Ambre Sauvage Absolu 2020

Classic French perfumery with a slight modern twist. There is something Indolic in here, not listed, very mild, but gives it a nice backbone. This is glorious, it is an extremely unique take on classic perfumery. I can relate to the part that states "the smell left in the glass after a Scotch", it's exactly what you would expect from Goutal, and the glass does actually look like a Scotch glass. UPDATE:8 months on, and many other Amber fragrances purchased (Amber Desire, Ambre Supermassive, Ambre Superfluide, Ambre Fétiche, Ambre Tigré, etc) and this still reigns supreme. I have no idea how this so under the radar, not that I'm complaining, but this is indeed a hidden gem, and even at full RRP of £205, it's much more worth this in my humble opinion. If you love Amber, if you know and love Goutal DNA (or even if you don't), this is a must. FB worthy, any gender, anytime, anyplace, it's simply divine.

For me, Ambre Sauvage lives in the same family as Santa Maria Novella's Melograno. Both are fragrances I had an instant and unexpected affinity with, and both took me time to accept how much I enjoy them. Classic, distinctive, intense while still being somehow comforting, there's a warmth to these perfumes that feels intimate in the way old friends can be. Ambre Sauvage is a lovely, woodsy amber that has an almost incense quality within its vanilla and spice. It feels like a soft alpaca wool blanket when it's chilly, and can turn into a light, powdery iris if one dares to try it in the summer heat. Sweet without being too sweet, spicy without being harsh, there are both feminine and masculine elements to this fragrance that compliment rather than overwhelm each other.

Ambre Sauvage is for me the quintessential 'sexy grandma' perfume. The combination of powdery, lipsticky iris and warm, smoky vanilla evokes an elegant, mid-century woman in a sumptuous, heavy winter coat, sipping a bourbon Manhattan in the misty window of a jazz bar. There's a glowing, semi-sweet amber-woodsiness that feels smooth, sophisticated and timeless; a powerful, old-world femininity that is both rare and distinctive. It's a very rich, very long-lasting scent - I love to wear this in the evenings during colder months, but sparingly - too much and I feel it's wearing me.

A beautiful classy amber. The lavender is excellent, I think this type of scent is perfect for special occasions during the fall season.

Currently testing. I think it's very well blended. It's an elegant amber with an undercurrent of lavender that doesn't dominate, rather existing in perfect balance with the amber and woods. I love the woodiness. The notes list blackwood. If this is what that type of wood smells like, I'd like to see it more in fragrances. The wood, lavender, very light patchouli and gentle, resinous, ethereal styrax give the fragrance that's almost like paper, but warmer, sweeter, more elegant. It vaguely reminds me of the smell left in the glass after a scotch. The oaky woodiness with a slight sweetness. This fragrance is very delicate and doesn't project a lot. It is very classy and refined. A sophisticated person wears this. It reminds me a bit of Puritas by Electimuss. The ethereal incense, but Ambre Sauvage is balanced out by the amber, patchouli and blackwood, making it more nuanced. Puritas is this white, angelic religious sort of incense. Kind of like treble without any bass. It's all brightness. This has some warmer, slightly darker elements that round it out. Unisex.