Amber Shadow Scent Trunk 2023

First test:

At first spray I’m getting a strong anise note accompanied by some sweet berries. I think that might be currants? The anise is settling pretty quickly as it dries on my skin, though it’s still adding some herbal freshness.

Well, this faded really fast and oddly I couldn’t identify any of the listed notes. I think I’ll need to give this a second try on another day.

Second test:

Once again, I’m getting that anise and sweet berries, but I’m perceiving more of the amber tone this time. I’m picking up on some creamy vanilla and a subtle hint of something resinous.

Okay, looking at the notes again and this time I’m definitely smelling the earl grey tea note, with the black tea taking dominance over the bergamot. And I can tell now that I’d mistaken the apricot note for berries—both are sweet fruits, so that’s not totally surprising.

So the perfumer was given the brief to compose this fragrance around “clary amber”. However, after lots of googling, I have not been able to determine exactly what that is. I’m thinking it may be referring to a clary sage essential oil distilled from a concrete which apparently produces a deeper scent with fruity and tobacco facets. I’m tempted, though, to email Scent Trunk to find out exactly what they intended, lol.

Regardless, this is a really beautiful amber composition. I’ve been following Sam Macer on YouTube for a while and it’s great to get my nose on one of his original creations!

This time it lingered about 4 hours, so okay longevity for an artisanal fragrance.

This was a lovely fragrance to wear, but I’m not sure if I’m compelled to purchase a full bottle at this point. I think I’ll use up the sample and see if it grows on me.

Warm and sweet and lovely is how I can describe this. I imagine myself sitting for tea in the English countryside on a fine late summer afternoon. Freshly brewed Earl Grey Tea sits in cups on the table (no milk or sugar please). Delicate apricots waft sweetness - that lush stonefruit essence - up to my nose. I grab a leather napkin and put it on my right knee, waiting for the sandwiches to arrive, cress, cucumber and fish paste, please. The oak trees stand majestically in the distance, reminding me what the table I sit at have it's life to be. Clary Sage sits on the table in a simple vase, I insisted on it instead of a large floral do, it accents the softness of the apricot, no? Then, in the center of the table, I share my prized find, a chunk of amber with orange blossoms in it - casually waiting for my friend, a professor from Cambridge, to join me and discuss this prize, found hiding in the attic of a woman named Hepzibah, 85, whose grandfather was an archaeologist when it was much more glamorous to be one.

Amber Shadow opens with the sweetness of a late-summer apricot harvest. Warm, golden and fleeting. Quickly settling into aged woods and supple leathers. The transition feels effortless, like stepping into a familiar but cozy room at dusk where the air still carries traces of sunlight and quiet contentment.

There is a meditative calm at its core... something a bit nostalgic yet grounded. It invites stillness and reflection, like that twilight hour when the day has offered all it can and there is nothing left to do but breath, unwind and lose yourself in a well written story.

Addictive, soothing and beautifully balanced. Amber Shadow feels perfect for a late summer, fall or wintry day and is best enjoyed in the company of someone dear.

I'm not sure how to describe this fragrance. Its supposed to be inspired by Magical Dark Academia, a play of light and dark. Its supposed to be bright fruit, earthy tea, bookcases, and leather. What I got was dark resinous spice without any sweetness. It felt almost as thick as molasses. There was something in there that was plasticky or waxy, I kept thinking of crayola crayons. There was a hint of some fruit but its just beaten down by the leather and earth. While this is a warm fragrance, I would not call it inviting or cozy. The plastic undertone also remains throughout the whole fragrance.

The scent did have some lift off the skin but not much. The fragrance also lasted about 5 hours on my skin. There are three size options available starting at 5ml for $21, 30ml for $65, and 100ml for $155.