Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Jo Malone 2008

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7.6 / 10 318 Ratings

A popular perfume by Jo Malone for women, released in 2008. The scent is spicy-woody. It is being marketed by Estēe Lauder Companies.
Pronunciation

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Main accords

Spicy

Woody

Floral

Oriental

Sweet

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Black cardamom

Pink pepper Ginger

Ginger

Heart Notes

Orchid

Rose

Jasmine

Water lily

Base Notes

Black amber

Frankincense

Sandalwood Leather

Leather

Patchouli

Perfumer

Andrea Lupo

Ratings

Scent

7.6318 Ratings

Longevity

7.1249 Ratings

Sillage

6.5244 Ratings

Bottle

7.9239 Ratings

Value for money

6.692 Ratings

Submitted by Lampe, last update on 05/07/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Series Three - M

Crystal Noir Eau de Parfum

Pera Eau de Parfum

Pera Eau de Cologne

Lutèce Eau de Toilette

Champaca Absolute

Reviews

8 in-depth fragrance descriptions

02/08/2025

4
Pricing 6
Bottle 4
Sillage 6
Longevity 7.5
Scent

WolfHunter
50 Reviews

WolfHunter

1

Often Overlooked

It seems like the fragrances in the Jo Malone lineup that get all the attention are Myrrh & Tonka and Wood Sage & Sea Salt. Dark Amber & Ginger Lily is a little bit of a gem that warrants at least a sample. I was gifted this fragrance and I find myself wearing it quite often. It opens with a bright ginger note that is very pleasant. It then evolves and goes into an almost green medicinal scent that works very well over sweet florals. At the end of the fragrance, it bases out into amber and incense with only a hint of florals over the top. It’s a perfect fall fragrance for any occasion. Like almost all of the other Jo Malone fragrances, this is not a monster projector. It sits close to the skin for the majority of the wear. It does last quite a while on me. I can apply it at the beginning of a 12 hour shift and still smell it on myself when my workday is over.

There is just one odd little quirk about this fragrance. It smells way better on my skin than it does clothing. When I spray it on clothing, for some reason it develops this waxy crayon type smell and I have no idea why. But on skin, it remains true to the description I gave earlier in this review. So if you sample this, make sure you test in both clothing and skin to see what works best in you. It is pretty unisex in my opinion but leans ever so slightly feminine.

Is it a really good fragrance? Yes. Am I going to repurchase when I’m out? Probably not. The price tag is very steep and for that money, there’s definitely better out there.

03/18/2025

8
Sillage 8
Longevity 7.5
Scent

Raluko111
346 Reviews

Raluko111

1

Another pleasant surprise from Jo.

In fall and winter, you will always find ginger in my pantry: I use it in teas, soups, curries, cakes with cardamom and saffron, ginger is just an integral part of my kitchen. The ginger in Dark Amber & Ginger is like a freshly squeezed juice, it warms me to the core, and when I wear it, I crave quiet afternoons in my living room, wrapped up in a cozy shawl, a good book in hand. It's so well balanced, the lotus and orchid were meant to be together here, to create this perfect harmony. The amber is subtle and sweet, the sandalwood, patchouli and leather more like shadows hazily combined, rather than individual notes I can distinguish.

I love these colognes from Jo Malone because, unlike her usual offers, these actually have silage and longevity.
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Toamna și iarna gătesc foarte des cu ghimbir, il beau in ceaiuri, il amestec in supe, curry, prăjituri cu cardamom și șofran, este mereu in bucătăria mea. Ghimbirul in Dark Amber & Ginger este ca un suc proaspăt stors, mă încălzește, și când il port, parcă vreau să mă învelesc cu un șal de cașmir, să iau o carte in mană și să mă bucur de frig. Il ador de la deschidere până la notele de bază: totul este atât de bine balansat, nufărul si orhideea parcă au fost menite să se îmbine in acest amestec și să il eleveze la alt nivel de sofisticare. Când notele de bază apar, este in continuare o încântare: nasul meu se bucură de dulceața subtilă a ambrei, olibanum dansează frumos cu lemnul de santal, iar paciuli si pielăria aici sunt tăcute, mai mult umbre decât note ușor de distins. Toate notele trăiesc în completă armonie, nimic nu deranjează, nimic nu pare deplasat, totul este așa cum trebuie să fie.

Am impresia că față de celelalte parfumuri Jo Malone, coloniile intense sânt mult mai bine făcute și proiectează și țin o vreme bună.

06/26/2021

10
Bottle 7
Sillage 7
Longevity 9
Scent

Llea2703
8 Reviews

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Llea2703

Helpful Review 30

Of nostalgia and love...

My grandma has a very strong bond with Morocco. For years Agadir was her holiday destination. She and my grandpa were there very often, for years 2 times a year for several weeks.
They had their regular hotel and all the staff and other regulars already knew them, and were happy to see them again every time.
They built a particularly strong bond with one of the hotel staff. He showed them around town and even invited them to his home several times, until he even set up a guest room for them. For my grandma and grandpa, it became a sort of second home.

By the numerous holidays came naturally also enormous amounts of Mitbringseln to Germany. Moroccan robes, jewelry, bottles of argan oil, spices, even Moroccan cookies they brought with them when they came back after 3 weeks in mid-December. But what always interested me the most were the smells. So it came to pass that my grandma brought me a small tin with a piece of pressed dark amber. I loved that scent. So much so that as a young girl I rubbed that bit against my skin to wear as perfume. To this day, I still have those little jars scattered around many rooms so I can always get a whiff of it.

Why I tell all this:

As I stood in Douglas testing the beautiful Jo Malone bottle, I was immediately reminded. The spices, the sweet cookies, and of course, most importantly, the amber!
That's exactly what this scent reflects paired with soft woods and beautiful florals. I could also smell the ginger clearly in the beginning. It was as if all these memories had been packed into a bottle and mixed.
Of course, I couldn't help but take it straight to the checkout.
This scent is mysterious as it is, spicy, alluring, warming and a little sexy too. I can imagine him at any time of year!
Layered with Jasmine Sambac & Marigold it also makes a very great blend (and becomes even more durable) and I can't get enough of it.

Meanwhile, my grandparents no longer have the strength to make this journey. They are both doing well, yet they miss the vacations together very much. Let's see...maybe I can also awaken a touch of nostalgia with them with this fragrance.

12/02/2020

9
Bottle 7
Sillage 8
Longevity 10
Scent

Aleksandra95
1 Review

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Aleksandra95

11

Enchanting spicy-soft sensuality with depth

I never tire of smelling him. It shimmers spicy-floral and soft-woody all day long. It starts with a peppery note, later it becomes very soft and sensual, slightly sweet and creamy, but with an enchanting spicy depth. For me the most sensual and interesting fragrance I know - expressive, gentle and unobtrusive at the same time. No other fragrance is able to unite these contrasting facets so enchantingly in one bottle

09/28/2021

8
Pricing 8
Bottle 7
Sillage 8
Longevity 8.5
Scent

Laurali
8 Reviews

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Laurali

10

Wellness in the middle of the forest

At first I was going to write a statement, but the few characters just wouldn't be able to do the fragrance justice.

The test of this fragrance was a pure coincidence and I must also confess that I did not like it at first. Normally spicy, resinous sweet scents are not so mine (Grand Soir, L'ambre des Merveilles, etc. were quite nice, but I do not like to smell on me. Maybe that changes yet).

The fragrance starts hot and peppery by ginger and pepper. Who likes spicy scents, comes here already directly at his expense. This start has put me off at the first testing.

But then (!!!), after a few minutes, opens a spa for my nose. So balsamic, creamy, warm and yet somehow fresh at the same time. Insanely beautiful.

When I spray on the fragrance today, the following thoughts come into my head: a long walk through the autumnal forest. The sun is already low and illuminates with their last rays the trees shining in magnificent red / orange. After a long walk you see a beautiful rustic wooden hut. In a small adjoining house the sauna is already preheated, in which an aroma infusion is waiting for me. After the relaxed sauna, quickly with a towel tied around through the cold air and main house, cream, cozy warm clothes on and sit with a good book and a cup of ginger tea in the big old leather chair by the fireplace, while it is already getting dark outside and the fog spreads between the trees.

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