Ambre Noir (2008)
by Sonoma Scent Studio

Reminiscences of Mazzolari Lui and Gotham Neil Morris with this viscous, animalic, mossy amber  with some incense in composition, a sugary-gummy and leathery starring labdanum in the blend and a rosey floral effluvium exuding in the air. Another winter dark spicy creation very, very rich. The incense effluviums, the resinous labdanum of the forest and the dirty amber whirl in the air in a sort of mystic and exotic holy ceremony. The dry down is delightful with hints of myrrh and and obscure rosey sparks floating in the sky. Leather (or the leathery feel of labdanum) is present in the animalic blend on the side of musk, moss, amber, myrrh and may be something further of edible (honey?). The dry down is structured  by dirty and slightly smoky woods of the forest. Another   dark beast that is more on the mystic side than on the one of the naughty boldness or gothic fear in my opinion because of the almost spiritual chord of incense and labdanum, the faint patchouli and the too edible mellifluence of opoponax. 

22nd December, 2011.

My Ambre Noir experience diary:

At spray: Wow! Sweetness blast! Honey, sugar, candy Amber.

5/10 mins. in: Prickly! What's that? Pepper? Peppered Candy! Fun! A little gritty/flinty/crunchy

30 mins. in: Balance. Zen beauty. Rich amber with a peppery lift, flinty pencil shaving base.

1 hour: Pepper fading, Pencils growing. Clear modern woods. A touch Ormonde Jayne.

2 hour: Pepper gone, woods keep blooming, growing colder, impersonal, loosing interest.

4 hour: Harsh modern synth-like drydown. Dull. Chemical woods. Memory of amber fading.

6 hour: Faint tickle: pepper, amber, woods,

Conclusion: It seems to be a good quality product. For the most part it has a good balance and the 30 min. to 1 hour span is lovely. The modern woods seem cold and impersonal to me, lacking character or individuality. I'm not wear it, it's not wearing me, we're just somewhat adjacent each other.

Recommendation: Support independent perfumers! Buy some and judge for yourself!

24th September, 2011.

True to its name, Sonoma Scent Studio AMBRE NOIR is a dark, thick and viscous, YOUTH DEW-like perfume. One look at the contents of the vial, and it becomes clear that this is a serious elixir. The opening is briefly medicinal but then the composition smooths into a “dusky” (as they put it—and rightly so!) labdanum-rich amber perfume. This is strictly a winter affair, with an oily incense note along with the other hard-hitting oriental components, but I'm wearing it today (April 18, 2011), as we in Boston have no spring, so we're trapped in winter basically until the day that summer dawns (sometime in May, we hope!). So far so good. I'll update as the evening progresses...

...It's a winner: smooth and seductive: I want it!

11th July, 2011.

Dark, deep and rich unsweet amber fragrance. Well, it's not that much amber, it develops and changes during it's lifespan, which is quite long. It's complex and you'll need time to find the "amber" theme.
Diamondflame's description is spot on IMO.

5th July, 2011.

I do not know to say if it pleases me to AN or not. Initially, I smell sharp flowers and a little of dust. One mixes, where I cannot distinguish notes. I think that it is a feminine perfume. The candy - to the few - appears. Some minutes later, it acquires smoothness. I feel that AN can conquer me. It goes being to the level of the skin, softer, delicate. But still I feel a fine blade… I do not perceive the land, nor the incense, nor the leather in my skin. But some sândalo, amber, white pachoulli. I like, consider it attractive. Pleasant perfume in some occasions. Perhaps it is not for me.

(Não sei dizer se AN me agrada ou não. Inicialmente, eu cheiro flores afiadas e um pouco de pó. Uma mistura, onde não posso distinguir as notas. Penso que é um feminino perfume. O doce - aos poucos - aparece. Alguns minutos depois, adquire suavidade. Sinto que AN pode conquistar-me. Vai ficando ao nível da pele, mais macio, delicado. Mas ainda sinto uma fina lâmina... Não percebo a terra, nem o incenso, nem o couro em minha pele. Mas algum sândalo, ambar, branco pachoulli. Eu gosto, considero-o atraente. Agradável perfume em algumas ocasiões. Talvez não seja para mim.)

31st August, 2010.

hmm... I find myself in quite a pickle wiht this one. I thought Winter Woods was my favorite woody from this house, but now I'm not so sure. I think Ambre Noir just snuck up and stole the birthday plate out from under Winter Wood's hand.

Amber noir has a sweet note, obviously, with that rose, myrrh and labdanum addition. To be honest this sits just below the 'too sweet' on me, but never quite tips the scale, which is why I loooove it.

Winter woods is a straight up woody chypre, which makes you feel like you slipped into a pool of liquid gold.

Amber noir is an interesting, sultry, resinous floral; which makes you think you just caught the bridal bouquet and that you're up next for a walk down the isle.

ooh, what to do. I think I need both.

18th March, 2010. (Last Edited: 29th March, 2010.)