Au Coeur du Désert

So many people want to know which would be the one to choose between L'Air du Desert Marocain & Au Coeur du Désert and I feel like I have tested a few in the family of ambers to help out. Look no further and I will say get ACDD. It's the same as LDDM but deeper and intense. Now if you don't want the fragrance as intense and to be more brighter with the citruses almost airy I would say get LDDM. ACDD has the same citrus and spices as LDDM..it's just an extrait version and it packs a punch. When my bottles are both gone I will be leaning to only buy ACDD for now on. Tauer was truly smart to not change the fragrance but just intensify it. I want to add that Jovoy Ambre Premier would sit right in the middle of these two fragrances as there is a striking similarity with the two with LDDM being lighter and brighter and Jovoy AP being in the middle with it being denser with citrus and spices but with an added medicinal vanilla that's lovely and ACDD being the most intense version but close to Jovoy Ambre Premier that you would have to decide whether you need both or just want to collect more amber fragrances. Au Coeur du Desert and Jovoy's Ambre Premier share this beautiful sophisticated amber and both have spices and citrus with a leather vibe blended in but Jovoy goes more into the vanilla on the base where as ACDD stays the same all the way through with the citrus spices, leather and amber. Jovoy has the spices and citruses all the same as ACDD but it just transforms more into the vanilla over time and could be closer also to Coromandel in some ways since that is also in the same family. If you have none of these fragrances I would say Au Coeur is the deepest one to get and because of the spices and amber it also reminds me of L de Lolita Lempicka with the citrus and spices..L de Lolita has a niche vibe and why it's so loved. But if you have Ambre Premier and you love these type of amber spicy fragrances yes adding ACDD to your collection would be a plus because it's the same but deeper and darker with the spices..you would do well to own both but it depends on you whether you want your base to go into more of the vanilla or to stay in the deeper spices as ACDD. I got a whole bunch of sample's from Luckyscent from Jovoy's to Tauers and they are all in the same fragrance families with these ambers, patchouli's and spices with leather. If you love ambers you have to try Jovoy fragrances and Tauers they are just quality fragrances that remind me of Chanel's Coromandel and how well blended they are and also use top notch ingredients. Oh I love them both equally. I may have to get Au Coeur..it's so stunning. It's like it takes my favorite L de Lolita and enhances it to be sweeter, spicier and more resinous. It does feel like being in the hot desert in Morocco. Well done Tauer! Update: LDDM has a sweeter almost vanilla touch over ACDD where ACDD is spicier and richer..LDDM is more aromatic. I may have to own both they are both so good. For my budget I may have to get LDDM first and then ACDD. I bought both and still stand by buying ACDD. It's the same scent but stronger.

Au Coeur du Desert is a slight modification of Tauer’s other great L’Air du Desert Marocain: a musky, breathy woods-and-spices aura given lightness with a gleam of citrus. Coeur is a bit mellower, I think, with more creamy ambergris and less skank, and a tenderer floral heart. It’s more approachable on a woman. We are no longer staring into the desert wind; we’re inside an ivory silk tent, drinking tiny cups of coffee and nibbling on knafeh. Over time, the spices become more predominant, along with a touch of vanillic sweetness, and give it a romantic, adventurous feeling. This would be great on a date night. Despite the “Oriental” associations, Au Coeur du Desert and L’Air du Desert Marocain aren’t heavy dark resinous syrups. They’re abstract, complex personal auras, with plenty of “air” in the middle, in mostly-neutral shades ranging from ivory to sepia. (L’Air du Desert Marocain has a strong lemonade-like citrus aspect and a deep smokiness, giving it a pale-yellow-and-charcoal color scheme; Au Coeur du Desert is more purely focused on warm neutrals, all about incense, spice, jasmine, and cream.) Andy Tauer has a handful of preoccupations that he remixes endlessly in different perfumes — he likes his creamy ambergris, his citrus, and his dry woods. This can make the scents a little redundant with each other. Au Coeur du Desert is the creamy theme done up with incense, woods and spices; Les Annees 25 is the same creamy ambergris all dressed up as a classic Old Hollywood aldehydic floral; L’Eau is pure citrus cream; L’Air des Alpes Suisses gives the cream an earthy-herbal base; Phi gives it the royal treatment with rose, apricot, and tobacco. They’re all good, but Au Coeur du Desert might be the most iconically “Tauerish.” It manages to be a soft, feminine-leaning Oriental scent without being either sweet or powdery, where most scents in that genre lean heavily on the vanilla (Shalimar, Parfum Sacre) or the powder (Fate Woman, Bois des Iles). It’s not a dark resinous syrupy thing either (like Tabu, Youth Dew, or Opium). Au Coeur du Desert is all rich cream and spiced woods, barely sweet, balancing a sense of dignity and adventurous spirit with mellow, cuddly affection.

Au Coeur du Désert is a spicy-amber scent that bears a striking resemblance to 02 L'Air du Désert Marocain. It feels like the extrait version of 02, but with some differences. ACDD is less dry and more amber-focused, and is more spicebomb than fougère. It is certainly more intense. This scent is perhaps my preference, but both are excellent and it comes down to personal taste. Both scents have distinct styles while being similar in spirit. ACDD is amber-led from its opening, a sticky, resinous amber that starts off quite sweet. It is complemented beautifully by its spicy top notes, with cumin and peppery coriander evident to my nose. There is a green woody undertone that brings to mind petitgrain, but it is less pronounced here than in the more aromatic 02. As it develops, I get some jammy rose alongside the amber - a lovely addition. A nice woody accord develops, led by a prominent birch note. Dry and leathery, it rounds out the labdanum perfectly while acting as a dry counterpoint. I get some lavender at this point, adding an aromatic edge. It is much less prominent than in 02 where it leads the fougère accord as a top note. ACDD becomes increasingly dry and woody as it dries down, with the salty ambergris coming to the fore - adding nuance and complexity to the sweet amber that permeates this scent. Some patchouli adds a chypre-like earthiness, rounded out by dry, grassy vetiver. Remnants of the warm spices linger throughout, making for a rich, satisfying scent that remains on-theme. It fades to a musky-mossy skin scent with a hint of spice. Sillage is strong and longevity is long-lasting. It is unisex, best worn in autumn/winter. A beautiful spicy-amber scent, ACDD is utterly elegant. It is versatile and wearable, yet perfectly evocative of spice bazaars of the Middle East. It can be summed up as 02 with added rose, sweet amber and intensity. It is also less masculine in my opinion than 02, contributing to it being my preference. Old-world-meets-modern, east-meets-west, this is true olfactory art. A masterpiece, perfected. 5/5.

The idea of exotic expanse is captured lucidly in L’Air du Désert Marocain, and this desert narrative was demonstrated as perfect still life. Au Coeur du Désert zooms in on the very same picture, so you miss the expanse but a more intense and more intimate picture is received. The fuzzy, ambery coriander seed hum at its edges are lost. Things are clearer and more defined, and the focus on the heart allows for more apparent modifications that would be lost in the expansive L’Air. The heart that is the scent in Au Coeur du Désert gives a drier, significantly austere perspective to the desert narrative, with firmer, persistent brushstrokes with greater detail up close. Thus, a denser, richer, and a tighter weave of fabric of the exotic carpet. The most obvious difference: A light and slightly sour citrus note at the top liberates and gives momentum, advancing towards a slick of patchouli with wonderful leathery bounce and a seasoning of vetiver, with the Texan cedar note pulled deeper, still offering coolness to contrast the oriental warmth. The patchouli is elevated in this extract, moving into the pleasantly funky range of burning, woods, and rubber. This is mimicked with oakmoss, and cradled with vanilla. Au Coeur du Désert is a scent of slow burn, patiently intense and immediately familiar, but an equally new and metamorphosed scent able to sit amongst L’Air du Désert Marocain yet also move away from it. The flourishes are removed, and the body remains with a more serious gravity, far less fairytale and easily categorised into patchouli-leather (See: Patchouli 24 by Le Labo) with all of the spiced oriental components one would expect from such a pairing. It’s the same Maghreb desert we all fell in love with, we can still close our eyes and find comfort in its incense-amber wash, but this time we’re closer to earth.

Absolutely and unmistakably a V2 of L'air, but with a smoke and leather quality that brings you closer to the notion of a campfire, a live habitat, human skin, and personhood. The granular gaps left in the top and mid notes of L'air get filled in with layers of dusty, cedar-y animalic notes. What texture remains, though, is identical to L'air to my nose. Cumin, coriander, and aromatics. The dry down of Au Coeur is just slightly less sweet. Where the deep drydown of L'air could suggest femininity or at least a unisex character, Au Coeur is decidedly more rugged as it gets going due to the smokiness. It's smoother and rounder, fuller, and possibly a little muskier, too, and in being "rounder" than its predecessor communicates the mind's eye of a leather-wearing bandit in the desert. I think it's much more romantic, and more traditionally "sexy" than L'air, but I dare say that its added wearability points make it a little less the anomaly; Au Coeur doesn't have quite the monopoly on dry, smoky, unisex-masculine sensuality in the fragrance market that L'air does on diffusively narcotic, arid atmospheres. All that said, they are both gorgeous and after smelling both, I don't want to be without either and will be getting an FB of Au Coeur when I get the chance. Performance on Au Coeur is generally excellent but not quite as miraculous as I was expecting as the first extrait I've ever tried. I get around three more hours out of this than I get from L'air, which is a solid nine hour wear itself. Sticks very well on clothing, and overall projects more loudly, consistently and confidently than L'air does, which is incredibly satisfying. I love the power behind each and every note that this gifts me with. Do try this if you get a chance!

In Thy Nascent Coils, My Revelry "Smooth as silk, yet sharper than betrayal; the serpent glides, a whisper of danger wrapped in beauty." - Unknown In the desolate heart of the desert, I seek my path to Paradise. Upon my journey, the rattling song of death reaches my ears—a haunting melody carried on the dry, blistering wind. From the hot eternity of sand before me rises a serpent, its scales shimmering like molten gold embellished with a thousand rare and precious gems, basking in the relentless glow of the sun's fiery gaze. Its coiled form speaks of lethal patience, its unblinking eyes of ancient wisdom, its bared fangs of the shiver-inducing closeness of sweet oblivion. As I watch, the serpent begins to shed its skin, the old layers peeling away to reveal a vibrant, glistening new form beneath. It is a transformation as mesmerising as it is profound—a metaphor for renewal and evolution, for the unfolding of something extraordinary. So too is Au Coeur du Désert. It opens with a sweet and resinous intensity, myrrh and benzoin weaving their spell like the first shimmer of light across the dunes. Slowly, it sheds its layers, revealing a heart of cedar and patchouli, warm and grounding, yet alive with mystique. In its final form, amber and resins radiate like the golden sands themselves, smooth and supple as the serpent's sun-warmed skin. A journey, a metamorphosis, a revelation—this fragrance is the serpent's dance, ever-changing, yet eternal. It lingers, unforgettable, like the desert’s whispered secrets. This is, in my humble opinion, the finest amber fragrance on the niche market and the deeper, more perilous iteration of L'Air du Désert Marocain.

Imagine yourself sitting on a sand dune in a chilly desert at night. Cold breeze blow past you while you glazing at the sea of stars against a sea of sand, cuddling with your love one underneath a comfy blanket. This is exactly the feeling i have after trying the ACDD. The amber here is so smooth, warm and really beautiful. Throughout my fragrance journey, i have never encounter anything as smooth as this one before. As one reviewer mentioned before, this one definitely set the bar real high and it will be really difficult for you, after trying this, to have a fragrance which knock you off your foot. I sampled this side by side with my LDDM, and definitely it outperforms my bottle of LDDM. Yes the smell is 99% the same, but i think the ACDD is smoother. Unlike the LDDM which you have to get past the spicy opening for a bit and wait for the dry down for that extremely beautiful smoothness, the ACDD reaches that smoothness much earlier. Given that its an edp concentration as opposed to an edt, this can be expected. It is also more denser and less airy than the LDDM. It also have better performance, with better sillage and longevity. I am actually thinking of selling my bottle LDDM and purchase the ACDD instead. The LDDM which comes at 130 dollar for 50ml is a killing price, while its truly amazing, this one at 185 dollar will require more thought for me to pull the trigger. Anyway, im seriously considering it, especially after experiencing something out of this world like this. If you find the price tag too hefty, go for the LDDM and you wont be disappointed.

The follow up to LADDM. At least in this one the spices are more restrained and don't punch you in the face with their potency and pungency. This is more civilized and doesn't have some of that animalic/body odorish notes present in LADDM likely due to the latter's hefty dose of cumin. LADDM was like walking through a spice market in the mid day sun. Here Au Coeur is like walking through the spice market but at night. There's a weird cooling effect that is calming and peaceful. There's also a good bit of sweetness to counterbalance the dryness but it still feels quite airy. It reminds me of summer nights when the heat finally breaks and the cooling breeze blows in offering relief and serenity. I don't get the desert allusions except for the dryness. But it lacks any sand note which other frags replicate well. I also haven't picked up any spices in any desert I've been too. But maybe you are some traveler of yore carrying spices back to your homeland. If so LADDM evokes this travel during the day, a bit hot and brutalist. Au Coeur is this same journey but at night- more peaceful, serene, cooler. This one I still potent though and can quickly overwhelm so I recommend going light on the sprays. The beauty of this one is in its slightly restrained nature offering balance and an ethereal almost too perfect for this world type of feel. Let it be that cool refreshing breeze and not some assault on the senses like throwing handfuls of spices in someone's face.

"In The Heart of the Desert" is on par with its predecessor for the most intriguing fragrance ever. It's denser than L'Air, which is aptly named for its unfathomable ability to convey the vast emptiness of the starry desert sky. Au Coeur is exactly what it's touted to be, more compact and less atmospheric. The major divergence I pick up on seems to be more patchouli in Au Coeur and a hint of leather, as well as maybe eucalyptus (in the opening) giving it a cooling factor. Same incense and the spice is moved to the background. Enough has been said for the amber, the stuff of legend. Strong projection and really lingers in the air. Lasts on skin for a long time 12+ hours, but does become softer. The sprayer only gives a small burst. Two sprays to the neck and you'll smell like the Genie full of phenomenal cosmic power. Overdo it and you are Jafar. L'Air is the journey through the desert. Au Coeur is the Cave of Wonders. I agree with those saying it feels more wearable. L'Air is more atmospheric and personal . Au Coeur is great for going out with confidence and formal events. But I won't constrain myself to particular settings for wearing this majestic work of art. if you smelled L'Air and thought "no way," then you can probably forget about this one too. On the other hand, I can't argue with those wanting to own both masterpieces. But I only own one, this one. Rating - 10/10

Unfathomably beautiful fragrance. Something I love about Au Coeur du Désert is that wearing it I have never had to think about whether it's too this or that, whether it fits the occasion, my mood, the weather etc. Me wearing it is the occasion. It's at once both comforting and exciting. This fragrance is constructed so beautifully and blended so expertly that there is not a single note out of place. I could probably pick out most of the notes, but it generally doesn't even cross my mind because it feels so harmonious. What is there to say, it's perfect. Whatever you think you've been looking for, this is probably it. I consider it one of the best examples of a true unisex. The longevity it has is absolutely setting a standard as well. Here's what I call 'eternal'. I also completely adore L'Air du Desert Marocain and although the two fragrances are named differently LAdDM being an EdT and ACdD and Extrait de Parfum, then to me they are relatively close in nature. Living in a colder climate I can generally get away with wearing ACdD year round and prefer its depth over its lighter cousin. With that said the performance and depth of LAdDM is nothing to be scoffed at. Most EdPs wish they were in its league.

So I'm not sure what I thought I'd tried before but this being released in 2016 seems like some Mandela effect shit! (google it!) I could've sworn this existed well previous, but anyway, I like it, smells like a modded version of L'air du desert Marocain. I couldn't tell you how it's different? But it is if you are super familiar with previous work you can feel the micro adjusted accords, maybe this is a slightly cleaner leather and creamier sandalwood even? Either... The people love it, give them more of it. fine. Stale & creatively bereft and churning our the same old shit/playing about with formula variations on the customers time? Maybe? How I feel is that L'air and Tauer's style is so unique I feel can dine out on that, pretty much for the rest of his career as far as I'm concerned. It's unfair to say that because he is innovating and trying stuff outside of this, his obvious, both commercial and artistic comfort zone. I have L'air du desert Marocain and as such this is obsolete to me personally as I prefer that to this. Objectively, this is monumentally superb, strong and all the other great things about these fragrances. Bit of an odd review but hopefully a truthful and helpful one.

A powerful herbal blast in the opening sandwiched between fresh spices on top and dry woody undertones. An ambery sweetness quickly makes its presence known and it stays that way through the drydown, getting slowly more syrupy-balsamic over time but never overpowering the other elements of the fragrance. The image evoked in my mind is a vanilla-flavored wind blowing across the twilight desert, picking up bits of sand as it swirls about, enough to feel but not to cause harm. Can wind be flavored? I don't care. I sampled it based off sheer hype to reach free shipping while buying other Vanilla samples. Does it live up? Honestly, yeah kinda. I was looking for something more gourmandish, which this is not, but it's a beautiful scent nonetheless. Performance is quite strong as well, I get about 3hr of strong projection and 9-11hr longevity as a noticeable skin scent. Compared to L'Air du Desert Marocain, it's an unmistakable higher concentration flanker. ACDD is like +10% more ambery, -10% less herbal. It's also a touch more moist, as LDDM doesn't really get "syrupy" in its drydown, and has marginally better performance.

Oh my goodness, this is so beautiful!! I am a woman and I love this on my skin so much!! I am actually wearing L’air du Désert Marocain on my other arm, doing a comparison and yes, Au Cœur du Désert is deeper and slightly sweet-er (but not overly sweet at all). My goodness, this is so beautiful! I cannot stop sniffing my arm where I have Au Cœur du Désert. It smells aromatic, a touch leather-y, there is amber and spices and a bit of a smoke-y feeling too, so yummy!! I am transported straight to North Africa when I smell this! This evokes the ever present sunshine, the herbs that grow in that beautiful region of the world where the air is dry and full of spices. I love it and I hope to get a full bottle of this beautiful scent soon!! Longevity: 8-9 hours on my skin and it evolves into such a wonderful skin scent after that!! Projection/Sillage: very moderate, almost a little shy actually. Price: yeah, it’s not cheap, but this is not a cheap scent, au contraire, it is such a beautiful, wonderful, transporting, magical and almost mystical scent! It is worth each and every penny!! I have to have it in my collection!!

To me, this and the original are the reference points for transportative scents. The original was the first fragrance to blow my mind, showing how scent can rewire your brain and carry you somewhere far away. This one lives in the same world, but its story unfolds later in the day. If L’Air du Désert Marocain is the blazing, merciless heat of high noon, Au Cœur du Désert is that same sand radiating the sun’s warmth as it sinks toward the horizon. The light softens, but the land still breathes heat — it’s the moment when gold turns to amber. You’ve spent the day in the bazaars buying spices, incense, and rugs. Now, as the mu'athaan’s call fades and the air hums with twilight, you saddle your horse and get ready to ride out into the open desert ready for the journey after offering your prayer. I don’t mean to get all artsy — but this, like its predecessor, is the only fragrance that does that to me. It’s not simply something I wear. It’s something I travel through. DISCLAIMER: this is my review polished up by chatGPT. It is my true thoughts written out by me originally.

Having and wearing L'Air Desert du Marocain from time to time for a few years now today I received a bottle of Au Coeur du Desert that I recently bought. There's no doubt clear resemblance and similarity between these two. Au Coeur is sweeter, more balsamic and more resinous. It's like a "sirupy" version of L'Air Desert. While L'Air is a vision of a smell while shopping on a local bazaar where literally you can see all those spices and local cuisine specialities, to me Au Coeur is a walk through the sand desert while eating "local" sweets. Much more condensed resins and condensed spices (especially coriander, maybe cumin also). Last but not least two components that build the scent as a whole: amber and cedar. The latter one is sharper than the one presented in L'Air, like a fresh cut wood. The amber is the cause of why I called Au Coeur du Desert resinous. In fact, it is resinous to the bone. Do I like it? I loved it from the first sniff, from the first spray. However, I think one of the two is enough. For now - I can't decide which one I would choose.

10/10- Dry arid savoury breeze- Evening signature and for dates. Tauer Au Coeur du desert forms a unique savoury accord for its scent, not gourmand. I'd categorise it as Balsamic Chypre. In terms of notes, my nose gets Cumin, Labdanum, Ambergris, Patchouli, and Opoponax. The composition definitely has more fresh spices in it which I smelt on my mother's skin. On me, the scent smells waxy/aldehydic, balsamic with tons of ambergris backbone. The balsamic profile has a slight tinge of sweetness which makes it incredibly mass appealing(not including people who only love sweet pimp fragrances). This for a humble connoisseur who whispers prominence and class. ACDD is vaguely similar to Tiziana Terenzi Laudano Nero. If Laudano Nero is chic butch, ACDD is the chic aristocrat. Note: I sniffed this alongside Stephane Humbert Lucas 777 Mortal Skin which is another attention-grabbing balsamic complexity. Instantly, ACDD made the Mortal Skin smell basic and juvenile.

Stunning and utterly unique. This is pretty linear to my nose, but wow—what a line! The only discernible transition is between the juicy/citrusy opening and the endless, smoldering, sunset-hued drydown. ACCD is easily my favorite of all the Tauers, in terms of 1) capturing the image of an entire space, and 2) really showing off the uniqueness and immaculate quality of his ingredients. I get a wide array of rich synesthetic associations from this one, none of which constitute a recognizable perfumery note. Somehow, I detect both a "chewy" sensation (like dates or other dried fruits) and also a "raspy" sensation (like sand or dust). Warm, lush, dry, and absolutely eternal: it lasts for hours and hours on skin and weeks on clothing (but does not project very far—it's an intense skin scent). I will be saving my pennies for a full bottle of this and wearing it for special occasions.

Lost somewhere in the dunes, my cishet male partner whines, "It's too masculine on youuuu". I don't care. I smell great. Just a heads-up, this has huge presence and longevity. A few dabs from the fiddly 5 ml vial will suffice for moderate projection. Like L'Air du Desert Morocain, it will likely persist on clothes through one or more washes-- yes, even with industrial-smelling detergent, I can still smell either one, and have witnessed two sprays of either scent survive three washings. I prefer the little vials because the scent is so strong. They're priced a little higher per ml but will last eons for someone who likes to wear just enough for a personal scent bubble. Between LADDM and ACDD, I wear the latter more often. The notes seem woven much closer and smoother, and the tone is a little darker. Put it on, feel like a perfumed seneschal. I would smoke this if I could.

It is unique, complex, high quality, great performance fragrance. I actually tried L’Air du Desert Marocain first and loved the opening but then it smells weaker after the dry down, though still nice. Then I tried this one and found I love this one so much more. They smell very similar and share the same DNA but this one is much richer especially starting from the mid stage. Performance also much better because this one is Extrait Parfum and the L’Air du Desert Marocain is Eau de Toilette Intense. So I decided to get a full bottle of this instead of the other. Perfumes by Andy Tauer just smell so different and cannot be found out there. You won’t be disappointed and won’t be able to find a similar one anywhere else if you can find one that you love from the line. They all smell unique and edgy so do not blind buy but definitely worth check out their samples.

There are plenty of reviews here to describe this superb perfume; dry, spicy, warm, more than a hint of turpentine. It’s not quite the towering masterpiece gushed over at times but it’s very good. The Tauer atomiser, on the other hand. Where most bottles give at least something approaching the sense of tiny droplets hitting the skin, this is definitely a mist; surely a deliberate choice, but disconcerting after a lifetime of being hosed-down by other and, one can only now assume, lesser nozzles. It’s probably better science, and you still come out smelling of perfume. But the oomph of tiny wet droplets hitting the skin isn’t there, it’s like sucking on a Marlboro and getting a lungful of pure air; this takes a bit of getting used to. Make sure all the windows are closed and stick newspaper in the crack under the door before pressing the button.