Ambre Vie House of Matriarch 2012

I thought for a long time today about whether I should test this fragrance in this heat or not. But I simply couldn't resist, so on it went to my arm :)

Yes, it is really very fine. Right from the first sniff, I realized that I would love to wear this in winter from time to time. This has not happened with the HoM fragrances I have tested so far, where I could say that I could imagine wearing it more often, somewhere outside and not just at home for myself. Everything just fits together here and makes the fragrance incredibly wearable without smelling musty or like an extreme Lush store. Nothing against Lush stores, The Maj is the best example of that, and I think it's quite good too, but smelling like that on my skin doesn't necessarily have to be, maybe just for myself in a quiet moment :)

Of course, I find that the HoM fragrances, as mentioned in another comment, smell quite different from most other fragrances; I always envision India and incense sticks again and again, even here with this scent.

This time, however, it is something a bit different, a bit finer, more delicate, creamier, and slightly sweet. A light tobacco is also mixed in, and the sandalwood is really wonderful; I once had a type of incense sticks that smelled about the same, really delicious! I find nothing here is annoying, nothing scratches, nothing bites, but it simply lies very pleasantly and gently on the skin. I am really very enthusiastic! So far, this is truly the best fragrance from HoM that I have tested, and I am curious about what else the house has to offer!

In my sample basket for testing, this original sample has been sitting for quite some time. It simply didn't entice me to test it. The motif of the print seemed to me to be flashy, not valuable, in any case, it didn't spark my curiosity at first.

Perhaps it was good that I didn't choose to test Ambre Vie in the summer, because what I am experiencing now is a fine, woody-powdery winter fragrance that certainly deserves a more precious and noble presentation. A plus point - at least for my scent perception - is its straightforwardness. The transition from the top note to the base does not change the mood of the fragrance. Thus, the opening is already soft, silky, and powdery. Mimosa and broom are floral scents that impress not with heaviness, but with a smile. A hint of incense adds a silvery shimmer, and so Ambre Vie glides into a very appealing base that envelops and warms me, especially now in the cold season.

I confess, I had to look up what dragon's blood is as a fragrance note. It sounds like a Halloween party, but it is a resin that is also used for incense. I can't identify a resinous note, but all the other aromas also do not stand out individually, but harmoniously round off the base. Thus, the fragrance feels relaxing and friendly to me.

Those who love sandalwood, find the scent of tobacco cozy in a perfume, and prefer subtle amber fragrances to sweet orientals should not be deterred by the rather unrefined packaging. The House of Matriarch should have devoted as much attention to the design of its bottles and packaging as it did to the website and the video featured there. Had I seen the bottles on the shelf of a perfumery, my curiosity likely wouldn't have been piqued either, but that is probably a matter of taste. In any case, for me, the inner values of Ambre Vie are clearly what counts.