Versilia Vintage - Ambra Mediterranea Profumi del Forte 2009

Very nice amber that particularly will appeal to those who prefer their amber scents on the less-sweet side of the spectrum. I really did not get much in the way of top notes when I tried Ambra Mediterranea on skin. The scent almost immediately started blossoming with the amber coming to the fore from the get-go. Shortly after the amber's appearance, the relatively strong cedar supporting note gradually gained strength through the heart notes and continued through the base as well. Towards the end of the scent's development, vanilla makes an appearance but barely sweetens the scent beyond a tad making it very wearable by just about anyone. A subtle incense accord is also present in the base notes to give the amber some additional character. Projection and longevity are both well-above average.

Ambra Mediterranae is a relatively expensive scent, but Bertrand Duchaufour has certainly created a winner here that is worthy of its lofty price, IMO. One of the three best amber dominant scents I have tried to date and highly recommended. Also of note is the gorgeous bottle that the scent comes in. One of the most appealing I have laid eyes on. 4 to 4.5 stars out of 5.

This review will be a tough one to write, since I have to do it with one hand. The other one is sticked to my nose.

Take a brown bowl, put cocoa powder in it with a small amount of brown sugar, break old and dry branches to it, fill it half with ambregris, half with rich soil, crush a few Pocket Coffee on top of the mixture, go out of your witch's brew, find an abandoned forest, bury it in the middle of the darkest part, and pray to pagan gods of night. The gods will feel exactly the same fragrance as me now.

I would say, that it is a Black Afgano with amber.
It is a unisex fragrance with good stamina, and it is incredibly sexy.

Finally one of the very few amber scents which tries to do something creative with this accord. A dry, smoked, camphoraceous amber rich in darkness and sour resins (like benzoin), with an indolic and dusty texture, perhaps provided by jasmine. Basically a sort of Donna Karan’s Black Cashmere with less spices (at least initially) and more amber: there’s quite some differences, but that (and other scents like that) came to my mind because of its dark, ambery thickness, almost harsh and pungent, which is one of the most interesting features of Ambra as well. The scent is really good initially, and much powerful too, with a palpable and charming feel of gloomy nostalgia, romantic and quite decadent (jasmine, benzoin, woods). Finally something different from basically almost all other warm-sweet-powdery amber scents – nothing against them, if there wasn’t dozens of them. This scents has almost nothing in common with almost any other amber: the note is there, but it’s austere, dry, sour and shady. Much velvety and mellow too, but in a sort of more sensual, “naughtier”, mature way if compared to the cozy, friendly warmth of the usual amber accord. On the very base I also get a balmy-woody accord, that too quite dark, dirty and smoked (almost like oud at some points), but with a brighter, more gently aromatic side of cedar. In my opinion, the downside here is a persistent “chemical” feel, something halfway metallic and terpenic, and the use of spices (which is a totally personal opinion, but it seems like they are there just to provide more substance and thickness, and after a while they get kind of boring to my nose). Apart from this, surely a remarkable take on amber worthy a try. One of the few Duchaufour I like!

7,5-8/10

I own the older bottle of Versilia Vintage Ambra Mediterranea (VVAM), which I personally find more aesthetically pleasing than the newer design. Beyond its elegant presentation, the fragrance itself is a standout, arguably one of the finest amber scents available today. For me, it even surpasses classics like Grand Soir or Amber Absolute in the opening, offering a more wearable and office-friendly profile.

VVAM opens with a caramel-like sweetness, enriched by vibrant orange notes. This transitions into a heart of soft florals, eventually settling into a warm, woody base dominated by patchouli. The result is a rich, complex, and luminous blend with impressive longevity and projection.

The dry down is where VVAM truly shines. Notes of grey amber, benzoin, cedar, tolu balm, patchouli, incense, vanilla and white musk come together to create a heady, sacred amber experience with subtle incense nuances.

It’s no surprise that I often receive compliments from colleagues, sometimes even a bit too enthusiastically, as they try to catch a closer whiff!

If you can get your hands on a bottle, especially the original design, I highly recommend it. In my opinion, it outperforms many of its rivals, including Grand Soir, Ambra Aurea and/or Ambre Sultan. A true gem in the amber fragrance category.

...that was my first thought when I smelled Versilia Vintage-Ambra Mediterranea for the first time.
I owe a sample of this perfume to KatRedhead, who got me hooked on amber.

First of all: If you like delicate, subtle, or pleasant scents, you should stay away from this fragrance. Here, the amber club is swung, and it makes no prisoners! Fat, heavy, and oily, Moby hits the olfactory senses. I have never smelled amber so distinctly. From the very beginning, there is this incense-wood-patchouli blend that reminds me of incense shops in the 70s. Jasmine, orange, ylang? No chance, folks. There is no room for embellishments when His Majesty the Whale rolls by.

Only after 1-2 hours does the scent become a bit softer and gives vanilla and musk a chance. Together, they create a wonderfully warm yet animalistic blend that is perfectly composed on the skin.

Sillage and longevity...Warning, warning, warning!!! A half drop too much, and the birds will fall dead from the branches as you walk by! This monster must be dosed very sparingly. And compared to this longevity, super glue seems like damp adhesive tape. This stuff easily survives 2 days with the accompanying showers; it is still perceptible on the skin.

All in all: Dreamy, extraordinary, and striking! Versilia Vintage is my next purchase candidate!