Versilia Vintage – Ambra Mediterranea for Profumi Del Forte 2009

Hey Y’All,

Woo Hoo! It’s Friday and Portia from AustralianPerfumeJunkies is here on the Perfume Posse, the week is nearly done so grab a coffee, tea, wine or scotch and a pack of choc bickies (Aussie for cookies) and I’ll tell you about my latest score that has turned into LOVE!! I picked up this happy little camper over at the SurrenderToChance 40% off SALE, if you trot across you will find yourself a bargain or two, PROMISE!! Yes, I know I’m writing for the associated press but I don’t get any kickbacks for spruking them, I just love their stuff and think they are a great company selling good product at reasonable prices!

Versilia Vintage – Ambra Mediterranea for Profumi Del Forte 2009

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Sweet orange and coriander
Heart: Ylang ylang and jasmine
Base: Grey amber, Siamese benzoin, cedar, tolu balm, patchouli, incense, vanilla and white musk.

LuckyScent says: The elegance of grey amber and the serenity of orange. The sweetness of ylang-ylang, the warmth of cedar wood. Gentle luminous notes, which evoke atmospheres of a calm deep Mediterranean. (Which I think is a load of shite. P)

I love the Ambra Mediterranea opening, a screaming, nose hair burning, oily, punch in the face that makes me cough and my eyes water. WOW!! Unfortunately this lasts less than a minute at high intensity before the ylang ylang and jasmine throw a calming blanket over the fire; though the smoky, burnt caramel on a wood fire persists throughout the lifespan almost to dry down on my skin. I also get a leather vibe that is not noted. I’ve been on, in and around the calm deep Mediterranean and it never smelled like this. There is almost a bitter chocolate vibe going on too.

Photo Stolen deepseawaters

Then what I get is a sweet vanilla, wood and resinous floral, it’s all there bobbing and floating around like gumbo in a Terry Pratchett novel. Wearing  Ambra Mediterranea things will shimmer across your smellovision and then be engulfed by something else. If you concentrate on an accord it will take over the whole fragrance for a while and then you’ll get something else come forward; but always harmoniously. I also get a fresh cracked black pepper through the heart that’s not mentioned. As the Northern Hemisphere heads for Autumn this will be a killer fragrance to sport as the world starts to chill, absolutely unisex in every way, can’t wait to spray some on my buddies of both sexes and see if they love it too.

5 hours later I’ve been to work, where I got 2 interested compliments on Ambra Mediterranea, and now home and there is a very faint whiff of slightly burnt vanilla and woods. I’m going to do it all again, the opening is too amazing.

I bought 3ml of  Ambra Mediterranea which is more than half gone because I keep wanting to smell the incredible opening cacophony again.

I found only one review at SmellyThoughts
LuckyScent sells 100ml $240 or .7ml $5
SurrenderToChance starts at $6/ml but has a 40% OFF SALE ATM

I hope this has given you some food for thought over the weekend, and I hope your weekend is filled with at least some stuff that you love to do. If it’s not, you need to create a space for you and slip into it. Even a 20 minute scented salt bath can feel like a holiday if you prep the rest of your universe for your time away. Go on, you deserve it.

Photo Stolen drawingroomdays

Of course if you are looking for some more fun reading about fragrances come join the AustralianPerfumeJunkies family, there’s always some crazy madness going down over there. You are welcome to drop by, leave a comment so we know you’ve been, we get so excited about new visitors.

See you same frag. time, same frag. place next week,
Portia xx

  • Tom says:

    Oh, lordy I would love to have a bath I could lounge in..

    My old place was built in the 20’s and had a tub that I could almost immerse in. The place I’m in now has one of those 50’s tubs that’s short and shallow. I’m almost 6’3″ (1.92 meter according to the conversion Mac thingy) and it just doesn’t work. It’s like soaking in a puddle.

    If ever I win Lotto I’ll have a bath I’ll need a flotation device in.

    • Portia says:

      I’m with you Tom. Only around 5’10” but I could do with 6″ longer and the same extra deep in the bath to be really, deliciously submerged. Still I just love it.

      Portia xx

  • Eldarwen 22 says:

    I’m right now looking if anything is catching my fancy at Surrender to Chance today and also trying to get inspired to blog. Right now, I’m kind of fixated on getting Diorling to last on my skin. But a few days ago, I ordered a sample grab bag from Surrender to Chance and I am curious to what surprises I’m gonna find.

  • Lanier says:

    What a fabulous review. I want to try it just for the opening punch in the face. I sounds great! (not that I am into a punch in the face as a rule mind you…but….)

  • Ann says:

    Hey, Portia — mmmm, mmmmm! Your review has me drooling up a storm as I do love me some amber and this one sounds like it has personality to spare. Thanks …

  • FragrantWitch says:

    Portia, Portia, Portia! (Hey that sounds like the Brady Bunch- ‘its always Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!’) You are bad for my wallet babe! This sounds so right up my street I can’t believe it. Yesterday was a glorious autumn day here and Ambra Mediterranea would have sung like Nina Simone, I’m sure. Over to Surrender to Chance I go… Why oh why do we have no lemming emoticon??? Surely, we are the people who need one!

    Heartily looking forward to some me-time as I have been busy preparing for my daughter’s 6th birthday party and the theme is Rainbow Magic Fairies and I have been covered in glitter for 3 days. I go to school pick-up looking like I am ready to work and dance in a Perspex cube! :Tounge-Out:

    • Portia says:

      Hey FragrantWitch,
      It sounds like you are living my life. It’s been like that for 2.5 decades, every day a little more glitter!
      I am glad I gave you a lemming, I hope you enjoy the frag as much as I have.
      Portia xx

    • Portia says:

      Hiya Ann,
      The scent is Amber Xtreme, Really good stuff.
      The pic? Somewhere in the Mediterranean? I’m not sure, but my fave Greek Island is Zakinthos (I think that’s how you spell it) Loads of it is still unspoilt and non tourist. I even spent a fraught afternoon in their “Hospital” OMFG DO NOT get sick in the outer reaches of Greece.
      Have you seen Greece?
      Portia xx