Amber Empire starts with a strong oolong tea accord surrounded by plush and slightly fruity incense. Vanilla as a base note supports all of it, but right out of the gate, this is a tea fragrance and a lovely, well-balanced, understated one. The myrrh, which I don't usually like, is a great note here, striking a perfect balance between the vanilla and tea. And the incense, while definitely making its presence known, is more a whiff, a "good suggestion" in a loud whisper from the fruity top facet of frankincense. Ironically, I don't get 'amber' in any traditional sense. There's no cistus or laudanum resinousness paired with the vanilla. The scent isn't loud or sexy, but it is sensuous in the sense of "delighting the senses." The official notes place Chinese Magnolia in the heart and base, but whether or not I could pick this out depended on the wear. When I do detect it, it is wonderful. Magnolia is not an overwhelming or indolic floral, But rather has somewhat jammy or fruity notes. Here it's quite understated, pretty and not overly feminine. It was a wonderful choice to blend in this fragrance. This is an EDT, so it's pretty light on the persistence and projection for me. I liked it well enough to purchase a full bottle, but it will be more appropriate as a spring and summer wear when it can be surrounded by enough air so as to not make the vanilla too close and cloying. (Of course, your mileage may vary, as some people really enjoy a sweeter fragrance during the cold months.)
