A Quintessential Amber

To me, Ambre 114 is more of a benchmark amber scent than Serge Lutens' Ambre Sultan, which has a thick, herbal opening, or Profumum Roma's Ambra Aurea which leans heavily into the cola-scented face of myrrh.

Ambre 114 is a rather ordinary vanillic amber - powdered with benzoin, softened with florals and given a vintage-leaning ambiance. The experience is warm, smooth and rounded. It comes across as a rather one-dimensional, unadulterated by additional notes.

For those just getting into amber fragrances, this would be a great place to start, providing an ambery experience without anything off-piste. But for those more attuned to the nose, you may feel it's a little overly familiar.