Ambre Tabac Daniel Josier 2014 Eau de Parfum

The search for the protagonist of the perfume Ambre Tabac by Daniel Josier does not lead us directly to the namesake notes of amber and tobacco, but first to the incense, which from the very beginning decisively determines the fragrance direction. It does so with an intense, spicy aroma that leaves little doubt about its current dominance. From the outset, this incense also serves as a soft, warm, and protective cloak, instantly reminding me of the aromatic scent of the Christmas incense figures before the home fireplace. It never resembles the sacred smell of cold church spaces or that of smoke or biting fumes. This is largely due to the side-noted, not independently noticeable fruity-fresh bergamot, which perfectly integrates into the incense and softens its dark peaks.

While other perfumes often evoke emotions and experiences through their scents in my memory, with Ambre Tabac it is more about its packaging with content for me. As children and teenagers, we enjoyed unrestricted freedom while playing and wandering in the countryside, in the adjacent, destroyed, and already overgrown airfield, the many small woods, gravel pits, ponds, and openly accessible dumps. A paradise for explorers, adventurers, and treasure hunters. We often found our little treasures in the form of cartridge casings, signs, watches, porcelain, tools, spray bottles, cigarette albums, books, photos, small bottles, cutlery, and much more. Only the "big catch" eluded us, but we knew exactly what it should look like, inconspicuous on the outside and shining golden on the inside! Our greatest treasure, however, which we were not aware of at the time, was our freedom and carefreeness to do all this, completely without supervision, without helmets, and without control calls!

These times and events occupy my thoughts as I unpacked the perfume Ambre Tabac by Daniel Josier. The dark box made of sturdy cardboard, solid and adorned with some pale golden embellishments, gives a rather modest, simple impression! The brighter seems, no, dazzles a sparkling sun at the viewer upon opening the box. The thick glass bottle almost completely fills the case and sparkles together with the huge Golden Nugget cap, while the bright radiance of the golden-yellow liquid dispels any last suspicion that this is not a significant treasure!

After the incense has set itself in an intense, bright, and sweetly fresh manner, it is immediately impressively flanked by tobacco and amber. Although these titular fragrance notes are supposed to appear only as a base accord, they already mix very early in the scent of Ambre Tabac, with their tobacco-like facets becoming increasingly prominent over time, woody, spicy, and marzipan-sweet. Additionally, very warm, velvety, and earthy aspects come into play, but all perfectly integrate into this complex, highly aromatic overall composition. A mentioned vanilla note surely contributes its sweet-spicy aroma without making an overt appearance. The supporting pillars of incense and the increasingly dry, powdery, and harsher tobacco remain intact until the end.

Ambre Tabac was created as an Eau de Parfum for men with very good longevity (around 10 hours) and decent sillage. The very hefty, masculine bottle directly indicates this. Daniel Josier, the responsible perfumer, certainly crafted his masterpiece here. Early in life, he became interested in perfumery and quickly received direct employment with various companies after training and studies, and/or worked with many long-term partners, including Symrise, UniLever, LVMH, Iberchem, and Puig L'Oreal. In 2009, he founded his own collection of luxurious niche fragrances with the company L'Atelier del Perfume. He often draws on the classic-traditional inspirations of his Spanish homeland and its fantastic landscapes, coasts, and cities.

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