Amber Absolute

Amber Absolute Tom Ford for women and men My Tormentor came in the darkness dusk Shinny like planet on the horizon I said oh good visiting sweetheart But I was afraid of the guards on the roads She answered while tears was preceded The one who ride the sea Never be afraid of sinking I kissed her . she kissed me Then she said You kissed my Cheek Please kiss my Neck Fairouz definitely not singed the last words but the bottle (absolute Amber) Tom masterpiece as soon as the newly re-production after a hiatus for years Singed that. Sensual fragrance to the fullest. Solicitation to the end of the term. Pure seduction. You couldn’t know that you feel worn out between her arms or want to be among her bosom and she worn. It is the embodiment of the idea of genius (unisex). The good fortune if you are in Alexandria in the air a few hours the first night, know that it is time the dream is complete. Amber is without a doubt and absolutely as we used Tom Ford perfume. He does not want to Confuses you with other notes or mixed with others . So ridiculed skillfully remaining ingredients to serve this amber and take it out to the fullest. animalic that’s very clear , but too grainy for the same on the opposite of what I was afraid. Frankincense past fragrant charm and history. During my research I knew that Frankincense has been traded on the Arabian Peninsula and in North Africa for more than 5000 years. A mural depicting sacks of frankincense traded from the Land of Punt adorns the walls of the temple of ancient Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut, who died circa 1458 BC. (include part of Yemen and Djibouti and Eritrea and Somalia) to decorate the walls of temples and used by Jewish religious ritual. So is the incense and the forces of force and smelled very spiritual and poignant. Let there be a sincere friend and ungrateful for the same in the presence of amber caring on his shoulders in silence and comes out into excellent Sillage . . And for the same reason entered on this trip Labdanum and labdanum was collected by combing the beards and thighs of goats and sheep that had grazed on the cistus shrubs and was the first native to Egypt, Palestine, used by the ancient Egyptians and Jews Incense and for the treatment of cold and some diseases . "Percy Newberry" a specialist in ancient Egypt predicted, that the false beard worn by Osiris and pharaohs may have originally represented a "ladanum-laden goat's beard". He also argued that the scepter of Osiris, which is usually interpreted as either a flail or a flabellum. And it mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible as a component of holy incense components. To be second in charge at the Permanent Sillage trip. Vanilla and no one don’t know its smell or taste and smell is enamored at all times. known long ago to Indians of Middle America, came to, together with cocoa and other until then unknown fruits of the New World, win hearts of gourmands around the world since the discovery of America (and gourmand and those also new information to me is a person who enjoys eating and often eats too much. And I'm here do not mean myself It is not time for that - but the impact on the Vanilla here This is a clear break in the unity of nature and animal amber to some sweety warmth and apparent. Fragrance enchanting and bewitching and sensual and very much like perfume Ambre Sultan Serge Lutens for women but most violently and stronger. Buy a package of it the 250 ml if you can, you will not regret at all.

A Symphony of Sensuality In the world of perfumery, where scents often whisper and occasionally shout, Amber Absolute by Tom Ford sings with a resplendent, soulful melody. Crafted by the illustrious perfumer Christophe Laudamiel, this fragrance is an ode to the timeless allure of amber, a golden essence that captures the very soul of luxury. From the very first breath, Amber Absolute envelops you in a cloud of enchanting incense. This is no ordinary incense; it is an ethereal ribbon of smoke that swirls and dances, conjuring visions of sacred rituals and ancient temples. It winds its way through the senses with a haunting, almost mystical grace, setting the stage for the opulent journey to come. As the scent unfolds, the deep, intoxicating embrace of labdanum begins to reveal itself. This resin, rich and slightly sweet, weaves an intricate tapestry of warmth and comfort, akin to stepping into an ancient forest where every step is cushioned by fallen leaves, and the air is filled with whispers of forgotten tales. Labdanum adds a luscious depth, a resinous richness that feels both primal and sophisticated. At the heart of this olfactory masterpiece lies Ambreine, casting a golden glow that is both soft and enduring. It is a rare and precious element, reminiscent of amber's fossilized beauty, capturing the essence of time itself. This heart note beats steadily, a constant reminder of the perfume's core: a profound, almost spiritual depth that resonates with the soul, embracing you in a warm, honeyed embrace. Christophe Laudamiel, the genius behind this creation, deserves accolades for his artistic vision. A maestro of scent, Laudamiel has crafted numerous masterpieces that stand as testament to his unparalleled talent. His ability to blend complex ingredients into harmonious symphonies is nothing short of alchemical. His portfolio includes iconic fragrances such as Estée Lauder's ''Youth Dew Amber Nude'' , Ralph Lauren's ''Polo Blue'' and the ubiquitous ''Fierce'' by Abercrombie&Fitch ,each a testament to his innovative and transformative approach to perfumery. Not only is Laudamiel a virtuoso in his craft, but he is also a passionate educator. He is remarkably open about the intricacies of perfumery, seeking to demystify the art and educate people about the nuanced world of scents. Through his efforts, he inspires both budding perfumers and enthusiasts to delve deeper into the aromatic tapestry that defines this timeless craft. Amber Absolute showcases Laudamiel's extraordinary skill. His meticulous blending of these exquisite ingredients results in a fragrance that is both complex and harmonious. Each note is carefully placed, creating a symphony that lingers on the skin like a whispered promise, an alluring presence that is both captivating and irresistible.

جَاءَتْ مُعَذِّبَتِي فِي غَيْهَبِ الغَسَقِ كَأنَّهَا الكَوْكَبُ الدُرِيُّ فِي الأُفُقِ فَقُلْتُ نَوَّرْتِنِي يَا خَيْرَ زَائِرَةٍ أمَا خَشِيتِ مِنَ الحُرَّاسِ فِي الطُّرُقِ فَجَاوَبَتْنِي وَ دَمْعُ العَيْنِ يَسْبِقُهَا مَنْ يَرْكَبُ البَحْرَ لا يَخْشَى مِنَ الغَرَقِ قَبَلْتُها قَبَلَتْنِي و هي قَائِلةٌ قَبَلْتُ خَدِي فَلا تَبْخَلْ على عُنُقِي قطعاً لم تغنِ السيدة فيروز البيت الأخير� لكن غنته زجاجة ( العنبر المطلق) تحفة توم فور المعاد انتاجها حديثاً بعد توقف دام لسنوات. عطر حسّيٌّ إلي أبعد الحدود. إغوائي إلي نهاية المدي. الفتنة المجردة. فلا تعرف تريد أن ترتديه فتشعر بها بين أحضانك أم تريد أن تكون بين أحضانها و هي ترتديه. إنه تجسيد عبقري لفكرة (unisex) أو العطر الموجه للجنسين . إن حالفك الحظ في هواء الإسكندرية في سويعات الليل الأولي فاعلم أنه أوان اكتمال الحلم. هو العنبر دون شك و بشكل مطلق كما اعتدنا عطور توم فورد . فهو لا يريد أن تتنازعك النوتات أو يختلط عليك روائح أخرى . لذلك سخّر و بشكلٍ بارع باقى المكونات لخدمة هذا العنبر و إخراجه على أكمل وجه . النزعة الأنيمالك للعنبر واضحة و جلية لكنها محببة للنفس جداً على عكس ما كنت أخشي . اللبان .. ( نسميه عندنا لبان الدكر ) سحر الماضي و عبق التاريخ . أثناء بحثي عنه عرفت أنه يرجع إلى خمسة ألاف سنة أو يزيد و كان قدماء المصريون يجلبونه من بلاد بونط ( تشمل جزء من اليمن و من جيبوتى و إريتريا و الصومال ) لتزيين جدران المعابد و استخدمه اليهود للطقوس الدينية . إذن هو بخور قوى و نفاذ للغاية و رائحته روحانية و مؤثرة . ليكن صديقاً مخلصاً و ناكراً للذات في حضرة العنبر فيحمله على كتفيه في صمت و يخرج به إلى حيز الفوحان المبهر . و لذات السبب دخل في هذه الرحلة اللابدانوم و هو بلسم راتينجي كان قديماً يُجمع من لحى و فرو الماعز و الخراف التي ترعى في حقول زهر اللابدانوم و الشروب و كان موطنه الأول مصر و فلسطين و استخدمه قدماء المصريين و اليهود كبخور و لعلاج البرد و بعض الأمراض وتكهن "بيرسي نيوبيري" وهو متخصص في مصر القديمة، أن اللحية المستعارة التي يرتديها أوزوريس والفراعنة قد يكون في الأصل يمثل "لحية الماعز المحملة باللابدانوم ". جادل أيضا أن صولجان أوزوريس كان غالباً أداة لجمع اللابدانوم . و ذُكر في العهد القديم من التوراة كمكون من مكونات البخور المقدس . ليكون المسئول الثاني في رحلة الفوحان الدائم . الفانيلا و من منا لا يعرفها و لا تذوقها و لا يعشق رائحتها في كل أوان . إنها اكتشاف الهنود في أمريكا الوسطى و التي عرفت في ذلك الحين مع الكاكاو فشكلت عشقاً لكل الجرومانديين على مر العصور ( و الجروماندى و تلك أيضاً معلومة جديدة لى هو الشخص المتأنق في الطعام و المستمتع به و غالباً ما يكون أكولاً . و أنا هنا لا أقصد نفسي فليس من مجال لذلك ..لا سمح الله – و لكن تأثير الفانيلا على عطرنا هذا واضح في كسر حدة البخورين و طبيعة العنبر الحيواني إلى بعض السكرية و الدفء الظاهر . العطر ساحر و خلاب و حسي و يشبه إلى حدٍ كبير عطر عنبر سلطان لسيرجي لوتان لكن بعنف أشد و نافذية أقوى . اقتني منه عبوة ال 250 مل إن استطعت فإنك لن تندم مطلقاً .

So what to say, this is the sent that introduced me to the TOM FORD house of fragrances. I have been wearing this sent since 2008 and as a matter of fact my decanter has a serial number of A67 (June 2007). I sprayed it on a piece of paper in Neiman Marcus (Las Vegas) while searching for a Robert Talbot Seven fold tie. I thought it was repulsive along with Purple Patchouli and left the paper in the car. When I returned to my car about an hour later there was this wonderful incense and amber sent that filled my car. Right then I went back and bought the decanter! For the last 7 years it has been a real journey trying to conserve the only bottle I had. I found that it is best during the winter months but will work during the summer when layered with Mandarino Di Amalfi. One spray is all you need because it is as extremely powerful juice. I still have 60% of the decant left to illustrate how little is needed. The hang time on this fragrance is unreal, I have under shirts that I have washed and the sent is still detectable! I have gone 18 hours and the fragrance was still going strong on my skin. While I have several others bottles from the house AA is by far my favorite with Plum Japonais a close second. Plum Japonais (PJ) is much more versatile that AA! AA is in your face fragrance screaming “you will love me” if not I really don’t give a *hit because I’m just that bad *ss, while PJ is just beautiful and seductive fragrance. When AA was released again earlier this year I bought 2 extra decanters on the spot! PS there is no discernible difference between the new and old fragrances. Tobacco oud does have a similar base (incense in particular) to my nose minus the tobacco note so I can see how it may have been made to replace AA. This fragrance is a beast and worth every penny!!!!! This fragrance does remind me of Christmas and like Lavender Palm (being LA in a bottle) I feel this is defiantly Christmas in a bottle :-) Update 3/15/16: So I've had the new and old versions for a little while and there indeed is a small difference between them. It's very subtle (and it could be the aging process of the old one), not bad but subtle. The new version is a little more wearable and a little less in your face. I only noticed the difference when i had both bottles sitting next to each other. Both are still worth every penny!

For those who care, Amber Absolute is back in store at Tom Ford boutiques. A 250ml Flacon along with a 50ml atomiser for £1500. And it’s the last reformulated version. Arabian wood and another one that I forget is back in the same format. I have smelt the original formula many years ago. And I’ve smelt the latter releases too. I was able to get a decant of this latest release. It is a shadow of its former self. Amber Absolute OG formula is one of the top Ambers. You can see the inspiration from Ambre Sultan. But whereas that goes into a more herbal and green direction, AA focuses on incense and frankincense. It is bone dry, Smokey and powdery, with a touch of vanilla in the base. This is what gives it a milled incense quality, with a heavy dose of frankincense . Straight out of a church. Dawn by Fredric Malle has a similar vibe in this sense. The way I picture it was if you to get a piece of amber resin and light it on fire like an incense that is probably what it would smell like, either AA or AS. Obviously this is all made up as amber doesn’t really have a smell on its own. But I’m talking about the amber accord we’ve now come to accept. These scents are challenging. They are not mainstream so I can see why they were reformulated to make them more palatable to mainstream tastes. They are very smokey and dry. Now take that same piece of resin. This time melt it until it’s gooey and syrupy. Then you have Grand Soire. Warmer, smoother and with the vanilla amped up a lot. What if you could take the best parts of AA (the smokey incense) and GS (the sweeter vanilla base) or layer them together. Then you would get D&G velvet amber sun. And imo this is the best of the four. It is the most balanced and the most captivating to my nose. It also has a resinous oud added in. Thanks to @we are legion below I ordered Soma’s Damber Wabsolute. It’s so good I ordered more bottles. It is indistinguishable from the original 2007 formula. Get this instead. Scent, project and performance are miles better than the mildly scented water TF wants to charge astronomical amounts for.

Tom Ford worked with nose Christophe Laudamiel to create his Private Blend offering, Amber Absolute. Laudamiel has been the creative genius behind many successful names such as Estée Lauder, Harvey Nichols, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Thierry Mugler and Tommy Hilfiger. Amber Absolute starts the show with an unbelievable frankincense opening, dense, gentle and smoky. At the heart, notes of amber and woods wiggle their way in. This fragrance truly develops into one of the best amber scents available. Amber Absolute has a fabulous burnt carmel accord that dominates the heart of this fragrance and is warm, smooth and inviting. The vanilla base is slightly sweet and very pleasing, giving Amber Absolute a creamy richness without being overly sweet or heady. The addition of Labdanum assists in balancing this fragrance, but not in the typical powdery finish. It is more luxurious and plays more of a supporting role for the dense amber structure. This is truly a opulent concoction. Many have compared this one to SL Ambre Sultan. I suppose there are similarities in that both are intense amber frags with a good hit of spices. But where AS draws its sillage from honeyed undertones, AA goes for the booze. I put it on and the depth is immediately emphasized with Cognac effluves, it's dizzying in a good way. Less herbaceous than AS, this one goes for deep darkness, it is thick and dense but not syrupy or cloying. And its longevity is off the charts! Amber fans will appreciate this one. A little goes a long way with Amber Absolute. Sillage is very good and longevity is amazing. This fragrance can still be going strong well over 15 hours after application. Like a fine wine, Amber Absolute only gets better with time. Please don't make any hasty decisions within the first hour or so. This fragrance needs time to develop for a full appreciation of its complexity. If you are a true lover of amber, this is a fragrance that you shouldn't live without.

Uniqueness: 10/10 Longevity: 8.5/10 Overall: 10/10 Boy does this have "it" factor. Dark and sensual to the utmost, the amber and incense is everything you can wish for. This is the most intense amber, even moreso than Ambre Sultan (Serge Lutens); it arrives with full fanfare, an enormous entourage and unmistakeable presence. It is royalty in the East, the Emperor of Amber, coming on with caravans of exotic spices and precious oils. Ambre Sultan is for the black jaguar resting in the heat of the jungle, wary and always ready to proclaim its presence. I recently bought a sample of Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens and unfortunately this Tom Ford has taken its place as most favored amber. The opening flourishes with a note that feels almost like a cognac or deep wine, highlighting the incense and amber. It can almost be described as having a thickness to it that is wonderfully heady, intense on the peru balsam. It does not overpower unless you douse yourself with it (which you shouldn't do with any perfume). Perfectly balanced and there is nothing to critique about it. The bottle is simple and elegant, beautiful gold plates make it look a million dollars. Amber Absolute is not an everyday fragrance; in fact that would be a waste. No, it is definitely one to wear to a black-tie dinner gala or romantic date. Its price is in the luxury range but you get what you pay for: and that is a luxury perfume. So you could get something less expensive, but in the end it's all about how you feel about it. Parfumista2010 puts it right: you will never look at another amber again.

To put it simply, I bow to Amber Absolute. To my nose, the opulence is immeasurable in this one. It is the kind of scent that stimulates all my senses as if high voltage is passing through my nervous system. My eyes roll back, my mind travels, my hormones explode, my inhibitions collapse, my anxiety vanishes and I only see good in life. As we have moved deeply into the winter, Amber Absolu performs at its best. The chilly wind on my face counterbalances the voluptuous smoky ambery warmth supported by an abundance of olibanum and notes of vanilla and resinous woods. So thick, so viscous, so full-bodied, it conjures up an image of a dark brown intoxicating aromatic nebula moving slowly in waves off my chest. As time passes, the incense rises higher to power and AA becomes darker & intensely smoky and peppery, creating images of dark medieval Gothic chantries, secret rituals & forbidden mysticism. A meditative, dramatic and spiritual creation of unprecedented supremacy. But this is all about me. To my disappointment, the majority of friends and relatives that have had the chance to test AA do not seem to share my enthusiasm. They find it off putting due to its "intense smokiness" wondering why someone would want to smell as if "the fire alarm is about to go off" (a weird perception if you ask me). But this is all about them. Amber Absolute is a treasured masterpiece in my private collection. One of a kind. 10/10

Best amber fragrance in my opinion, also one of the most expensive (going towards Roja Dove prices) I have original formulation and new version of the fragrance, the differences are minor or almost unnoticeable to me. The latest version is less spicier, smoother and maybe easier to wear making it more mass appealing. The older version feels slightly heavier and the amber note is thicker/sweeter. Honestly it's really hard to find a difference going back and forth. This is an amber masterpiece and the benchmark for all my amber fragrances. Can't afford this or need to try without spending too much? I ordered a clone from Perfume Parlour super cheap and it is spot on. Not sure how perfume parlour did it, they come 98% close to this scent - only downside is their version does not last long and does not have the same projection like the original. I would say it's worth it if you don't want to wear the original all the time. Amber Sandal by parfums vintage is also a clone of this fragrance, however they are charging $90 for 50ml... I feel that's too pricey for a clone and you could just save up and get the real thing. In reality we want to wear Tom Ford and be able to say we are wearing Tom Ford ;) Best Ambers (others to consider) Grand Soir MFK Ambre Fetich by Goutal - resinous/incense amber Ambre Nuit Dior Ambra Nobile 1942 Amber Flash by Tauerville

Tom Ford Amber Absolute perhaps is as known as much for its power as it is for its quality, falling into the group of Private Blend fragrances (like Tobacco Vanille and Noir de Noir) that are regarded as extremely powerful for EDPs. The note breakdown is relatively simple and straightforward: amber, incense, vanilla, labdanum, and woody notes. Overwhelming, the amber, vanilla, and incense dominate the experience of the fragrance. In essence, it's a pure expression of amber mixed with the sweeter vanilla and the spicier/floral elements as well. I compared Amber Absolute to a few other amber fragrances (Tauerville Amber Flash, By Kilian Amber Oud, Le Labo Benjoin 19), and what's obvious about Amber Absolute is that it's perhaps the sweetest amber-dominant fragrances I've ever tried (while still being spicy and smoky due to the incense). I have a 30ml decant but intend to buy a full bottle as the 2015 release is a limited edition, still, to my knowledge, available only at Neiman Marcus / Bergdorf Goodman in the US, and it's not difficult to imagine that it'll be discontinued again as the 2007 was. Again, one of the great performers of all time and certainly of the TFPB, and a must-try for amber lovers and lovers of sweet gourmand winter fragrances alike. Superb. 10 out of 10

Really good stuff. And very strong. To those who haven't smelled too many amber-based scents I would describe Amber Absolute as toasted marshmallows with a dry, slightly smoky, and dusty edge. The incense, which provides the dry, dusty quality, works wonderfully to balance the vanillic amber heart. This is a cozy, snuggly, and sensual fragrance that leans more toward the masculine side of the spectrum than feminine (though I certainly wouldn't mind it on a woman). It is a little bit spicy as well, but in a warm, inviting kind of way. Rich and thick, I find Amber Absolute works best when applied lightly with just one or two sprays. For those who are familiar with some of the better-known amber-based scents, I would describe Amber Absolute as Ambre Sultan with the spicy herbal aspect toned down and the vanillic amber turned up, along with some of the dry dustiness of L'Air Du Desert Marocain. Somebody even described it as "Gucci Pour Homme on steroids," which I think is really the perfect descripiton of this. An especially great fragrance to wear on a winter night, Amber Absolute has excellent projection and longevity. And while it's unique and interesting, it seems easy enough to pull off. Unfortunately, this one's being discontinued, so get it while you still can.

If you have an imagination in your mind of what amber smells like in its purest form: THIS is it. This is one of the few fragrances that I know that feel complete, nothing is missing. amber in its purest form. intoxicating, thick, warm- spicy even though there are no spices. It appears a bit salty, and there is a slight sweetness - just the right amount that it takes to be as beautiful as it is. It is multidimensional in the air which means, you smell different facettes. There is a woody facette, dark heavy vanilla, sweet resinous benzoin, tobacco reminiscent whiffs. Besides the amber ingredients such as labdanum, vanilla etc, there is a little bit of incense as well. it has the same function for that amber accord, as salt has for food and it increases the intensity of the amber accord. There is a fantastic video about the ingredients with the creator, Christophe Laudamiel on Youtube. watch?v=wNJZUjXY198 Performance: it doesn't get better than this. it lasts more than 12 hours on the skin and I still get whiffs in the air. Just in case you don't know it yet, the perfumer made the formula public after it was discontinued by Tom Ford. It is not a surprise there are very good clones available.

Shortly after I got into niche perfumery I discovered Ambre Sultan, but I found the opening a little hard to stomach, and I wanted something darker, so I was excited to learn that there was a supposed amber powerhouse that resembles AS, except it was discontinued. After all the hype, fans and I rejoiced when Amber Absolute came back; I finally got to try it! Unfortunately it didn't meet my expectations. It resembles Tobacco Oud at first, but the amber "punch" only lasts ~5 min, then turns into an uninteresting shadow with very low silage.. Inferior to both TO and AS I thought... I gave it another try some days later and had to wear a jacket because of the weather, and as soon as I took it off, my arm RADIATED with this sweet resinous (almost chocolately) juice; this is when I finally understood the comparison to AS, just a little less sweet, warm, and feminine, but sprinkled with light smoke, dust, and masculinity! Apparently all it needed was some warmth from the skin! Now I like it as much as AS! *However, I DON'T think Tobacco Oud is a failed attempt to recreate AA; it has a darker, more complex & aromatic opening and is different in drydown.

AA is one of my favorite scents from Tom Ford's private blend line. This fragrance when it is first applied gives you a wonderful slightly sweet incense and wood scent. As it drys down the sweetness in the scent increases till you are left with a beautiful smokey incense, vanillic amber oriental. This fragrance projects well and last for days. But funny enough this fragrance never gets cloying to me, however be warned if over applied you will choke out a room with this scent. Projection: This thing makes its presence known, and leaves a great scent trail. 10/10 Longivity: This has to be one of the longest lasting fragrances on my skin that I have ever come across, and and if you happen to get it on your cloths... 10/10 Scent: This is an amazing scent in my opinion, that I am sure any fan of incense and oriental fragrance will love. 10/10 Versatility: This is a cold weather fragrance plain and simple. This will work well for day or night time formal use. 5/10 Price: Tom Ford's private blends are pricey, and some in my opinion are over priced but that is not the case here. You are getting what you are paying for. 8/10 Overall: 10/10

"You smell so good" is the phrase I heard about (no exaggeration) 10 times. One of my coworkers even tried to look for the person that passed her by with this perfume and of course it was me, and she loved it/raved about it. So it leaves a scent trail! I did not even notice since I applied it very sparingly (So be aware anyone can smell it as it is a statement frag and a little goes a long way). It is THE oriental fragrance, with beautiful balsamic vanilla glaze that is draped over pure amber and is a monster sillage. If it wasn't for that Tom Ford signature vibe his frags have, I would have said it smelled straight up like it was from Dubai or the UAE. Lasted all day and is a compliment grabber for the crowd- despite being complex and not generic. It IS suitable for layering if you choose, and can either go for a daytime or night scent but leans towards a nightly scent or occasional scents as it is for someone not dressed casually like a review stated below. It screams "I am here, look at me". If you do not like attention, skip this fragrance but for my fellow Tom Ford lovers who do, this is a must.

I tried Tobacco Oud recently; the moment you apply it, there is this addictive sweetness that lasts only a few minutes, then the smoky incense and tobacco notes take over. That sweetness IS Amber Absolute. Heavenly sweet ambery incense. I imagine this is what billionare hippies smell like. It's initailly eyebrow-raising, and honestly the first few times I smelled it, I was confused and couldn't decide if I loved it or despised it. Then, after some time I was just allured, and now every time I smell AA, it's just intense and I totally overlook whatever it was I questioned about liking it. 9/10 for me, the only reason I can't give it a 10 is because it's not something I can wear to work, or to most places. It's VERY heavy, and I hav yet to find the right avenue for it, besides just wearing it around the house. So, I have to ding it 1 point for it's lack of versatility but this is NOT meant to shortcut its greatness; it's GREAT at what it does, and that's envelope you in incnse and amber, and baffle you.

There are amber fragrances and there is this. The only other fragrance that competes with this beast from a projection longevity perspective is NY Amber by Bond. Together they are Godzilla and King Kong and someone is going to get hurt. To say this is only an Amber fragrance seems a bit hard for me to understand. There is a great incense note, and a potent frankincense note (different for sure in this). Now there ain't much going on but those three (with the vanilla/labdanum accord which only ramps up the amber) and that my friend is enough to cause this fragrance to fight for one of the top on the market. Three things. If you don't like incense, amber and sweetness. Finish reading this and move along cause this fragrance consists of these notes in reckless abandon! Longevity, projection, sillage and anything else is around the 10.5 out of 10 mark. This will assualt you if you overspray and maybe anyone else in a 5 foot radius :o) Top shelf frag here and only second to my beloved Noir de Noir.

Utterly gorgeous. One of the best ambers ever. Tom Ford's website notes the supposed mystical powers of amber and that's exactly what he's gone for here. As much church or temple as hot Moroccan desert. The focus is on frankincense and amber - the former all lemony and coniferous as well as smoky, burnt-wood, medicinal. The vanilla/amber is more a burnt caramel than an over-sweet dessert/gourmand. Importantly, this does without the bouquet garni of its predecessor, Ambre Sultan. It is not a casserole/tagine. Amber Absolute might not be as subtle or finely balanced as Ambre Sultan but so what? AA is big and powerful instead; regal and godlike. AA isn't as dry and dusty as AS either so seems a shade sweeter. It does have the illusion of spice (but not herbs) - and some animalics - even though neither are listed, which seem to give it a little edge. AA is fairly linear though, but the fact that it seems so simple and minimalist, like many TFs, is a sign of its genius.

This opens on me with a massive blast of incense and amber - and being an amber fan (and possessing a few amber scents) my thoughts immediately went to Annick Goutal's Ambre Fétiche....! And there is not much difference between these two! The vanilla peeks quicker in AF and later in AA......! Both have the gutsy incense starts although I think Annick's is stronger in the incense start up and Tom's more about the amber! Tom's is also softer and more rounded than Annick Goutal's offering (and I never thought I would hear myself saying that..!!!). Annick's also has that kind of medicinal quality (Dettolesque some might say?)! I think these two could be quite interchangeable and a waste of cash to buy both - so if you prefer more of a raw incense over the amber go for Annick's Ambre Fétiche and for Tom's offering if you want the incense to take a seat letting the amber and vanilla shine .......... the choice is yours! Which one would I go for....? Ahh, I have both!

One of my biggest regrets is NOT getting this when I had the chance, and I had a few... I've got decants, from the mid 2010s, from the private reserve release, and really, either version would do... It's a resin bomb, that much goes without saying, but for me, the biggest element is the frank -- it's a juicy, edible frank, too -- unburnt and TOTALLY raw. My mum burns it at Easter, and I have a massive bag of the stuff I got from Oman over a decade ago. In Amber Absolute, there is a gourmand aspect to it -- there's a bready, wheaty element to it. Almost like baked biscuits or something like that. It's oddly unique in a scent, especially one that is so base-heavy. There are smoky and woody elements to this, too, but this is unreservedly a resin masterpiece and one that should not be discontinued. I've been so close so many times to actually getting one, but the closer I get, the further it feels... I love this one, one of my last unicorns, believe it or not...