The note if amber is a very interesting fragrance note and it can add a lot of warmth and depth to a fragrance. The note itself is used quite often, but which amber fragrances are the best for men?
What Is Amber And How Does It Smell
The note of amber is quite an interesting note to use in fragrances. Amber is best known by people to be the substance in which some fossils are preserved. However, it is also a commonly used note, or ingredient, used in fragrances. The note of amber is mainly used to add a nice and warm feeling to a fragrance.
The amber used in fragrances consists of a combination of labdanum, vanilla, and benzoin. This creates a warm, slightly sweet scent. This is also the scent you can expect from most amber fragrances on the market. A sweet, slightly spicy scent with a warm feeling. This is what makes amber fragrances unique and so interesting. The fragrances below are all fantastic amber fragrances and are in no particular order.
1. Dior Ambre Nuit
Scent: Dior Ambre Nuit is a phenomenal fragrance in and of itself. However, it is also one of the nicest amber fragrances as well. The opening of this fragrance is quite fresh, with a nice, citrusy scent. After a little while, this citrusy scent turns into a warmer, amber based fragrance. Added to this is a soft touch of rose. During the dry down, the previously mentioned rose starts to take the foreground, along with the amber, leaving you with a warm, floral fragrance.
Notes: The top note of Dior Ambre Nuit is bergamot. The middle notes are Turkish rose and ambergris. The base note is Cistus labdanum.
Best for: Dior Ambre Nuit is a beautiful fragrance and is best worn during the spring. This is mainly because of the florals in this fragrance. These florals go perfectly with the season where all the flowers start blooming again. Furthermore, Dior Ambre Nuit is a fantastic fragrance to wear formally. It is classy enough for any important meetings, but also safe enough for general office wear. The only downside to this fragrance is that its incredibly expensive. If you’re interested, you can check out the current price over here on Amazon! However, you can also purchase a much smaller bottle, a decant. These are usually much cheaper. If you’d like to know more about decants, you can read this article I wrote over here!
2. Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan
Scent: Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan is one of the nicest amber fragrances on the market. This fragrance is simply beautiful. The opening of this fragrance is very spicy, yet extremely pleasant. Later on, this fragrance keeps on getting warmer and sweeter. The spices will start to fade away a bit, but the amber is really taking the foreground. Overall, you’re left with a beautiful amber fragrance, known for its warmth and sweetness.
Notes: The notes of Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan are amber, cistus, and vanilla.
Best for: Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan is a fantastic fragrance to wear during the colder months. This scent has an incredibly warm and sweet scent, which works wonders during those cold days. It would simply be too strong for summertime wear. Besides a fantastic scent, this fragrance is also quite versatile. This scent also has quite a luxurious vibe to it, making it perfect for both casual and formal wear. The price of this fragrance is also great. This fragrance is quite affordable, especially compared to the scent you’re getting. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check out the current price over here on Amazon!
3. Tom Ford Amber Absolute
Scent: Tom Ford Amber Absolute is part of the Tom Ford Private Blend Collection. These are fragrances based around a certain note, this time, amber. This fragrance opens with a boozy scent, but quickly makes way for the scent of incense. This will then be accompanied by the beautiful note of amber, as well as some spicy patchouli. You’re left with a beautiful, warm, spicy, and sweet fragrance. Truly a masterpiece and definitely deserving of the amber name.
Notes: The notes of Tom Ford Amber Absolute are African incense, amber accord, labdanum, patchouli, and sandalwood.
Best for: Tom Ford Amber Absolute is a sweet, spicy, and warm fragrance. This scent leans almost to oriental, which usually works better during the colder months. Tom Ford Amber Absolute is no different. This fragrance is best worn during the colder months or at night. This fragrance is actually a great one to wear to any intimate event, like a date. The only downside to this fragrance is the price. Tom Ford Private Blends are quite expensive. You can check out the current price over here on Amazon!
4. Dolce & Gabbana The One
Scent: Dolce & Gabanna The One is a very interesting fragrance. You get a fresh, warm, and sweet fragrance, all in one. The opening of this fragrance is nice and fresh, with hints of grapefruit and herbs. This then dries down to a spicier version, along with some added fruity sweetness. The dry down of this fragrance adds the warmth of amber and the sweetness of tobacco, as well as a nice, woody touch. This fragrance is fantastic and there are only a few people who do not like this scent.
Notes: The top notes of Dolce & Gabbana The One are grapefruit, coriander, and basil. The middle notes are cardamom, ginger, and orange blossom. The base notes are cedarwood, ambergris, and tobacco.
Best for: Dolce & Gabanna The One is a great fragrance and you can wear in during most seasons. The only season you should avoid wearing this would be during the summer. Otherwise, the fresh, warm scent will work great during the spring, fall, and winter. This fragrance is just incredibly versatile and smells fantastic. You can wear this fragrance casually, but it works just as fine when worn formally. The price if this fragrance is also nothing weird. You can check out the current price over here on Amazon!
5. Van Cleef & Arpels Ambre Imperial
Scent: Van Cleef & Arpels Ambre Imperial is a fantastic amber fragrance with a creamy sweetness to it. The opening of this fragrance is a little fresh and peppery, but this quickly turns into a warm, amber scent. Added to this amber scent is the creamy sweetness of tonka beans and vanilla, creating a very warm, sweet, and great smelling scent. This then dries down to a slightly more woody, smokier version of this original scent. This fragrance goes through quite a few stages, but each one continues to impress.
Notes: The top notes of Van Cleef & Arpels Ambre Imperial are bergamot and pink pepper. The middle notes are amber, tonka bean, and vanilla. The base notes are benzoin and woods.
Best for: Van Cleef & Arpels Ambre Imperial is a very strong, sweet, fragrance. These types of fragrances work best during the winter. But, even during the winter, you shouldn’t go too heavy on the sprays. Nonetheless, this is a beautiful fragrance with a very professional vibe around it. This makes it appropriate for both casual, as well as formal wear. The price of this fragrance is also quite affordable. You can check out the current price over here on Amazon!
6. Davidoff Silver Shadow
Scent: Davidoff Silver Shadow is a woody take on an amber fragrance. The opening of this fragrance immediately introduces the woody notes. You get a nice, woody scent, along with a herbal touch. This herbal touch mainly comes from the saffron in this fragrance. When this fragrance starts to dry down, you can start to notice the amber in this fragrance. You get a warm, ambery scent, as well as a spicy touch of patchouli. Overall, this is a fantastic fragrance with a nice, woody, ambery scent.
Notes: The top notes of Davidoff Silver Shadow are bitter orange and cedar leaves. The middle notes are cedarwood and saffron. The base notes are patchouli and amber.
Best for: Davidoff Silver Shadow is a great fragrance to wear during the fall. The woody, warm scent goes perfectly with the season of falling leaves. The scent itself is quite easy to wear and can be worn both casually and formally. Besides having a great, versatile scent, this fragrance also has a very compelling price. This is one of the cheaper fragrances on the market, despite it being this nice. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check out the current price over here on Amazon!
7. Jo Malone Amber And Lavender
Scent: Jo Malone Amber And Lavender is a beautiful, warm, floral fragrance. The opening of this fragrance is quite fresh and minty, along with a heavy dose of lavender. This creates a very interesting scent. Added to this are some spices. These create a really nice, warm feeling. There is also the note of cinnamon, adding some spicy sweetness. The dry down of this fragrance is really warm and sweet. Here is where the amber starts to shine the brightest.
Notes: The top notes of Jo Malone Amber And Lavender are bergamot, mint, and lavender. The middle notes are cinnamon, clove, and lily of the valley. The base notes are myrrh, amber, and patchouli.
Best for: Jo Malone Amber And Lavender is a great fragrance to wear during the spring. The heavy emphasis on lavender in this fragrance makes it a very good spring fragrance. The strong floral scent goes perfectly with the season of blooming flowers. Then there is also the amber, providing you with some warmth during the cooler spring days. Overall, this is a beautiful fragrance and its best worn casually. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
8. By Kilian Amber Oud
Scent: By Kilian Amber Oud is a beautiful fragrance from the house of By Kilian. This fragrance is creamy sweet and utilizes many great notes in a fantastic way. This fragrance opens with a nice amber scent. Added to this amber is a sweet touch of vanilla. This sweet, amber scent will carry on throughout the remainder of the fragrance. In the dry down, you can start to notice a few spices, as well as a touch of oud. But, the main star in this masterpiece is the amber.
Notes: The notes of By Kilian Amber Oud are bay leaves, cedarwood, amber, oud, and vanilla.
Best for: By Kilian Amber Oud is a phenomenal fragrance. The spicy, sweet, amber scent could be classed as a gourmand, and those types of fragrances are best worn during the colder months. The scent of this fragrance is very luxurious and the price represents that as well. Therefore, this should be a fragrance you use on special occasions. By Kilian is a well-known niche fragrance house, and the price reflects that. You can check out the current price over here on Amazon!
9. Montale Blue Amber
Scent: Montale Blue Amber is an incredible fragrance with a fresh, sweet scent. The opening of this fragrance is quite fresh with a hint of floral in there as well. This then gets accompanied a sweet, earthy scent. All the while, the base of this fragrance is noticeable. A sweet, warm scent of vanilla and amber. This is an overall very nice, sweet, slightly spicy fragrance with the lovable oriental characteristics.
Notes: The top notes of Montale Blue Amber are Italian bergamot, Bourbon geranium, and Hesperadic notes. The middle notes are coriander, patchouli, and vetiver. The base notes are amber and vanilla.
Best for: Montale Blue Amber is a fantastic fragrance to wear during the colder months. The oriental scent mixed with the amber creates such a warm and comforting scent, which works wonders during those colder days. The scent itself is very well made and is of high quality. You can expect great longevity and performance, which is desirable from a cold-weather fragrance. The price of this fragrance is respectable, considering the incredible scent. You can check out the current price over here on Amazon!
10. Al-Rehab Golden Sand
Scent: Al-Rehab Golden Sand is a beautiful gourmand fragrance with a nice hint of amber as well. This fragrance mainly has a delicious, sweet scent gourmand scent. The sweetness in this fragrance has an incredibly nice caramel and honey scent. This creates the edible-like, gourmand scent. Added to this is the note of amber, giving a warm feeling to this fragrance. In the background, there is also a noticeable floral scent, mainly a rose one.
Notes: The notes of Al-Rehab Golden Sand are vanilla, caramel, amber, oud, and floral notes.
Best for: Al-Rehab Golden Sand is a great fragrance to wear during the colder months. The sweet, gourmand scent will work wonders during those days where it’s nice and cold. This fragrance will give you a little warmth and makes you smell amazing. The gourmand scent is also great to wear to any festive occasion. Gourmand scents usually have this uplifting vibe around them, making them perfect for an outgoing event or occasion. Al-Rehab Golden Sand is also extremely cheap. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
Should You Have An Amber Fragrance
Amber is a wonderful note. Many of the most amazing fragrances use this note to add a warm and sweet scent. Fragrances based around amber usually have a very nice, warm, and spicy scent. These types of fragrances are sometimes known as oriental fragrances. And these oriental fragrances work the best during the colder months.
Because of the fact that amber fragrances are usually on the warmer side, you should wear them during the winter, or maybe during the fall. However, there are also a few fragrances that utilize the note of amber to create a warm, springtime fragrance. An example of this is Dior Ambre Nuit. What it all comes down to is that amber fragrances are quite versatile. Almost any amber fragrance will work great during the winter. Therefore, owning an amber fragrance, even if you just want to own a few fragrances, is a great idea.
There are many amber fragrances, and many of them are fantastic. The ones listed above are all amazing. Some of them are cheap, others are expensive, and most are in the middle. However, amber fragrances are more than worth it. The warm, sweet scent is amazing, and, when done correctly, can make for some of the best fragrances on the market.
Now, some of the fragrances listed above are quite expensive. It is understandable that for some people, the prices are too high. But it would be a shame if you’d miss out on these great fragrances. Luckily, there are fragrance decants. A decant is basically a smaller bottle, think 5ml or 10ml, filled up with the original fragrance. This way, you can try out a fragrance for a while without having to commit to a full bottle. If you’d like to get to know more about these decants, you can read this article I wrote over here!