L’Ambre des Merveilles Hermès for women and men

this is terrible. to me this smells like old people. not a perfume that old people would wear, but old people themselves. I thought that I like amber note (I adore Roberto Cavalli by Roberto Cavalli, it's so sexy)... Well, not in this one.

it is not easy to describe an ambery perfume, but like is named Ambres des Merveilles✨, it has a mysterious side, we recognize the savoir faire of this well renowned house of French perfumery, it is like a mixture of honey flowing 🍯and brown sugar🤎🍮 ,like a golden liquid very warm and sultry my only criticism is the lack of projection and poor sillage

warm, sophisticated scent. strangely it works best for summer evening in spite of its warming effect.

Best description I can come up with for this one is "cream soda gingerbread."

Delicious, fizzy, transparent but satisfying. Wonderful.

*Hate* the bottle - but that's a personal preference which I realize is not the popular opinion.

The most beautiful and delicious designer amber that is the closest you will get to Grandsoir. I think this is more youthful than Grandsoir as it opens with a sweet orange cinnamon bun type smell that is soft and moorish. The vanilla and amber is exquisite together with a touch of patchouli and laudanum. With the orange and cinnamon bun in the background barely peaking its head, I wish it was more centre stage. It’s very sophisticated and niche smelling - 8/10 for scent but unfortunately it doesn’t last nor project.

i get a ROJA Enigma vibe with this, coca cola all the way, this smells reallly really goood, addictive and sexy!! amazing scent!

wish it lasted longer or shall i say, projected for longer hours, i feel it projects welll for the first 2 hours then sits very close to skin.

it is really good. specially if you like Ambery fragrance. i would rate this 9/10 , super cozy.

i do find that it is pretty linear , i do get a fizzy cola vibe near the mid to end.

i dont know if this should be called a hidden gem but i was hiding from me all this while!

To my nose just too potent amber with too little power of other ingredients to mask down amber. Made me headache. For amber lovers this could be a good choice. 👍

another that i only wore in high school. i lost my bottle long ago. i remember it being wonderful and warm.

Beautiful, understated elegance. This used to be my signature scent, and I'm now going back to repurchase my third bottle, despite alternating with many others over the years. A bit of citrus, salt, vanilla sweetness, gorgeous sillage. Sexy, yet still approachable, classy, unique, and even office appropriate when applied with a light hand. Perfect for Fall, but works well in Winter, and even Summer (I prefer crisp green florals in Spring). I have received SO many compliments wearing this, and I'm surprised people don't talk much about this one anymore. Great longevity- When sprayed on clothes, I can still smell it the next day. Such a beautiful scent, and a flanker that surpasses the original. JCE at his best. I will always have this in my collection.

I got this from a coworker who received it as a gift and never wore it. It's an OK wear--I like it in small doses for a summer/fall vibe, but I am not fond of the very strong amber scent. This perfume certainly lasts, and I often found it a cloying and annoying when I would smell it throughout the day.

This is a beautiful amber. No incense or smoke here, it’s a delicate scent with fresh and sweet nuances. It wears close to skin (which is a bit of a bummer) but projects well if sprayed on clothes.

FYI/FWIW I bought a travel size from fragrance net last year and really liked it - but tbh it wasn’t the same as the full bottle I just bought from a department store. The FN was vanilla patchouli forward where the retail bottle is a delicate, more nuanced amber. Whether this is an age thing, time will tell I guess.

L'Ambre des Merveilles is a very soft and fluffy vanilla and amber fragrance, also adding touches of labdanum and some patchouli elegantly, it is never loud or harsh. Perfectly unisex and to enjoy when the cold begins, I don't see much connection with the other Merveilles but she on her own is a vanilla wonder, docile and extremely pleasant, since her creamy and refined sweetness is always a caress

I was expecting L'Ambre des Merveilles to be a nice EDP middleground between the fresh yet sophisticated powdery citrus of Eau des Merveilles and the heavy candied citrus concentrate of Elixir des Merveilles but L'Ambre leans more toward Elixir. The amber notes completely obliterate - or at least keep in check - any of the Merveilles' powdery tendencies.

Smells like citrus concentrate and amber.

First impressions:
The opening was quite intense and harsh on me, I felt the patchouli intertwined with the amber and something that felt slightly peppery and woody and I was instantly put off. It felt like I was smelling hairspray or something medicinal.
But…within a few minutes something happens and like magic it calms down and becomes very smooth and skin-like. Suddenly everything feels balanced, calming and easy going, like it’s a different perfume. L’Ambre des Marveilles also feels resinous.
For me, this is a unisex scent, I don’t find it overly feminine, especially for guys that like their scents a bit warmer and sweeter. Side note: the bottle design is absolutely stunning, a true work of art (a family member said it looks like a magic potion and I agree) and the sprayer is amazing; the perfume comes out evenly like a mist.
Edit: To me this is on a similar scent profile as “Eau Duelle” by Diptyque and “Bibliotheque” by Byredo.

Without looking at the notes, there is something quite powdery and balsamic about L'ambre. I don't get any whiffs of vanilla, neither is the patchouli something to dislike. This is an interesting unisex fragrance but it lacks an oompf to convince me to purchase a full bottle.

I tried this today, not knowing exactly what to expect. It somehow met my expectations, despite being confused about what they would be. This is indeed a labdanum amber with patchouli.

On one hand it has that aged paper in a large library feel, and the labdanum adds a slight inkiness that just works with that vibe and on the other hand there's a lightness to it that just seems to come naturally to Ellena. This isn't to say that it's airy and fleeting, but it feels present without overstaying it's welcome or overpowering everything else.

This is the type of fragrance that, if it works well for you, it just combines with your skin scent and creates something lovely.

Lasts ages, but is a bit one note. That's okay though.

It's not the best amber scent you can find, but it's definitely one of the best. It's all round, all warm, all sweet, and very cocooning. It's the "oriental" version of Eau des Merveilles.
I didn't like the opening at all, there was something animalic about it that put me off. But I gave it time to evolve, and it turned out to be wonderful... Une vraie merveille! ;)
From time to time, it surprises me with a saline note, a sweaty skin scent, but it's not unpleasant, and makes this perfume very unique.

A solid 8.5/10!

Hermes L’ambre des Merveilles (2012) - salty amber - This is such an enjoyable wear by #jeanclaudeellena Starts off sparkling with orange blossom & marine like notes, not aquatic calone, but more akin to salty & musky ambergris. This blooms into its amber heart - resinous, smokey yet light & airy. Leathery Labdanum and incense-like spices waft in the sillage that dries down into an earthy Patchouli and woods. An underrated flanker

My favorite perfume is a warm sweet cozy extraordinary perfume.From the merveilles line, this is the best for me. The bottle design and packaging are very cute🧡 At first, it seems a bit intense, but after a few minutes, it becomes gentle and pleasant on the skin🌸

My mother got me as a random present (and basically a blind buy) and I liked it at first, but I wasn't in love with it until a couple sprays later. It's a warm, intimate fragrance that can definitely act as an aphrodisiac. It's a very amber-forward fragrance that reminded me of ginger when I first smelled it. It's biggest weakness is its performance; I had a date that adored this on me but she could only smell it when she was sitting on my lap. Highly recommend if you're looking for a lowkey fall scent.

Love this. What I think the original eau des merveilles lacked in personality, this perfume brings in spades.
Love the amber and labdanum that give it an almost aniseed note. The original comes through in the dry down but, sadly this perfume has very average longevity.
Within an hour or two it disappears.

Very wearable light amber with a diet gourmand vibe- there's a transparent burnt sugar smell that reminds me of Prada Candy, then a shampoo musk and powdery florals round out the airy opening. Reminds me alot of other things, with moderate performance. Perhaps you'll want this one for the gorgeous bottle? I prefer more opaque, resinous ambers.

Very warm and cozy amber— almost mysterious. I really enjoy this a lot and the bottle is gorgeous.

the original dna is present but it is swallowed in a soft, powdery amber. Really lovely but not as unique as i would like.

I already had the Eau, Elixir and Parfum des Merveilles before adding this one to my collection. L'Ambre des Merveilles (LAdM) is kind of a loner in the Merveilles range. The Elixir is the closest to it, but to call them similar is a stretch. The Elixir is dense and saturated in a way that LAdM isn't. The latter is bright and relatively lightweight. But it's also missing some of the notes such as the orange peel and peru balsam that bring the others in the range together.
I can agree that it is similar to Ambre Imperial, which I had as well. They would be exceptionally similar, if it weren't for the patchouli in LAdM that's absent in Ambre Imperial and thus sets them apart significantly. Patchouli is present in most offerings in the Merveilles line, but may go under the radar most of the time because of some more prominent actors in the composition. However as LAdM is a relatively lightweight amber the patchouli comes right through and dominates the composition until it's already well into the drydown. It makes the fragrance feel almost fizzy or sparkly. And while the patchouli in this isn't particularly dense or heavy, it does have a slightly animalic tone to it. Which is what makes LAdM unlike Ambre Imperial despite the similarities they share.

I didn't expect to go this way, but I decluttered Ambre Imperial and kept LAdM. I had initially expected it to be the opposite, but now I feel like LAdM is just the more interesting fragrance of the two. I'm not sure if it's worth to have both, but I guess that depends on personal tastes. They have about the same sillage and performance in my experience. But I personally feel that LAdM is a bit more uniqu due to the fizzy patchouli. Although keep in mind that it's not a deep and powerful amber fragrance, and it's not a more ambery version of the elixir.

This is a GORGEOUS scent with TERRIBLE performance. I don’t know if that’s my skin chem or what but it becomes a skin scent in 20 minutes. This is my most favourite line of any fragrance house ever but, this flanker is just… a heartbreaker. I wish stayed on me like Elixir did :( Elixir is a beast on me :(

This is absolutely beautiful I can't stop sniffing myself. This is a light, soft amber with smooth, subtle vanilla. Gives the impression of a gorgeous hard butter candy caramel, not thick, chewy or cloying. In the beginning there is a brief waft of delightful mandarin. I don't detect any patchouli. It is not a sillage monster, the fragrance stays quite close but you get delicious wafts as you move. It lasts at least 7 hours. This is definitely full bottle worthy in my opinion. It is similar but not the same as VC&A Ambre Imperial, but lasts much longer.

Very soft and french feminine style, classic scent .
Not too expensive, suitable for ❄⛄ weather.
I love this on a woman!

I really love the DNA of this whole line, and I love ambers- so of course I like this one. After owning it for some time I have decided that it is a bit too fluffy sweet for me. I frequently reach for the original Eau des Merveilles in summer, with it's sheer salty woody sparkle, and in cooler temps the Elixir flanker- which builds on the original by adding a syrupy orange, resinous depth, and patchouli (that one is also sweet, but in a different way- from cooking I would say it's more like a reduction than sweetened from added sugar). If I didn't have a whole shelf of other ambers I would keep this- but as it is it gets neglected, and when worn I think of other perfumes I could be wearing instead. Into the swap/sell bin this one goes.

Edit: sold

This is gorgeous and very reminiscent of Myrrh and Tonka. Has that chewy amber/vanilla base that's so addictive. It has an elegant, powdery opening but is otherwise pretty spare and has this melt-into-your-skin quality.

I adore Elixir des Merveilles, and I quite like the original L'Eau des Merveilles too. Jean-Claude Ellena is one of my favourite perfumers, and his work for Hermès is top notch. L'Ambre des Merveilles is a very simple sweet amber scent that is enjoyable throughout. Reminiscent of amber scents like Ambre Imperiale or Ambre Sultan, it doesn't offer anything new, but it is a lovely, high-quality sweet amber scent. There is a slight hint of the Elixir DNA, keeping things cohesive, although it is very subtle, just containing the amber-vanilla accord with a hint of patchouli.

AdM opens with a bright, balsamic accord from the beginning, thanks to the labdanum. It develops into a rich, full-bodied, slightly salty amber scent, bolstered by smooth sweet, vanilla. It becomes more resinous as it develops. It is primarily a vanilla-amber scent, but a pinch of patchouli adds its distinctive earthiness as it dries down. It becomes somewhat animalic as it fades. Sillage is moderate, and longevity is reasonably long-lasting. It is feminine-leaning in my opinion, due to its sweetness, but potentially unisex, depending on taste.

AdM is unusual for M. Ellena, given that it is a simpler, stronger scent than what he is known for during the more recent stage of his career. It is undeniably beautiful, and while it isn't groundbreaking, it is a worthy part of the Merveilles family. Cosy, smooth and rich, this is a top-notch sweet amber scent. 4/5.

Alas, I had such high hopes for this one. So very glad I bought a sample rather than blind buying! The gorgeous bottle alone almost swayed me. Never mind all the rave reviews too.

Don’t get me wrong. This is a nice fragrance. Pretty, a touch sweet, soft and slightly powdery. A bit salty, not spicy at all to my nose. More of a suede than leather accord. Soft, soft, soft.

The opening is indeed bright and effervescent. It is a pretty but, to me, a kind of boring, “safe” scent. I can see why others may find it cozy and comforting. But I am all about opulence and strong scents. The amber/vanilla profile does appeal to me. Plus performance isn’t the best.

Try before you buy for sure. But definitely worth trying if you’re looking for a soft, elegant amber scent that wears close and isn’t in your face.

This is a really interesting perfume which reminds me simultaneously of Christmas and sun-cream. An odd combination but goes really well together. I've often thought it's a shame there's no function on Fragrantica to vote for notes that aren't listed already, because the listed notes are often not very accurate, imo. This opens with a blast of clove (not listed as a note) which settles to reveal the rest of the ambreine accord. Despite this accord being clearly detectable, I wouldn't really call this an amber perfume. Amber perfumes are usually heavy and very balsamic or incensy. This is not like that at all. It is actually quite light and soft.
An odd thing occurs after about 15 mins, when the clove, and possibly carnation, ease of a little. It starts to remind me strongly of my friend's mother. She wears Anais Anais, so I can't understand the connection. I don't have any Anais Anais to compare, but I know it is a very different perfume to this. There must be some shared note, but I can't work out what it is.

The open is, as others have said, sparkly... but sparkly not in a champagne way or even in a soda way. It is sparkly in a sparkling water type of way. Certainly not a fragrance that would bother anyone.

Even after six sprays on my forearm, it is very faint and I need to press my nose to the skin to really get a good whiff of it.

It leans more feminine, but a man can easily pull it off.

Beautiful sparkling top notes that remind me of the original Chanel no 5 parfum ( not the more recent eau de parfum, which is good in a different way), something citral and aldehydes maybe? Really effervescent. Then it dries down into warm amber with the patchouli coming through as a sort of soft darkness to contrast with the sweeter amber and sparkling gold notes.
Really gorgeous, especially when warm. Perfect for a warm autumn or in winter by a fire

From the name, note breakdown, and reviews I was expecting a deep doughy amber. That's not at all what I get here. I get a bright, ethereal, expansive powdery spicy sweet amber.
It feels very cosmetic like, like a finely vanilla scented body lotion or maybe even makeup powder. As time passes the woody elements depart and I am left with vanilla powder on my skin.
For me personally it feels slightly feminine leaning, but it does clearly fall in the realm of unisex.
Quite short lived overall and unfortunately not my type of amber. If you prefer heavily powdery ethereal spicy 'amber' without any woody or leathery facets this is the one.
What kind of urkes me is the price tag. At the 150$ you start wonder if you should just go with Ambre Precieux, which is undoubtedly the best powdery amber out there.

Luminous bottle, luminous scent! A great balance act by Hermes between sweetness and spiciness, smoothness and vividness. Mar-vel-ous!

It's a very pretty, a bit spicy, slightly sweet, amber fragrance that sits close to the skin. I don't smell it after an hour. This gets a lot of hype and I'm not sure why. It's sophisticated & classy, but not very exciting for me.

I went through almost a full bottle of Des Merveilles and I liked it but it turns into skin scent immediately. I seen a fragrance video where vlogger compared it to discountinued Theorema by Fendi which is one of my favorite fragrances. I saw this in Saks outlet and decided to get it. For anyone wondering-I don't think it smells ANYTHING like Theorema. This is basically deeper, sweeter, ambery version of original which is nice but not what i was expecting. Just like original, its not a loud scent and it doesn't project. Amber makes richer and vanilla note gives it just enough sweetness to make it little more feminine. I see it as cozy close to the skin scent.

This is SOOO good, it is a very sparkling amber, very bright it’s almost a bit citrus.
It is on the softer side and feels very natural smelling too.
The bottle is gorgeous too

Best blind buy of the year by far!!!!!

I got this as a present in 2020 and I was amazed at the bottle, so damn beautiful. This is a full on amber scent. It’s sweet but not sickening, not overly sweet, just the right amount of sweet. It does dry down hours later and you can smell the vanilla. My only problem with this is the silage and doesn’t stay more than seven hours on the skin. I have to use almost up to six sprays on my outfit to smell it. I wish it had better longevity because this fragrance is amazing!

This was part of my wishlist for months as I was expecting to love it. Even thought about blind buying it, but I am so glad I didn't. It's a great scent for the right person. Soft and comforting. Warm and inviting. But it just doesn't suit me. It's spiced orange more than the simple amber vanilla combo that I was expecting by reading the name and looking at the currently listed notes.

-L'Ambre des Merveilles is a soft, woody amber scent.
-Hands down my favourite from the Eau Des Merveilles lineup.
-A much lighter scent as compared to Un Bois Vanille by Serge Lutens.
-Update: Dries down reminiscent of scented hairspray. (-)

I somehow get orange & frankincense on my skin even though those are not listed in the notes. It makes me really want to try Elixir des Merveilles as well!

This is a beautiful, light, classy amber with some resin and a clean feeling. It is not a beast by any means, probably lasts around 6 hours on me and does not project much further than a few inches away but that is quite good for day-to-day IMHO. This would be ideal for pretty much any occasion except a big event where you want to make an entrance, it's more of a subtle fragrance that you wear to work or to dinner with friends where you don't really want to be the centre of attention but want people to respect and like you. It says the wearer is elegant, put together, trustworthy, kind and not someone who is very easily accessible or easy to get close to.

Great for anyone over 25 but probably not the best for anyone younger unless they are extremely elegant and wearing very expensive professional clothes, for example a very mature teenager or young adult from an extremely wealthy family. I feel like this would work on men who like more subdued, gentle amber fragrances as well although it does lean slightly feminine.

I got a bit of a reminiscence for MFK's Grand Soir but they are by no means similar, it is more of the feeling and aura they give is a bit familiar with eachother.

This is a beautiful amber. After sampling a range of six amber scents, I first thought that L’Eau d’Ambre Extrême by L’Artisan Fragrances was going to be my favourite, but hours later, going through them again almost all of them had turned into powder long after dry-down. But not this one. This one remained true to amber from beginning to end. Unexpected, but if you want amber, this is a good choice. Also, if you're looking for a more sophisticated Lord of Misrule by LUSH, this is a great contender, it is all the amber and none of the Oreo scent.

Note that this has an animalic quality in the opening, a note I don't like, but that I find in 20 minutes or less it is gone, or incorporates into the dry-down so well that it isn't identifiable anymore.

For some reason this disappeared off my skin within the hour! But I see other people have a completely different experience, so it’s worth a try to see whether it works with your skin chemistry.

I'm wearing L’Ambre des Merveilles on a cool, rainy autumn day and I find it to be the perfect warm, resinous, vanilla-caramel hug with just enough salt and warm patchouli for depth and sophistication. It's a bit gourmand, but not too sweet. It has great projection and lasts all day on me. It's bringing calm and elevation to my weekly commute from Rome to Florence. I will never be without L’Ambre des Merveilles.

I don't think the notes on fragrantica are accurate. I mainly get resins, amber, patchouli, some citrus like orange and them comes vanilla. It smells like a spa, maybe like someone who got a massage and then went into the sauna. It's better on skin than on paper! But overall, it's not really a sexy vanilla, it's an oily, animalic, resinous scent.

The opening is quite strong and spicy. And I’m not sure if it’s the patchouli, but there’s a note that’s… too resinous for me. It kind of prickles my nose and it’s just a note that I personally am not enjoying.

After an hour, that note has faded and vanilla has come forward so that the scent feels almost caramelly, but not too sweet. It also smells most a little powdery. Here, I get the amber / vanilla duel and the luminous quality other reviewers talk about. It smells like a gorgeous, round, luminous vanilla chai latte.

I can see this being a gorgeous, comforting scent when it’s cold outside, though, living in California, I’m not sure it’ll ever get cold enough for this.

I’ll retry it in a few months.

Blind bought this, since I recently has become an amber lover.

The bottle is beautiful, I really like it.
The perfume is an generic amber with vanilla (not very sweet). It has a slightly powdery feeling that makes it a scent for a lady, but I am not a lady at all.

I do not want other people to think I am a lady either, so if this is not improved by layering the bottle will be sold.

عطر جميل جدا جدا للمناسبات

This is far from being a skin scent. It is a super strong performer on me. Incredibly potent juice! Very little notes but it’s definitely sophisticated. Warm, sensual and it’s definitely those kinds of perfumes that makes you smell like a million bucks! The most beautiful patchouli, and i never thought i would say this but the vanilla is so so beautiful here too. It’s a warm vanilla, giving it a sultry.. salted caramel vibe.

I love love love Ambre des Merveilles. Someone from my family must have worn it when I was young because when I smell it it feels SO nostalgic. The scent starts off very sparkling thanks to the orange and settles in a soft, sweet amber. Maybe a little bit too sweet, but I love it nonetheless. The bottle is absolutely gorgeous but Hermès needs to change their sprayers ! Even cheap brands now have amazing sprayers that deliver fine mists, but the sprays with this one are rough.

its misleading to say its amber rather than orangey smell😡

Why is orange not listed? Is the list incomplete? Because to me this smells like a spiced orange scent, feels Christmassy yet summery at the same time. However I would never wear this in the winter, as in the winter, this just smells very resinous on me and is not my cup of tea at all. In the summer this really shines and these “citrus” notes that I’m smelling stick around for longer.

I love it so much. Launched almost a decade ago, but still modern, elegant and unique. It's unlike any other that I know. Luxurious amber and woody notes, not too warm, suitable for both men and women, 4 seasons of the year. Silage is just about 1 arm, but still lasts the whole working day. Perfect in the office and also on flights. The scent that I feel like I, myself are emitting a scent.

I got a miniature version to test it out before I purchase the full bottle. I'm not sure what it is but I smell strong orange peels more than the amber. I usually do like the amber note, but this doesn't really smell like the amber I know because of that strong orange scent.

AM I smelling the wrong thing? Should I purchase the full bottle to test it out?

Very warm version of Eau De Merveilles: labdanum & vanilla create a great amber scent. Genius Jean Claude Ellena

Orange-zesty opening, quickly followed by heavy opulence and resins. It starts the dry-down almost immediately and stays this way for the longevity of the scent. On my skin, this scent is pure amber and highlighted by vanilla. No heavy patchouli and a small amount of labdanum. This fragrance is very much of a skin scent and for intimate occasions. Almost as if it's to highlight natural aromas or can be used for a no-fragrance day vibes.

Pleasant, sweetish gourmand. Very amber. A golden synasthetic sense, warm, radiant, and requiring only a light spritz; sillage rather strong (7.5 or 8/10), and potentially overwhelming if applied overly liberally.

I like this, although I find it conventional, even bourgeois. Ambre (imo), when compared to L'Eau des Merveilles, is quite conventionally feminine rather than unisex.

An elegant fragrance with a luxurious vibe. Not for me, but would enjoy on someone else.

This is a beautiful gourmand amber fragrance. Warm, delicious and sweet it smells just like a gourmet hot chocolate. Can be worn in the spring and summer months but better in the cooler seasons. It has patchouli but in smaller doses, will suit even a patch hater. However it has minimal projection as it descends to 'skin scent' territory within an hour. Frequent top-ups are required. Projection is massive though, a few sprays can fill up a room.
I love this perfume but was disappointed with its longevity.

I have been leaving long essays for my reviews of late so I’ll keep it short and sweet here, think of sparking amber champagne next to a crystal bowl with cinnamon, vanilla and a pinch of ginger. My biggest qualms with this fragrance is the lack of projection it’s basically a skin scent after 1/2 hours. Beautiful winter scent and very unisex In my opinion.

This is a wonderful natural skin scent, it stays close to skin, without projection, no matter how much you dose it (and I love it so much that I bath in it :). I wish the beast mode exist. It is a composition of many natural elements near the seaside, dry sand and dry rocks, it is salty, windy, beachy, a tiny bit woody, very delicate but under the skin adventurous and sort of pure, sacred, but have in mind that all this attributes are hidden, not in plain site and it just upgrades the natural scent of your own skin. This would be crazy good in stronger mode, like Elixir. I use it a lot during hot days, durings travels and all occacions in a nature.

Incredible quality this is what comes to my mind when I first smelled this
The amber is slightly present and a soothing one nothing nose piercing but the main note is definitely vanilla and a good one as well
It does last for a good amount of time but scent trail is bad it’s mostly a skin scent even in the end of the first hour going on to 5th hour

My favourite "female" perfume of all time. My girlfriend wears this and I can't explain how it makes me feel, a perfect cozy, warm amber. Any time of the year and time of the day, absolutely amazing.
The juice smells as magic as the bottle looks!

omg it's exactly what i'm looking for
i can't find the words to explain the absolute joy i feel about this perfume

i'm a simple girl, i like amber/vanilla/tonka beans and nothing else . i like warmth feelings from my perfume, i like it to feel like a hug, this smells like my mum's hug feels like.

fav perfume has been ambre imperial by van cleef and arpel
and this is a fantastic dupe of the above. this is my signature scent


i'm so happy with this purchase. i only bought 50ml but i know i'm buying the 100+ ml very soon.
it's put the wind in my sales honestly

I know that Amber of Wonders is literally the name, but seriously, there's something magical about this one - something I just keep coming back to (hello signature fragrance!).

It somehow works with everything - it's as at home in a casual situation as it is at a night out. Dress it up, dress it down, wear it to the office, wear it at the opera - doesn't matter. It is, to me, the very definition of a you, but better fragrance - a transparent and light-filled scent that wraps around you like a scarf. Salty, sparkling, sunlit golden amber - classy and comforting.

It also blooms in the heat. I have a strong memory of wearing this one during the setup of an event - after a solid twenty minutes of hauling heavy items around, I sat down, sniffed the air, and started looking around for where this lovely wafting scent was coming from before realising it was me. Sillage otherwise wears relatively close to the skin, and it's both sheer enough and polite enough that it "disappears" after a while - but then others have commented on it, so while it blends into the background, it definitely reappears from time to time. If I had to pick a single fragrance in my collection to keep forever, it'd be this one. Adore.

Beautiful light skin scent. the smell reminds me of Oil of Olay facial moisturizer (the pink one).

Lovely sheer sweet amber cologne.

The problem with this line is a bewildering array of flankers which, similar to Guerlain if you're not paying attention can be a little alienating. I do try them from time to time but can never remember which one is which.
Minor, minor issue because I love the original Elixir and I'm completely smitten with this one!!!
It's absolutely BRILLIANT!!!
The opening is curious mixture of citrus and fizzy confectionery, like an orange, juicy and real meeting a sharp, pink grapefruit with some powdered refreshers thrown in for good measure, a perfect mix of reality and fantasy. The best thing about this fragrance is the use of an amber accord which is bolstered by gourmand effects, the chunk of patchouli but not as weighed down by it as some compositions, JCE manages to keep it light with top notes which seem to morph into the mid and remain for a while. Mention caramel to me in a fragrance and I can feel my teeth aching and my cloying, gag reflex started to engage at the prospect of smelling bisabolene or ethyl maltol all day, but this is soooooo well done it's smooth balanced perfectly in the way only a master the calibre of Ellena could.
It's a bit like Angel but with huge amounts of restraint, and totally different. I find it gorgeous and always have said that Elixir smelled as though it's perfectly unisex but I think this one is a little more feminine. I'm fine with that, I'm wearing the shit out of it today and contemplating a full bottle (finally im going to get something from this line!) L'ambre is a very, very, good wear. I love it!

It is the poet's finest wonder (I speak of the excellent, not of the clumsy): Whoever does not know how to amaze, go to the curries, known verses by GB Marino (La Murtoleide, XXXIII), a lively and sudden feeling of admiration, of surprise, which is felt in seeing, hearing, knowing something that is or appears new, extraordinary, strange or in any case unexpected: there is so much need for wonder in this new year just born...
After Eau des Merveilles in 2004, Elixir des Merveilles in 2006 and Eau Claire des Merveilles in 2010, Hermès' olfactory story of “Wonders” continues with L’Ambre des Merveilles. The signature is of the nose Jean-Claude Ellena, who describes it thus: "With Eau des Merveilles, I had tried to express a femininity that was not floral, but very wooded and full of character, with Élixir, I wanted a 'gourmand' and provocative composition , with Eau Claire I wanted clarity, transparency, lightness: with Amber, on the other hand, the woman becomes sensual and mysterious. For this new chapter of the story, my aim was to tell one of the mysteries of amber, between delight and sensuality ". Amber's ability to attract small objects has made it a magical stone, ideal for good luck charms. The mysterious characteristics of amber, such as magnetic capacity and warm and seductive colors, led the ancients to attribute magical, apotropaic and medicinal properties to that material, I like to imagine it like this ... a new beginning ... a new story... between agreements of amber and legosi, an enchanting perfume that brings strength and toughness into the new year...

sweet in a gentle and soft way, slightly salty and a little powdery-i agree-love it! essentially musk with sweetened amber. Matured, sophisticated, sensual with a capital S. it speaks of distinguished women who are very natural and effortless in their ways but just have an aura about them, that makes them inexplicably irresistible to everybody - women find them approachable and safe/warm the type you just admire and are beyond jealousy. and men just find them intoxicating for reasons they can’t decipher.agree

L'Ambre des Merveilles is a gorgeous fragrance that is sadly just too fleeting. I continue to purchase it and have probably used 2 or 3 bottles over the past 8+ years since it's launch but it's the type of scent you have to re-spray every 2-3 hours to smell it on yourself. I honestly find these types of scents pretty frustrating; when you love (adore) it but it disappears too quickly. L'Ambre is definitely an amber-vanilla version of the original Eau des Merveilles. It still maintains the sea salt-balsamic-orange rind-oriental vibe but surrounds the whole thing with a transparent vanilla-amber accord. I think it's unisex - doesn't lean feminine or masculine and I think it is restrained and classy in a conservative way. I like a lot of amber focused scents and most of them are actually a little too weird for day to day office-type wear. L'Ambre is suited for all occasions (perhaps mostly because it's a skin scent and hardly anyone can smell). I do spray my clothes and scarves which helps ever so slightly. I wish so hard Hermes would make a beast-mode version of this (or of any of their scents which are all so fleeting). I found Van Cleef & Arpels Ambre Imperial to be an almost duplicate of this scent but that one also disappears. The bottle is a treasure. My recent re-purchase is one of the special collector's editions (Calligraphie) and it's just so beautiful. So I'll keep on spraying (while Hermes laughs all the way to the bank!).

Recent realization: L'Ambre is a scent for me -- a skin scent that I adore. I don't think I've ever received compliments because I doubt anyone can smell it. Over the years (I've been collecting for 20+ years) I've come to realize there is a place for this type of scent in my collection. I generally find less expensive designer type fragrances to garner more compliments and last and project longer but there is a place in my collection for scents that are more personally pleasing. I think of L'Ambre as olfactory art, for me to personally appreciate but it isn't likely anyone else around me has ever been aware of it.

Even with its lack of sillage, L’Ambre is BRILLIANT, and evocative, and will always have a top spot in my collection 10/10

I got to sample this more extensively thanks to a generous fragrantican.
Ambre des Merveilles is such, such a beautiful creation. I knew and loved Eau des Merveilles, I loved its duality between the freshness of the conipherous notes and orange and the depth of the resins and spices. Well, Ambre takes the core from Eau des Merveilles, but goes full "winter mode" with it. It becomes really cozy, warm in an almost edible way. I wanna spray this on my neck and wear the same scarf right afterwards, for a good few days, until it becomes impregnated with the scent. I feel this achieves its most beautiful form 1-2 hours from application, when it becomes a warm, soothing and persistent aura. That being said, it's never harsh, not even in the very opening. I love it.

This one is an "adore" from me. Third time I am wearing it, and it just seems to get better and better every time I wear it. I found it close to a bit too shy and subtle the first two times I wore it, but today I am head over heals infatuated and grabbed by the uniqueness and warm beauty of this scent. It lingers softly and close to the skin, yet the whiffs I occasionally get from it are so wonderful I must sigh and smile of appreciation: ambery, sweet in a gentle and soft way, slightly salty and a little powdery. Beautiful.

I have gone through samples of it before but did not feel much. I came across it again and put some on. After my new love affair with narciso house, I smell this perfume in whole new light. Why you may ask.
This perfume is essentially musk with sweetened amber. Matured, sophisticated, sensual with a capital S. it speaks of distinguished women who are very natural and effortless in their ways but just have an aura about them, that makes them inexplicably irresistible to everybody - women find them approachable and safe/warm the type you just admire and are beyond jealousy. and men just find them intoxicating for reasons they can’t decipher. It’s absolutely beautiful and I want a full bottle. Interestingly, the sweet fruity amber/vanilla /sandalwood in Tresor turns into a sweet musk like this on my skin as well. Tresor has musk i think as well.

I think I am slowly finding my perfume genre - it is sweet musk.

Beautiful , calm , quiet and elegant amber . Much softer than Eau des Merveilles and Elixir des Merveilles . The lasting power is good but it’s a skin scent mostly . The bottle has a gold rim all around , stunning , but the other Merveilles bottles are also gorgeous . This is more amber and benzoin than “Merveilles “. The famous orange here is subdued . It leans feminine . It’s conforming and I love it. However I never smelled anything from the Merveilles line that I didn’t love . Resembles Ambre Narguille , but it’s less spicy , similar vibe though . Highly recommended , but it’s expensive so try before buying because the lack of projection might disappoint you.
Edit: Sorry, what I got is the Limited Collector edition.....

I tested and tried on skin and tester card so many times.
I SO wanted to like/love it. In theory yes, it ticks all my boxes. You do get some vanilla like, deep burnt perhaps, AMBER, creme brulee like crust.. Exciting !
But where did this go ? surely it cant be just my chemistry , i even had a sales assistant try it, but, same thing - vanished with all but a trace of sheer suntan lotion smell in 30 mins. Even the card, so faint, so why bother ? The next day, the card has the faintest clean white paper smell to it with a trace whisper, hard pressed of sweet cream.
Nothing really lives here - except your awaiting anxiety for something spectacular,(even if in a subtle way) to glow over you amber like, which sadly, flatly , never does.
For a big 100 + bucks you need a bit more. I dont need to wear a barely there skin scent at that price just to belong to a bottle or brand.

I LOVE this the first couple of hours! The amber is beautiful, warm, soft and I can't stop sniffing myself. It's a favorite! But after a while the amber disappear and leaves vanilla all by itself. I love vanilla in combination with other notes but now it reminds me of when I make homemade vanilla ice cream and it gets a bit too sweet for my taste. Why can't the amber last longer? But still, this is a hit.

Smells like you, but better. It is a great blend of notes that seem simple, but this is elegantly done. Slightly soft in terms of longevity and projection but this makes it easy to wear. I'd say it is a perfect day time fragrance for Autumn. I love it!

OMG 😍😍😍..
This one is my favorite ever..
So sultry sexy gourmand but not in sugary way..
More mature and suitable as a date night fragrance..
It reminds me how a natural woman sweaty skin (but in a good way ) should smell..
Scent 10/10
Performance 6/10

In my opinion a very rich amber fragrance for a classy older lady. Beautifully mature.

Yummy, chewy, lightly resinous amber with beautifully blended spices and sweet mandarin orange (not listed, for some reason), reminds me of a less sugary and much more sophisticated version of Haribo coca cola gummies :)

This becomes a lovely skin scent that I can't imagine irritating people around you, but at the same time it's unique and definitely not a crowd pleaser perfume. I have to spray a lot to really get a decent whiff. Still deciding if this is full bottle worthy for me.

This is an Amber perfume that is most definitely Amber. It goes on amber and it stays amber - warm, a little vanillic, and just the barest hint smokey on occasion. If you think you're going to layer it with something to have an amped amber base, joke's on you. This will chew the other up and spit it back out, reminding you that you wanted amber and you will get amber and nothing but amber for a solid 10 or 12 hours. There's nothing particularly bad about this amber and nothing particularly remarkable about it but it has amazing longevity, soft projection, and it will cling to you like no other. I even detected traces of it still the next morning.

Sweet fizzy amber, salty skin and definitely an unlisted orange note. This smells resinous, upscale beachy, and also quite gourmand to me. It reminds me of Spezi (Coke + Fanta mixed), but chewier, like a cola bottle gummy candy - if the lighter part of it was orange flavored. Just that L'Ambre des Merveilles smells like a real perfume and not like sticky candy. It has a very light bitter undertone, not much, just enough to make it sophisticated.

The description might sound weird, but it's really good and easy to like for any amber fan who isn't completely averse to sweetness. I see that a lot of people categorized this as a fall or winter fragrance, and I understand that because it's a warm, balsamic scent. But in my opinion the saltiness and orange note smell really nice on sun-kissed skin and have a summery vibe.

I personally prefer Elixir de Merveilles to this one as it's a little more complex and I love the stronger bitter, woody notes and the caramel in that. L'Ambre is nevertheless beautiful and in the same family, just warmer and simpler.

This is my first fragrance from the marveilles line and I absolutely love it. The amber is softened out by vanilla and I am here for it. I wear this mostly in the evening and it has a moderate sillage not at all obnoxious. Can't wait to try others in the marveilles line.

I was passionately fond of this fragrance at one time. It is sweet, as you'd expect, not sticky or heavy but clean and airy, a light cashmere scarf rather than a manky winter blanket. With patchouli, and a slightly salty note that references the original Eau des Merveilles, L'Ambre walks the gender line too. Very simple but beautifully done.

Trouble is that L'Ambre is quite linear (to me). I'm always amazed at the beauty of the opening but as it settles, this perfume doesn't have much else to say. It lasts hours on me, which should be great, but by the end of the day I'm quite tired of it.

I've only got myself to blame. I tested L'Ambre thoroughly before I bought a full bottle. I paid full price for it too because it seemed wrong to haggle over something as beautiful as this. Unfortunately I don't reach for it often, just sometimes in cooler weather. I always tell myself that I should wear it more often but somehow I don't. It layers nicely with the original Eau, I will say that.

The opening of this reminds me of a negroni cocktail. Bitter, strong, boozy and nicely balanced. Very sexy and quite mature. Needs a chic outfit and a competent attitude.

Settles to a very sexy and soft vanillary but not sweet skin-scent, extremely wearable. I love this fragrance.

This was one of many blind buys I treated myself to during the lockdown. I've worn it many times by now; the summer heat doesn't go as far as Aberdeen, Scotland, we got a lot of chilly rainy days this summer, so I've been reaching for some warm embracing fragrances - L'Ambre des Merveilles has been one of them.

It is another gorgeous composition from Mr Ellena, very warm, ambery vanilla - patchouli and labdanum only add an interesting spiciness, so if you are scared of those two notes - stay assured that they are not overpowering. It lasts very long, on my skin I get a good 8-10h, and on clothes way longer. I love to wear it after shower to sleep to make myself all cozy and to fall asleep better as it is a very comforting scent.

I believe the amber accord must be very high in benzoin and some resins; it is a bit sweet, however not in the vain of the most popular fragrances. It is a quite classy scent, probably leaning more towards autumn and winter for most people, however I've enjoyed it even when it was pretty sunny - although don't trust me on that as again, the weather in Aberdeen is pretty cold even when it is warm!

I noticed someone mentioning MFK Grand Sour. L'Ambre is definitely much more feminine than GS and I think much more wearable as I find GS to get sometimes very woody and have a bit of a churchy myrrh-like vibe, which sometimes chokes me out and I think may go very masculine on some ladies which they may not appreciate.

Upon spray smells a bit like alcohol. Then quickly turns to a woody/spicy smell, smells dated. Skin scent. Dries down to a softer spicy smell with a tiny hint of creaminess. Very dry. Skin scent. I like it but I don't, leaning towards the latter. It's ok. Deciding whether to give my bottle to a family member or not.

This one is my favourite from Hermes. An amber perfume tempered nicely with vanilla and herbal tones. Luxurious aroma without a doubt and utterly relaxing and easy to wear. Winter and autumn delight.

This is my second purchase of L'Ambre des Merveilles, my first was back in 2013 when I mistook this one for Eau des Merveilles. However, it turned out to be a very good choice in the end.

It is a wonderful vanilla, amber fragrance, quite different from EdM and Elixir.

It is perfect for fall and winter, I have not worn it during warmer seasons like spring/summer yet, but I am excited to try it.

Longevity is moderate, more than EdM, less than Elixir. Somewhere in-between.

Overall note: 8/10

Instagram: @My_Insta_Fragrances

My favorite Hermes. Most are too masculine or too fresh and unisex. This one has a bit of sweetnes, warm, spicy frag I enjoy. I don't see myself buying it, it's still not quite my cup of tea, since its not quite fem enough for me, I like to feel ultra feminine in my fragrances. However, I do really enjoy this one. Best Hermes by far.

Oh boy. I am not having the same experience as others. This is so so so bad on my skin! No vanilla in the opening, just sour, rotten and animalic... then turns into a old dusty vanilla.

Creamy, gourmand, edible vanilla accompanied by warm, caramelized amber.
Relatively linear scent without changes and fluctuations.
It stays close to the skin but has acceptable longevity.
Hermes and I didn't do so well so far.
This fragrance, if it didn't have the label of this house, I think would get very different reviews and would be considered a very moderate to indifferent fragrance.
Not my cup of tea at all.

I expected to like this perfume as amber is my very favorite note and I also love vanilla. What I didn't expect was the saltiness. To my nose, it almost gave the composition a pencil smell, which I did not find at all appealing. I was glad I had only invested in a sample, which added just enough to the total get free shipping on my online purchase. No harm done. Worth it not only for the break on shipping, but just to have explored. I love reading reviews here and find them very helpful in discovering new scents. But you never know how something will smell on you until you check it out, and finding out if you like something or not is part of the fun.

i really wanted to like this one :( looking for that perfect vanilla but this is very perfumey. almost rubbing alcohol vibes :( TOTAL AMBER. didnt smell any vanilla

My samples were delivered today and with much anticipation could not wait to test out as there a good reviews on YouTube about this fragrance- reviews say it is unique and hard to describe so I will do my best to share my first impression-

Opening is spicy and sweet and leans towards a unisex/ masculine scent- there is some powder and sweetness and a muskiness to it- I read a review that describes it having a bit of cinnamon gum as a note and I agree- it’s also slightly animatic and very much a skin scent- it is soft and inoffensive

This does not remind me of a fragrance per se but reminds me of what my mothers makeup vanity area and leather purse smelled like- she mainly used Estée Lauder, Lancome and shiseido...this perfume captures the scent of all her products combined ( makeup, powders, creams, lotions, toner, lipstick etc )including perfume bottles( mostly vintage Estée Lauder fragrances ) vintage high end makeup and perfume bottles and leather purses and silk scarves-( Hermes ones;)) that is what this scent captures imo-

I read reviews that the scent is different ( better ) in warm weather. I look forward to seeing if that’s the case for me- for the time being I feeel this smells like High end makeup and skin care from a vintage line;)

P.s. patchouli and I usually don’t get along- I barely smell if at all here;) perhaps that is what adds the heaviness/ spiciness / vintage vibe

On me, this smells like a softer version of Elixir des Merveilles where the cinnamon spiciness & smokiness is removed. I have to spray this one pretty heavily to achieve a moderate sillage, as on me it is more of a barely there skin scent. I personally prefer Elixir as I find it more complex & louder (my preference, lol), and I don’t have to spray much of it at all. I’m currently sampling them both and even though I really like them both, I’m obsessed with Elixir lol so I think I’m going to pick up a full bottle of it.

Sampling L'Ambre. The first thing I thought was, "This smells almost identical to Ambre Imperial." Then I looked at the "reminds me of" section and found it there. Nice amber fragrance. I'm not in love with either of these perfumes or Eau Des Merveilles EDP and EDT. The house of hermes is not for me. -

I prefer this over elixir. Has a more crème brûlée vibe to it, a soft sweet vanilla scent but the amber is on par with vanilla. Great wearable amber scent for sure.

I love this fragrance, its my favorite of the line. Warm amber vanilla creamy dessert. I find it so comforting, in any season. It fades from my skin after 4-5 hours, I wish it could last longer. It also does not project on me, its pretty light. I love it enough that I need it in my collection though.

I expected a lot more from this fragrance.

I am a great lover of amber in my perfumes, and notes here sounded like they would be lovely mixed together, but the combination I got, from start to finish, was a linear fragrance that smelt almost exactly like my mother's Olay original facial moisturiser.

The smell is nice, and a very comforting smell to me. But I get the distinct impression that if this was not Hermes, people would tear this perfume to shreds for smelling like that.

What I will praise it for is the extremely long lasting power it had on me. I smelt like a comforting fuzzy blanket for well over 14 hours. The perfume itself is definitely a skin scent on me though. I don't think i could justify the price for the scent that comes up on me, though.

The most perfect Amber and Vanilla.

Much warmer than L'eau, which is sharper and fresher in comparison.

It is very deliciously addictive but without crossing the border to gourmand.

L'Amber des Merveilles is a softer, smoother version of the Eau des Merveilles. They share the same DNA but L'Amber is much softer and stays closer to the skin. Even though the accord is generally warm, L'Amber is such a mild fragrance that I prefer to wear it in warmer weather. Works well on its own or layered with the other Merveilles. The longevity is moderate and I do not mind reapplying. It's a soft, beautiful, sexy skin scent.

This sounds like it would be delicious, but after the first few sprays I can barely smell it at all. Maybe this is just my nose on the fritz, but in case there's been some reformulation that has weakened it beyond recognition, I thought I'd better review it here as a marker. (I don't even smell the patchouli and usually, because that's a difficult note for me, it stands out like a sore thumb.)

A beautiful interpretation of amber.
Creamy , like a rich lightly spiced flan; one of my favorites.
The bottle is stunning...dreamy!

This is a sweet, creamy blend of vanilla and amber - think a creme brulee with a few flakes of sea salt sprinkled on top.

Having tried on the original Eau des Merveilles and the Bleue version, I definitely wasn't expecting the salty note in this - but just like in cooking, salt can bring out the flavour - this enhances the creaminess in this perfume imo. Although it is just a little bit too salty for my personal taste, it is undeniable that this is well-blended. Another great creation by Jean-Claude Ellena.

EDIT: The drydown is simply wonderful. Creamy vanilla with the warmth of amber... mmm!

Normally I'm not a bottle person - I honestly don't much care if my bottle is damaged, if the label is ripped, if the cap is present, or it's even just a decant. As long as the juice inside is good, and I can get it onto my skin. I am all about the fragrance.

THIS bottle, though. Dear lord. It's gorgeous. The round orb of the front, the flat of the back, the dusting of stars, the tilt to the side, the metal around the edge. It stopped me in my tracks. So beautiful.

Now the juice inside... well. It's amber. No it's fine, it's nice. I have a feeling that people wouldn't go so nuts for it, if it weren't Hermes. Slap it in a celebrity bottle and people would turn up their noses at the very same scent.

It's a good amber. Unisex, slightly salty, serviceable. Surprisingly, on me it doesn't last long at all.

That bottle, though... sigh.

For years I’m inlove with this and Elixir des Merveilles , i mix them on me and i promise that this combo is unforgettable for you and everyone who’ll get to be around when wearing them , i never needed to read other opinions after smelling these , I blind bought my first bottles years ago , I’m always on the hunt for new ones as I never wanna be without them , they’re my precious 2 stones , thick perfumes , long-lasting , not for the mainstream , night winners ! Inlove forever ..

at first, I was a bit disappointed because I found the caramel note way too dominant and sweet on my skin - I don't usually like gourmand scents. But after half an hour or so, the sweetness was absorbed by a dreamy, slightly smokey and salty amber.

Ever since I wore L'Ambre des Merveilles I have been hooked. This one is addictive!

This fragrance is well rounded, warm and smooth. Amber shines beautifully here, vanilla adds just the right amount of sweetness and the patchouli just a tinny bit of sharpness in the background. Projection is moderate, and longevity is very good, around 8 hours on my skin. The scent is pretty linear, but as it fades the notes remain distinctive the whole time, which I love. This is definitely signature-scent worthy!

L'Ambre des Merveilles is now at the very top of my to-buy list.

Based on the notes and reviews I expected to like this. But every time I try it either on paper or skin, I just smell soured amber. I initially thought the tester I first tried was possibly rancid, so I kept trying from different stores. I still get the same sour amber. The opening is beautiful, and that's the only time I get amber and vanilla. After a few minutes... I'm sadly left with something I must wash off every single time.

I am in love with this fragrance. I friend had sent me a sample. I sampled the original Eau des Mervielles and really didn't care for the original, I applied with some skepticism. The initial blast had me checking the label on the sample, "This is a Merveilles fragrance by Hermes?"
This scent is creamy smooth vanilla amber and slightly powdery. It's fairly linear and blended to perfection with the patchouli but the patch never really makes a statement. The labdanum nods to the suggestion that the whole composition is floating on whisps of a suede cloud.
This is not it's spicey orange predecessor. This is what I hoped the original was. Thankfully this exists because I wouldn't want to live life without it. It's a beautiful soft long lasting sexy and classy scent for the colder months. Absolute perfection in my humble opinion. Longevity is decent 6-7 hrs and it's silage is arms length the first hour but becomes a skin scent for the duration.
I bought a bottle and stocking backups.

Prada amber is the slightly edgier counterpart.

When I first sprayed it on time was stretching and bending. It felt like a lazy summer day from another time. Probably August, a thousand years ago and the sun is up like it has always been. It's very warm, intimate, yellow and ethereal. Ancient and sensual. I am in love.

In reaching for words to describe a compellingly evasive essence that radiates from the first drops of L'Ambre des Merveilles, I visited Fragrantica's page on Labdanum, and was struck by this passage:

"In the past, [Labdanum] was collected from the beards and thighs of goats and sheep that gazed on the shrubs ..."

Ah! While this rich, viscous resin may no longer find its way into perfumery from the hindquarters of livestock, it may just be the key to unlocking the rich, musky, animalic quality that gives L'Ambre des Merveilles a truly unique and unexpected aura.

This heady fragrance is unrestrainedly unclean and untamed. On my skin, the amber is briny and brimming of the sea: the scent of a calamitous coastline salient for its sharp bluffs and steep crags, warmed by the sooty remains of a charred bonfire. Vanilla is mislaid from the mix entirely, and earthy patchouli happily takes center stage in its absence.

Wear L'Ambre des Merveilles when you crave a dry, spicy, animalic amber that's less a comforting lighthouse than a cunning albatross.

Reminds me of going to a library filled with old books, definitely has some ancient quality to it.

I fell in love with the Elixir version but I wanted to try this one out before committing. I literally had to spray about 10 sprays on myself. I can barely detect it I have to stick my nose into my wrist to be able to smell it. It smells woody and almost like sweet caramel with a patchouli base... if that makes sense? But not strong at all. It might have to do with the fact that it's currently the beginning of winter here.. but quite disappointing. Th elixir counterpart has monstrous longevity. Sprayed a single spray on the sleeve of my coat 2 weeks ago and I can still smell it!

L’Ambre des Merveilles opens beautifully, with a warm and cosy amber note, supported by vanilla. However, about twenty minutes later, labdanum and patchouli take over, and the scent becomes rather bitter and almost camphorous. I still like this transformation, but as an amber lover I am disappointed that the stellar amber note that dominates the opening dissapears so soon. As to the gender tags, this scent is easily unisex, perhaps a tad more masculine. Longevity and sillage are moderate.

The note of amber usually splits me one of two ways. More often than not I'm left wondering why I even continue to bother because in many compositions amber just "wears me." I don't like to feel smothered by my perfume and amber has a way of laying on me like syrup.

But this, this is my kind of amber! It's warm and crisp, sweet and salty all at once. There is enough transparency in the scent you can smell the air and your own skin through it, but it isn't weak! Its the perfect middle ground between something deeply oriental and refreshing, so for me it is autumn in a bottle! Every time I smell it I get an image of standing under a tree with multi-colored leaves falling, carried away by a chilly breeze.

This is a very simple scent, but still interesting with its salty ambergris combined with fresh oranges and vanilla. There is definitely some earthy element happening. And it also has a dated sort of feel to it but not in a stuffy old closet kind of way but more like something you want to preserve. I notice this particular vintage twang where labdanum is apparent, which it is here. It doesn't last all day, but it does a good job at giving me a warm scent bubble for several hours which is really all I look for in an amber scent. My favorite from the Mervielles line for sure.

Opens with a powdery, sour mix of vanilla and labdanum. Warms up over time to the amber, though the sour reins of the labdanum remain throughout its longevity. Little patchouli besides a trail of it in the heart.

Mediocre sillage and bad longevity. To be worn yearlong in the daytime. Leans feminine, but unisex.

This is a restrained, linear, luminous amber, very cuddly and comforting. It opens with a hint of orange and then settles into an simple, airy amber and vanilla combination.
This a great alternative to other amber scents, especially if you feel like Lutens' Ambre Sultan is too sticky and thick or if you are looking for an amber to wear in the warmer months.
Slightly feminine, but also great for men who embrace their feminine side. Moderate sillage and moderate longevity.

Opening pretty nice, but as some have said below there is a slight cheap quality to this one. Some say salty, I would say fizzy like there is ginger / coca cola note in there. Not really impressed with drydown.

Holy cow, this really is amazing in warm weather. Tried wearing in cold, dry January and I actually didn’t think it worked at all. However today it’s sunny and 80 degrees and it’s intoxicating!

For me this is the best flanker of the « des merveilles » line.
This amber is so well balanced and smooth...

If you find Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan too strong and smoky, then get l’ambre des merveilles ! It has the opening notes of Ambre Sultan but toned down and keeps the amber bright all day long, unlike Ambre Sultan that gets smoky and incense like.

I love amber scents and I was stuck between this and the Elixir. I’m so glad I purchased this because it is divine! It’s one of the best smelling ambers I’ve come across. It’s like a spicy, sparkling, rich, deep, salty, amber. I love it! Plus the vanilla balances it out so well. The labdanum is another note I love in this I think it adds to the richness of the amber, while the vanilla smooths it out. The patchouli is a nice background player that’s not too typical instead it adds a lovely spice and earthiness to this perfume. I love the drydown on me it’s a spicy amber with a touch of powder. It truley is one of the best ambers scents that I’ve experienced.

I love the bottle and I found this for a reasonable price. This was a blind buy and I bought a full 100ml bottle. So happy I did because this is an amazing scent. I’m interested in still getting the elixir and am excited to try more from the Merveilles line. Love

Lately I fell in love with ambre nuit and ambra nobile. I was looking for amber favorites. This appeared in so many amber recommendations, so I acquired 7.5ml sample.
It's got all the notes I am looking for. Yet why am I not loving it? Sadness and disappointment. Just goes on to show it's not about the notes. I'm still learning.
Why do I sense a cheapness?
I feel it screams: notice me! Like me! I'm marvelous!
some reviewers here commented it's too sweet. I agree.
And there is this annoying spice note. Maybe it's the cardamom everyone is talking about?
I wish this was sweet like a smile for no reason. No. It's sweet like an unwanted forced affection.
It's a prenentious sweetness.
Maybe I'm judging too fast.
For the meantime I'll spray my favorite amber now ambra nobile on my pillow and go to sleep. Yum yum yum.

I must admit from the beginning this one is not my favourite amber perfume, I'm afraid I usually prefer them darker, edgier, dustier, richer, skankier and more medicinal. So this one required a slow approach from me. In fact, I remember disliking it for a long while before I started to appreciate it, at first I found it too sweet and creamy and overloaded of foody vanilla compared to my most beloved amber centred perfumes. Then, I was given a sample and decided to give it several proper testings on skin and only then I began to get attracted by its salty woody drydown.

Good for winter day wear, it lasts for 6 or 7 hours and has a discrete sillage.

This is a fresh and light amber. The listed notes don't really describe it for me. What I get is an opening of orange and bergamont that settles into white amber and ambergris with a little bit of sandalwood and cedar and maybe the slightest bit of vanilla.

The end result is warm and resinous but is a very different amber than Ambre Sultan

I foolishly gave this away after I accidentally overdosed my scarf and killed all the joy associated with my first sniffs. Our second encounter was on skin, and more careful. This is not a deep, warm amber. Although cozy, the combination of notes is sheer and shimmering, not dark and resinous. This effervescent amber has plenty of air and light in it. Unlike many commenters, I get great longevity with this. When I oversprayed on my scarf it clung to the fabric for weeks, so do try it on fabric as well as skin. I wouldn't wear this to the office, though. However luminous, it is also deeply sensual, and perfect for a date, cuddling, or other intimate moments. A few months after the scarf incident, I acknowledged my error after revisiting a sample. I had to possess it again!

a gorgeous ambery scent with not much vanilla in it, which i appreciate, but the longevity on me is so poor.. :(

Very beautiful, the amber is so soft, the vanilla isn't harsh at all since am not a fan of vanilla fragrances, but the downside is that the longevity is very poor on me.

Beautiful scent! Tried a sample and am falling in love with this. Its like Prada Amber but minus the strong patchouli. Like Prada Ambers mid twentie daughter. I love the simplicity and that amber is the main accord but its not overwhelming. Moderage sillage and dries down to amber vanilla benzoin but not a skanky like Tabu,almost ethereal cashmere feel. Too bad this is so expensive!

To the many reviewers not happy with this perfume Id be glad to swap with obe of mine.

So warm, sweet and lovely. I was testing this and Eau des Merveilles recently and was always tempted to add l'ambre when I had eau on. Eau des Merveilles is so gorgeous so it was a tough choice but ultimately I had to go with l'ambre because it's exactly the kind of warm comforting scent I've been craving lately in the depths of winter. Eau will join me soon enough though since it makes me think of the beach, it'll be a great summer scent!

If you want to smell like you've been spending time in a spanish bakery then this is the scent for you!! I personally love the smell of pastries, donuts, etc. and I fell in love with this the first time I smelled it. I'm about 3/4 through an 100ml bottle that I received last year for my birthday and I don't love it as much as I used to because I really did wear it loads. Also, I am quite fickle when it comes to scents I like to try new things a lot so rarely ever repurchase. But I do have a lot of really happy memories associated with this scent & it has great lasting power

The whole des Merveilles series is just not happening for me. I looked at reviews numerous times and every time I tried original or one of its flankers I got basically the same thing-sharp, too pungent and dusty.
I gave this particular one a try today-it opens very sharply and in masculine manner(i didn't care for that at all), very woodsy. I always think of amber as "warm" but there was not anything "warm" to my nose. On my wrist it was dusty like library books and resembled cheap men's cologne.
I was inclined to blame this on my chemistry but I also sprayed it on the paper with same results. I guess this one just not for me. Its same as Terre d'Hermes-it has raving reviews and to me it smells revolting(my spouse didn't care for it either). Clearly Hermes and I are not destined to be friends

Not my thing, found it rather simple in comparison to eau des merveilles.. To me it just flat soft amber, lack of character. By no mean this water is bad, it is just forgettable, smelt so familiar. Lean toward feminine, while the predecessor is more unisex.

I dont get the point of this fragrance. Overly expensive for a vanilla dominated perfume. Just why. It smells good but there are many many good vanilla perfumes out there.

I'm sorry to say this was a sad disappointment. Upon application, a nice amber but no depth. Once it hits the dry down, it lost its softness and turned bitter and cheap. Shockingly disappointed.

this starts off with a slightly sweet and spicy benzoin-y amber with hints of labdanum. i love labdanum, wish it was more prominent here, but still glad i can sense it. this scent is very warm and inviting, and is great for fall or winter. it is pretty linear, and is a bit too gourmand for my tastes but at the same time, i can see occasionally reaching for this when i need a warm, comforting scent.

i tried it a few months ago after reading all the reviews about its sensuality and warmth, mistery.. and was left disappointed. i expected it to be warmer, less cold and linear. i wish there was just a little bit more vanilla in it. the bottle is beautiful though.. i might give it a try again and see if i get anything diferent from it this time.

Disappointed: I was expecting an ambery wonder, and I got too much sugar and an headache...

I sprayed this on my arm when I passed by the Hermes counter today, and oh, it has really developed into a warm and cozy amber.

The initial spray leaned towards masculine for me, but not too much to put me off from using it. As I continued strolling, I noticed how the fragrance warmed up and sweetened slightly into a straightforward amber tempered with a touch of vanilla. A hint of spice from what I assume is the labdanum keeps the blend from becoming in any way cloying. I can't seem to pick up the patchouli in this one or it is just barely there that I miss it.

L’Ambre des Merveilles has such an inviting and familiar smell, although I doubt that I have smelled this specific perfume before. I can't think what it reminds me of, or where I might have smelled it. None of the "reminds me of" fragrances are familiar to me. But L'Ambre has this ever-present quality about it, like something that has always been a part of my life, a scent that comes and goes so that it is like an old friend. This is something that I would definitely wear could I afford it, but I would be content to just smell it on something or somebody else.

I get a dry vanilla spicy resinous plane. On me it turns quite anamalic..which i love.....even a slight honey undertone..which encourages the anamalic feel..definatley a cool/cold weather fragrance in terms of its best features being present.

is it just me or does it smell like sweet ROOTBEER??

this is a wonderful enigma-warm, comforting, soothing-yet spicy and sexy at the same time...two different sides coming to meet in the middle-how amazing is an accomplishment is that?
the warmth in combination with the spice-amber, cinnamon, faint hints of vanilla-just barely there-just the way i like it.
this is a long lasting scent with medium sillage-in otherwords-perfection.
that is what it is-perfection on all levels-this is one of the loves of my wardrobe-and one of about 10 i would replace when i run out

I tried this today after many years. The last time I smelled it, I thought it was the most amazing scent I had ever tried - today, it was quite a disappointment. My tastes have changed, and this turned out to be way too powdery and heavy for my liking.
Not a full dislike, but neither a like.
Sillage is pretty huge, and it is long lasting.

Not worth the hefty price tag. It smells like warm vanilla sugar or any other vanilla variety from bath and body works. Nothing unique. It's just a simple vanilla fragrance. Bath and body works makes much better varities of this kind of fragrance at more than half less the price tag.

This fragrance does wonderful magic on me. Not that exciting to start with but because I am a very warm person, the amber and vanilla shimmer for me. It makes perfect sense that L’Ambre des Merveilles might be a disappointment for some as I think the extra heat, be it internal or externally sourced, is required.
Edit, after wearing this a few times, I think it is going to be demoted to a Like. I will have to think further on this one. I am wearing it in cooler weather and there is something about the middle notes. The beginning and again 5 hours later, is quite lovely. There is something in the middle stage that doesn't sit right. Stay tuned.

A polite amber with a bit of salt underneath. A nice little flanker to the wonderful Eau des Merveilles. Reminds me of all the generic and predictable amber/patchouli's out there but this is well done (of course, it's Hermes). The only thing that really stands out is that play doh note (from the ambergris?) Not worth the Hermes pricetag as this has been done pretty well and for far less elsewhere but you may be different.

I just received L'Amber des Merveilles today as a blind buy because of the reviews, and I am so happy with this fragrance! I get a warm rich slightly powdery amber, followed by a soft breath of vanilla. And with the labdanum, I get just a touch of musky amber, and at the end an ever so slight patchouli, which is not to noticeable. A very classy scent to me. Not an overpowering fragrance, but an elegant scent.
Thanks everybody for your helpful reviews :)

L'ambre des merveilles for me, is perfection. It's the warmest, softest, endearing fragrance I own. I can't tell you its top, middle and basenotes. I'm clueless as to whether is a chypre or oriental. What I CAN tell you is that it is a whole lot of 'comfort and joy' wrapped up in a bottle and it makes me smile! My favorite routine is to shower at night, spray it, and climb in bed at the end of the day with a book and cup of hot tea. I find myself sniffing my wrist and arms. I'll be the first to admit that it becomes a skin scent very quickly, but it's just divine. Worth every penny. I hope that everyone is lucky enough to find a fragrance that evokes the sense of being wrapped in the warm embrace of a mother's hug as this fragrance does for me!

I think it's one of the most beautiful amber fragrances I've ever smelled! :) It was love at first sniff... In my opinion, it's the best one from the Merveilles series: a beautiful, balmy, comforting, shiny amber scent with dominant vanille and just a hint of spices. It's sweet and cozy, but in a very grown-up, sensual and feminine way, it's never too much or too cloying! Although it sad to be an unisex perfume, I find it absolutely feminine.
It's a true masterpiece in a beautiful bottle, with very good lasting power and moderate sillage. I find it as a perfect unique but inoffensive everyday scent from autumn to spring. And I suggest it for every Woman, who'd like to be a Queen... :)

For me, it's a BIG love, and is also my favourite Hermés perfume... It's just perfect!

Points: 5/5. :)

Wow...I think I'm in love...

Quite simply this is one of the best amber perfumes out there. It is perfection in a bottle.

I have Eau Des Merveilles and Elixir.. I'm wondering what the difference is between these 3 and if I should buy this too? Let me know!

As some others have noted, this does better in the heat than many other ambers I might wear. It goes on in a very sheer fashion, gauzy and sweet. As it warms up on the skin, the amber note strengthens, but it never becomes meaty and hefty. This is not a resinous, rich and dark amber, but a light, sweet amber-vanilla. The patch is very, very mild and is a peppery BO light smell. I like patch, and overall, the entire scent wears "clean" so patch haters fear not. It is just adds a bit of dimension to this which it needs. If you are looking for a fairly straight-up amber that leans heavily into sweet vanilla territory (almost too much for me), this is it. The patch adds a wee bit of dirt up close, but in a good way. I quite like, but do not love this amber.
It is pleasant, but I want my ambers a bit more resinous and tilting toward incense with much more heft to them. However, that might be suffocating and sweltering in the summer, and today in Cali it's going to be over 100--so this really is a very lovely choice for when the winter "snuggle" ambers are too much. There is a light effervescent quality to this.
Longevity as noted is quite good--silage is terrible. I would really try before you buy. I absolutely demand some longevity unless it's a cologne-style and I want to respritz as a freshener--and silage is a must. I want to enjoy the perfume, but I like to leave just a bit of a whiff--not killer, but a tiny trail. This won't do that, so yes, it is office friendly, but I don't mean to impugn its character in that regard. This might be just the thing for when one is ''jonesing" for some amber in the heat or at the office but one needs to be somewhat discreet.

This is a GREAT amber parfume, it is something so creamy and elegant on my skin and it seams to melt in a so nice way with me.
The name is perfect L'Ambre de Merveilles... I can find just a little problem on this perfum. Longevity is quit good, but sillage is soooo poor on me.... :-( after a couple of hour it begin to be closed to the skin, and at night it is still very very closed. It is suffering for me!!! I LOVE this TOOOO much!

I tested this perfume last year while being on summer holidays in Mallorca and fell instantly in love. I didn't have a chance to test it a second time until late November and when I did I was disappointed. It smelled flat, somehow synthetic and the sweetness sat on my skin in an unpleasant way almost making me wash it of. Today I spritzed it on because there wasn't anything else interesting enough in the shop and boy do I love it. In my opinion it really needs heat to bloom and show its full potential. It might easily become my favourite summer perfume because it combines the natural sweetness of skin with that typical saltiness that arises from sea water mixing with sunscreen drying on bronzed skin. The question now: should I buy it for the last weeks of this summer or wait until next year,hmm.

After the initial drydown, this smells like vanilla salted caramel with a base of sex. Like the actual smell of sex, which keeps the whole thing from really turning gourmand.

It's the perfume equivalent of waking up from a languorous nap, feeling warm and safe. Then you feel your lover's arm around you, and when your eyes fully open, you remember why you both fell asleep on the floor.

I do not understand, my nose senses more notes. Why is it presented as if it is a bland, unidirectional perfume, composed of 4 only notes all aligned intro one perfume??!! This is so wrong!
Smelled in the bottle, it has an opening of grapefruit zest and some salty caramel - not sweet! Then, next to the saltiness comes some dry wood, like a drift away found on a beach. On my skin, next to the amber comes sandal dust, Tonka bean and definitely dark chocolate, making it the perfect smell for a summer evening by the sea.
Dear Fragrantica, please improve the presentation and the top / middle / base notes choices of this Merveilles of a perfume!

This is a beautiful fragrance .. delicious vanilla and amber ,so smooth, warm and cozy but longevity and sillage is an issue for me sadly so I save this for bed time .
I will test this in warmer weather and see how it fairs. But it is an amazing scent and I will update.

Edit : Its warmer here in SA today and I'm trying my L' Ambre again . I Must say that I sprayed this at 7 am this morning , its now 2:45 pm and I'm still smelling its absolutely GORGEOUS !!!

I just wanted to add a few more points about this beauty that i can’t get enough of.
I find in the warmer seasons, this smells more oriental vanilla.
Its a thick sexy vanilla with amber underneath.
But in cold weather another side comes out.
The side that smells more like elixir merveilles, some say medicinal i say it smells kind of like liquor.
Orange, woodiness and spice is what i smell most.
I don’t think this has happened with many other perfume i own, but i find it so interesting.
I havent smelt this on anyone else yet but it probably changes with skin chemistry too.
Overal i love this scent, its very versatile and easy to love, its what i reach for most.

Update: I'm finding this really addictive because of the top notes even though it dries down to a play dough scent on my skin, so my solution is to spray it on my clothes or in my hair. If you love this but it doesn't work with your skin, give that a try and you'll get that beautiful sparkling salty amber all day long!

I like this but it doesn't live up to the hype for me. It starts off as a lovely sparkling salted amber but after it dries down, it's all salt and play dough on me. There are many better ambers for me, but I wish I loved this one because the bottle is positively gorgeous. I agree that it's unisex too, I actually think I'd like this a lot more on a man.

This one doesn't smell at all like I expected it to, but that's not a bad thing. I expected a syrupy sweet vanilla "amber" since a lot of people referred to this perfume when others were asking for a sweet amber. However, I don't find this sweet, at least not to my standards. To me, it smells like a SLIGHTLY sweeter, stronger Hermes Eau Des Merveilles. I think this can be worn in the summer too. It smells salty like Eau Des Merveilles, just a little less watery/citrusy. Be warned, this is not really a vanilla scent and it's quite unisex. I'd enjoy it on a man but it's sexy on females as well. I should have expected it to be similar to Eau Des Merveilles...duh, it's a flanker.

On me this is almost a gourmand- a lovely salted caramel gem that brings to mind yellow leaves flickering in golden sun. It is sweet without being heavy and has good sillage and longevity. I had thought it would be a bit too heavy for summer, but it isn't at all- I've had many compliments during warm months when I've worn it. I love a perfume I can wear year round, and this is such a versatile one. I have the Eau as well and while it is a nice scent, it smells too much like decorative seashell soap. Ambre is a much more interesting and well rounded fragrance, and while I love it for myself, I could also see a man pull it off.

Warm and pleasurable. L’Ambre des Merveilles starts with a refreshing note that's almost a citrus - I think its Kumquat but nothing is listed. Dry down is not clinging or cloying and it has a creamy, vanilla pudding vibe.

It's as comforting as fuzzy slippers. However, amber is a crowded category and this one isn't unique enough to be memorable. I always forget about it when I'm picking which fragrance to wear.

This is a sample spray I am reviewing.
To me, a very 'simple" amber scent. I get citrus, and I also get a slight "raw honey" and vanilla...??? Very nice fragrance, however I own Tova Ambre d'Oro and it provides me with the same vibe/type scent for a lot less money.

Wow this is absolutely beautiful and warm like golden sugar. I’m surprised there are no comparisons to Kenzo L’Elephant minus the oriental spices associated with that fragrance: cardamom, cloves, cumin, caraway etc. L’Ambre is reminiscent of hot spicy chai with lots of cinnamon and vanilla powder; it feels so cozy and makes me want to crawl into bed and hibernate all winter lol.

The opening is bright amber with drops of sweet vanilla, this smells like a warm creamy dessert infused with toasted brown sugar and cinnamon spices. A boozy patchouli underlies this sugary accord, but it’s neither cold nor sharp. In fact the patchouli is subtle and mildly woodsy; it doesn’t come off as being too bitter or intrusive like most scents dominated with this note. Labdanum is discreetly mixed into the dry down to give a soft and airy fragrance that feels minimalistic and honest, like bright and transparent amber.

Although L’Ambre is distinctively a sweet scent, it’s certainly unconventional. Unlike most sugary perfumes this one doesn’t feel narcissistic (it doesn’t stand there screaming obnoxiously) neither does it seek attention in crude ways. L’Ambre feels wholesome and modest, she’s sweet and inviting like apple pie, but still retains an aura of mystery. Men are drawn not only to her discreet nature but also her feminine charms; she inspires poetry in those lucky enough to fall in love with her.

Overall a magnificent perfume by Hermes, and one that feels perfect for those long winter months. L’Ambre is inoffensive while the longevity is quite good; it’s unisex though I associate this fragrance as strongly feminine. Highly recommended for those who enjoyed Kenzo L’Elephant but found the myriad of spices too strong and bitter; L’Ambre is perfect for gourmand lovers as well.

Vienna.Pink

I don't know how but the drydown of L'ambre on my skin is exactly like Eau de Lacoste Sensuelle. I have compare them side by side. Strange, but i already have Lacoste so i don't need this. Overall, IT is a very good fragrance.

Hope II : Gustav Klimt 1907/8

This one here continues the theme of me being ridiculously lucky with my blind buys. See I was looking for a good quality, but also at the same time light amber fragrance, and found myself reading the reviews of L'ambre des Merveilles. My previous experience with ambers was that even though I love the smell, it is usually so overwhelming I can't handle it myself, let alone wear it to work. L'ambre comes pretty damn close to being exactly what I was looking for. The only thing I wish was different is that the scent be just a tad more ambery, along the lines of Histoire de Parfums Ambre 114, but still have this ethereal, airy lightness to it. This, of course, is not a big deal considering how absolutely beautiful it is in itself. No sharp edges, just gently radiating warmth.

Love.

EDIT: Every now and again I get a slight cardamom vibe from L'ambre. The vanilla and cardamom combined made me think of my nan baking when I came home from school years and years ago, and the whole house was filled with the soft and warm scent. I love it how perfumes can evoke such strong memories. <3

This is a beautiful scent, don't get me wrong, but it is a very light and inoffensive amber. It wears very close to the skin. I love really heavy resinous ambers, so while this is a really lovely smelling vanilla amber, it is not as rich and heavy as I imagined it would be. I just don't see myself buying a FB as I don't think the performance matches the price tag.

Gorgeous!! This is my first amber based fragrance and I can honestly say that it was love at first sniff.
The first blast reminds me of orange furniture polish but in a good way and stays that way for about 10-15 minutes. Then it goes straight to the amber and vanilla drydown that smells almost gourmand but a grown up gourmand. I can also detect some type of spice weaving in and out as I catch little whiffs. I have to smile everything I smell it because it's so... beautiful and definitely unlike anything I have in my collection. Lordy makes me want to try other Hermes fragrances:-D

All the notes are blend so smoothly to produce a warm and cuddly aroma that I truly love. Someone mentioned an 80's vibe and that is dead on and one of the reasons I appreciate it even more. This is sophistication in a bottle. Nothing overly done or undone, it's perfect. I absolutely love it!!

It's a very soft fragrance not sharp at all and on that note I don't believe it will project well. I will update later on longevity.

Love the smell at first hour, and then poooof its gone on me...

it's a delicious warm amber and vanilla. with a good longevity. it's longevity in my skin is 7-8 hours. i love it's dry down when amber warm me!
کاری بسیار باکیفیت از عطار معروف ژان کلود النا. مناسب روزهای پاییز میتونه باشه.
حتما این کارو تست کنید.
سمپل اورجینال این کار موجوده. پروفایلم رو چک کنید.

when I put on this strong parfume is there something animally in first moment made me to hunt... dangerously and strange,but after some hours is like silk at skin, pure vanilla sweet warm notes is like vanilla cake :-D is nice, but for me very sweet am in doubt what I felt by put it on me :-D

This is a stylish, contemporary amber oriental. Vanilla alone does not a gourmand make. It opens with a silky, luxurious, resinous amber wrapped in vanilla, kissed with non-sweet citrus. The citrus immediately fades to showcase the clear, sheer, vanilla-amber. I am surprised by the lack of spice, and surprised at how well it works.

This becomes a MSBB skin scent on me with-in the half hour. The only problem with that is I CAN'T SMELL IT. My family can, but I cannot. I even went into the kitchen and started smelling spices just to make sure it wasn't my nose becoming fatigued. I sprayed again, fearlessly overspraying, to the same result. This perfume is intoxicating, and I want MORE of it, but this is going to go on a "accept as gift only" list. I can't put out the money for something I can't smell, no matter how much I love it.

Only J-C Ellena could dream up such a transparent amber, which is also rich and warm. Light, yet present, with powerful longevity, when applied before bed, it’s still there the next day. If you like huge, ‘divaesque’ scents, this may not be for you, it has discreet projection. Labdanum is beautifully balanced with soft spices, vanilla adds a luxurious sweetness, without becoming cloying or going into edible territory, the patch is understated and refined, as is the entire composition. L’Ambre is my favorite from the Merveilles family, a great amber to my nose -a minimalist's nose, so its relative simplicity is heaven for me, doesn’t mean it’s boring, rather intriguing while at the same time comforting. I agree with another reviewer in that it has a completely different feel, especially the animalic quality that is prominent in EdM, is absent in L’Ambre-also created by two different perfumers, but it’s definitely not redundant. Victoria, from Bois de Jasmin, sums it up by calling it “a portable ray of sun.” Yes! a sunlit scent for sure, mmm!

The amber in this smells like a mixture of honey and peach.
To me this is a very sweet scent with an amazing opening.
The opening is balmy and a touch medicinal but it wears off to
more of a sweet liqueur scent.
I was wearing this today, my boyfriend buried his nose into my neck and said "mm you smell like a holiday"

EDIT: In warm weather i get a really intense vanilla from this and in cold weather this smells more medicinal and more like elixir merveilles!

If I were to have an amber/vanilla, this would be it. This has a soft, wistful feeling to it, a little like the vibe in Bois des Iles and l'Heure Bleue. It doesn't smell like either, and it is much less complex - actually it is more like a very pared down Shalimar if it is like any classic. This is not too gourmand, as there is a slight saltiness that keeps the sweetness in check and adds to the sexiness of the scent, reminiscent of warm skin.

This is lovely in all weathers and the sillage and longevity are good. This is a classy gourmand with an ethereal, but definitely present, aura.

I have worn a 50ml bottle and cannot decide whether to get another. It all comes down to whether I need a vanilla in my wardrobe... It is not really like the other Merveilles fragrances but they do share amber and a pinch of salt. I think this is my favourite, though.

Wear a thin and scent free body oil under this and reserve this for times where you will be heated(summer,inside during fall and winter etc... This has no sillage or longevity after like 3 hours otherwise, which sucks because the couple hours it does last are heaven.

Labdanum is the resin (steam distilled) of the cistus, the rock rose. It is mixed with vanillin to create amber, the perfumery ingredient, and this is the fragrance that powers Ambre Sultan, Ambre Dore, Ambre Preciuex, and L'Ambre des Merveilles. It's sister, Eau Claire des Merveilles, is similar, but has a floral heart, which I suspect was taken from another Hermes fragrance. The Elixir is doughy, yeasty, to my nose and I don't like it in that concentration, although I find a bit of it in l'Ambre that is acceptable.
The original was not composed by Jean Claude Elena, he is responsible for the flankers. L'Ambre is a flanker to Eau des Merveilles and my view is that it is considered second to the original in popularity. Big shoes to fill then.

Longevity could be better, but it is a warm, comforting winter fragrance. The citric bite is as good as it gets but it can't push Nuit Etoile in EDP form off my shelf (perhaps I like the mint) Another to try is Hanae Mori NO 3 OR for a completely full on Amber Ambre Dore by MPdG. I bought L'Ambre when my bottle of Eau Claire ran out; the question is, by the time this bottle is finished, will I buy from the des Merveilles line again?

Recieved a sample of this one today,and to my surprise I loooove it so much!I usually don't care much about uni fragrances,but l'ambre is in the middle of track,proper for both men & women
There is a common gene between this one and others in this line but similarities are not very clear.I can feel a hint of merveilles's orangy gene here too and thanks god there's no patchouli and labdanium to my nose
L'ambre is a warm,cozy,delicious amber,vanilla cream with a hint of spices,very sensual and lovely.it's soft powdered and very longlasting(+10 hours)with a more than moderate sillage that surrounds you like a warm cuddly cloud.great for cold,dark autumn days.gonna edit as soon as I receive my bottle
Edit:yeap,I looove it.soft powdered,cozy and very delicious.reminds me home made biscuits.call me crazy but it's powdery vanilla reminds me vanilla in Britney in control which I die for.it's the only one I love in the merveiilles series.also love it's adorable bottle
Highly recommended to gourmand lovers
❤❤❤❤
تنها عطر سری مرولس هرمس هست ک خیلی دوسش دارم.برای من رایحه خیلی ساده ای داره از امبر و وانیل پودری.و در حد خیلی خیلی جزیی ژن پرتقالی مربوط به این سری رو هم توش حس میکنم.شدیدا بدی بیسکویت های خونگی رو میده.همونجور نرم و گرم ک آرامش بخش و خوشمزه و عالی برای عصرهای سرد و دلگیر پاییز و زمستون..در تعجبم ک این عطر یونیسکس اعلام شده و الکسیر زنانه!بنظر من زنانگیش از الکسیر بمراتب بیشتره هرچند برای آقایون هم قابل استفاده ست
شاید خنده دار بنظر برسه اما وانیل پودری این عطر منو یاد وانیل عطر این کنترل بریتنی اسپیرز میندازه(ک از قضا اونو هم خیلی دوس دارم)
خوشبختانه من هیچ اثری از لادن و پچولی حس نمیکنم
روی پوست من ماندگاری عالی داره.+10 ساعت و پخشش هم بیشتر از متوسطه..مثل یه ابر گرم و سبک احاطه تون میکنه
این عطر رو به همه گورمند دوستها توصیه میکنم

I certainly did not think that one of the most salmiac-like scents I have tried thus far would be hiding in L'Ambre des Merveilles, this golden, spherical potion that has popped up on my radar now and then and quickly has been dismissed as a pretty amber every time.

I don't think most people would find that this one smells edible, but I do. I would love to suck on a hard candy that tastes like this smells. In fact, it is like a perfume version of Bonbon Kloakslam, if any Scandinavian people are reading this. More refined and complex, but still a tasty ambery hard candy with ammonium chloride saltiness. I will need to get more than a sample of this.

L’Ambre des Merveilles - ❤loving this juice. Blind bought this because of all the wonderful reviews and I am so glad it was everything described and more. The amber is lovely and composed with yummy salty/sweet gourmand elements. Not eatable but extremely wearable, even in warm weather this is a real enveloping beauty on the skin❤.

I don't usually like to wear gourmand fragrances as they are generally cloying and allergy-inducing. However, this scent is so sophisticated and warm in the most luxurious way possible.

The spicy amber, the buttery vanilla topped, and the sprinkle of sharpness (patchouli and labdanum) all coordinate with each other in harmony.

I imagine a very wealthy, sophisticated lady wearing this with a mink coat and a maroon Kelly.

Longevity: 8/10, elusive but lingering
Silage: 7/10, loud for the first 2 hours then mellows down
Price: 9/10, could be easily sold for a much higher price as a niche scent
Packaging: gorgeous and unique (except for that plastic cap)

L’Ambre des Merveilles "Hermes" is a fragrance with Amber base for men or women.The nose behind this fragrance is Jean-Claude Ellena.It is a good perfume for Autumn and winter(very warm).Sillage is soft.longevity is very well.
it is mysterious with woody-amber notes.It really smells awesome.

Still looking for a perfect amber, so I can be excused for suspending my disbelief and get a spritz at the duty free. But: this is sugary to the point of being bitter. No spiciness, no warmth, strange hay whiff in the dry down. Too bad: the tasteless bottle should have warned me. Teenager stuff.

All I get after dry down is powder powder powder. This perfume is not for me!!!

Winter: wow smells surprisingly dreamy
Not that pedestrian sweet and sickly like
I am so used to that I've started to expect

A dreamy mix of cream and spices. But it
is winter and this DISAPPEARS. ..Peace..

i never smell anything like this before (i'm new to perfumery) and this scent smell so warm, sensual, creamy, and spicy. it's beautiful! and it's longer on my clothes :)

This is a beautiful perfume with two major drawbacks. Firstly, it does not work with everyone's skin chemistry (me included). Secondly, it doesn't last long.

My mum bought it for herself for Christmas time and has been using it for the past two months. I love how it smells on her - warm, sensual, slightly spicy. Wonderful. I tried it during the holidays on myself and didn't get the same effect, but thought to give it another try later on. Today I went to visit my folks and sprayed some of this juice on my wrists hoping it would be better this time... It was not. Strange as it may seem, on me it smells as if it was packed with sandalwood which is a scent I adore but which, for some reason, on me always gets scratchy and unpleasant. When we drove home with my husband I let him sniff my wrist and he said: "horrible, another sandalwood that doesn't like you!" When I got home, I rushed to my pc and I see that sandalwood is not listed among the notes. What is it then? I have no idea, but it is scratchy and disturbing like a wooden sweater that irritates your skin (to compare, see my review of E.Lauder Sensuous that I wrote under my previous nickname - Ashkelon. Sensuous gave me exactly the same feeling).

Two hours passed and I can't smell anything anymore. Bad longevity... Seems like this perfume first bites, and then runs away from me. My advice: try before you buy. But if it works for you - enjoy! It can be a real sweetheart to the ones it likes.

The initial blast is a bit of spicy amber but it mellows out to a smooth creamy buttery amber. There is ever so slightly a hint of sweetness, but just the right amount. Love it! Like it far more than the Eau de Merveilles. Even though these are in the same line, they smell nothing alike on my skin

8/10

This is not an amber fragrance at all. At best, is a nice, sweet skin scent. Fairly overpriced for its mediocre projection and longevity. I don't know how they can market this as EDP, I think that EDC (???) would be more accurate.
Anyhow, nice, but I sure like my ambers stronger, more resinous, more impactful. This was a blind buy that fell short of expectations.
Smell great, my friends.
UPDATE: This smells very similar to Dior's Hypnotic Poison.

This fragrance is different to any other in my collection. It reminds me of the butterscotch boiled sweets my great granny used to give me on the quiet when I was 4 or 5. Yes, I get plenty of sweetish amber, then the vanilla, labdanum and then a bit of patch. Its really curious but I am sure I can smell the salty sea air smell of ambre gris. Its present all the way through scents progression. Thankfully I like it but it might not be to everyones taste. Moderate sillage and longevity which is a surprise considering the notes in this. I would only wear this in cool or cold conditions as it would be too potent otherwise. Very pleasant.

Delicious Amber. It's so beautiful oriental. One of my favourite.