Ambre des Abysses Houbigant 2023

This is one of them, because even after smelling countless perfumes, I got so impressed with it.

It has an airy allure to it, which makes it easy to wear but also easy to love. I have only a sample now but I am looking for a bottle already.

Orange blossom, patchouli, jasmine .. are notes which I am crazy about and they are here too. The perfumers have done a magical thing and I am glad Houbigant "still got it".

This is the first fragrance from Houbigant I’ve given a proper wear. To sum it up briefly it goes like this.
First five minutes: oh nice and fresh! Sour fruits supported by some mint!
The next couple of hours: hmm this might smell more like scented plastic bags than real fruit. That’s the plastic wrapper.
The 8+ hours after that: aha, now I get what the abyss is about. Playtime on the surface is over, we’re diving into the serious side of things. Descending into the deeper, darker side with a great addictive layer of earthy moss and apparently leather. This is by far the most attractive phase of the perfume.

Having worn it a couple of times by now, I really like it. Anyone who’s worn Reflection Man or Gucci Guilty Elixir knows that scented plastic bag smell I was talking about. Honestly those two are both better options if you really dig that synthetic part. With Ambre des Abysses it’s all about the drydown though which pushes it over the edge of mediocrity for me.

What a fragrance this is...

So underrated, but one of the very few I would give a 10 out of 10, because of multiple reasons. First, the house of Houbigant is a well-respected house which is here for ages and brings out quality scents only. Ambre des Abysses is no different. Second, this is a fragrance which has it all; sexiness, class and elegance, good performance and the airiness I'm looking for. Hate those candy-sweet fragrances and this is not one of them. Third, with EUR 175 (as of Jan 1, 2025) for 100ml it is good priced for a niche fragrance like this.

This fragrance is often compared to JPG's Le Male and Amouage's Reflection Man (which is compared to JPG's Le Male as well). I do see the similarities but do not believe that any of these are that close to each other that it would be redundant to own all. Compared to the other two, Ambre des Abysses is more refined, more gentlemanly and more airy, without compromising on performance. It has a airy, warm, slightly sweet and floral scent DNA which can be worn almost all year and to most occasions. I would only skip this for the hot summer days.

Thank you Houbigant for this gorgeous fragrance!

This is a Nice scent, Minty, Floral, Creamy, Sweet and Vanilla. It reminds me of Le Male Original and It is not Unique ! It has High Quality Composition , If you like Le Male, You will like this one. It opens up with semi sweet fresh spicy , minty and floral notes in the background then dry down is sweet vanilla, ambery and woody. I don't get The Leather note in this perfume, The Mint, Orange Blossom and Vanilla notes are dominant in this fragrance. Ambre des Abysses is perfect for the all seasons. I received Ambre des Abysses as a Gift and I like it. Longevity is Good
Rating : 7.5 / 10

Ambre des Abysses can, at first glance, appear confused. The unusual combination of fresh, aromatic, and warm notes can feel like chaos to an unfamiliar nose. However, once you start to acclimate to it and understand what makes it so special, you can begin to appreciate the masterpiece that it is.

Just by hearing the name, you would likely expect Ambre des Abysses to be a dark, thick, resinous take on amber, but the list of notes contradicts this expectation, because if you are attentive, you may notice a composition that looks a lot like a fougere, minus the lavender. That DNA is certainly intertwined within the fragrance, but it never feels messy like you might expect- it only adds to the charm and experience that is Ambre des Abysses.

It opens with a hit of sharp citrus and mint, and with orange blossom peeking through. This represents the beginning of the journey. As the opening fades, the aromatics are front and center. Geranium, patchouli, and rosemary are easily detectable in this phase, and these notes act as a bridge between the fresh, orange blossom opening and what comes in the base. A while after being sprayed, and after the aromatics take a back seat, amber comes through, which, of course, is the namesake of the fragrance. Along with the amber, you also get a large dose of vanilla and tonka, which is both warm and sweet, but is not too dense, and is not cloying either. This deep dry-down is the destination that the name promised; the "abyss." It takes a while to get there, but that is what makes the fragrance so rewarding. It doesn't feel like instant gratification. It feels like a story worth exploring.

If I look at this more analytically as solely a fragrance, it still shines spectacularly. Ambre des Abysses is classy, masculine, and extremely versatile. You can dress it up, dress it down, be serious, be fun- whatever you need, this fragrance has. While I think this is best suited for cool weather, like in the spring and fall, you could wear this any season as long as it is not scorching hot out. And as for performance, it certainly satisfies with its (on my skin) 9+ hour longevity, and strong projection for the first 1-2 hours.

So, Ambre des Abysses is a rather narrative and expressive fragrance, and it weaves multiple DNA's into one, but it does not remain only a gimmick. It evolves beautifully and is easily applicable to almost any situation, and those things, combined with its solid performance and stunning bottle, make this an easy masterpiece in my eyes, and definitely worth checking out for any man.