By far the strongest sillage of any Creed fragrance I've encountered to date, and WOW -- what an old fashioned chameleon, as well! This stuff goes on (I'm not joking) smelling very, very as though Youth Dew and Noir Épices got together to bump uglies in some posh hotel somewhere and created a love child in the torrid process. (And at first I hated the little bastard, but he quickly grew on me.)
Very stuffy, very dated smelling, very over-the-top in those first 5 or 10 minutes. Even in the first 15 minutes on me, in fact, AC was so strong that it was almost unbearable. (After my first 3 spritzes, I felt as though I'd drenched myself in Youth Dew and then tried to rinse it off with Noir Épices . There's a hint of my faves JHL and Cinnabar here, yes, but far more Youth Dew and Noir Épices.)
One of the reviewers mentioned Lutens-esque qualities here. I can definitely see that myself. Dark, rich and decadent, indeed -- palpably sensuous, even. (But definitely a scent that not everyone will like!)
Blessedly, the drydown slowly begins after 15 or 20 minutes. (Even half an hour into this scent, I couldn't help but think, "Whoa -- better, but maybe this stuff is still not for me!") Very soon, though, it started to mellow into a musky, smoky, woody, rich concoction, especially on my pulse points. In doing so, it went from being "ambergris from hell" (or "Youth Dew on acid," if you will) to one of the most pleasant things I've ever smelled on my skin. (My husband of twelve years dubbed it "Youth Dew on steroids.")
The cinnamon is always playing in the background, yet remains relatively inobtrusive. (Odd, given the scent's name.) I also can't help but pick up a dark patchouli -- or something equally woody, mysterious and powerful -- even though I've not seen that listed among the notes. This is definitely a power scent, and yet also very romantic at the same time. I read in the review of Noir Épices that Catherine Deneuve favors that frag. (All I can say is that were she to go more Anglo and less Franco, Mlle. Deneuve would surely pick Ambre Canelle.)
One of the reviewers mentioned jasmine, and, well, I just don't get that -- not at all. I'm not saying that there's none there, but trust me when I say that jasmine is NOT one of the notes I pick up!
Ambre Canelle is a largely unisex power scent -- very much in the same vein as Noir Épices, JHL and Piper Nigrum. Be advised though, that (like these other frags) it MUST be applied with caution. Also, it should probably be put on a minimum of 30 minutes prior to going out, else you'll likely give those around you a nasty case of ambergris toxicity.
I intend to always have a bottle of this stuff on hand now, you bet. But, like Iquitos, Magie Noire and Ténéré (three other dark favorites of mine), Ambre Canelle will NOT be one that I'll spritz on daily. (No, it's one of those scents I'll definitely have to be in the mood for.) Highly complex, awfully deep, relatively formal . . . and likely not for everyone. But for the incredibly low price I bought it (a paltry $35, plus $10 s/h for the 2.5 oz. tester size from eBay seller creedirect -- really the Bond No. 9 store in NYC, I've been told), I sure as hell couldn't go wrong. Am damn glad I made this purchase.
If you get a bottle, be sure to a) give that first phoenix of a spritz to "die and be re-born from its ashes" first, and then b) let us all know what you think of this little known Creed frag (dare I say "masterpiece?").
Very stuffy, very dated smelling, very over-the-top in those first 5 or 10 minutes. Even in the first 15 minutes on me, in fact, AC was so strong that it was almost unbearable. (After my first 3 spritzes, I felt as though I'd drenched myself in Youth Dew and then tried to rinse it off with Noir Épices . There's a hint of my faves JHL and Cinnabar here, yes, but far more Youth Dew and Noir Épices.)
One of the reviewers mentioned Lutens-esque qualities here. I can definitely see that myself. Dark, rich and decadent, indeed -- palpably sensuous, even. (But definitely a scent that not everyone will like!)
Blessedly, the drydown slowly begins after 15 or 20 minutes. (Even half an hour into this scent, I couldn't help but think, "Whoa -- better, but maybe this stuff is still not for me!") Very soon, though, it started to mellow into a musky, smoky, woody, rich concoction, especially on my pulse points. In doing so, it went from being "ambergris from hell" (or "Youth Dew on acid," if you will) to one of the most pleasant things I've ever smelled on my skin. (My husband of twelve years dubbed it "Youth Dew on steroids.")
The cinnamon is always playing in the background, yet remains relatively inobtrusive. (Odd, given the scent's name.) I also can't help but pick up a dark patchouli -- or something equally woody, mysterious and powerful -- even though I've not seen that listed among the notes. This is definitely a power scent, and yet also very romantic at the same time. I read in the review of Noir Épices that Catherine Deneuve favors that frag. (All I can say is that were she to go more Anglo and less Franco, Mlle. Deneuve would surely pick Ambre Canelle.)
One of the reviewers mentioned jasmine, and, well, I just don't get that -- not at all. I'm not saying that there's none there, but trust me when I say that jasmine is NOT one of the notes I pick up!
Ambre Canelle is a largely unisex power scent -- very much in the same vein as Noir Épices, JHL and Piper Nigrum. Be advised though, that (like these other frags) it MUST be applied with caution. Also, it should probably be put on a minimum of 30 minutes prior to going out, else you'll likely give those around you a nasty case of ambergris toxicity.
I intend to always have a bottle of this stuff on hand now, you bet. But, like Iquitos, Magie Noire and Ténéré (three other dark favorites of mine), Ambre Canelle will NOT be one that I'll spritz on daily. (No, it's one of those scents I'll definitely have to be in the mood for.) Highly complex, awfully deep, relatively formal . . . and likely not for everyone. But for the incredibly low price I bought it (a paltry $35, plus $10 s/h for the 2.5 oz. tester size from eBay seller creedirect -- really the Bond No. 9 store in NYC, I've been told), I sure as hell couldn't go wrong. Am damn glad I made this purchase.
If you get a bottle, be sure to a) give that first phoenix of a spritz to "die and be re-born from its ashes" first, and then b) let us all know what you think of this little known Creed frag (dare I say "masterpiece?").
. Royal Delight allright).
