Reviews of Youth Dew Amber Nude (2005)
by Estée Lauder

This is how a woman should smell.

Simply alluring. It is so seductive, rich, layered, and naughty, I cannot believe that some women chose to buy fragrances like Angel or some other hateful scent instead of this masterpiece. It has everything Youth Dew had in it, but so much more modern, in a way timeless, luminous and transparent. It is warm and unmistakably feminine. Yet with Tom Ford's Midas touch, both the perception and mix, that this perfume had been based on, have been altered for the better. I think this edition is the proof that a great scent, in its purity and basic combination, is indeed timeless, and Youth Dew is that timeless classic. Like a decadent Dior or Chanel look: it can always be modified into the new times without losing its original soul or merit.

Youth Dew Amber Nude opens with ginger, cinnamon, magnolia, tea, and grapefruit. The ginger and cinnamon are not too heavy, so don't worry, you don;t end up smelling like a candy bar. Yet this is unmistakably feminine and the opening, in no way, apologizing for its character. Then the scent moves to heavy floral accords as carnations, roses, ylang-ylang and heavy jasmine. Jasmine is overpowering I suppose, but this is not a 'white' scent, nor sticky as many jasmine scents end up being. I suppose the mid-notes do have something in common with Guerlain Samsara due to the jasmine-rose duo, but this is so much more modern and even much lighter than Samsara.

To break things to a more sensible ground, the scents seals the deal with sandalwood, patchouli, amber, and a little bit vetiver. What you end up with after many hours of wearing (longevity is impressive) a rich amber-y aura with pretty flowers. It is sensual, soft, and uplifting, to say the least.

Estee Lauder is a very estrogen-driven company. There is nothing male about it. I don't even remember testing a mens scent from Estee, ever, let alone buying one. Even though this partnership with Tom Ford has been clever on their part, it was such a marketing ploy, it wasn't even amusing how transparent the actions of the company were. I am sure they have sold many bottles of Youth Dew Amber Nude since, and why shouldn't they, it is a masterpiece like I said. But more importantly, I wish the company could be perceptive enough to release a masculine version of this scent, because it is quite easy to create a cutting edge, yet comfortable scent based on these accords for men as well.

I would wear this perfume, but I would not feel comfortable in it, since it is unforgivably feminine. That being said, a great masculine version of this scent is long-overdue, and it could be a great venture for Estee to galvanize sales on their mens department, which I assume must be quite dismal.

Try this one before buying! It is not for everybody! On my skin, it never comes out beautiful, it is just way too strong and way too spicy. I have really tried to like this one, I have tested it many, many times, but it just doasn´t work for me.
I congrat all of you who wears this one well!

Got this a few months ago from my mother-in-law, a friend had given it to her along with the body lotion but she didn't like it. At first I wasn't sure but I put some on and then the whole way from Knoxville to Asheville in the car I kept smelling something yummy and realized, "Hey, it's me - I smell yummy!" So though it doesn't have a special place in my heart like Coco does I find it enjoyable to the point that I use the body lotion just about every day. Something about smelly "yummy" really appeals to me.

A few qualifiers here: (1) I haven't sampled Youth Dew; (2) I'm reviewing at the point of just a second wearing; (3) it's an especially hot June this year.

The first time I applied YDAN, and without referencing any history on it, my first thought was that this amber is highly filtered, the way American wines are passed through fine-micron filters to polish the liquid for visual effect (Europeans aren't as put off my murky sediment). My impression was that the amber was restrained and straight-laced. I did not recognize that the top notes were tea and grapefruit (there is no telltale sharpness), but it is these molecules through which I was straining to detect amber, one of my favorite notes. For the heart of the fragrance, I thought, tra-la-la, this is pleasant enough, tra-la-la. Finally the base set in like dew fall at dusk. Now we're talking! Give me deep, dark, sweet, dirty notes. I'll probably hold onto this sample (thank you very much, Quinpus!); it amuses me. And now I'm curious about Youth Dew for the first time. But for a rustic, bohemian amber that gives me an instant pleasure fix, Ambre Narguile my sweetie.

This is just wonderful as all things dark and dirty must be lurking in these notes, however I still prefer the original. This is much lighter and would appeal to those too wary of the original, and probably may appeal to the younger buyers. The combination of patchouli and dark chocolate is sooo sinful, but is lightened by the fresh tea notes. Definitely an evening perfume, but I wear this in the daylight hours too. Men lurv it.

fantastic reorchestrated by the genius of tom ford-he takes this very classical, elegant and a bit dated fragrance and turns it into a sexy,hip but marvellous scent and this is an example how it shoul be done-you still smell and feel the original version-and the original is definitely outsatnding and unique but tom ford gives it th touch of today-you smell at the same time the classical youth dew and the renewed version which is more sexy,cooler and clearer.the original is classy,down to earth, elegant,sensual and warm and tom ford gives these great composition the final touch of modernity-wonderful arranged and well mixed up!Great work.In conclusion:youth dew amber is the modern version of an outstanding,classical and unique fragrance.Warm,sensual,mysterious, oriental and powerful.with the touch of coolness of the gucci heroe-wonderful!!!

I've never tried the original Youth Dew. When I read the description of Youth Dew Amber Nude something told me I would love it and I do. It is just fabulous. When I wear it I feel wrapped in a sensual and rich cloak that lingers without being overpowering.

Although I love the original Youth Dew, Amber Nude is finding it's way into my heart as well. It is not as "grounded" as the original, and I prefer to look at it as a kind of shy little sister. Amber has always been one of the notes I am drawn to, as it smells warm and rich on my skin. Amber Nude is warm and rich, with a very sensual spicy quality. I still prefer the original, but this one is on the fast track to becoming another favorite!

I do like the original Youth Dew but only from a distance. It reminds me of old ladies in church, probably because that's where I first smelled it.

Now, with Amber Nude, there is a Youth Dew that has all the potency of the original without the cloying quality. To me it smells fiery and carnal.

I really like it, but as a guy, I'm undecided as to whether or not I can pull off wearing it.

I like this MUCH better than the regular Youth Dew (I am a huge fan of amber), but I have to tell you a LIFETIME supply would be about 5 ml. I love Amber, but it is SO STRONG that you have to be extremely careful how you use it. This is not a fragrance for the timid and should only be worn at night in winter and on the wrists only.

I love this one! Never tried the original though, but this one really does it for me. The only problem is, that I don't know when to wear it, it's certainly not on office-perfume as many people dislike it.

I love this, but my husband doesn't. I did not care for Youth Dew because my mother used to over dose on it and so I just got tired of it, but this is so much softer and more modern. It has a touch of citrus added and just a milder, younger feel to it. I thought Youth Dew had a smell like it was starting to go bad, but this lighter, slightly different version smells much fresher to me. It is still very spicy.

Youth Dew Amber Nude
I didn't want to like this because I am a fan of original Youth Dew and feared that Amber Nude would be its replacement. However, I do like it. Its heart of cinnamon, patchouli, and amber remain faithful to the original. It lacks the comlexity of its predecessor, emphasizing a clear cinnamon/amber over a darker patchouli/balsam. It is as if the directive were to remove anything objectional, such as the infamous"rubber note" but leave the rest intact. The result is that Amber Nude is edible, whereas Youth Dew is earthy. Both are superb Orientals. I still prefer the original, more mysterious formula. Guess I just like 'em a little dirty.

I. Love. This. My grandmother wore Youth Dew, and just the slightest whiff of it makes my mother burst into tears. This is close enough to still be lovely, but not close enough to make my mother cry. And yes, it smells naughty, like you should hide it away when people come by for dinner, just as I'd imagine a Tom Ford fragrance to be. Exceptionally bottle worthy.

Geez, where to start...reminds me much of Original Egoiste and Cartier Baiser du Dragon, dripping with sensuality. I find the rose note very close to the real thing, plush with a powdery and incense like nature and its clarity supported by a note of vetiver. There's chocolate, but not overpowering or confectionary but just lends a hand at making the base rounded and sensual. And just when you think it's over, there's at last 4 hours on my skin a whisper of the original Youth Dew...a musky warm spicy ambery base that wears close to the skin that drives me off the edge. This is off the chain with super sillage in the cooler air. There's a fanbase of men who feel right wearing the original Youth Dew, but I'm not one of them. Amber Nude on the other hand, is sex in a bottle that both genders can share!

I really like it. Yes, it's brighter and lighter, but overall I think they really stayed close to the original. They have the same animalistic and powdery base. The heart is less spicy, now that they replaced the carnation with rose. With the changes made, there is something that reminds me of the discountinued Venezia by Laura Biagotti.

Male J.H.L fans, you might like Amber Nude very much too.

Firstly, I am glad that Tom Ford kept this version of Youth Dew very similar, yet distinctly different to it's original namesake. Before tring Amber Nude I had imagined something vastly 'teeny bop' & not sophisicated.

Youth Dew Amber Nude is very sexy and sensual, but still demure and classy. In my opinion, Amber Nude is just a bit lighter with maybe a bit more of a citrus undertone than the original. That combined with the black rose & truffle really turns this into a lusty brew that I cannot stop indulging in! I have noticed that this smells better when applied on the crook of the arm. Delicious! Also, just two sprays last for around 4 hours on me.

Amber Nude really is mood heightening. Very sexy. Very underated fragrance IMO, very much bottle-worthy!