L'Ombre Fauve
by Parfumerie Generale

L'Ombre Fauve is a particular ambery fragrance that despite preserving  all the nuances and complexities of the precious raw material (i mean amber),  holds on its trip towards the end of the development being averagely dry, decidedly mossy and finally powdery (powdery woods) with a moderate level of sweetness, a featuring earthy note of aromatic-dry patchouli, a touch of incense, sharp spices and a plain musky note. The spices get a complex work in here in order to mantein balanced and steady the level of mellifluence and to imprint a dusty, exotic and a bit rough vibe throughout the evolution. The sweetness is basically made of amber and dry woodsy in here. The usage of incense is minimal in my opinion and it comes out in the first stage of the trip, dusty and a bit minty. May be some woodsy and resinous labdanum is blended in the mix and the animal vibe which many talk about and that i feel minimal (just present) is brought out by the combination of amber and leathery labdanum. The smell is basically amber and musk under my nose and the amber is not brewing or caramellous under attack of mellow fruits or waterfalls of balsams. The amber is simply a bit animal, powdery-incensey ,a bit dusty-earthy of patchouli and spices and finally mossy. I agree who with writes that it shares some similarities with the more animalic and dense Mazzolari Lui but just in the sense that both are amber-patchouli fragrances with a notable addition of woodsy musk-moss in the blend. Endly the two beasts are different and Lui is far more surupy, animal and resinous under my nose. An interesting woodsy fragrance from a great brand.

12nd December, 2011. (Last Edited: 13rd December, 2011.)

I was intrigued by the name, it had the effect of a magic spell on me. Until I sniffed it... It's excellent, I have no doubt about this; but for me -on my skin- is like civet sprayed on a layer of MPG Ambre Precieux. And when the civet strong note is gone, there's no difference between this OF and MPG ambre. Same.

28th November, 2011. (Last Edited: 28th December, 2011.)

This is a very well done amber based scent. The musk, vanilla, incense add depth and richness to it, but the amber is the predominant note. It is almost like a cross between Ambre Sultan and Andy Tauer LDDM. I like this and will have to decide between L'Ombre Fauve and Ambre Sultan. It will not be an easy choice as both are excellent.

17th June, 2011.

I acquired a free sample of this from Luckyscent a couple of years ago, and never paid much attention to it - Aomassai, Bois Blond and L'Oiseau de Nuit, also by Parfumerie Generale, captured all of my attention. But having seen jlouismi's description, I had to dig it out and try it.

And WOW! jlouismi is right, this DOES smell like a wild fox covered in baby powder!

I like it! ;-)

10th June, 2011.

Like its name, Bestial Shadow, this is both animalic & indistinct. As mentioned previously this has a realistic fur-like texture & the beast has ventured close enough to cast its shadow upon the wearer. An animal pelt thrown over a censer, it glows with amber & suffuses with incense. Its patchouli & musk envelope & subdue but never in excess. L'Ombre Fauve is a primordial puissant presence treading the line between fear & arousal, abated breath & pupillary dilation the fruits of its effulgence.

17th February, 2011.

L’Ombre Fauve is a sweet spiced amber that could easily have come from Serge Lutens, but wound up in the Parfumerie Générale line instead. While clearly composed in the oriental manner, L’Ombre Fauve departs from the heavier, gourmand, woody oriental style Pierre Guillaume has explored repeatedly in scents like Cozé, Cadjmere, and Aomassaï. Either because or in spite of this, I think it is one of his more successful oriental fragrances.

In its use of sweet, powdery amber and earthy, animalic patchouli, L’Ombre Fauve is particularly reminiscent of Ambre Sultan, though it does without the briny oregano accents. In its musky, animalic base notes it also shares affinities with Mazzolari’s Lui and Patchouly, though it is far less dense than either in its drydown. In fact, name not withstanding, L’Ombre Fauve is among the most transparent of its spiced amber kin. (Among which I also include Anné Pliska, Ambre Précieux, Cinnabar, Coco, and Opium.) In my experience, only L’Artisan Parfumeur’s L’Eau d’Ambre and Montale’s Blue Amber approach it’s luminous buoyancy, and L’Ombre Fauve is more complex and nuanced in its spices, more alluring in its animalic content, than either.

L’Ombre Fauve is reasonably potent, but not overwhelming, as some of its peers can be. It also endures for several hours on the skin, radiating its warm, sweet animalic glow. While it doesn’t displace Ambre Sultan, Ambre Russse, or Ambre Précieux in my estimation, I do think L’Ombre Fauve is a worthy entry in a very crowded field. It certainly offers an appealing alternative for those who prefer their amber with a little less belly fat.

28th December, 2010. (Last Edited: 29th December, 2010.)