Dambrosia

While searching for an alternative to Philosykos (though not identical) in terms of longevity and sillage, I stumbled upon this gem by chance. It resembles NO fig I’ve tried so far (let alone the freshness, hyperrealism and greenness of Philosykos) yet I was completely enchanted. First of all, the notes are divinely blended. Personally, I get an overwhelming amount of grape, what smells to me like dark, juicy, ripe, intensely fragrant black grape. In the opening I catch a small burst of fresh pear, and delicately a fig that is equally ripe and sweet. This is a fragrance that celebrates fruit, not green and unripe, but impossibly juicy and ripe at the perfect moment. It resembles nothing I know or have tried before, which made me fall in love with it immediately. It is certainly sweet, but not sugary or artificial: it’s the real sweetness of a fruit you bite into while exclaiming “this is the best fig I’ve ever eaten!!!” It makes me think of a dinner with friends, in a green and blooming garden, the table beautifully set (perhaps a checkered tablecloth), filled with food, fruit and red wine. Not opulent or heavy, but rich, joyful, full of laughter, with a refreshing breeze in your hair and maybe one glass of wine too many. Longevity on my skin is excellent —even after 6 hours I can still smell it clearly, though more delicate and prominent on the sandalwood. Sillage also seems very good. NB: I highly recommend following Profumum Roma’s instructions on how to apply their fragrances, given the very high oil concentration, the texture is quite dense and it’s best to gently massage it in!! :)

Dambrosia feels like getting a warm hug after enjoying a nice, relaxing bath—super cozy, creamy, and just plain delightful. The moment I spray it on, I’m greeted by this soft, sweet scent that reminds me of stepping out of a fancy spa, wrapped up in a snug robe, with the lovely aroma of high-quality oils still floating in the air. The first thing that hits me is the mix of fig and almond—it’s such a lovely combination! The almond adds this warm, nutty touch, while the fig brings a creamy softness that feels really soothing. It’s like that fresh, warm smell your skin has after using a luxurious body wash—just a hint of indulgence without being too sweet or heavy. It’s the kind of fragrance that makes you want to snuggle up in a comfy blanket with a good book or wear when you’re in the mood for a little extra self-care. Plus, it lasts a long time! I can still get little hints of it hours later, like a gentle reminder of that spa experience. If you enjoy scents that are cozy, intimate, and a tad indulgent without being too strong, Dambrosia is such a lovely choice. It’s especially perfect for chilly days or anytime you want to feel like you've been pampering yourself all afternoon.

I’m new to niche fragrances, and I’ve been testing incessantly, thanks to COVID (spending to sniff in the safety of my own home). This fragrance taught me that there’s a such thing as a bedtime scent. I love this! I can’t describe the comfort it brings because it doesn’t make sense to me. I started with a sample vial and bought the 18ml. On me, it’s thick and green with a little sweetness and warmth; I imagine a humid rainforest (I don’t even like the outdoors, which is why I don’t understand the comfort it brings). Think green bananas, or peeling one to see if it’s ripe enough to eat. There’s a slight bitterness, tartness, but still slightly sweet. Other days, I get coconut, especially if I’m smelling the shirt I wore the day before. Something makes my eyes roll back when sniffing the fabric or if I spray it on my husband. I wear this when I want to feel calm or comfort. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Although I bought the 18ml, I think I need a full bottle. I can’t imagine running out. I also like Dulcis in Fundo, which is waaaay sweeter. But I layer that with a citrus scent. Just try Dambrosia.

Dambrosia. It's nice. I can see why I chose fragrances other than this one however. It doesn't do anything special for me which is almost disappointing because it has almost all of my favorite notes. I keep forcing myself to figure out ways for me to want it. And I know eventually I'm going to purchase it just to complete my collection. But it's not my favorite. No matter how much I want it to be. It's just missing some type of citrus to brighten everything up. I know there is a reason why it's not added but it’s just not complete in my opinion. Of course you can apply something like molecule whatever number of your choice, or even Atelier Cologne to achieve the citrus note I desire. And I like it much more than Vir. Just to get you some perspective on this brand. Vir is still significantly better than 90% of fragrance houses out there. So I would still purchase it over 9 out of 10 other fragrances. So, Dambrosia is a great choice for all intensive purposes. Unfortunately they are quite expensive. Around $300 each. If they were cheaper I would have every single one in my collection by now.

My bottle of Dambrosia is at least five years old. I’m trawling my archives of beloved beauties being piqued by a travel size of a modern cultish perfume ‘Gris Charnel’ which hits me as sweet fig straight out of the gate. I was quite diffident about the ‘fig’ note, it strikes me as literally fluorescent in its power and utterly irrepressible once added to a pyramid. I tiptoed around the inevitable collecting of Philosykos and Premier Figueur and added the beautiful Heeley Fig but I hardly ever wear them. But this one, Dambrosia, is such a sweet and subtle take on the ripened and honeyed fig in a bowl of summer fruits. It is reserved compared to current candy and fruit bombs (which I love too). It’s not as dry and herbal as its brother Ichnusia. Like all my Profvmvms it has a long, beautiful, and nuanced trajectory, through a nutty sandalwood and surely a honeyed vanillin amber, the ripe purple fig becomes a memory.