Beloved for their warmth and silky sweetness, amber perfumes are as timeless as they are nuanced, with vanilla-scented blends and musky signatures to suit every preference...
When it comes to the best long-lasting perfumes, the usual suspects like citrus and floral fragrances are always front and centre, but there's another classic olfactory family to consider: amber. Warm, resinous and animalistic, amber is not a scent that can be defined by just one note. It encompasses a multitude of aromas, from vanilla to powdery wood hints - hence their universal appeal.
Two things these fragrances do have in common, however, are their warmth and powerful projection. So, if you're on the hunt for a musky and cosy signature, these are the nine amber scents to invest in - with options to suit every budget...
9 warm and compliment-inspiring amber perfumes to spritz this season
Warm, distinctive and effortlessly chic, these nine amber-centric scents - from the likes of Byredo, YSL and Jo Loves - promise to elevate your collection...
RRP: £22.99 for 80ml | Notes: Saffron, coriander, bitter orange, praline, jasmine, moss and woody amber
A popular budget alternative to Baccarat Rouge 540 (which we've also included here) ZARA's Red Temptation is the perfect ambery floral. It's spicy, thanks to its opening notes of saffron, which marries beautifully with soft, jasmine and warm woods.
Who should buy it: Those seeking a woody floral signature that you can spritz to your heart's content - guilt-free.
RRP: from £78 for 50ml | Notes: Bergamot, mandarin, pink pepper, blackcurrant, white amber, cedarwood, lime, suede, patchouli and vetiver
Touted as one of the best Jo Loves scents, Amber Lime & Bergamot is a hit with woman&home's beauty team, who describe it as being 'elegant' and offering a warm and earthy impression. Its opening is zesty (thanks to top notes of bergamot and mandarin) but this gives way to ambery hints of patchouli and cedarwood.
Who should buy it: Those who want to stand out from the crowd, with a chic and alluring scent.
RRP: £150 for 50ml | Notes: black pepper, juniper berries, leather accord, orris, violet, black amber, patchouli and vanilla
Spicy and alluring, Byredo's 1996 is the perfect example of a luxe, amber-centric perfume. It marries sparkling black pepper with a rich leather accord with violet, warm black amber, patchouli and vanilla.
Who should buy it: Those seeking a romantic fragrance that is as perfect for a distinctive everyday scent as it is an alluring evening signature.
RRP: from £69 for 30ml | Notes: lavender, tangerine, neroli, jasmine, orange blossom, vanilla and white musks
Regarded as one of the best vanilla perfumes, YSL's Libre combines comforting lavender with citrusy hints of tangerine and neroli, which then give way to creamy vanilla and white musks. It's warm and sexy - ideal for evening wear.
Who should buy it: Those seeking a sweet and slightly orangey amber scent.
RRP: £62 for 50ml | Notes: Sweet violet, Palo Santo, frankincense, myrrh, ambrette and ambrox
Glossier's newest edition to its You fragrance lineup, Doux offers a creamy, almost milk perfume quality. Sweet and distinctive violet plays with rich hints of palo santo and frankincense before settling into a musky, amber-like base of ambrette and ambrox.
Who should buy it: Those seeking a soft and musky, skin-like signature for all occasions.
RRP: from £245 for 70ml | Notes: Saffron, jasmine, amberwood, ambergris, hedione, fir resin, cedar, sugar, ambroxan and oakmoss
Sweet and elegantly warm, Baccarat Rouge 540 ranks on the list of best perfumes for women for a reason. It's softly spicy and sugary, with those warming hints of amberwood, cedar and ambroxan clinging to the skin.
Who should buy it: Those who are seeking a premium scent that is a proven compliment-bringer.
RRP: £24 for 90ml | Notes: black currant, pear nectar, jasmine, vanilla crème, freesia, amber woods and patchouli
Counted among the best Sol De Janeiro scents, 76 is described as an amber floral. It's rich and warm, thanks to its notes of jasmine, vanilla crème and patchouli. Digital Beauty Writer, Sennen Prickett is a big fan and dubs it the perfect option for the 'cooler months,' and as an evening perfume.
Who should buy it: Those wanting an effortless evening fragrance that is great for layering.
RRP: from £95 for 50ml | Notes: rose, peony, lychee, freesia, magnolia and lily of the valley, warm amber and cedarwood
Fresh and powdery, Chloé is the perfect option for those who gravitate towards more floral fragrances. It boasts hints of freesia, magnolia and delicate lily of the valley, along with classic rose. These elevated florals then shift into something richer and more intimate, with hints of amber and cedarwood emerging.
Who should buy it: Those who love florals and want a fresh approach to an amber fragrance.
RRP: £6 for 30ml | Notes: Wood, amber, geranium and cedar
A treat for the senses and purse, M&S' Spice Amber is warm, woody and uncomplicated. It blends hints of cedar with softer geranium for a sophisticated aroma that's described by the brand as being 'ideal for the evening.'
Who should buy it: Those hunting for a budget-friendly but expensive-smelling scent to wear all season long.
What is an amber perfume?
As mentioned, amber, as a fragrance genre encompasses a wide range of scents, from sweet vanilla to musky woods. Notes that contribute to that trademark warmth include; labdanum, benzoin, tonka bean, patchouli, musk, jasmine, vanilla and sandalwood.
Michelle Feeney, Founder of Floral Street reiterates this, explaining that amber, "isn't a singular ingredient but an accord - a blend of notes that come together to create this rich, resinous, slightly sweet fragrance that’s timeless and sensual. Typically, it’s a blend of notes like labdanum, benzoin, and vanilla. Labdanum gives it that deep, resinous quality, benzoin adds a sweet and slightly balsamic touch, and vanilla softens everything with its creamy sweetness. When you bring them together, you get that amber feel—a scent that’s grounding and comforting."
If you're on the hunt for an ambery signature, Feeney says it is key to seek out these notes, as these are 'classic components' of an amber accord. "Beyond that, you might see ingredients like sandalwood or patchouli to add depth, or even spices like cardamom or clove to give it a little edge."
To make your quest for a rich and warm scent even easier, Feeney recommends Floral Street's Arizona Bloom (at Look Fantastic) as the perfect option: "It has this gorgeous dry floral amber that brings a sense of warm dryness, almost like sun-kissed skin." It's also a popular solar perfume, making it ideal for summer wear but thanks to its warmth, it also lends itself perfectly to the autumn months.
What does amber smell like and who will love it?
Warm, creamy and rich - amber fragrances often afford a sweetness and musky edge. You can find amber wood perfumes, which as you can probably deduce, smell warm and rich, as well as ambery florals and more earthy, resinous aromas.
Feeney notes that amber perfumes are versatile, "which is why people are drawn to them," adding that they can be, "warm and powdery, resinous with a touch of sweetness, or even smoky and spicy. But the key is that they all feel comforting and sensual."
Along with florals and woods, Amber is also compatible with gourmand notes, "So it really depends on what the perfumer wants to express. Amber notes particularly bring a gourmand warmth to a fragrance," says Feeney.
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