I amber scents they are among the most fascinating and complex in the artistic perfumery sector. Their deep connection with the East and the legendary exotic imagery that has inspired countless writers, directors and poets over the centuries are immediately made clear by the very possibility of exchanging the term "amber" with "oriental", keeping the reference to the same unchanged olfactory family. But what exactly does "amber" mean?

Amber perfumes: the charm of seduction

Before being considered synonymous with "oriental", the term "amber" in perfumery is used to indicate the presence of Amber among the ingredients of a fragrance. Amber can be of two types: ambergris e yellow amber, both often synthesized in the laboratory today.

It may seem absurd, but theambergris natural is an ingredient as rare and precious as it is unusual, due to its very origin: it is a secretion that develops in the intestines of sperm whales to protect their mucous membranes from the indigestible remains of the molluscs on which they feed in large quantities. Expelled in the faeces or regurgitated, ambergris floats in the sea until it reaches the beaches, where it dries in the sun, acquiring a pleasant scent (some define it as a mix between ancient wood and the smell of the sea) and the precious property of fixing the smells. In the perfume industry this strange treasure has been used for a very long time for the creation of sumptuous and mystical fragrances, often combined with raw materials such as musk, spices, woods, balms and resins.

L'yellow amber (or fossil amber), on the other hand, is the fossilized resin of plants from millions of years ago, which, once burned, releases a characteristic smell of incense. To be clear, it is the same amber at the base of the famous novel/film Jurassic Park, in which the mosquitoes containing the blood of the dinosaurs remained incorporated. In perfumery it is less used than ambergris, but it is still present in the olfactory notes of various oriental fragrances. Unfortunately, many perfume houses generically indicate the presence of "amber" in their perfumes, without distinguishing between ambergris and fossil amber. This makes life a little more difficult for fans of artistic fragrances, eager to know precisely the olfactory pyramids of their favorite perfumes.

A complex olfactory family

Unlike simpler and more linear olfactory families (such as, for example, that of the leather perfumes), the family of amber scents it is very broad and complex and often acts as an "umbrella" for an impressive number of often different fragrances. It is important to remember that cataloging perfumes is not an exact and universal science and personal interpretation plays a fundamental role in attributing this or that nuance to hundreds of fragrances containing, in turn, thousands of different olfactory notes. For example, it is very easy to mistake an amber perfume for a spicy one, spices being an important raw material of both the amber and spicy perfume families. As in all catalogues, there are products that are easier to identify and, usually, the perfumes that have the term "amber" in their very name are probably excellent exponents of the amber/oriental family. We have selected a few fragrances which, in our opinion, represent the best of the best amber scents currently on the market.

Noble Amber of Nobile 1942

A magical, intense, unique and delicious olfactory experience: Noble Amber it is the hidden treasure of the collection of designer artistic fragrances Nobile 1942, an Italian maison that is deservedly gaining more and more recognition in the world of niche perfumery. This unisex amber perfume can be defined as an aphrodisiac and irresistible, thanks to its perfect mix of amber, incense, patchouli, labdanum and various woody notes. Neroli and bergamot at the opening give the fragrance an unexpected fresh and sparkling touch, destined to quickly leave room for mystical and sensual scents attributable to the Far East. Simply outstanding!