Of all the places the films have created, one of the most magical and enduring is Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers's universe. To a series of films made between 1933 and 1939, they brought such grace and humor that they became the touchstone of all things elegant. Astaire and Rogers were, above all, talented dancers. But what Fred and Ginger have had together, and no other team has ever had alike, was a joy for the performance. They were so good, and they knew they were so good that they danced to celebrate their gifts. According to The Oxford Companion to the American Musical, Swing Time is "a strong candidate for the best of the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals."
Ambre Nuit is a mysterious fragrance, and I like to associate it with the atmospheres and dances of the early 19th century. The slow seduction of a dance that is always wholly refined only hints at the underlying passion—the limbs' sensual crawling. The expanse of a man's chest warmed and was slightly musky.
It is an early middle March morning, and the weather is still chilly. As soon as I leave home, the cool air blends with this cologne, and a sweet rosy amber fills my nostrils. The rose is dense, profound, cozy, and with the amber, it creates a unique aroma that diverges from the thousand oud&rose creations. Ambre Nuit is a delightful oriental scent and includes citrus, spice, floral, amber, woody, and earthy notes. The tale of a dark rose seduced by sensual amber, which together unveils an unexpected profound, intense and elusive scent, a damn good one at that. The amber is dry, bittersweet, herbal, and crisp, caused by delicious bergamot and bright grapefruit, the latter harsher than the former, which turn out fresh for just a few moments. The opening feels berry-ish and boozy; I get shades of salty and rosy vibes plus a smidgen of cola that stays behind the scene for a lifetime. It's an elixir of sensual and wispy citrus and rose with a nice twist of amber. I love that opening; therefore, I spray more and more during the day to get that magnificent accord.
The heart reveals a lovely yet delicate Turkish rose combined with spicy accents of pink pepper. In the past few days, I have reviewed Oud Ispahan, and in there, the rose was so earthy, smoky, and dry. Here it is more amber, creamy, a beautiful waxy rose dusted with powder, and not an ordinary rose. Yet, it is never so syrupy or sweet as to feel jammy and fruited. Instead, it's a tremendous powdery rose with a warm and spicy base that makes it irresistible. What makes this rose truly special is adding a ton of the smoothest powder known to man: face powder. It may not be listed in the notes, but there is undoubtedly more than just a hint of iris lurking somewhere beneath that crimson rose. I get a mellifluous and waxy aroma directly from the heart, just as if wax or a derivative of bees were present; perhaps it is only the result of the fusion of other notes. Describing Ambre Nuit as a rosy fragrance could be misleading. It's not the one on my skin for most of its development. "rose" is almost the last thing I perceive with this somewhat smoky, woody, and amber fragrance. And I don't mind at all.
It dries to a warm amber note that complements the entire composition and leaves an inviting effect. A beautiful accord of dry, rich, and fine woods, amber, and patchouli envelop it in a slightly smoky, decidedly oriental way. I like Ambre Nuit because the amber accord doesn't hide all the other notes; it leaves room for you to smell the citrus in the opening, the flowers in the heart, and a nutty cola aroma at the base. However, the real key is salty-sweet ambergris, an olfactive animal note from the regular amber used in most perfumes. Even the patchouli is tamed; nothing here smells like the sour ingredient, dirty and chewy and often loaded with purplish fruit's nuances. It has a smokiness here that would imply incense as a hidden note, which is later confirmed by the rest of the Ambre Nuit development. There is some smokiness in the base, and it should come from guaiac wood unless olibanum is present but not stated. In this last phase, the squad has miserably vanished.
Lasting power is perfect for concentration; Ambre Nuit stays on me for several hours. While I think Ambre Nuit would be best for the winter months and colder days, with a screening day even in the cold winter, it is not overwhelming and great for summer evenings and formal events when applied in moderation. I see no reason why it cannot be worn if adequately used.
This review is based upon a decant I have owned since February 2021.
-Elysium