Amante

The Note di Profumum collection of Profumum, as of the time of this review in early 2018, is still seemingly only available in Europe, either in-person at the company's boutiques in Italy or online through Parfumeria Benegas (Spain, $296 for 100ml) or Saide (Italy), as well as a few others. I obtained samples of what I estimated would be my three favorites of the collection of six via an eBay seller from Italy last year. The notes for Amante, though unlisted currently here, are, per the Profumum website: amber, cedar, oud, and sandalwood. The concentration is perfume / extrait de parfum. The eBay seller listed a different note breakdown of violette, lavender, amber, and oud, also seemingly credible. The blend is surprisingly fresh and seemingly citrus-like, no doubt in part by the qualities of the amber specifically, and with the sandalwood, the blend shifts at the top and heart to something along the lines of fine men's shaving products, natural and estimable. Sandalwood, also, I suspect, provides a certain sharpness that might otherwise be created by citrus. This also could be freshness from the lavender if that's truly one of the notes, as it does have a bit of a lavender vibe, that mix of laundry and grooming product freshness. Cedar smooths things out, and oud lends its weight, though not especially animalic or medicinal, just powerful like in YSL M7. The result is a blend that is truly a year-round winner, both fresh at the opening but with some basso in the dry down, with the cleanness of cedar and sandalwood but the slightly dank power of oud. Like many fragrances that men might consider to be signature fragrances, Amante balances several tasks (power, and seasonal/occasional versatility) superbly, and it's in an instant love for me, fitting in that its name translates to "lover." Amante's performance is comparable to other entries in the house from the standard line--that it to say that it is excellent, with robust projection for hours and very long-lasting. This is certainly a bottle I'll have to seek out at some point. 9 out of 10

As Landshark notes below, I do get lavender from this. It is very much in the same vein as Taif Al Emarat's Year of Zayed, though Zayed substitutes a tobacco note that, to my nose, isn't necessarily that present. In both cases, the fragrance appears to be inspired by Black Afgano and wears similarly until the first hour or so. At that point, Amante has something a bit lighter and ethereal going on, which makes it slightly more appealing to others around me based on the reactions I've received, which include "you smell really good. REALLY good," which I took as coming from the sillage trail behind me. Though not a monster in projection, it does leave an incensey-woody-oudy trail with something like lavender, or perhaps violet, wafting in the air.

Most Profumum Roma offerings are simple linear scents with very high quality natural ingredients and this offering from their new sub label is no exception. A striking ambery beauty, the perfume is a beautiful and simple rendition of a bygone era of decadence and beauty. The perfume opens with a beautiful sandalwood and cedar note and dries to primarily amber and oud. I cant detect any other notes. There is a hint of crushed violet somewhere in the heart. The unisex perfume is beautifully blended with moderate to strong sillage and projection and sillage and excellent longevity. Simple but beautiful. Enjoy!

This is above all a very oud-heavy and woody perfume. I don't get the impression of 'amber' at all. The oud is prominent from the opening, which I quite like. It's soft, and the quality is evident right from the start. It's a well-blended composition. With some imagination you can get a liquorice note, perhaps a little bit sweet, but I think that's basically just a natural facet of the oud. Almost like a more sophisticated Kilian, in the sense that it leans dark and a little sweet, not nearly as sweet as Kilian though! In a very distant way, it also reminds me of Black by Comme des Garcons. If this perfume was a colour, it would definitely be a very dark mocha brown, borderline black. Slightly smoky, in a very subtle way. A full-blooded autumn and winter perfume. Minus five degrees celsius maximum. High quality materials. A lot of character. It's nice, but the oud... it's too much for my preference. I'm the wrong person for this.

I revisited the old sample, sticker was mising on the 2ml sample. I know it was something from Note di Profumum. I was kinda surpraised, cause i was not really sure what i was smelling. It is kinda herbal, bitter, little bit fermented and also sweet ambery in the opening. Pretty interesting and much better than i remember it. After while it develop in to this creamy woody ambery profile. Creamy - powdery sandalwood is very noticable in the first stages, it have little bit of ambery sweetness, but will not say this is amber dominant fragrance, or woody. Later it kinda smell little bit like new sweet plastic toy in a good way combined with creamy sunscreen, there is little bit sweet fruitness in it. Later it transform to more oudy masculine scent with balsamic nuances. Very nice, very well blended. Its somehow more tuned down version of VIR, less bold. Reminds also a Black Afghano in the dry down, but much better.