Amber Empire Atkinsons 2015

When it comes to amber, there is often a misunderstanding in the perfume world. Sometimes it refers to ambra or ambergris, the gray substance from sperm whale intestines, and sometimes it refers to a fragrance accord that creates an amber-associated scent impression. This is often constructed from various resins and something sweet like vanilla or tonka. This can sometimes lean towards the gourmand direction. There are incredibly many amber fragrances, interpreted differently, for both genders.

Amber Empire is a very beautiful representative of amber fragrances, even if it is not primarily one at its base, as warm tea prevails here. The scent starts with damp, wet citrus and mild tea, with light floral notes embracing it and guiding the perfume from unisex territory into the feminine. The overall mood of Amber Empire is warm and snuggly, and this persists throughout the entire fragrance. Tea usually smells rather cooling, soothing like balm to me, but not here. This is achieved through the amber accord, which is truly excellent here. It radiates from the base up into the top notes, until only it remains.
The base is the real star of this perfume, as the name suggests. A beautiful, feminine amber accord, whose finely tuned sweetness comes from a note of vanilla. This is wonderfully tempered by frankincense and myrrh, sandalwood, and musk, adding a touch of depth. The aforementioned resins lie just above the perception threshold, giving the overall composition a slightly scratchy volume. Let's talk again about the vanilla, which can have enormous quality and scent differences in fragrances. This ranges from overly sweet vanillin to a spicy, dry pod that has little to do with the taste concept of vanilla. Here we have something in between, more milky than sticky, more gentle and light than intrusive. What comes out smells wonderfully cozy, reminiscent of authentic caramel, which doesn't have to smell overly sugary. A snuggly yet mature scent, perfect for cold days. I particularly enjoy the combination of tea and amber fragrance.

The longevity is acceptable, but the sillage could be better. For a decent scent trail, you have to spray quite a bit, and at this price, you can expect more.
The bottle shows itself in the typical Atkinsons uniform. The logo is embedded in paper in a circular indentation, and both the cap and the bottle itself feel pleasantly heavy and high-quality. The spray head delivers a concentrated burst but could mist more.