L’Ambre des Merveilles

L'Ambre des Merveilles is a gorgeous fragrance that is sadly just too fleeting. I continue to purchase it and have probably used 2 or 3 bottles over the past 8+ years since it's launch but it's the type of scent you have to re-spray every 2-3 hours to smell it on yourself. I honestly find these types of scents pretty frustrating; when you love (adore) it but it disappears too quickly. L'Ambre is definitely an amber-vanilla version of the original Eau des Merveilles. It still maintains the sea salt-balsamic-orange rind-oriental vibe but surrounds the whole thing with a transparent vanilla-amber accord. I think it's unisex - doesn't lean feminine or masculine and I think it is restrained and classy in a conservative way. I like a lot of amber focused scents and most of them are actually a little too weird for day to day office-type wear. L'Ambre is suited for all occasions (perhaps mostly because it's a skin scent and hardly anyone can smell). I do spray my clothes and scarves which helps ever so slightly. I wish so hard Hermes would make a beast-mode version of this (or of any of their scents which are all so fleeting). I found Van Cleef & Arpels Ambre Imperial to be an almost duplicate of this scent but that one also disappears. The bottle is a treasure. My recent re-purchase is one of the special collector's editions (Calligraphie) and it's just so beautiful. So I'll keep on spraying (while Hermes laughs all the way to the bank!). Recent realization: L'Ambre is a scent for me -- a skin scent that I adore. I don't think I've ever received compliments because I doubt anyone can smell it. Over the years (I've been collecting for 20+ years) I've come to realize there is a place for this type of scent in my collection. I generally find less expensive designer type fragrances to garner more compliments and last and project longer but there is a place in my collection for scents that are more personally pleasing. I think of L'Ambre as olfactory art, for me to personally appreciate but it isn't likely anyone else around me has ever been aware of it. Even with its lack of sillage, L’Ambre is BRILLIANT, and evocative, and will always have a top spot in my collection 10/10

The problem with this line is a bewildering array of flankers which, similar to Guerlain if you're not paying attention can be a little alienating. I do try them from time to time but can never remember which one is which. Minor, minor issue because I love the original Elixir and I'm completely smitten with this one!!! It's absolutely BRILLIANT!!! The opening is curious mixture of citrus and fizzy confectionery, like an orange, juicy and real meeting a sharp, pink grapefruit with some powdered refreshers thrown in for good measure, a perfect mix of reality and fantasy. The best thing about this fragrance is the use of an amber accord which is bolstered by gourmand effects, the chunk of patchouli but not as weighed down by it as some compositions, JCE manages to keep it light with top notes which seem to morph into the mid and remain for a while. Mention caramel to me in a fragrance and I can feel my teeth aching and my cloying, gag reflex started to engage at the prospect of smelling bisabolene or ethyl maltol all day, but this is soooooo well done it's smooth balanced perfectly in the way only a master the calibre of Ellena could. It's a bit like Angel but with huge amounts of restraint, and totally different. I find it gorgeous and always have said that Elixir smelled as though it's perfectly unisex but I think this one is a little more feminine. I'm fine with that, I'm wearing the shit out of it today and contemplating a full bottle (finally im going to get something from this line!) L'ambre is a very, very, good wear. I love it!

Edit Again: 11/29/25 Alright, I get it now. This is no gingerbread cookie. I have no clue what I’ve done differently, if my preference changed or what- but this is intoxicating. I spray this on pulse points coupled with a light mist of Chanel No. 5 L’eau through the ends of my hair and the scent bubble is truly gorgeous. After about 20 minutes this turns into a rich, head-turning blend of vanilla/patchouli and I just want to bury my nose in it. I usually don’t call sensual fragrances “cozy” but somehow this pulls it off. I have only ever called Mon Guerlain Intense my “wife scent” but this, this is a put-a-ring-on-it fragrance. It’s both sensual and familiar in such a lovely way. I love her 🥹 Edit: 9/11/25 This still smells like fresh baked gingerbread cookies- at least in the opening lol. Once it begins to settle I have noticed it developing into a resinous vanilla, just not a deep resinous vanilla. I appreciate this very much as a cold weather fragrance, especially as we approach the holiday season. This would be difficult, for me, to wear any other time. I wear it with my L’Occitane Amande shower and body regimen and it works incredibly well together. It’s a very clean and creamy vanilla combo. That said, I don’t think this is a safe blind buy. Initial impression: this smells like fresh baked gingerbread cookies. Now what I was expecting, but not bad. I just got this out of my mailbox and it is 96F here, so I’ll let it sit and cool for a few days and see what happens.

This was one of many blind buys I treated myself to during the lockdown. I've worn it many times by now; the summer heat doesn't go as far as Aberdeen, Scotland, we got a lot of chilly rainy days this summer, so I've been reaching for some warm embracing fragrances - L'Ambre des Merveilles has been one of them. It is another gorgeous composition from Mr Ellena, very warm, ambery vanilla - patchouli and labdanum only add an interesting spiciness, so if you are scared of those two notes - stay assured that they are not overpowering. It lasts very long, on my skin I get a good 8-10h, and on clothes way longer. I love to wear it after shower to sleep to make myself all cozy and to fall asleep better as it is a very comforting scent. I believe the amber accord must be very high in benzoin and some resins; it is a bit sweet, however not in the vain of the most popular fragrances. It is a quite classy scent, probably leaning more towards autumn and winter for most people, however I've enjoyed it even when it was pretty sunny - although don't trust me on that as again, the weather in Aberdeen is pretty cold even when it is warm! I noticed someone mentioning MFK Grand Sour. L'Ambre is definitely much more feminine than GS and I think much more wearable as I find GS to get sometimes very woody and have a bit of a churchy myrrh-like vibe, which sometimes chokes me out and I think may go very masculine on some ladies which they may not appreciate.

I somehow get orange & frankincense on my skin even though those are not listed in the notes. It makes me really want to try Elixir des Merveilles as well! This is a beautiful, light, classy amber with some resin and a clean feeling. It is not a beast by any means, probably lasts around 6 hours on me and does not project much further than a few inches away but that is quite good for day-to-day IMHO. This would be ideal for pretty much any occasion except a big event where you want to make an entrance, it's more of a subtle fragrance that you wear to work or to dinner with friends where you don't really want to be the centre of attention but want people to respect and like you. It says the wearer is elegant, put together, trustworthy, kind and not someone who is very easily accessible or easy to get close to. Great for anyone over 25 but probably not the best for anyone younger unless they are extremely elegant and wearing very expensive professional clothes, for example a very mature teenager or young adult from an extremely wealthy family. I feel like this would work on men who like more subdued, gentle amber fragrances as well although it does lean slightly feminine. I got a bit of a reminiscence for MFK's Grand Soir but they are by no means similar, it is more of the feeling and aura they give is a bit familiar with eachother.