Hey Hey Fume Addicted Posse Family, Portia from AustralianPerfumeJunkies. As it cools down up in the Southern Hemisphere and warms up in the Northern there is some crossover time where the temperatures are similar throughout the days and evenings, still brisk enough to take a cardigan with you but warm enough to often not need it. Now is one of my favourite fragrance wearing times because it seems the range that is comfortably wearable is limitless. During Summer there was a sale at one of our fragrance importers and I snaffled a very reasonably priced bottle of Ambre 114, having used my 10ml split decant all up I figured it was time.
Ambre 114 by Histoires de Parfums 2001
Ambre 114 by Gerald Ghislain and Magali Senequier
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Nutmeg, caraway
Heart: Sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver, cedar, rose, geranium
Base: Tonka bean, amber, benzoin, vanilla, musk
Ambre 114 is a wonderful gateway amber. It goes on sweet and yummy, slightly burnt like the sugar on brulee, is pretty and leaves a fabulous sillage, at times there is a Shalimar-esque ice cream sweetness to Ambre 114 that never goes so far down the vanilla road but is looking at the signpost on the fork. Creamy + delicious but still cool and light. A contradiction in theory but beautifully brought to life by Gerald Ghislain and Magali Senequier.
Photo Stolen Pixabay
So smooth and subtle even in the opening and all the way through to dry down. There is never a harsh moment and tonight at work one of the lovely workmen said I smelled “like a rich and fancy lady.” WOW! That is the kind of compliment that could seriously have me buying a bottle if I weren’t already saving.
There are so many of the featured accords that pass me by when wearing Ambre 114 (the 114 is the amount of separate ingredients) that I feel it would be churlish of me to try and parse this perfectly balanced, all weather, fresh and light amber fragrance. I feel comfortable and relaxed in it, as if I’ve been wearing Ambre 114 for years and have always smelled this good. Jeans or ballgown, Ambre 114 will fit right in. You will smell beautiful.
Photo Stolen Wikipedia
OlfactoriasTravels and TheNonBlonde for further reading
HistoiresDeParfums has €29/14ml
LuckyScent has $100/60ml
SurrenderToChance starts at $5/ml
Whatever you do today make sure you take a moment for yourself,
Love and hugs,
Portia xxx
This is an edited version of an Australian Perfume Junkies post from 2012 when I first got my decant
Ambre Fetiche is nice too. Its a heavier, richer amber with something extra. I think of it more as a winter amber, where the Ambre 114 is great for warmer weather.
This sounds intriguing! Can anyone compare it to hermes ambre des merveilles? Thanks for the review!
Hi there SomethingsKnitting,
Much heavier than the Hermes, longer lasting and less salty feeling.
Portia xx
This one is moving up on the list. I just recently got to try MPG Ambre Precieux, which is divine, and it’s whetted my appetite to try other ambers.
Hi there laurelS,
Another Ambre Precieux lover. YAY!! Have you tried Ambre Russe by Parfum d’Empire, Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier, Ambra di Luna by Ramon Monegal or Rima XI by Carner Barcelona? All very different takes on amber but all lovely.
Portia xx
None of the above. Ambre Russe was already on my list, though. Thanks for the others. xx
Welcome LaurelS,
I hope you enjoy the rides.
Portia xx
I love amber, and need to try this. I don’t have a lot from this house, just a decant of Patchouli Noir, but I have enjoyed everything from them that I’ve sampled.
So many perfumes, so little time…..
I too have only a sprinkling of the Histoires de Parfums range Tammy. There is just TOO MUCH fragrance and only so much room in my home. Still I can’t seem to stop myself falling madly in love. There are worse addictions, and none of us are starving around here.
Portia xx
Hi Portia. As you’re readying yourself for fall, we’re finally experiencing some gorgeous, sunny, 50-degree weather here in Chicagoland, USA. Although many prefer to wear Amber in cooler weather, like you, I wear it year around. As such, there is always a bottle of two of an Amber perfume in my scent wardrobe. Ambre 114 is one of my favorites. I was set to buy a new bottle of this about a year ago when I saw a comment from you about about Ambre Precieux being very similar to my beloved Ambre 114, so I went for the Ambre Precieux instead, as it was an incredible bargin online. Both are gorgeous scents!
Hey there Diana,
They are both lovely. Do you also find them similar enough that you don’t need both?
Yes, when the Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier crew are on sale they are unbelieveable bargains. I LOVE a bargain.
Portia x
Yes, they’re just about interchangable to me. I like the Ambre 114 a hair more.
I like this one, too, and wear it often. It feels right in just about all weather and for all occasions, as you’ve mentioned.
Hey there MaryK,
I’m so glad someone else gets the same spritz & go vibe from Ambre 114 as I do. Sometimes when I’m writing I wonder if I am giving bad advice because it’s how I’d wear it, to have someone else agree is really nice.
I hope you’re well,
Portia xx
I love that HdP has 14 ml bottles! So reasonable for us unreasonable perfume-lovers.
Yes, I totally agree AnnieA. I need 100ml of something like a hole in the head, unless it’s Shalimar Parfum.
Do you own any of the 14ml?
Portia xx
I have both the amber and the rose pivoine – perfect size and price!
Oooh, Portia, seems like we both had amber on the brain this week — great minds do think alike, don’t they? 😉 I sampled this one a while back and loved it as well, so now I need to take the next step and get a nice decant. Mmmm … can’t wait. Thanks!
Heya Ann,
Yes, you inspire me often. I like 114 particularly because it’s so wearable in almost all weather.
Bet it smells fabulous on you too.
Portia xx