Ambra

The first impression is a strong reminiscence of a scented sticks of stems and branches burned in a religious temple in India. You literally smell like the smoke coming out of these sticks. Of course, they smell differently due to their different content, but the smokiness is always there. The floral notes are nicely balancing the harshness of the base notes, yet they come to prominence very fast. I really can't discern much of the top notes. I can not agree with the reviews that focus on sweaty armpits and dead rabbits, because for that the scent is quite mild. I would suggest that it is the smokiness with jasmine and lavender that make it much more wearable. The longevity is amounting to 3-4 hours which is OK for an evening or a dinner. The sillage is not strong either, so you will not fill the room with your perfume, and that makes it more of a private scent for you and those who are around you. It is wearable for many occasions. When I look at the date of origin for this scent, it makes me smile, because it also smells like a scent from an old house a museum, the old oiled wood and leather and a open fireplace. This scent is more for an connoisseur who appreciates the quality and history, and is not afraid to makes a statement. The scent fits everyone apart from the fresh and clean teenagers and those in early 20'es. All in all, a great stand-out scent with high quality and personality. By the way, no review since october 2016 is it was about time....

Ambra Santa Maria Novella (Gold Foil Bottle) I wrote this from memory. The one, I register Ambra in my mind. This is mother of Amberine fragrance. You may, or you may not notice. But the concoction of Bergamot top, strong leathery - Powdery Amber (Mostly Balsam). And Animalic musk (In this an IBQ & True Musk) was the define another entire catalog of fragrance. "Shalimar" which crated 40 years later, amp up sweet - sensual Vanilla & Benzonin. Then it is "The" Fragrance, when it is more digestible. "Ambra" was entirely new idea back then. As fossil captive from ancient time. Ambra lacks vanilla with strong Amber & Musk. It is not so pleasant but as it is on skin. It becomes better & better. The Musky scent and sensuality. .. I believe the Shalimar eau de cologne (1925). is rendered generously to pay homage to Ambra (1828). As element show strong musk, amber and citrus. Lack the vanilla in shalimar we known for. . . . Santa Maria Novella, have at least 5 reformulations we know so far. Roughtly classifed by the bottle. The Gold Foil : The most anicent, you received the deepest experience here. The Clear Glass : Adjusted slightly, still strong and ancient, more perfumery. The Frost Glass : The Godiloks, all the floral start lose charm from here. The Forst Glass with Emboss SMN logo at back : The Modern, Lost all strong element. The Clear Glass with Emboss SMN logo at back : Experience yourself at the counter.

very close to antonio gardoni's famous top note, very sharp and harsh

I'm loving this! As others have mentioned, it has an old-world feel. This one is unique, and a bit hard to describe, as all the notes are seamlessly blended. The opening is quite camphorous and not for the faint of heart, but as it dries down vanilla/benzoin, incense, and spice start to emerge. The notes on Fragrantica don't line up with the notes on the Santa Maria website. This fragrance is in the same vein as Profumum Roma's Fiore d'Ambra, but this is slightly more unisex. Notes from Santa Maria Novella website: Top: Bergamot Mid: Amber, Myrrh Base: Patchouli, Sandalwood

Just when you think you have tested all sorts of amber perfumes, a small miracle like SMNA comes along. The sweetness of amber and benzoin is held in place by a strict yet light-hearted combination of birch, bitter orange, neroli and sandalwood, supported in the background by bergamot and amalfi lemon. The lavender to me seems like a brilliant final touch. This is a delightful amber concoction, lifting my spirits from spray one! Downside: Longevity and sillage are rather minimal

To me this smells like an old school shaving cream that have been copied by many manufacturers over the decades. This obviously would be the Original, and you can smell it. The quality is exceptional the layers dense. Very mature old world scent if you’re looking.

NOT AN AMBER. The birch is predominant and makes this a primarily leather scent. Unfortunately, we're not talking lipstick and leather suede, but rather sweaty saddles and male armpit. I sprayed on my male guinea partner, and it was "somewhat" better. I do not recommend this for amber lovers. Alternatively, if you are a leather lover, this is the most intense leather I have smelled. Knize10 is nothing leather like this, but where the former is smooth elegance, this reminds me of a harsh cured leather, a pommel on a saddle with a dead rabbit hanging off it. Also, if you like the smoky tar aspect to Andy Tauer's Lonestar Memories or Lonesome rider, except that those are smoother, this may work for you. This is the rider melded with horse, sweat, smoke, leather and some wild dead game. As a woman, though I like masculine scents, this is too too. And it does not work on my guinea male partner either. Happy sniffing. Edit: Happy accident - This just got so bad, and I discovered I accidentally ordered TWO LARGE samples. Well. In a pique, I doused myself in it, waited about two minutes, and then doused myself in a "Sephora Sample of Something." Then...a few minutes later, after a sudden turn of lovely wafting scents near my nose, realized it was "Something Wild" by Derek Lam perfume (a vanilla cedar). Heaven. I kid you not. All of a sudden I was/am wearing a luxe leather, soft suede amber, strong, lasting, amazing. I kept turning my head "Whoa, that's me." It is fantastic. Did it again, same thing. Did it again--yes this works! I tried the "Something Wild" on its own, and it's not bad--not a great vanilla/cedar--but not bad, but it definitely a "Vanilla." I have not tried this with my Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille, but I suspect it would perform similarly. The vanilla "ambers up" the perfume, without making it turn "foodie" or "sugary-sweet" or "custardy"--it morphs into a real amber-leather (the best, actually, if you like your leathers ambered--leaving behind the vanilla!). This isn't my preferred way of wearing perfume, but if you buy this, and/or you have a large quantity of it and just want to change it up, layer it! It brings out the best in both perfumes. I layered directly on, over-sprayed as it were. Clothes smelled divine the next day, and NOT like vanilla.

Another nightmare from this House. Another cologne inspired by an ancient remedy for gout, cholera, calluses, rotten teeth, bad breath (and to the rest see my review of Vetiver of this Maison) A camphoraceous smell, where you can find amber miserably covered of superbalsamic and naphthalenic leather notes that.. really, I understand tradition, but Houses discontinue marvellous perfume for less. Keep it into a museum. Who can wear this unbalanced mess? Well .. your business actually.

This has one of the harshest openings I've smelled and I can't figure out what notes are responsible. The drydown is tolerable, but doesn't smell like any other amber fragrance I've tried. Not sweet, kind of dated, by which I mean that I've never smelled a modern fragrance that smells anything like this.

This review is based on a decant. It opens up with eucalyptus-like herbaceous accord with birch tar in the background. The birch tar starts to come forward after 10 mins and slowly dominates the scent as time passes. Amber only reveals itself towards the dry down. Projection is moderate (arm's length), which is pretty good for an EdC. Longevity is moderate on my skin. The herbaceous accord is very reminiscent to amber colored Refreshing Rainbath by Neutrogena and Frankincense & Myrrh room/body mist by Zum Mist, which I own and enjoy using. Some say it reminds them of Lonestar Memories by Tauer Perfumes, which I have a FB of but I see very little resemblance except for the prominent birch tar note. If you like birch tar and Rainbath shower gel, you will definitely like this.