Forever Amber

I am so sorry to read Amarah's review and I strongly feel the need to write that I had a totally different experience with Louison. The period between ordering and shipping was indeed long but Louison did everything he could do to arrange things the right way. He even planned to send me a second bottle if the other one did not arrive and if it did I could keep it for free. But it arrived the next day, perfectly packed. It was Eau d'Anvers . My chats with Louison were pleasanta and I could really read between the lines how desperate he was because the French postoffice he had to deal with was not very coöperative.

Wearing a sample of this today. It is a lot more complex than listed. Details from LLTI: Top Notes: Bergamot, Orange Blossom Middle Notes: Apple, Jasmine Base Notes: Amber accord, Frankincense, Tonka bean, Patchouli, Vanilla, White Musks The fragrance was inspired by Kathleen Windsor's novel (1944) "Forever Amber" Kathleen Winsor, whose 1944 novel ''Forever Amber,'' detailing the sexual adventures of a young woman in Restoration England, became a model for romantic best sellers to follow. Amber St. Clare, the heroine of Ms. Winsor's 972-page work, runs through lovers from a highwayman named Black Jack Mallard to King Charles II at a pace that led a reviewer to recommend using an adding machine to keep track. Amber's flair with words amplifies the effect: ''Adultery is not a crime, it's an amusement,'' she purrs. Abandoned pregnant and penniless on the teeming streets of London, 16-year-old Amber St. Clare manages, by using her wits, beauty, and courage, to climb to the highest position a woman could achieve in Restoration England—that of favorite mistress of the Merry Monarch, Charles II. From whores and highwaymen to courtiers and noblemen, from events such as the Great Plague and the Fire of London to the intimate passions of ordinary—and extraordinary—men and women, Amber experiences it all. But throughout her trials and escapades, she remains, in her heart, true to the one man she really loves, the one man she can never have. Frequently compared to Gone with the Wind, Forever Amber is the other great historical romance, outselling every other American novel of the 1940s—despite being banned in Boston for its sheer sexiness. A book to read and reread, this edition brings back to print an unforgettable romance and a timeless masterpiece.

To my nose, Forever Amber is as much a patchouli scent as it is an amber-focused one. It features what just might be the dirtiest, most pungent patchouli/musk accord I've ever smelled, alongside a very nice amber note with a dry/spicy gourmand edge to its that's enhanced by the sweeter notes in the composition, tonka and vanilla especially. Apple is also noticeably there, providing some well-needed lightness to balance out the composition. The combination of all of these elements is a little unexpected, but it actually works quite well, especially as the fragrance dries down: when the conspicuously animalic character of the opening calms down a little and the more comfortable ambery aspect takes over the dominant position, I start to like Forever Amber quite a lot. Definitely worth a try for both amber and patchouli lovers! I myself don't fall into either one of those categories, so I'll leave it at sampling - and that might be a good thing, if stories on this page are anything to go by it seems to be hard to get hold of a full bottle!

*WARNING* DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS COMPANY: TECHNIQUE INDISCRETE I feel that I must warn everyone about this nasty so called Niche company! Two months ago I placed a large order directly with the perfumer, Louison Grajcar. It took him an entire month to actually ship out my order, and that's after I said I want to cancel it after he kept lying and saying he had already shipped it when he hadn't. That's not even the issue though! When my parcel arrived, it was missing 3 bottles of perfume, and also one bottle was heavily leaking. I contacted the perfumer about it and nothing was done to fix the problem. He kept lying and saying he would send the missing bottles but he never did, so I was forced to open a paypal case against him. Instead of making things right, he then sends the tracking number to paypal as proof of the package being delivered and denies there were missing bottles! What a low life act indeed! Unfortunately this is not the first time he has done this. I spoke to many others and he has done the same thing to them, ripping them off and stealing their money. And if you want to speak out about them, the perfumer Louison Grajcar hushes you to shut up! Disgusting company! I have lost time, money and effort in trying to get my money back for the missing bottles. Not to mention the stress and anxiety it has caused. Louison, I hope your company never succeeds. You are trying to make it to the top but you stay at the bottom because your dealings with some of your customers are nasty and atrocious! What kind of person does this to others, let alone a perfumer who is trying to make it! This is not a trait for a perfumer. I am shocked how you can go on about your daily matters knowing you stole money from others. Disgusting. Karma.

Dear Hamara, You have been refounded for all your perfumes and you had to send them back, but you keep them ... who is the thief in this story? Stop creating false rumors about Technique Indiscrete. You play the victim and the executioner, you are the bad karma. I order from Technique Indiscrete and I always receive my packages in good condition and very quickly