Blue Amber

Every once in a while you hear about how great a niche house is, from other parfumistas. When I read up on some of the scents they make, that interested me, they all seemed to have rather common "notes". After receiving a few samples and a couple spray decants from other members, I can honestly say this is one company that lives up to the "hype"! Blue Amber is, perhaps, one of the best "amber" scents I have EVER smelled...if not THE BEST. Usually fragrances that have their notes listed linearly are not really all that intruiging or exciting. THIS, on the other hand, is one of those "to die for" scents. Rich, sweet (but not saccharine or gourmand) and exotic are the first words that come to mind upon applying it; and it just keeps getting better. Amber "comes" in many colors (gold, grey, black...) in perfumery. I was skeptical about another "blue" anything...but, lo! and behold this borders on the divine. A regal couple: slightly dry and crumbly amber resin and sensual dark vanilla, spiced with dry geranium and corriander, recline on a bed of smoky vetiver, as patchouli dances suggestively and erotically around them. Bergamot (for once) does not "open" the show but adds a subtle brightly bitter aspect to the entire construct without being another "citrusy" scent. This amber IS blue; like the deep dark blue color the sky turns just before the sun sinks slowly beneath the horizon, somewhere between the fading warm golden and deep orange tones of evening and the velvet black of night. I used to think the MORE notes a perfume had (or the more unique and unusual they were) the better it was; this company has made me see it is not WHAT notes are in it, so much as how wonderfully they are blended and the quality and concentration of them. This fragrance makes me think of the tales spun by Scherazade in the Arabian Nights, complete with bazaars, genies, flying carpets, magic lamps and lost cities filled with treasure. And just like the stories she told to the Sultan (in an attempt to delay her own death) it goes on and on and on...pulling you in; surrounding you with beauty, magic and wonder! Sillage: very good Longevity: superb Overall: 4.75/5 Incensey but not too smoky, sweet but nowhere near cloying and dark without being BLACK, NOIR or stygian; BLUE AMBER has captivated me. Somewhere between an incense oil and a perfume this has me, quite frankly, in its spell. When I received this is, I spritzed a tiny bit (less than 1/2 a spray of a decant) on a test strip on a Sunday afternoon...and, on Thursday you could still smell it on that strip, laying on my dresser, while laying in my bed!! I often wear one scent in the morning and sometimes in mid-afternoon to evening don another one...one application of Blue Amber is all I needed for the entire day, AND I could still smell it the next morning! This House may cost more, and be "niche" but trust me, my friends, it is worth every penny that you paid-and then some.

Powdery, sweet & resinous amber that's been sculpted into facets... First impression: that I'm smelling Shalimar - more EDP than EDC. That also seems to jive with the blue bottle, since there are no blue notes per say. Androgynous, boozy vanilla flowing under clouds of baby-powdery amber. Bottom line: with its baby-powder and boozy vanilla nuances, a classic. Contrast to Ambre 114 Histoires de Parfums: These are different, but I would agree this is the most similar, and have similarities with powdery, sweet & resinous amber. Ambre 114 has the beautiful benzoin, but both are sweeter than Ambre Sultan Serge Lutens, and both have slightly better performance. Contrast to Ambre Sultan Serge Lutens: These are different, but there are similarities in the powdery, warm, sweet & resinous amber, and the opening of Blue Amber has reminders for me of Ambre Sultan. Blue Amber is sweeter with vanilla, and has the added geranium, while Ambre Sultan has the standout bay leaf. Both have good performance, but a little better for Blue Amber. Both wear best in cool/cold weather. Contrast to Shalimar EDP Guerlain: They are definitely not dopplegangers despite first impressions, but Blue Amber could be a third degree relative of Shalimar where in certain facets the resemblance is startling. Except Blue Amber wears Brazilian BumBum cream and Shalimar has a vintage leather bag that has weathered reselling at an incensed second-hand shop. Update 10/30/24: Sprayed it on this morning, as the weather is cooler. Everytime I wear this it gets better and better. An amber that's been cut into facets. Definitely reminds me of an amber that's somewhere between Shalimar EDP & Ambre Sultan Serge Lutens with an added geranium touch. Love this a whole lot,

Minty top notes with a hint of bergamot dry down to an unusual amber, which is a little dirty (maybe patchouli) and softened by a non-gourmand, sweet vanilla pod smell. The first hour of the scent is quite harsh and unusual, confusing even after my fourth wearing, but the second hour and afterward is a creamy, soft, dirty amber vanilla sweetness that is so classy, with a hint of mint in the background, making it truly unique. A little powdery, but not full-on baby powder. See it as a nighttime summer scent, which is why I bought it, and I think it does give off a Grand Soir vibe in the dry down, but with much more going on and less refined blending. Grand Soir is the best amber vanilla scent ever made, and this one ranks a little below, but is still amazing. Good quality, especially for the €55 I paid for the 100ml bottle, which is insane. It's worth €100 quality-wise. It smells expensive. Performance is also great: 8–10 hours on skin, days on clothes. 7.6/10, old ranking Update: It lasts for 24+ hours on skin and it genuinely made me sick. I hate it now. 3/10

This was a blind buy for me, but I'm so glad that I went for it. At first spray, I was almost repulsed by the overwhelming strength of the perfume, and against my better judgement, I smelled it wet. Fresh from the spray, it was immediately, harshly masculine, and so potent that it burnt my nose. As I had to make it to an engagement, I changed my clothes and rubbed as much of it off my skin as I could, and applied a very simple vanilla frag. As soon as I got home though, I caught a whiff of the perfume again, and I immediately ran back to my room to discover that while I was out, the amber, coriander, and patchouli notes had faded into the background, while the perfume developed into an embracing, seductive, sultry amber-vanilla experience. I sat on my bed just smelling the scent on my clothes for about 15 minutes, just enjoying that experience. I'm wearing it again today and the only advice that I could give is to wait for the dry down to make a harsh judgement. If you like amber and vanilla, and spicy, sexy perfumes, I cannot recommend this enough!

This wasn’t a like on the first spray. It took a few wearings to win me over. Right off the top I got a strong resemblance to Tauer Au Coeur Du Desert...but a little more vanilla. After 30 minutes or so it reminded me of Nishane Ani but a tad more amber/powder. The dry down is magnificent...vanilla with a bit of amber/powder/smokiness. I really wish the dry down radiated louder and came a little earlier. I’m not a big fan of Ani and this reminds me of that...but I can get over it because of how great the dry down is. It’s not a huge projection monster like other Montale’s are...but that’s ok. 6-8 hours on my skin. Where/when to wear it? Boy...that’s difficult....nights out? It’s definitely not for the office...that’s for sure. Definitely unisex.....the vanilla/powdery aspect can be worn by anyone. Get a decant before buying....it’s not for everyone. If you’re a Niahane Ani fan, you might love this....there’s enough similarities but not a clone. Cheers!

Super underrated amber. I was prepared to NOT like bc I don’t think of Montale as strong w amber notes. Like w all Montale, I sprayed one spray and gave it a minute. Tip- Don’t go hard on the trigger or hurry a Montale- when first sprayed the notes explode on ur skin and a rush to smell is not in ur favor. After the perfume has had a moment to settle, you smell the bergamot, coriander and the most delicious amber. Vanilla starts to peak thru in the mid notes and suddenly I can’t stop sniffing my arm. This is a wonderful warm spicy, soft spicy, vanilla amber. Great performance! As an amber lover this is more similar to straight up Amber’s like profumum ambra Aurea. This is not as aromatic as Ambre Sultan, as formal as Grand Soir, or as floral as Ambre Nuit. It is an amber for people who love Amber’s...served neat and without pomp. I bought a full bottle at a great sale price and feel like this may be one of the best values/ purchases for 2021 so far.

#986 in my "Tour de Fragrance" You ever get one of those scents where you think, "I wish I'd found this sooner?" This is one of those. This is a really unique amber vanilla where the patchouli and coriander are doing the bulk of the work and coming off with almost an incense character, and I love it. I note some reviewers complaining about the opening, but I'm not smelling anything that isn't delightful in the opening or dry down. Strong projection. Long lasting. It actually projects better after a hard workout at the gym. For an amber-vanilla where the patchouli comes off a bit powdery, it's assertive. Dead center unisex. Car pool, elevator, small office safe. Sure to be a hit for date wear. Montale has a lot of great scents and this is one of the best. If I could only have one, this would probably be it.

I am definitely with the vast majority here- the first 15 minutes of this are rough. It's harsh and somehow smells like an old woman yet spicy at the same time. When I first sampled this, I thought absolutely not. But I let it dry on a tester strip and within an hour my nose kept leading me back to my bedroom. It becomes quite intoxicating. A delicious powdery vanilla and amber bomb. Prada is my absolute favorite house and this could easily pass as a Prada fragrance with its extreme fresh/powdery profile. In typical Montale fashion, it's nuclear, sticks to everything, and will perform 12+ hours. Not a blind buy but considering I went from thinking it was gross to purchasing a whole bottle, I'd say it's worth a shot!

I have it as a sample. First tested it on a paper stripe and didn’t like it at all. I found it harsh loud and very-very old fashioned. Despite my dislike I tested it on myself. The opening was loud cold and a bit stingy. Later on it started to became warmer and warmer and the dry down is very delicious. In fact I think the dry down is addictive its so fine. Warm amber and vanilla. Over all still very though for me to evaluate this frag. I still find it very old fashioned and I don’t want to smell like this. On the other hand I want to smell it arround me all day long. So I’ll go for a full bottle and will use it only for myself. It works rather as an aromatherapy not like a perfume, at least for me. I love it!

I love this! It’s all the good parts of Shalimar EDP without committing to the leather and animatic notes. The key for me is spraying sparingly on this... stays more airy and magical. Also, don’t smell it immediately after spraying, give it a minute. It’s quite comforting and beautiful. This encapsulates a warm hug from a very beloved grandmother or auntie, but doesn’t smell vintage. When I want to feel comfort and beautifully vanillic, I reach for this. I’ve been stopped wearing this and one woman found it online and bought it on the spot, she loved it so much! I’m fine with it being a hidden treasure in fragcom, more for me!

one of the best amber scents i have encountered, got a reasonably sized sample and i have to say, very pleasing..i prefer it to tom ford's amber scent..and that is saying alot , but i have them side by side and i really do prefer this one.a litte lighter on application, much more subtle a fragrance but not in a disapointing way.. i like it..try this one if you can and compare it.if you like amber scents, prada's amber is in high school, this one is in college. wow.. i have not as yet found an amber scent i like more..this is good stuff..

Blue Amber has grown on me the couple years I've had it. The progression has been from "wtf" to "like" to "🥰" BA is a spicy powdery ambery vanilla, emphasis on spicy -- almost a hot spicy. My first impression was clashing accords and chaos, but the notes eventually sort themselves into something cohesive that I would describe as mystical, like something that belongs in a temple. Definitely a cool and cold weather fragrance. Maybe try a half spray in heat. Monstrous longevity and sillage.

What a beauty! Most Montale Fragrances take you on an interesting journey and this one is no different. It starts off strong and spicy with a blast of amber, patchouli and vetiver and settles down into a heavenly amber, vanilla and coriander masterpiece! It is powdery but it blends in very well and adds depth to the magic. The silage and longevity are insane; one spray of this dynamo gets you far! I wore it to bed the other night and could still smell it at noon the next day. A must try!

In my opinion this is the best Montale. I have the starboy as well the Arabians tonka, but I think that this is a way better fragrance. It is more complex, smoother and better to wear it in the everyday life. On my skin it would last 2 days if I wouldn’t showered. The projection is insane aswell. And the scent, OMG!!! It is ambery but in a really good way. It is powdery but does it in a really smooth way with the vanilla in the background! I can only recommend this for the winter time!

Rich minerale amber, with spices (for me mainly corriander), some geranium, patchouli and powdery vanilla. It has a "creamy" texture, and I can wholeheartedly agree with @sherapop, that this is more brown/light brown than blue, or if I must call it blue, I would do so because it is really a warm scent. It smells rather sweet but not cloying. Blue Amber is also very relaxing, and I can imagine wearing this both a normal day, or a more intimate night. Sillage and longevity are both good.

I love it: great amber/vanilla combo, crazy longevity and good sillage. I have to disagree with Melyhelly and her Montale pricetag comment: ordering directly from them you get 50ml of Blue Amber for 55€. If you buy 100ml or 2x50ml you get free shipping worldwide and 20ml free of any Montale of your choice. That's quite a deal compared to most niche houses :S 4.75/5 for Blue Amber, which could possibly become the perfum i'd choose if i could only have one.

I'm LOVING this fragrance, because to my absolute delight this is very similar to Bois D'Armenie by Guerlain. I checked and the only two notes these have in common is Coriander and Patchouli. Nevertheless the drydown is the same, as is the longevity. Both have the wonderful vanilla note thing going on, which just lasts and lasts. Two snaps and a circle for this fragrance :-)

No other cologne/perfume have surprised me as much as this one has done. The opening is utterly weird and messed up, but in literally 15 minutes this turns into a nice amber/powder sweet scent that is masterfully crafted. This is extremely romantic, just make sure to spray it half an hour before any event/encounter ;)

It smells so good and right next to Ambre114 but does not have that heavy opening of HDP. I like this amber blended well, it softens slowly. Just as the creation of HDP, is not to everyone's noses. Excellent Projection and longevity. I rank it like this: Smell: 9/10 Projection: 9.5/10 Longevity: 10/10

I love it! The opening is harsh, medicinal, herbal, boozy even, however after 10 minutes it develops into a wonderful & dark spicy vanilla perfume with balsamic aspects. Has some similarities with Nishane Ani. The drydown is my favorite stage - the delicious doughty vanilla as in Shalimar. Unisex.