Top Notes 
Black pepper
Juniper berry
Bergamot
Lemon
Heart Notes 
Orris butter
White blossoms
Caraway
Base Notes 
Amber
Musk
Leather
Vetiver
07/20/2024
Jomas
32 Reviews
Jomas
2
Rather iris than amber
Bel Ambre is not exactly an amber, or at least not what I mean by amber. According to my nose, the main character here is a powdery-balsamic, violet leaning iris. Not pencil shavings, nor lipstick or powder makeup, but talcum powder in combination with some baby wipes.
Some say it’s similar to Guerlain's Parfum Initial. I haven’t smelled any of the Initial versions, but the comparison may be justified, because Bel Ambre strongly reminds me of Ibisco (L'Erbolario), which is massively voted as similar to Parfum Initial. Twisted are the ways of perfumery! :)) Although Ibisco has a fresher opening and Bel Ambre seems to attack directly with the middle notes, the latter is less sweet and more airy, the benzoin here is lighter than the elemi resins in Ibisco, and the lack of ylang is welcome.
As time goes by, the amber (more vanillic than resinous) gains more and more power. It’s not overwhelming, but still enough for someone whose relationship with vanilla goes from bad to worse to step aside.
Some say it’s similar to Guerlain's Parfum Initial. I haven’t smelled any of the Initial versions, but the comparison may be justified, because Bel Ambre strongly reminds me of Ibisco (L'Erbolario), which is massively voted as similar to Parfum Initial. Twisted are the ways of perfumery! :)) Although Ibisco has a fresher opening and Bel Ambre seems to attack directly with the middle notes, the latter is less sweet and more airy, the benzoin here is lighter than the elemi resins in Ibisco, and the lack of ylang is welcome.
As time goes by, the amber (more vanillic than resinous) gains more and more power. It’s not overwhelming, but still enough for someone whose relationship with vanilla goes from bad to worse to step aside.
Aspasia0
RisingChaos
KingPin
