Bel Ambre Jacques Fath 2016

Like every year in May, we spent a few days on our favorite relaxation island, Ibiza, this year as well. Usually, no one can get me out of bed before 8 AM while on vacation, but sometimes my inner alarm clock goes off at the usual wake-up time of 6, and I can't fall back asleep. This also happened during this vacation.

So I got up (unlike at home, there was no trace of tiredness at this hour), made myself a big cup of coffee, put on my sweat jacket, and sat outside on the balcony.
It was quite fresh, not really bright yet, the sky was gray and overcast, and the surroundings were very quiet, still, and peaceful. In the bay, a yacht gently rocked in the waves, and the whole scene almost had a surreal quality to it.
I snuggled deep into my jacket, enjoyed the hot coffee, and felt completely at one with myself and the incredibly calm and decelerated world around me. One could almost believe that the world was standing still, and everything mundane was far away and forgotten.

As I sat there, other notes mixed with the scent of the hot coffee that I couldn't initially identify. But then it became clear to me that it was the residual scent of "Bel Ambre."
I had taken my leftover sample on vacation and worn it the night before. Since it was quite fresh in the evening, one always needed a jacket; in this case, it was my sweat jacket, which now revealed the last traces of the scent.
"Bel Ambre" starts just as the still young morning presented itself to me: fresh. A hint of fine pepper mixes with a splash of bergamot, creating a pleasantly citrusy-spicy impression that, however, does not bite the nose. The listed juniper berries may be present, but I didn't notice them.
After this successful opening, I can no longer distinguish between heart and base notes. An exceedingly soft-creamy iris note mingles with (white) flowers that I cannot name, as they form a kind of "flower carpet" that never becomes "flowery" or overwhelming. This scent constellation alone makes me appreciate and love the fragrance immensely.
Golden-yellow and finely spicy amber threads, clean musk (more from the clean scent faction), and very soft and finest leather nuances are elegantly complemented or rounded off by vetiver.

This scent mélange is simply a feast for the senses. Warm, soft, and sporty-elegant, it envelops me but does not feel static, as the gentle spiciness of the amber continually provides lively sprinkles.
And somehow "Bel Ambre" felt strangely familiar to me, reminding me a bit of "Aura Sublime" by Bijon, just not quite as super smooth as the aforementioned fragrance.
When I then read that Cécile Zarokian composed both "Bel Ambre" and "Aura Sublime," much became clearer to me. The signature is unmistakable; however, "Bel Ambre" is not a clumsy copy of "Aura Sublime," as "Bel Ambre" is (in the best and most positive sense) distinctly more "down-to-earth" and less playful.
If "Aura Sublime" seems a tad too elegant and too "evening-like," then "Bel Ambre" could be a suitable and very long-lasting companion for all seasons, at any time of day, and for any occasion.

Could a day start more beautifully?