Édition Rare - Ambrarem by Histoires de Parfums

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Édition Rare - Ambrarem Histoires de Parfums 2011

7.3 / 10 104 Ratings

A perfume by Histoires de Parfums for women and men, released in 2011. The scent is animal-smoky. The longevity is above-average. It is still in production.
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Main accords

Animal

Smoky

Resinous

Spicy

Woody

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Elemi resin

Pink pepper

Heart Notes

Orris absolute Oud

Oud

Saffron

Base Notes

Amber

Bourbon vanilla

Castoreum absolute

Sandalwood

Perfumer & Creative Guidance

Gérald Ghislain Creative Director

Ratings

Scent

7.3104 Ratings

Longevity

8.582 Ratings

Sillage

7.680 Ratings

Bottle

7.373 Ratings

Value for money

7.312 Ratings

Submitted by Kankuro, last update on 11/18/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

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Black Orchid Eau de Parfum

Interlude Man

Interlude Black Iris

Reviews

10 in-depth fragrance descriptions

02/28/2016

8Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Karenin
40 Reviews

Karenin

Helpful Review 7

Ambrarem

To this nose, “Ambrarem” is the most intriguing and challenging perfume from Histoires de Parfums to date. This is supposed to an animalic interpretation of “oud” due to the use of castoreum which announces its presence rather forcefully from the very beginning. This vigorous introduction could put many wearers off. It shouldn't because under the heavy lid lies a mellow heart and a seductive base. Throughout its development it is apparent that you're dealing with a unique niche fragrance composed of ingredients of the highest quality.

“Ambrarem” may not be perceived as a particularly versatile perfume. It's not meant to be. Yet it is its off-kilter nature that reminds me why I adore niche perfumery. It's not a fragrance that sucks up to its wearers. Far from it! “Ambrarem” commands its wearers to get accustomed to it. Most of them won't, but for a small group of true connoisseurs it'll undoubtedly become a source of ultimate olfactory pleasure.

To conclude, in order to remain consistent with its animalic character, I'll resort to the following simile: at first, “Ambrarem” roars like a tiger, both terrifying and awe-inspiring, which gradually transforms into a kitten. Albeit sweet and cuddly, this kitten can still put its claws to very effective (and painful!) use.

11/06/2012

9Scent 7.5Longevity 7.5Sillage

Flaconneur
49 Reviews

Flaconneur

5

EDITIONS RARE - AMBRAREM by Histoires de Parfums

The Edition Rare collection from Histoires de Parfums is an interesting concept from perfumer Gerald Ghislain. This series was release just last year. Mr. Ghislain has this "stories through scent" credo when developing his productions. All three in this collection share a command thread, the ever popular oudh. This trio's modern interpretation showcases the exotic dark resinous oudh, and explores the arena of plant, mineral and animal themes. Ambrarem is denoted as the one in this group with an animalistic nature. We will see.

Edition Rare-Ambrarem opens with a sharp and peppery stance, laced with a bit of brisk conifer and shadowy citrus. This brief opening caught me by surprise. As the opening fades, a slightly powdery and soft iris is detected. As dark, woody, resinous oudh and the hay-like scent of saffron creeps into the picture, it banishes any thoughts of pretty powdery florals taking center stage in Ambrarem. Just as fleeting as the opening was, the heart skips casually on its way. The slightly scorched leather-like castoreum keeps Ambrarem a smoldering oddity. The smoky, simmering ember that burns in the base of this fragrance is blended with a sophisticated boozy vanilla. The vanilla adds a touch of aged sweetness, while dry aromatic sandalwood and amber adds the warmth this aggressive fragrance needed.

I found Edition Rare-Ambrarem to be compelling and a bit mystifying. I subconsciously continued to sniff my hand time and time again while sampling this fragrance. The fiery quality was engrossing and the woody and warming nature kept my interest. Is Ambrarem truly the animal in this trio by Histoires de Parfums? I find it to be a loose interpretation at best. The animalistic suggestions are rather vague. Gerald Ghislain's slight nod to an animalistic nature in Ambrarem is circumscribed within a smoky, leathery scent with a cuddly warm amber root.

05/01/2025

blindy
38 Reviews

blindy

Helpful Review 2

The Indescribable

This mini monster leaves me speechless every time I spray it. I need to say that I am left speechless not because of its amazing performance or projection, but rather because I don’t know how to describe it.

Seriously, there’s something to it I can’t grasp. Consequently, I can’t get any single note/note combo listed on Fragrantica.

It suppose to start with elemi and pink pepper, but that’s definitely not what I smell. I also don’t get any middle notes except maybe iris. I sense some light animalic notes here, castoreum? I honestly don’t know.

The composition is nonetheless enigmatic and mysterious. It makes my nose search for the source of smell. The smell has something “unnatural” but at the same time something I’ve definitely smelled in the past, in the days I wasn’t collecting perfumes. Very weird but I like this weirdo at least for his unique appearance!!

12/21/2012

3Scent 10Longevity 10Sillage

Drseid
828 Reviews

Drseid

3

Sickeningly Sweet Animalic Amber...

I know I am going to take a beating on this, as Ambrarem is getting near universal love, but I don't like it. I get almost nothing in the way of its listed top notes, instead it almost immediately gets to the Oud and amber combo, and it is quite sweet and cloying. There must be some vanilla or other "sweetener" in here, because this is one of the sweetest ambers I have encountered, and I do not like sweet ambers at all. There is also a not too subtle petroleum vibe going on, but unlike Pétroleum from the same company where it works brilliantly, in Ambrarem it comes off as annoying. Castoreum rounds out the notes I can detect, and it is a pretty strong dose at that. Sillage and longevity are unfortunately superb.

What can I say? Ambrarem is just not for me and I will have to respectfully disagree with the majority that love it. Try and smell it for yourself and make up your own mind. Not recommended, unless you absolutely love sickeningly sweet animalic amber/Oud combos. 1.5 stars out of 5.

05/28/2024

Perfumisto
15 Reviews

Perfumisto

1

Masterpiece !!!

For me, the best perfumer was able to handle the iris flower in a masterful way.
The perfume begins 6with a wonderful scent that matches the wet ash of a cigarette. We smell a powdery scent, a rich mixture of elemi, pink pepper, iris and saffron, a touch of oud, castoreum (gives a sensual animal scent) and amber. The mixture lasts for about two hours, and after that the presence of some elements begins to shrink and give way. Give way to vanilla that will form with amber and castoreum as a dominant trio until the end, in the background a wonderful scent of resin.
The mixture is at a high level, wonderful work by the perfumer, the scent is rich, dense and thick, a unique fragrance, strong, sexy and sensual.
I consider this perfume one of the best bold and creative works in the perfume industry.

More reviews

Statements

28 short views on the fragrance

Serepave

10 years ago

3

Amber addicted...this had been in my wish list before I met Montmarte by Morph...

Ergoproxy

2 years ago

9.5Scent 10Longevity 7.5Sillage

32

56

Here you need a preference for elemi, amber, vanilla, and animalic notes. Additionally, the scent has a slightly smoky nuance.

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Axiomatic

3 years ago

6.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

29

22

Brutal opening with resin and saffron.
Transitions to amber, light iris powder.
Smells burnt at times, sweet amber at others.
Heavy *

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R3mt9

3 years ago

7Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

24

25

Hyperactive resin, vanilla-sweet smoky powder, cucumber of unclear origin in a furry coat. Not unpleasantly strange.

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Chizza

4 years ago

7Scent

22

15

Recognizably a good idea, but for me it's too amber-resinous, with too little smoky vanilla. Thus, subjectively too sweet-spicy, with leathery notes in the background.

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