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Top Review
Amber's Beautifully Dark Side
Amber. I have already had the chance to test a few of these incredibly beautiful fragrances, and that's why I was curious about how Ex Nihilo interprets this theme after various reference ambers like ó Hira or Orca. Hardly any fragrance ingredient has such a vast range, ranging from balsamic, resinous - to somewhat animalistic, to borderline experiences, whether I wanted to get that close to the whale.
Regarding the brand itself, one can only say briefly: High Class. Beautiful bottles. Customizable caps from mother-of-pearl to real gemstones (upon request). For the "entry-level" customization, Ex Nihilo charges "only" 50 euros - compared to Boadicea, which already charges 20 pounds just for shipping. Price-wise, it’s a bit tighter, positioned in the upper segment, likely a rarity in some collections. If not, a well-considered investment. After all, 100ml costs 420 euros here. Without customization.
Amber Sky is marketed by the brand as elegant and sophisticated. Well, let’s dig into that.
Amber Sky opens with a very dense dark wood note that brings a subtly underlying sweetness - dry and resinous. There is constantly a slight smokiness that wafts over from the vanilla-sandalwood base. This sweet-dry resin note lasts for the first two to three hours before more and more sandalwood from the base shines through. In my view, the vanilla is not a Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, but rather a kind of softener for the dark amber in the drydown. I found it remarkable that the heart note conjured up some coffee and roasting aromas in my perception. Really great and very interesting.
As for the endgame in the accord lineup, I can at least clarify a bit for Amber Sky. Tonka is listed, but it is not detectable. This is due to the very dark ambered base. So, a reassurance for tonka here.
Next, many here write about oud. Medicinal oud. It is not unusual to encounter oud even if it is not listed in the pyramid. But here, if at all, oud is present in homeopathic doses. I tend to lean towards: no oud. The amber is dark and has a certain, very, very subtle animalic quality. It makes everything appear a bit "dirtier" and gives the fragrance a certain edge while maintaining high wearability.
After two days with this fragrance, my conclusion is:
Yes, Amber Sky is long-lasting. Yes, Amber Sky is the beautiful, interesting, dark side of amber. Yes, you should try it. :)
Regarding the brand itself, one can only say briefly: High Class. Beautiful bottles. Customizable caps from mother-of-pearl to real gemstones (upon request). For the "entry-level" customization, Ex Nihilo charges "only" 50 euros - compared to Boadicea, which already charges 20 pounds just for shipping. Price-wise, it’s a bit tighter, positioned in the upper segment, likely a rarity in some collections. If not, a well-considered investment. After all, 100ml costs 420 euros here. Without customization.
Amber Sky is marketed by the brand as elegant and sophisticated. Well, let’s dig into that.
Amber Sky opens with a very dense dark wood note that brings a subtly underlying sweetness - dry and resinous. There is constantly a slight smokiness that wafts over from the vanilla-sandalwood base. This sweet-dry resin note lasts for the first two to three hours before more and more sandalwood from the base shines through. In my view, the vanilla is not a Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, but rather a kind of softener for the dark amber in the drydown. I found it remarkable that the heart note conjured up some coffee and roasting aromas in my perception. Really great and very interesting.
As for the endgame in the accord lineup, I can at least clarify a bit for Amber Sky. Tonka is listed, but it is not detectable. This is due to the very dark ambered base. So, a reassurance for tonka here.
Next, many here write about oud. Medicinal oud. It is not unusual to encounter oud even if it is not listed in the pyramid. But here, if at all, oud is present in homeopathic doses. I tend to lean towards: no oud. The amber is dark and has a certain, very, very subtle animalic quality. It makes everything appear a bit "dirtier" and gives the fragrance a certain edge while maintaining high wearability.
After two days with this fragrance, my conclusion is:
Yes, Amber Sky is long-lasting. Yes, Amber Sky is the beautiful, interesting, dark side of amber. Yes, you should try it. :)
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2 Comments
Can777 8 years ago
Definitely after this!
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Cafenoir 8 years ago
I think it's great too, but unfortunately it doesn't suit me that well. Still, I occasionally spray a bit from the sample onto a test strip to sniff it. "Dark side of the ambers" really hits the mark! Also, I'm realizing that I might have been a bit off with my perception of oud; I now think it's probably "not really oud." Very insightful comment for me!
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