Man Amber

Roy Halston, or just Halston, as he preferred to be called, was one of the most influential names in America's fashion of the 1970s. He dressed stars like Lauren Hutton, Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren Bacall, Bianca Jagger and Liza Minelli. However he had a tragic end: he lost the right to the commercial use of his own name, died young (with AIDS in 1990) and till recently, his notoriety survived only through his Revlon distributed perfume brand. Halston's fame gained new breath with the recent showing of the biographic homonymous series on Netflix. Arriving in New York in 1968 with a black eye made by a former lover, Italian model Elsa Peretti was soon part of fashion’s in-crowd. She made the tabloids due to cocaine-fueled scenes at Studio 54 as well as for her revolutionary designs. She became the poster girl for the Studio 54 era decadence. Unlike her best friend, Roy Halston, she made it out alive. She launched a wildly successful jewellery line that celebrates currently a 40 years partnership with Tiffany. And yes, she designed the marvellous bottles used by some Halston perfumes like Halston Man Amber and Halston Woman Amber. Halston Man Amber is a terrific Oriental Woody fragrance. I judge it to be very masculine, with superior quality and a near-perfect blending. This perfume is one of the few amber perfumes that can be easily used in warm weather. Resins and woody notes are key, but a very subtle oud note makes all the difference. It is a very wearable scent but also truly unique. Its balmy, warm and mildly sweet accords do stand out. It literally puts the people around us with the nose in the air, wondering about the source of such a remarkable scent. I blind bought it after being really impressed with Halston Z-14 COLOGNE. As the brand is not sold in my country, I bought it blind (in an online US store). It's my best blind purchase ever. It opens in a very shy way with the top citrus and thyme notes having difficulty dominating the evaporating alcohol. In my modest opinion, this initial burst is the perfume only fault. I'm glad it lasts for less than half a minute. Some moments later you notice the growing scent of sweet myrrh and amber, but never overly sweet. You actually feel that accord lingering in the air around you. It stays pungent in a good way and persists through the appearance of the oud and sandal bottom notes. Then the control is calmly handed over to the long and captivating resinous and woody dry down. If you forget the not so in control opening, this fragrance is an example of a near-perfect blend. The longevity is above-average, and I qualify the sillage and projection as average to above-average. In all stages, the fragrance reveals class and sophistication. Supreme quality and a general "expensive" feeling are quite evident. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ My overall rating: 8.91/10.00 Advice: Halston Man Amber has been my signature fragrance for more than one year. It still makes me feel very comfortable, distinct and manly. I strongly recommend it. DON'T MISS IT! Music: Eurythmics - "Sweet Dreams" (Are Made Of This)

This is really an astonishing fragrance. So much to say that is positive about it. The amber is just beautiful and wonderfully blended with the myrrh, oud and labdanum. From the first spray, I was really impressed. None of the thick, syrupy effect that sometimes is associated with amber - and which turns people off the note - but instead a cleaner, more versatile twist. Clearly, this was done with an awareness of creating a scent that is not your usual and predictable scent - but is still versatile enough for work, meeting people on a day to day level, etc. There is a lovely, delicate touch of sweetness that runs through this that gives a slightly more 'populist' feel to it. The only other amber fragrance I compared this to is Prada Amber Pour Homme Intense and can only conclude that though both fragrances have their positive qualities, they are clearly intended for very different settings. PAPHI is to my mind an autumn-winter evening scent for close proximity. HMA is probably an all-year-but-not-in-heat type of scent. As an indication of that, I would say that even in my desert, Middle East conditions (going in and out of AC) I will try to wear this through much of the year. As an aside I think this is one of the best fragrances since Dior Dune for this environment - both in terms of the climate and the associations for the local culture. It's a real winner. For me the scent itself is masterful (10/10), the projection is all I need (10/10) and the only slight drawback is the longevity at 4-6 hours, depending on conditions (7/10). All said, this fragrance - which seems to be slipping under the radar completely - is highly commended and recommended from me. A definite try if you can get the chance...you may just love it.

First Impressions- One of the best Myrrh / Amber based designer scents I've ever smelled. The best Myrrh scent I have ever smelled under $50. Why this receives no fan fare is beyond strange. Especially since it was really hard to get at one point apparently and is back in stock. It was over $100 when released and when it went dark people paid as much to have it. Now its readily available and its not mentioned. I guess people want to keep some secrets to themselves...lol The most glaring drawback is the performance. Its lasts about 4-5 hours (in the winter) and the projection really calms after the second hour. But if people can put up with D&G's The One(s) and their performance issues along with new formulations of La Nuit,ect., the performance of this frag can be forgiven...Especially for a price tag under $25. For people who want a respectable Oud experience (great for the price), without the barnyard stench, that is light enough to be worn in any season, this is a must try. Man Amber is blended beautifully with a light medicinal smell that actually WORKS and isn't off putting though the scent is not too complex and fairly linear. I really like that the sweetness is on a leash here also. A captivating smoky almost incensey scent from an unlikely source. It's interesting how some people overlook this scent while they spend huge amounts for discontinued/niche oud or amber scents and this could easily instead be a great alternative. lol. I get it though we want what we want and this has received so little buzz so it makes sense. I Need to wear this in the heat before I give a full take but I'm more than impressed with Man Amber so far. YouTube Channel- Simply Put Scents

Just revisited this bad boy after finally acquiring another bottle... What can I say? This is an absolute one of a kind scent that I can almost guarantee you will not smell on anyone around you. Why? Who the hell knows, as this is some wicked alchemy in one of the most magnificent bottles I've seen. But, let me just say this. It's not all about amber. First and foremost, HMA features an artistic application of myrhh and a very clean oud, given further depth and warmth by a soft amber and a light musk that I'm sure extends it but never gets in the way. On the opening, there is a fleeting but very welcoming hint of thyme and citrus that provides a perfect gateway to HMA's heart notes. The rest is fairly linear from there, which suits me just fine. An hour or two into the dry down, I could swear I pick up the softest cinnamon/vanilla kick in the background, compelling me to repeatedly revisit the back of my hand where I sprayed it. Addicting stuff! This is an "amber" you can actually wear anytime, anywhere -- but for me this is perfect for a night on the town. I feel fortunate to have revisited this one when I did -- as I was able to track down one last backup bottle at a reasonable price. I happily add Halston Man Amber to my coveted collection of discontinued designer gems. Absolutely love it, for its uniqueness, versatility and quality. Damn shame such a beauty has to be discontinued.

Halston Man Amber: Wow, this is good! All the notes are blended so well that no single one overshadows the rest. Of course the floral notes take back seat as they are, I believe, intended to. The result is a warm, deep, woody, luxurious fragrance that is serious business. This is not sweet, "modern", or unisex. It sits at the opposite end of the olfactory spectrum from "aquatics." Straight up manly, woody, ambery goodness. I do get a slight animalistic oud scent if I smell this directly on my skin, but is not noticeable even a few inches away. As HMA is not a sillage beast, I feel it can be quite versatile. Office, night out, or even casual wearing when you just want to exude an intriguing aura of sultan-like self-importance and sensuality. Also, I think it can be worn in the summer-although "thick"- I don't find it particularly cloying as it is not sweet at all. Ok- final thoughts: if you only find sweet, light scents attractive, this is not your juice. If you like the notes listed, you are going to really appreciate this. What a bargain to boot! Definitely a treasure to be acquired for any collector. Update: the weather just got cooler and humidity dropped, so I wore this today and wow, it really comes to life in these conditions. Such an AWESOME fall/winter scent. The colder weather somehow enhances the warmth of this incredible stuff-

Got this back when it was cheap and I didn't really know what I was doing (late '10s). I wasn't a big fan of it at the time, so it sat in the closet for many years. Tried it again today and it's really, really good. Surprisingly different from everything else. They really hit a bullseye with this, and put it in a really cool bottle, knowing it was a winner, but then it just didn't really score with the people, I guess. I honestly think it's a little too complicated for the general public. It's not a shocker, and doesn't scream man-man-man. It has nuance. It's warm and fuzzy-sweet and spicy, and doesn't hit you over the head. I remember enjoying Guerlain's Heritage way more than this back in the day, but now I find them similar in spirit. Either of them would be a no-brainer, everyday wear for someone who's got some discrimination and character. Then again, it's also long-discontinued and very expensive in the gray market, so that's an issue. And the "smells like" isn't coming up with anything useful, which is more evidence that this is uniquely cool. Does it compete with the best niche stuff? Not quite. But it easily competes with Guerlain's offerings. If you've got the money and the experience, I can definitely recommend this one. Leans masculine, but yet again, this would smell amazing on the right woman, just like Heritage.

The fragrance that ruined sweet amber fragrances for me. The bottle is beautiful but the fragrance inside is downright special. Halston Amber Man is woody and sweet. Imagine a family roasting marshmallows over a campfire during sunset in a deep forest. Amber Man layers myrrh and amber over dry woody notes that don't necessarily remind one of the "oud" notes you get in other fragrances, it really feels more like an oak to me. The dusty wood notes dance alongside a restrained, smokey sweetness to create something gorgeous that, even in mid 2020, is a steal for the resale price it can be found for. This was probably one of the first 20 fragrances I tried when I began this hobby in earnest, so I reasonably assumed I was a fan of amber fragrances. Here is an incomplete list of fragrances I have tried and sold because they didn't do cozy, woody amber as well as Halston: MFK Grand Soir, Replica By the Fireplace, Olympic Orchids Woodcut, Imaginary Authors Memoirs of a Trespasser, Annick Goutal Ambre Fetiche, Fan di Fendi Assoluto, and Scentstory 24 Gold. Shines on a breezy fall day but good and strong enough to withstand winter. This is what you want your winter coat smelling like.

Halston Amber is a terrific Oriental Woody masculine fragrance, with niche quality and superb blending. I blind bought it after being really impressed with the same brand Z-14. Halston is not sold in my country so I bought it online (a USA store). It opens in a very shy way with the top notes having difficulty in dominating the evaporating alcohol. A couple of minutes later you get a strong clean blast of sweet myrrh and amber (not overly sweet). You actually feel those notes taking over the air around you. They stay pungent (in a good way) through the appearance of the bottom notes (mainly oud and sandal) to calmly hand over the control to the long marvellous woodsy dry down with the strong oud completely tamed. If you forget the not so in control opening, this fragrance is a lesson of notes extremely well blended, with above-average longevity and an average to above-average sillage and normal projection. In all the stages the fragrance had a classy/expensive scent. This one is currently my signature fragrance. It's 100% very good for any occasion and makes me feel very comfortable, distinct and manly. I strongly recommend it.

This scent is sophisticated and complex. So sophisticated, in fact, it is difficult to wear often. I just do not have enough occasions to wear it. I am a divorced single dad and have few social events these days. This scent is much too heavy for work. It is heavy. You breathe it in. If you spray more than twice, you will taste it. So be gentle on the spray. Profound sillage. Amber Man absolutely owns the air within two feet of the wearer. It is woodsy with a hint of floral in there. The drydown is long in coming. This is not a sweet amber, but warm amber. The oud is prominent and stays for the entire scent. Amber Man never smells cheap or synthetic to me. It smells expensive and old school. It reminds me of older mid-century perfumery. The sweet is never gourmand. Amber Man challenges me, and I appreciate it very much. Scent 8/10 Projection 9/10 Longevity 9/10 Presentation 9/10 The negative is the sprayer was defective on my bottle and I had to decant. So that was a problem. Big problem.

I definitely agree with another reviewer that it reminds one of a warm campfire. It’s still a little bit chilly out today and I reached for this... I’ve had it since 2017 and only wore it once and away it went into my collection. The projection and longevity on this are amazing especially considering I only paid $10 for it at Marshall’s! On this second wearing, I really noticed the Myrrh.. it’s pretty unique. I work in outside sales and a potential customer asked me what I had on. Grab a bottle while you can as it seems like it’s disappearing. Scent 8/10 Sillage 8/10 Longevity 9/10 Projection 9/10 Overall 9/10 Sidenote I wouldn’t recommend wearing this one when it’s hot.. I think that was my mistake when I first bought it. If you do choose to wear it in the warmer months, I would only attempt it if you’re going to be inside for a dinner or something similar.

I enjoy deep woodsy/warm/sweet fragrance's. What I love more is finding a luxurious fragrance at a fraction of the price. TF, if Halston man amber was bottled in a different bottle it would sell as a well made nieche fragrance. The opening notes of woods/oud with myrrh is solid without having that synthetic vib. Amber adds the warmth and calms the dry woodsy notes. Longevity and Silage is very good lasting about 6-8hrs. Don't over spray, it will have a cloying/heavy aroma. The floral notes helps to balance the woodsy/spicy aroma. Finally, I ordered this juice, I still have at least a good month before I put it away. This fragrance is perfect during the fall/winter months. This fragrance is best when you wear it during the evening as well. I personally enjoy this fragrance and thanks everyone for your reviews. This juice is worth every ounce. 7/10

This is a very different amber than I've smelled in my other amber fragrances. I think it's unisex leaning ever so slightly masculine. The initial 30 minutes I pick up florals. Usually I really hate florals but somehow it fits this fragrance and it honestly smells gorgeous. The florals die way down but there's a hint of them in the background throughout. There's nothing harsh about this amber and while other amber fragrances can have a habit of going dusty on me, this stays incredibly smooth. And that's how I'd describe Halston Man Amber: a distinct, smooth amber. I read below that it's discontinued. Shame. I guess 0.001% must be allergic so it's done for. This one is just so easy going and chill. I managed to find a 2.5 ml on eBay for @$45 or so. It can still be had for a very reasonable price.

I’m a woman who often wears men’s scents, because I like dark and woody and smoky fragrances. Initially, i found the thyme, bergamot and geranium in this fragrance to be way too sharp and sour in the beginning, with a huge punch of spiciness that I find kind of repulsive. Thankfully, all of this dries down very quickly, and the myrrh and amber and cedar come forward with a touch of the bergamot and thyme lingering just in the very background. This turns out to be quite a wonderful, light and smoky fragrance and I disagree with the previous reviewer who said it smells cheap. Maybe in that awful but short-lived opening, but not in the drydown. It’s not huge on projection, but provides a light, lovely, smoky, resiny, woody personal cloud. A very nice fragrance that I got in a trade.

Truly one of the best men’s amber fragrances ever made. If you were to get just one amber I would suggest this one. This walks a fine line and avoids all the pitfalls that other mens ambers suffer from. It’s not too sweet, powdery, dirty, oudy, incensey, dense, synthetic, nor old lady smelling. It’s not really close to any of the other “smells like” fragrances listed. Maybe the Serge Lutens (which I own) but that one is way more herbal/bitter and earthy. Performance is great without being intrusive or embarrassingly loud. 6-8 hours, longer on clothing. Seems to be discontinued or at least not distributed in the US anymore, maybe it can be found from EU or Middle East sellers online.

Must have for amber fans. Opens with this spicey/resinic quality, the oud joins giving it the danky/woody combo then here comes the amber adding sweetness and almost an edible quality..suprisingly it never is overbearing it has a freshness yet a comforting woody distinction. This DESTROYS!!!!! (I know I shouldn't puncuate after a word) Amber Oud by Kilian.. I mean destroys it. Oud lovers who want a level of discreetness will love this. Amber heads like myself this is a buy if you can find, and it also has a femme edge where I don't see this as distinctly masculine. I love this stuff and it is worth it if you can get a 100ml at $100 or less. This is a gentleman's fragrance.

This is very much underrated. A distinctive trio of myrhh, oud and amber where the oud is not prominent or intense, there is a nice balance between the amber and myrhh, it's very woodsy and masculine, lasts all day on my skin with above average projection. I was given a sample by a friend and then I realized that it's not available anywhere in the US as it was an exclusive release for Neiman Marcus and Harrods, I checked with NM and they didn't have it stock, they said it proved to be more popular than they anticipated and they were unable to restock. I had to ask a friend to buy me a bottle from Harrods in London and ship it over to the states, it arrived just yesterday!

Modern, woody and most assuredly... balmy. First impression is that of Armani Prive Ambre Soie, but far from linear. Halston Amber is not loud, but it is far from quiet. Throughout its transitions, each layer of notes are given abundant time to be vibrant. As we soar deeper into the dry-down the oud begins to cape the fragrance, but domesticated by bergamot and Virginia cedar. Myrhh is raw, but is a team player here. The more the middle and base settles, the more of a Middle Eastern vibe I get... and more is better. Even the bottle looks the part. I'm not a Halston fan, but I'm proud to have this among my collection.

Halston Man amber is a soft, subtle, warm amber scent which to me has an air of sophistication to it. Not a nose burning amber but it has prominence, cedar, myhrr and oud give it an incense vibe but fresh and not smokey. I love it, totally up my street and verging on an almost sweetness but with enough bitter elements to keep it at bay. The problem I have is that it didn't last all that well on my skin compared with how good it smelled. What I mean is that my perception of the high quality of this fragrance was not matched by it's longevity unfortunately. Man Amber was gone pretty quickly which is a real shame.

Simply stated:SEXY SEXY SEXY! A very pleasing BLIND BUY! A wonderful masculine scent that is just again,SEXY! This is one for your collection,if you can sample before trying pease do,but for me Halston Man Amber is a reason I love my fragrances! It is reminiscent of Halston Z-14 in a way but,a completely different scent.Whatever your dating preferences;I doubt you will do wrong in spritzing some on before a getting closer occasion! This is one that would truly qualify as a "sex juice"! Long lasting,nice dry down.Makes me think of what "One Bad Stud" by The Blasters would smell like!

Carlito's review is spot on! This fantastic fragrance does come out of the bottle with a weird straight on alcohol scent which is a little disturbing (am I going to smell like this all day?), but, when it hits your skin, man oh man, that's when it begins to work it's magic. It settles down to a point where the myrhh, oud and amber combine into a warm creamy vibe with a dash of spice that keeps you going back again and again for a whiff. A nicely blended scent that truly performs way beyond one would expect for its price point. Don't regret buying this one.