Ambre Sultan (1993)
by Serge Lutens Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido

Ambre Sultan is a very good fragrance. Amber features dominantly from beginning to end, as one would expect, but it sweetness is cut by the use of dry herbs and a touch of cedar that provide a nice balance. This is a very powerful scent; one spray is often enough (and a reason I'm thinking of decanting some into a small roll-on vial).

Sultan - means supreme, the king of desert, a ruler.

..Amber Sultan opens with a "sharp" balm like spicy herbal opening, with a mint like coolness to it reminding one of tiger balm for an instance. Amber in a way embraces this sharp herbal/medicinal notes along with benzoin giving this scent an resinous depth like no other. the intial sweetness and intensity of herbs is beyond words...it's almost fluid and consistent in its sillage exuding smoky bittersweet incense..the mids is where this scent begins to unfold its charisma, where the medicinal(herbal) notes tone down its presense to reveal one of best amber notes that have come across along with hints of vanilla pods and hint of patchouli..which gives off a dusty dry feel..this scent evokes true smoke..not the way i experienced with declaration...this ones real...the basenotes is where the woods show up...true Amber..with the gentlest touch of green on the outside along with sandalwood..evoking thoughts of this resins being freshly extracted...one could almost feel true structure of Amber

Amber sultan is one of the most comforting scents out there which has a healing touch, almost like a therapy. the potions that everyone keeps talkin about? the long lost ones? well, this could very well be one of them. this ones herbal, warm, smoky, animalic & rugged. thumbs way up..

From what I remember, this is heavily medicinal at first but it settles down oh so nicely. At first I didn't like it but when I left others smell it on me.... man did I receive compliments. Try before you buy on this one!

Cheap bathroom deodorizer. ARG!

I waited, alternately gasping for air and heaving with nausea, hoping it would get better.
The dry down was something out of Glade or Wizard!

Took hot bath immediately and scrubbed till it was gone.

P-U

Not for me. Amber with herbs? Orientals are my favorite category, but I have to pass on this one. Mix Prada with Aramis, add a dash of Avignon and sprinkle heavily with Piper Nigrum. Forget it, we're getting silly here.
What! A Serge Lutens fragance silly??
I should be arrested by the niche police as a thought criminal . . .

This review is under revision.