Isabey L'ambre de Carthage

A big, juicy floral patchouli-amber. Opens very woody with lashings of refined patchouli above an amber base, and with rich osmanthus. The sandalwood then starts to chug away giving the florals a deep cushion. Osmanthus is not my flower, it easily overwhelms everything turning it to apricot shampoo, and yep on the blotter here it does exactly that, but on skin labdanum and sandalwood tame those lush flowers as they come through, mussing them up, dirtying them a little and it's lovely. Very perfumey, this is reminiscent of the big, late-80s, room-filling, woody-floral ambers. A bit of a beast. I suspect a significant dose of ambroxan also lurks in here as longevity is eternal and while it never dominates it can get a bit headachy, so don't go overboard spraying. I'll definitely be wearing this one again soon.

For me, the finest amber fragrance; oh oh oh, I smell fantastic all day long. Costume National is the linear smell-alike, but it can't even come close; after 2 hours I'm tired of that one, and I can't get enough of this L'Ambre De Cartage. Oh, how lovely I smell, oh, how good this smells. Thank you very much, Mr. Jean Jacques - Voor mij de fijnste ambergeur, oh oh oh de hele dag ruik ik fantastisch. De Costume National is de lineaire smell-a-like, maar kan er in de verste verte niet aan tippen, na 2 uur ben ik die beu en van deze L'Ambre De Cartage krijg ik geen genoeg. O wat ruik ik lekker O wat ruikt dit goed. Merci Beaucoup Monsieur Jean Jacques

L'ambre de carthage is a tinted cellophane amber, a balsam breeze, steeped osmanthus blossoms and frankincense infused tea. It is a delightful diversion from typically dense, sticky ambers, with a dry sweetness and a sliver of bitter cola myrrh. There's a woodiness that does not scratch the sinus, like a tender cedar enveloped in lightly smoked patchouli. It evokes a sumptuousness without coming off as forced luxury, which goodness knows we have a surplus of that gold-plated flash and glamour encasing bilge that leaves a sour taste. This is smooth and satisfying.

The high quality, high oil content parfum glistens on my skin. It smells calm, comforting and makes me feel secure. It sweetens slowly, gently caramelising as it develops and gracefully smoulders with alluring amber. It’s lovely. I must explore the rest of the range... Update: I was craving this scent a few months after first trying it and I really, really like it. I wore it to bed and it was so comforting. I think it’s time for a full bottle. It just goes to show that you can’t write something off too soon.

This has much more than your run of the mill straight amber... After the opening of labdanum and amber, the sweetness comes out. The osmanthus and jasmine are sweet and lighten the perfume, to me it's not only a winter perfume, since it is not a very heavy amber, which I prefer. I can also smell the tea note on my skin, it does not project. It is a fabulous perfume, an amber which I think could work in fall and spring. (if sprayed sparingly)

I tried a bunch of amber scents and this one was far and away my favorite. Projection and longevity are outstanding and it stays smooth and enjoyable throughout, never going into off-putting, animalic territory like so many other amber fragrances did on my skin. I think it manages to be strong and bold without being particularly challenging to wear. I think it's great! I do find it to be masculine, but a lot of folks consider it unisex.

Just got this in today. It is blended well and to the point it's hard to explain after first applied. I do get amber and it's what I get the most throughout but it's light. I will have to give a better review after I have worn this a few times.:). Sad news today....Mona di Orio died today. Just got the vetyver about 3 weeks ago, totally shocked.:(

the plummy osmanthus on top of the myrrh & ambregris is quite pretty for the first hour then it does deepen and intensify due to a slick, dark patchouli note. as with all my favourite 'ambers' this carthage is about much more than 'amber'.... really good stuff, and absolutely unique in the classiest possible way. yay!

This is really nice, very opulent and rich, a perfect blend of resins and osmanthus with a hint of jasmine. Totally unisex in my opinion, and very classy.

this is my favorite amber fragrance that I will stock up on. For some strange reason though, it reminds me of 1969 by histoiries de parfum.

I love it !!!! Smells so rich and I could imagine an Arabian prince wearing it. I definitely need a full bottle

Doesn't appear to be available in the US anymore, either. Has this marvelous stuff been discontinued?

THIS is one of my very favorite ambers......cool temps can't get here soon enough!

Nice and dry with a decent back bone, can be unisex.

This is the perfectly blended amber. Labdanum patchouli amber heaven, a combination which is not uncommon on the market of ambers but here the osmanthus takes it to the next level. It gives it an exotic floral sweetness, and the bergamot is there too which I find always elevates balsamics to another level. Gorgeous. The tea note gets a little lost, I'm not picking it up. I've sampled it's comparison scent intense too which is also one of my favorites. I'll have to do a side by side. So many beautiful amber perfumes, so little time! * Edit: second drydown, definitely smelling the tea! *Tested this now several times and there is a fresh, almost minty aspect to this that makes it super lively. Great amber, one of the best I've tested (and I've tested hundreds!!) *Just so I remember later: I sold this in the end because it has a masculine aspect to it that I just can't get past. Didn't pick up on that in the sample. Goes away on the drydown but you only get a short lived part of the feminine good stuff.

L'Ambre is a typical amber fragrance of quite resinous and balsamic character. The mixture of modern design develops in a monolithic way and really convinces, it is very well made, especially if you like the central note of amber. The whole set focuses on making this opulent and rich amber liquorice nuances with a weak floral point and a powerful woody nuance, giving the feeling of a coriaceous counterpoint, due to the conjunction of tea, jasmine, woods and of course the ladano that brings the warmth of a good skin. The drying is directed towards a musky that contributes fluidity, lightness like a cloud hit by the wind. Excellent qualities and duration, with a moderate projection. Very good if you can appreciate the aroma of amber. For my taste such a monolithic aroma gets to bore over time, so something more evolution would have made the mix better. Rating: 8

don't know why, but to me the soft flowery 'amber' is almost a twin to costume national scent intense. i use the word 'candy' for fragrances that are sugary sweet which is not necessarily bad, but are not anything more than wafts of innocent pleasure.

A dark, powdery, and resiny amber with a slight medicinal aspect. I get no citrus or tea at all, on my skin. Soft and mysterious. Unisex. By the end of the day is smelled like crystallized amber incense.

This is amazing stuff. Picture an ancient Phoenician harbor. Exotic trees and balsam being sold and traded in a warm sea breeze. I can't stop sniffing my wrists. Why is it so expensive?

Rum and coke garnished with a slice of lime. Totally unisex.