brings back memories of a time when I was young and life was good and less stressful.

Ropion wins my heart yet again. While his stuff is very "trendy", this is why he is my favourite nose. I love hyacinth. However, all the scents with it as a note have never captured what that scent is to me. Blue Hyacinth from North America has always smelled totally unique and sweet. It is a burst of fresh bright juicy floral to tell the bees, "come and get it now cause it ain't gonna be here long". I have a lot of the classic hyacinth scents, they all pull very powdery. Must be more how traditional perfumery uses it, vs. My personal take. But this, smells like MY hyacinth! I have a 1991 mini, I want to try the current formula, if you like sweet hyacinth, YOU MUST GET THIS.

Sunshine in a bottle. :) 🌞🌻🌼🍀 This perfume reminds me the most of Poeme by Lancome. It's a little bit soapy, little bit powdery, little bit sweet. Mostly I get the "yellow flowers" such as mimosa, one of my favorites in perfumes, ylang-ylang and tuberose that's just absolutely delicious there. :) The scent is slightly green and fresh. I get something like peach and violet, too. Very nice longevity and sillage for EdT. Im wearing this today as to celebrate the winter sunshine that finally came after long days spent in greyness, dark afternoons and snow. This is going to really shine through in spring&summer. :)

I grew up in sunny South Africa and first smelt this in my local pharmacy just after I got married in 1990. There was something so sweet and addictive in the scent that I kept coming back to sample it over and over. Eventually I splashed out and purchased a bottle. I didn’t wear it for awhile because other perfume “fashions” overtook this beauty and the era. Today I found my vintage bottle from ‘91 and fell in love all over again. I think the mimosa brings back sweet memories of South Africa especially when I visit home and smell the fragrances I grew up with. Sweetness forever in my soul.

Bought years ago as it was a perfume my nursery teachers wore in the early 90s, very much a nostalgia purchase. Went through a phase of thinking it was too mature and overpowering for me but recently moved somewhere much colder and oh my lord! It’s meant for ice cold temperatures. It’s so beautifully blended I struggle to identify the individual notes apart from that distinct tuberose. Others have asked who smells of fancy sunscreen when I wear it in the office. Cosy and comforting, sweet but not sugary. Like being cocooned from the cold and wind by Lenny Kravitz’s gigantic scarf

This is a really beautiful scent. Initially, I was nervous because I was picking up baby powder/dirty diaper??? Idk very strange but that was only for a few seconds and then I started to pick up on the floral and woody scents. Personally, this perfume feels like something I would wear in the spring and summer months. I picked up on the florals most strongly and typically I think of florals in warmer seasons. No matter when you wear it, it has fabulous longevity and sillage and for the price, this is a really great buy. I definitely want to buy a bottle for when it gets warmer.

I was fortunate to be able to try out both a newer and an older, possibly vintage, formulation of this fragrance. The newer one puts me in mind of a brighter, less sticky version of 273 Rodeo Drive minus the graham cracker-esque dry down. The older one has this wonderful slightly sweet resinous accord that I also noticed in Rumeur and Amarige d’Amour. Both versions are fairly strong and could very easily become cloying in warmer weather or if oversprayed. If I had to choose a favorite between the two, the older one would win, although I love the newer one too.

I've been exploring this for a while, falling in love deeper and deeper. If you love cherry, you should pay attention to red berries. The red berries in the middle are glorious! It's gentle, sweet fruity floral but not beastly. This is pre-gourmand Ropion assumptions need not apply. This...is...UNIQUE. it's not niche-esk, & has the approachability you'd expect but it's so complex & original if she was at a party the Byredos & 4160 Tuesdays would want her to sit with them. In my vintage journey, this and Poeme have been truly delightful finds.

This will always be my absolute favourite scent. It’s beautiful and probably the reason I’m drawn to white florals. It’s very happy and festive, while also elegant. It’s on the cheaper side of perfumes, being an EDT, but to me it smells truly luxurious and it’s my go-to scent to commemorate important events. I believe it’s more of a spring scent and very feminine, and while the notes pyramid can seem discouraging, I feel it’s really well blended and quite airy from the neroli and ylang-ylang, which bring some freshness to it.

My cat just knocked over and spilled a pure parfum of this while I slept. I then proceeded to DREAM ABOUT IT. Once awake, I picked some of the spillage up on my wrists, so as not to let it ALL go to waste. Looks like that's what I'm wearing today. 🙄🫣😩 Mmm buttery tuberose, creamy gardenia and dry cedar. 👌💕 What I really love about the extrait is that I don't smell the violet. For me the violet always overpowered everything in the vintage EDT. That bloody cat... 🫠🤣 Trying to laugh, feel like crying. My beloved Amariiiiige! ✨😭✨

Once I couldn't stand it; now it's one of my favorites. Weird how perception and preference change,right? This one is dense, heavy (heavy on the plum, mostly), elegant, floral, recognizable. I would say it's an acquired taste. In 2 words: French class. I don't appreciate all that "wear it if you're over 40" crap. It's just a smell, people! And if I like it, I'll wear anything I damn please, anytime, at any age, at a party or at the fish market, day or night. Enjoy it, life is short!

I'll never get over this one. All the love in the world for this. Tonight I have found myself making comparisons with POISON (and even TENDRE POISON). Just magical. Really. We have previous. We were once known well to one another. I have found that when I looked too far into it, scrutinized, pondered over the composition / notes a touch too much, it seemed to lose some of its magic. But again I return with my once youthful mind, blinded by love. Love is blind.

I'm on my second bottle of this and I love it as an everyday perfume. My mom wore this when I was a kid so it always reminds me of her, it smells like the 90s to me. Floral and bright, but a soft and creamy linger. I see why some people say it smells like old lady perfume, but I think that's just association with a classic and long standing perfume like Amarige which has been around for a bit now. Unoffensive and IMO hard to over do it with the application.

I got this fragrance first as a sample, it took a few uses for me to decide how I feel about it. But as I have realized I love musky scents, this one has come out as one of my favorites. I purchased a full bottle and it will join my rotation of regular scents. Its longevity and silage is endless. It stays on my skin for an entire day, and I get many compliments on it. It may smell a little "old lady" ish...but I guess I am drawn to these more mature scents.

I adore this perfume, but I never (since the first time) spray it directly on my skin. This is one I pump into the air and twirl naked through the scented cloud. Applied too liberally it is a rabid beast racing across the room to stick it's fingers up the nose of anyone who has dared to enter, like a vengeful nurse having a bad day and conducting thousands of Covid tests. Worn in moderation, it's like walking past a beautiful garden on a warm spring day.

Not all white floral perfumes have this sillage and complexity. Fruit notes of this perfume, namely peach, tangerine and red fruits are complementary for a soft rose and carnation touch. The musky, woody base notes are accompanied with this mixture. Even though it is like an endless parade of a flower garden, it is still clean because of its soapy feeling. Women over 30s can appreciate this. One must not buy this without spending some time.

One of my favorites of all time. I bought it when it was first released & I hope I will never be without it. Masterful alchemy with this one. It's a magical fragrance. I've always gotten so many compliments when wearing it. The floral notes are blended so well with the fruit & woody notes. Perfection! Lasts on my skin 10 hrs. Sillage is fantastic. Described as intense & luscious...Thank you Dominique Ropion for this gift to the world! 💛