Ambre Impérial Van Cleef & Arpels for women and men

I’m selling a bottle for 95€, 2 sprays used for testing only, shipping worldwide from France, pm me if interested

Smells very sophisticated and expensive!

Smells soooo good. It’s rich and boozy. The notes are blended very well and somehow this combination doesn’t lean too sweet or gourmand esc. It’s a grown up vanilla. I’ve gotten many compliments on this scent. For a simple composition, I don’t have anything that smells like this. Definitely unisex!

Well, nice, but Heaven forgive the liars saying it's identical to the discontinued Voile D'Ambre by YR,
IT IS NOT

in quentin bisch we trust ‼️😤

This is so so nice on my skin. Warm sweet vanilla amber. I had a wee bit of a sample and put the few dabs on my chest, and I keep getting such lovely whiffs. This is my absolute favorite type of perfume, it slightly reminds me of 2 of my favorites (though not dupes) Guerlain Shalimar Millesime Tonka and Byredo Slow Dance. I don’t think this perfume was made to be a beast. This is more of a “I love you, come closer” kind of scent, special for you and those special people you let close. But it’s such a joy to wear. I am adding this to my ever expanding want list.

Everyone knows QB is a genius. My faves are the ones he did with fellow bomb perfumer Natalie Gracia-Cetto. But there’s something about Ambre Impérial that really does it for me. It’s subtle sweet and a touch animalic with a luxe dose of amber.

There’s definitely an understated elegance and sensuality to this one. It’s unique and not too much of any one thing.

I definitely recommend letting your bottle macerate for a week or so. Testing before can lead to some poor results. I blind bought because I’m collecting Bisch fragrances.

Overall a nice scent but a tricky fragrance that isn’t for everyone. Has the vibes of a vintage fragrance reimagined, but isn’t like many of the more popular fragrances nowadays.

Mostly I get a watery resinous light amber, with a vintage spice note, and I feel like I pick up a touch of suede, powder, and bitter orange in it, with a dry/non-sugary vanilla. I almost think I smell a sweet tobacco leaf note here as well.

It feels like a scent I associate with fancy leather goods, like a woman’s designer handbag or leather jacket from 20+ years ago when they were still new. Smells like rich adults over 30. Not the new leather car seats kind of smell, but a fancy boutique filled with handbags and expensive european perfume.

I wish it performed better. It’s very much a skin scent and I can’t detect it at all after a few hours. I will probably use this scent to freshen up my fancy vintage coats and purses.

This layers well with Mahni Cassonade!

This one is exactly voile d'ambre by Yves rocher

Oh my, this perfume has a heavy opening then turns into exactly l'ambre des merveilles's lighter version which is my least favorite from the merveilles line. After 10 minutes it became a lineer scent. Elixir des merveilles's amber composition is doing the job much better. Longevity and sillage are no better than l'ambre or elixir. I prefer this one over l'ambre since it is more wearable, but prefer elixir or any other merveilles over this.

Van Cleef and arpels Amber imperial perfume starts off very very peppery. So much so that for me it leans very masculine. As it goes along I get a lot of the Benzion coming through. There is a slight vanilla tonality here but this is not a sweet amber. I find it dry and very masculine. Like smelling resins warmed in your hand. The woods in the base are light and not overpowering. A warm resinous and very peppery dry amber with a slight vanilla tone. Leans masculine. Another decant goes to my husband.

Another strange fragrance from this brand... My husband and I were smelling decants that I have given him last night and this one did a major shift on us just like precious oud. Precious oud smelled just like Gucci guilty intense when we first tested it then a friend I met here told me this brand has to test after shipment for awhile before wearing. Precious oud turned into a gorgeous balsamic white floral that smells similar to my bottle of Lumiere d'orient by parfums gres without the fruity notes and an additional oud. Imperial amber was a dry and peppery masculine leaning amber with a mild vanilla quality. Now it is that for about 20mins then it turns into a sweet vanilla amber. This decant has been resting now for more than a month. I guess the lesson with this brand let the bottle/decant rest for at least month before use.

Edit:1/6/24 this brand drives me nuts. Now this is back to smelling the way I first described it. Now neither my husband or me like it at all. And we were really just meh about in the first place but thought it was a nice enough unisex amber. Have to rate this a dislike now. The decant is being used as bathroom air freshener.

A very easy to wear amber/ vanilla with a nice classy finish that doesn't turn too simple, there's a nice woodiness to the finish.

If I wanted something stand-out and unique this wouldn't be it. I might want something more unusual or edgy for evening, or something more enigmatic for daytime, but Ambre Imperial is supremely easy to wear - snug, cosy, inviting with no surprises.

A perfect classy comfort scent for autumn and winter.

Hate at initial spray and well for the first 10 minutes or so. All i got was a harsh pepper mellowed down by a little citrus. Way too masculine and not a hint of amber anywhere!
After 10 minutes or so, the magic started happening 😍 I started getting whiffs of a super soft, delicate, creamy whipped vanilla drizzled with something sweet. Like come sort of scrumptious vanilla pastry 🥮 😋 At first, I wasn’t really sure where this deliciousness is coming from and had to double check that it’s not coming from where I sprayed that citrusy pepper abomination that i was more than ready to wash off, and to my surprise and delight, it was indeed the source 😍😍 It has transformed into the coziest, most delicate amber-vanilla skin scent that I could easily see myself getting addicted to 😍 😋

Ambre Impérial is a really good sweet amber scent. I have long wanted to try it, and I'm not disappointed. Its bright, freshly spicy opening paves the way beautifully to the vanilla-amber base

AI opens with tart, fresh bergamot followed by soft, rosy pink pepper. It is slightly unusual, but paves the way seamlessly to the sweet amber base. The pink pepper lingers until the drydown, tying it all together beautifully. It feels luxurious, if low-key.

As it develops, the vanilla-amber accord develops. Creamy and softly spicy, it is smooth and satisfying throughout. The tonka bean follows, adding an almond-like, slightly gourmand feel. The vanilla is dry and powdery, grown-up and good-quality. There is no cloying syrup here.

Some dry woodiness comes to the fore as it dries down, complementing the amber beautifully. Peppery spice remains, giving a slight cola effect alongside the soft sweetness. It fades to a powdery woody-vanilla skin scent. Sillage and longevity are moderate. It is an autumn/winter scent.

A high-quality, sweet amber scent that is not gourmand, AI is unisex despite its sweetness. It does remind me of Hermès L'Ambre des Merveilles, particularly as the bright, peppery opening subsides, but with more tonka and spice. Perhaps a little expensive based on performance, but truly lovely. 4/5.

Quinton Bish needs to be named Quinton Beast! Ambre Impérial is magnificent. Its a crowd pleaser but you may need distinguished taste to appreciate its beauty. Its linear but thats not a dirty word. Everything is blended to such perfection that even a curmudgeon like Simon Cowell would be singing it's praises and giving it multiple TENs. Don't bother looking up the notes on Fragrantica bc your nose will call them a liar.

Ambre Imperial is stellar and represents the brand Van Cleef & Arpels well. It's a luxury jewelry brand known for adorning celebrities on the red carpet with jewelry, that will unquestionably someday be in an estate sale like Christie's or Sotheby's. A brand like this needs the accompaniment of a fragrance to match the brilliance of their six figure time pieces. May I present to you Ambre Impérial?

Im well aware that Orchidee Vanille gets all the buzz talk, but can we shine some light on Ambre Impérial? Im not shining the light bc a great fraghead blessed me with a decant of this and Im appreciative. Im highligting Ambre Impérial bc its well deserved.

Ambre Imperial is what I expect judges like the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson to wear. Its the humble and quiet, unassuming power fragrance. Although I know Michelle Obama wears Creed Love in White, I can surely see her wearing it on stage for her sold out world wide book tour. This is Correta Scott King and Betty Shabazz worthy. This is what both Kobe and A.I. would choose to wear when being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Am I painting a picture clear enough here?

This is what Oprah gifts the entire audience with for Christmas. This is what lawyers wear on an interview to become partner at the firm. This is what a secure man puts on when he knows he smells better than the other guy and his girl COMBINED!

Skews baby powder on my skin at opening - powder and baby wipes. Not my jam. But softens and woody notes peak out to become more tonka bean than powdery and clean musk smelling.

I made the mistake of sampling this with Jimmy Choo's Amber Kiss and not labelling my test paper, so if it was not for the prominent vanilla note, I would not have been able to tell them apart.
This is a smooth amber, creamy vanilla and sweet tonka. Benzoin pulls up like a cool dude bringing some kind of balsamic oompf to this. My only issue? It's not potent, for the price, it should be.

It's the perfect blend of amber, vanilla and almond. Sweet, creamy and smooth without being cloying. Opens as spicy bergamot, dries down as warm, powdery, vanilla. Very grown and sexy. Not the most long lasting but decent enough. Best in cold weather. My new everyday scent. Totally obsessed.

A very beautiful scent. Reminds me of Caftan by YSL but with heaps of tonka. The tonka is pretty much the only other thing I get after the amber. The peppery phase only lasts minutes which I enjoy nonetheless. A fairly quiet scent in terms of projection which is a bit of a minus for me but I will say longevity is v good. Overall, I wouldn’t repurchase as I prefer the overall experience I get with Caftan’s churchy drydown, but I will be using up my partial of this!

Somehow ALL VC&A scents act the same way for me (and on me). Beautiful, high quality compositions, lovely scents. But all of them are mature, old lady style. Not enormous sillage, weak lasting power. This scent is not an exception unfortunately.
Would this keep its intensity of the first spray, I would happily buy this (along with Orchidee Vanille).

Cozy woody sweet and slightly salty amber.
Longevity and sillage are acceptable.
Love this!

Cozy autumn/winter fragrance. Pepper notes last only a few minutes. A wonderful combination of amber and vanilla. In my head it creates an image of a fireplace, a cup of bergamot tea with marshmallow. Love it!

I love it, a sweet woody scent but a little bit too masculine

Great scent for winter/spring/autumn and a night out, though make sure that night out is short coz this does not last long. Shame for such a good fragrances, wish it lasted longer.

Gorgeous scent, maybe a bit too masculine for my taste. The sillage and longevity is very poor on this as well as all the other perfumes I've tried from Van Cleef.

Does anyone else think this smells like creamy vanilla Coke or is it just me?

Opening is bergamot, dry down is a cozy/sweet, spicy amber fragrance. The spiciness is detectable from the beginning till the end. Definitely unisex

At first sniff I get a blast of the bergamot and pepper but it doesn't last long at all, thankfully for me. Then it turns to a warm, cozy Amber that's sweet but not too sweet. There's also a slight incense-y accord to my nose. Once it dries down I get more of the vanilla, woods and it also becomes slightly powdery on me, which I love.
I can't speak of longevity yet because it only just arrived today. A blind buy success! I'm really going to love wearing this in the fall and winter.

Edit// so I've had this for about a month and the longevity is actually quite decent on me. I'm loving this more and more every time I wear it. I got a full size on fragrancenet for a really great price.

Edit// 9/16/22 - right now I have Ambre Imperial on my left arm and MFK Grand Soir on my right arm to test side by side. AI smells sweeter and a little powdery while GS smells more masculine and almost pissy and rubbery in a way. Out of the 3 times I've worn GS I've only liked it the second time. Overall, I definitely prefer AI 100000%.

This must be love…❤️ With a sneeze! 😂 love it indeed, but, yes, the pepper is real too! Way passed ten hrs and it’s still projecting.

Phenomenal...Instant Love Affair...!

My skin amps pepper and woody notes, so this isn’t a love for me. It fades rather quickly as well, typical of all the VC&A fragrances I’ve tried.

I got both samples of Ambre Imperial and Ambre Sultan (Serge Lutens) and I ended up purchasing the latter. Partly because I already own Orchidee Vanille (VCA), the vanilla-gourmand facet of Ambre Imperial is quite similar to Orchidee Vanille.
Ambre Imperial is a smooth creamy/milky amber scent which I think is very friendly to someone who has not tried amber fragrances before. It feels cozy, warm, yummy.
Unfortunately the performance is not great. It becomes a skin scent rather quickly.

I obtained a 75ml 2.5 fl oz bottle of Van Cleef & Arpels Ambre Imperiale at a deep discount from a popular online vendor.
I had originally received a 2ml sample tester prior to this with an order from the same seller.
Im a sucker for a warm sweet amber note in a fragrance...and this hit the mark perfectly. The opening is a very well blended pink pepper/spice accord that adds to the warmth of the fragrance as a whole.
It soon gives way to a very rich, warm , sweet , soft amber/vanilla accord that is devastatingly elegant & beautiful.
Wholly Unisex..the cashmere-smooth amber/vanilla/musk accord will warm your heart and comfort you...its like wearing a hug.
It projects very well, in an in-offensive manner...and has real staying power.
This has become one of my-all time favorites...and i would definitely purchase more from the VC & R “Collection Extraordinare” line.
Elegant, classy, sophisticated, refined, warm, comfort..
I really enjoy wearing this throughout the winter season..
Very few fragrances have brought me this level of comfort and I continue to
fall in love with it time and time again each Winter!
If you love amber ..you will thoroughly enjoy this composition.

The Verdict : EXCELLENCE

Nice. The opening is a bit too loud, bold like headshop hippie amber oil but it quickly settles into a smoother scent story that is atypically airy. Perfectly unisex if you're into wearing sweeter smells for yourself and those close to you. This is a safe amber, not a bold adventure amber. Glad to have 8ml in my collection and not a full bottle.

UPDATE
I am kinda enjoying the relaxed nature of this fragrance. I sometimes find ambers to be heavy and tiring. If spiced they can come across as agressive. Or they can be dusty and ancient. This is fresher without florals or aquatics. I get mostly amber and woods.

Blind buy. The first thing I smelled was a lot of pink pepper and bergamot, the pepper almost irritated my nose and I wanted to sneeze. But after a couple of minutes the pepper settled down and I smelled an incredibly soft, delicate, creamy vanilla amber scent.

It is difficult for me to single out any specific notes, because it is a fragrance that smells just warm. When I wear this fragrance, I feel like I'm wrapped in a warm scarf by the fireplace and drinking hot tea with some vanilla oriental sweets.

Very cozy, very warm, very soft. Long lasting, but the sillage is on the more intimate side.

The sweetness of benzoin and the scent of bergamot and pink pepper are strong and fresh.
Will the softness of vanilla come out when I put it on my skin?

This is lovely. On the initial blast I thought I'd made a mistake as it was loud and aftershavey. But this settles within a few minutes to a beautiful warm vanilla amber. It's classy and elegant. Perfect for Autumn and Winter. Unfortunately it neither projects nor lasts, so the price tag is therefore too steep for me to justify. I will enjoy using my sample though. If money was no object I would still get it.

Ambre Imperial- 👑
This fragrance is a lightly sweet Amber combined with benzoin and vanilla.
There is supposed to be pepper and bergamot in the opening but I get very very little bergamot and no pepper on my skin.
Nothing spicy in this fragrance.
It’s very resinous and balsamic.
The name is definitely suited to the fragrance since it’s loaded with amber.
Smells amazing.
The vanilla gives the amber more sweetness and the Tonka Bean tones the resin down a bit making it a tad more earthy or woodsy smelling.
This one is not very projecting.
It’s more of an intimate scent.
Lasts about 4-6 hours on clothing in fact.
The scent cloud after first spray is very captivating.
Definitely unisex but for me it’s leaning a bit to the masculine side.
I seen comparisons to Armani Prive Myrrhe Imperiale.
I have both fragrances on my arms now.
Both are in the same fragrance category but no similarities in the scents.
Ambre Imperial is definitely more sweet and while there is a sort of sweetness to Myrrhe Imperiale, the saffron and spicy Myrrh takes it into another direction.
Ambre Imperial could be worn daily as where Myrrhe Imperiale I’d consider more of a specific or special occasion scent.
Ambre Imperial would do well in warmer weather so the scent could project more.
If I had any issue with this fragrance, then it would definitely be the performance.
For sure a charmer tho.
Other people smelling this on you would like it.
I think blind buy worthy if you like amber scents.
Van Cleef and Arpels’ bottles are absolutely gorgeous.
Nice lids and the design is very chic.
7/10 stars for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I pickup mainly loads of benzoin in this one. It’s a nice, warm, sweet fragrance. It’s definitely not groundbreaking. There are better amber fragrances around, in my opinion.

The perfume has refined quality, nothing ground breaking.

Nice, simple amber perfume. If you love amber notes and you've always wanted s perfume that's just amber, this is for you. If you prefer a little complexity, it may be slightly dull. Personally I pike amber as one note amongst many, but if you want just amber, this would be great as it's nicely done, no artificial notes, reasonable sillage and lasting time.

Wearing this beauty first time this year and wondering why I have been neglecting it so much. With life and weather transitioning into Autumn, it's time to enjoy warm, cozy cuddling fragrances.
Ambre Imperial embodies all that and stands in front of the line.
A very delicate, warm and comforting scent. The amber is there, airy and never powdery. Vanilla, tonka and benzoin play the main role. Benzoin mimics a soft, smokey incense. Like burning a log of aromatic wood.

It's true, as many have noted, it bears many similarities with Eau des merveilles and Ambre des merveilles.
You can feel that burnt orangey smokiness typical of Eau des Merveilles.

I am glad i own a full bottle that i promised myself to use more this coming season (truth to be said, you need to spray often as longevity is lacking). However, it puzzles me that with such opaque black bottle, i dont know how much juice is inside....

Adding to the chorus to say that this is almost an exact dupe for L'ambre Des Merveilles - same light cosy casual elegance. L'ambre is cheaper (and the original) so I'd recommend that first, but really, you can't go wrong with either.

Ambre Imperial is really close to a duplicate of Hermes L'Ambre des Merveilles. It might have slightly more vanilla and sweetness overall. It's absolutely beautiful if you like Hermes L'Ambre but I think it might actually have LESS longevity, because it completely vanishes on me within 60-90 minutes. Gone without a trace. But I like the scent enough that I've purchased two travel sprays and used them to the last spritz. If you don't mind re-applying or if you like to wear several different scents throughout the day without worry of mixing, then this will work for that. It's a lovely citrus-pink pepper-vanilla-amber. Sheer and effervescent, not dusty or cloying at all. I can see the comparisons to Shalimar but more so with L'Ambre des Merveilles.

Coming back a few months later to say: this is freaking gorgeous. I'm so mad it doesn't have any longevity because it's such a beautifully sheer and effervescent amber. Oftentimes ambers are heavy or dusty or powdery. There's an expansiveness to these notes and I can distinctly smell the citrus-pepper-vanilla-amber and incense. IF this had at least moderate longevity I would marinate in this stuff all autumn and winter long (and buy back-ups).

2/10

such a smooth, very pleasant amber scent! not harsh, just round notes
cosy elegance

the best from this line alongside rose rouge and orchidee vanille.if you love Dior prive line Bois D'Argent, buy this.
10/10 magic

Sorry guys wish I could agree with the amber rich reviews, but all I smell is an out dated spice cabinet. Spoiled tonka beans! Smells like to much black pepper covered this amber note! Just not in my wheel house and I own the bottle. I guess it's time to sell this one!

A replay to „the owl”. A perfume with amber and great performance from a designer: Mugler - Mirror Collection Miroir des Majestes. It is targeted for women, but it is like a combination of Xerjoff 1888 with an Amouage Opus VIII, so, actually it is as unisex as you can get. The price is good, too. I hope you can find it at notino, and love it as much as I do.

Please guys refer me a perfume like this one with great performance from designer side. 🙄

Beautiful amber!

One of the best amber-centered fragrance I've came across.

It's cool & soft woody-powdery amber, supported by a woody/sweet tonka bean/vanilla accord. There is an incense-like accord as well, probably created by the benzoin-pink pepper combination.

Really light without affecting the performance.

Highly recommended for amber fans.

"Love"!

Powdery and citric sweet. It’s interesting, but too powdery and old school to my taste. For those of you who like opulent oriental scents, it’s worth a test.

So wanted to love this, but it was barely a skin scent after less than 1 hour on me. And it really too much of a vanilla/tonka gourmand for me, rather linear. Pass.

Divine liquid amber with pepper, smoky woods and incence nuances, very natural and high-quality smelling. Unisex but due to the sweetness in the dry-down leans a bit feminine. Well mastered vanilla, barely there. More oriental than gourmand. Way feiner than "Merveilles" line. Longevity about 12h on my skin and sillage is quite good.
I feel like a Godess wearing this.

Beautiful and elegant. I can see how it might be perceived as masculine, but really it’s a gorgeous option for women as well. At first application it’s a woody, ambery vanilla...smooth and creamy and a little smoky, not unlike the smoky accord in “by the fireplace” but more natural, less smokehouse.
This is one of these fragrances that is “unexpected” on a feminine woman, which I think adds to the whole mystique and mystery!

This is linear to my nose but beautiful as well. Starts with little spice and loads of Amber but within a few minutes you are left with sweat Amber. This ambery cloud has been around me for more than 20 hours.

Opens with a culinary, pepper like accord alongwith the amber. Dries down to a very powdery scent. Projection - 3/10, longevity - 8/10.

This smells wonderfull on my husband but on me it is to maskuline for my taste. It opens peppery and become softer after a While. I don't find it overly sweet and the sillage is close to the body.

This is an absolutely exquisite fragrance! I look forward to exploring more from this "Collection Extraordinaire" and have my sights on my next purchase, which will probably be Santal Blanc (also gorgeous)!

I would like to say at first, this smells lovely! But the problem is, the only people who gonna smell it is the one digging there nose in your neck! Yeah that lucky guy or girl gonna like it! But no person walking by is gonna smell you.. so for me this is a home snuggle scent! So for me the price i not justified! 7/10

What can i say about that?? I love it!! Its totally unisex ! And it smells amazing sweet cozy .. I think its perfect for date!! If you wearing that one the other sex will fall in love with you 9/10 maybe 9.5! If you love sweet vanilla cozy gourmand fragrances go for it!!

sweet caramel*

So I’m in Neimans today and like a lot of individuals I wear my fragrances According to the season and in Michigan summer does not last long so I’m shopping for two new additions to my winter collection I already have Tom Ford black orchid PDM oujan and Carlisle as I like gourmand fragrances mostly in the winter time so I come across this fragrance and I kid you not once I sprayed this and let it settle this REALLY REALLY reminded me a lot of Tom Fords Plum Japonais just a little calmer

THIS IS A "SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK" FRAGRANCE.

I love the benzoin and woods in here! This could easily scare young children if it weren´t for its transparency and for the fact it sits close to the skin.

Sophisticated and assertive. I love it for the office, or a dinner date on a summer night.

This is my update. You´ll find my review from Dec 2018, 6 or 7 entries below.

It is oriental spicy group, but i don't detect any spicy note, very smooth and pleasant, delicious.
This is the best amber i own.

Smells great at first but over time I find that this one doesn't suit me. I'm very confused by this fragrance.

Initially, I feel this is the one of the best Ambres I've sampled as it smells candied and grown up and the vanilla adds sweet comfort to the fragrance. However there is something that just doesn't work on my skin. I think it may just be too sweet for me. This one went from love to like. I need more time with my sample, I think. It's a little too cloying on my skin.

I like my other ambres better: L'Artisan Ambre Extreme & Elie Saab Ambre. -

a soft, subtle, sweet, gourmandish and creamy amber. i like it very much, but i think it is surely feminine leaning. but i would love to smell it on a woman. Probably a mature woman, on a dressy occasion. The projection and sillage are very minimal, unless you go trigger happy. but longevity is good.

If luten's amber sultan (a masterpiece in its own right) is at one end of the spectrum, VC's amber imperial is at the opposite end of it - both amazing, yet so different.

This is a stunning amber fragrance.

The opening is pretty mineral and masculine, while the drydown is much rounder and feminine with the typical vanilla, but without becoming a vanilla pastry, and keeping some refinement. A great job from perfumer Quentin Bisch.

I already own several ambers, so it would be redundant for me, but I agree with the previous comment that this one may even be better than Kurkdjian's Elie Saab Ambre n.3 (rounder and less defined, unisex that leans feminine from top to base).

The best amber I have smelt in the mid-level range so far (Saab n.3, L'Artisan l'EAE, HdP A114, Hermes EdM, Guerlain AE, Lutens AS), on par with Goutal's Ambre Fetiche (but that one goes in a different direction).
Obviously I can't say it's better than MFK Grand Soir or Rania J. Ambre Loup, but it wouldn't be fair to compare it to these one given the huge price tag difference. (at retail price, I would definitely opt for MFK GS)

Should you want just 1 amber fragrance, run to get this one: you can now get it for $60/70 on ebay, it's a steal!

Fall/Winter days, Spring evenings, 30+

I'm getting the same vibe from Elie Saab Essence Ambre 3 created by MFK. If I'm going to pick between the two, I will pick this one. The subtleness of Ambre accord here is better than Elie Saab. The tonka bean and vanilla dry down is amazing. Layering this with some other fragrance results in an amazing scent. My next pick for any ambre fragrance out there after MFK Grand Soir.

The perfumes of Collection Extrodinaire from Van Cleef & Arpels are underrated gems. Everything I’ve tested suggest qualitiy ingredients which then translates into natural executions. And Ambre Imperial is no exception.

I pick up a gourmand, carmelized amber, with vanilla and benzoin. It comes across fizzy, like a carbonated cocktail with a citrus twist. The drydown smells like biscuits baking in the oven. I think this scent translates best in the Fall with a fresh outdoors or wood lodge vibe. Performance is acceptable on my second wearing; about 3-4 hours (I have dry skin). A unisex scent, going in a slightly feminine direction.

What prevents this line from being “masterpieces” is a lack of something more unique note-wise, but Ambre Imperial comes close. Still, at the bargain price found on the discount sites, I’m in love with this affordable, crowd pleasing line from VC&A.

Its a lightly sparkling, softly spiced, vanilla amber gourmand. I find with this one, it actually smells and develops better on clothes then skin. If I spray on my wrist I feel like its almost water and cant smell anything, but if I spray on my sweater then five or ten mins. later I can smell a sweet slightly spiced gourmand. I didn't think I liked it at first as I was hoping for more tonka and sweetness, but on my sweater its balanced as softly spiced gourmand as stated before. I think it is good for work on the colder days. I imagine this is what amber nuite smells like but I have never tired that one. pretty and light.

Transparent amber and benzoin fragrance much in the vein of Hermès' L’Ambre des Merveilles.

I agree with @spumyland's appreciation below. I much prefer this over Hermès' rendition. Ambre Imperial has as much benzoin as it has amber + a faint lipstick vibe (I assume iris, though not listed); but the key point here is transparency, which makes it a very welcome addition to my collection, as I am a lover of resinous orientals, but can seldom wear them to the office.

This is office friendly and ELEGANT, perfect for daytime during fall, and winter, and a terriffic choice for a summer evening out, or a business cocktail.

Projection: Soft to Moderate. I usually use 4 sprays, but increase to 5 or 6 of this in cooler temperature.
Longevity: Approx. 4-5 Hours

I'm finding this a very playful fragrance; by which I mean that although it certainly delivers amber aplenty in the first instance, I'm constantly getting distinct whiffs of lighter brighter notes; and my reflex has been several times today to suppose that it's someone else's perfume or a residue from a previous one ... but it's transpired each time that it cannot but be this one. Yes ... certainly playful, it is.

Amber des mervilles, less sexy but more elegant and polished.

I’m not a Amber lover: that’s what I used to think until I put my hands on this fragrance. Absolutely sensual, and sophisticated, and cozy, and...I just love it! I also have Orchidee Vanille, from the same Line, but this is better in performance (both longevity and projection) and, let me say- I find AI simply more classy and “mature”, in the best way possibile. Winter perfume, imo, but I can see me wearing it even in the cooler summer nights.

This is like the Ambre Hermes, without the cheap fizzy drydown. It's a nice balsamic, definitely enjoyable. Lacks the wow factor for me though as far as finding the amber/balsamic holy grail goes...maybe not enough balsamic complexity. I think I need labdanum, benzoin, myrrh, olibanum to sweep me off my feet. Very sweet fragrance.

Though they're entirely different scents, as I own both, I find myself reaching for this more often than Ambre Nuit. Beautifully blended, underrated fragrance.

This is a well blended and smooth amber scent with moderate performance overall, quite safe , suitable for winter/fall/spring.

It's all about amber/vanilla/tonka beans and mild benzoin.

But.. I find it quite generic. Quality is here but it's nothing new. Another good amber scent among numerous others.

I tested this in a store yesterday and I can still smell it.

This is a must try if you are an Amber lover; unfortunately it has brought me to the conclusion I am not a fan of Amber which lasts forever on me.

I have tried 2 others from the same collection and they all smell interesting and expensive.

• Very powdery, but beautiful dry, sweet amber.

A very good amber scent, great bottle design as well yet too feminine for my taste.
Very delicate amber and the sweetness of vanilla comes slowly during wear time yet I felt it leans towards the feminine side, couldn't see myself rocking this one at all but sure thing I'd love woman wearing it

If sweet fruity amber are your thing, this is one of the best ones.

My first introduction to this collection was the Orchidee Vanille. I fell in love. A beautiful vanilla with a bit of grit. I love a sweet gourmand, but made for a grown up. I was running low and had been searching for a back up bottle, and decided to give this one a try. This is not your teenager's vanilla.

Velvety amber layered with deep boozy vanilla and earthy tonka blended beautifully with citrus and woody notes. It's beautiful and sensuous, not pretty and ladylike. This is a sexy scent - male or female - this is a fragrance for anyone who is looking for something expertly made and rich.

A bit more projection and longevity would be a bonus, but I love this fragrance and won't be waiting for winter to wear it. I can't wait to try the other scents in this collection.

There's definitely some PATCHOULI in the base notes, which is so sparkling and changeable. Fantastic combo with the amber notes.

I like this perfume. It's slightly sweet, warm, a bit powdery, and woody. The wood stands out on dry down. Very pleasant scent.

OMG!!! love it , as soon as i smelled it i bought it. in general i NEVER ever buy a perfume like this. need to wear on my skin at least for a week before i make a purchase for a perfume. it is quite pricey but it worth it every pennies.. and i am not lover of a sweet perfumes at all but love amber

This is my favorite amber based scent ever. Amber is a note that usually stick out like a sore thumb to me, and is actually apt to give me a headache sometimes, but the way the amber here is blended so gracefully with the vanilla and the pepper is sublime. Ambre Imperial is both elegant and cozy.

Ambre Imperial is like Guerlain's Tonka Imperial suitable for both genders. It blends with the skin to a very unique scent. AI starts a bit zesty but turns quickly into a warm and cozy wrap. It's the drydown which makes it similar to Guerlain's TI and Dior's Feve Delicieuse. TI has the slight bitter almond note while FD is more on the soft feminine side. All three fragrances are long lasting, warm and comforting. AI has the strongest Amber note of all which justifies its name - Ambre Imperial.

As much as I loved this from the opening sniff throughout the dry down I will pass on it. It is a bit overpriced unless you get it for around $1 per ml which Notino/Beautyspin is currently offering it at. If not, the Hermes is an excellent alternative.
I am judging from a decant that spilled but had enough for me to dab on. Immense projection and longevity but it does have a paste vibe. Yes like paste not pastry. Paste that you would buy for you 6 year old in kindergarten. Even with that being said, it's high quality and a bargain if you get it at a bargain price.

I am not into sweet scents but this one is so amazing I bought it as soon as I smelled it.

Very delicate amber and the sweetness of vanilla comes slowly during wear time.

Update : 31 January 2018
Bought my second bottle. Amazing stuff.

Update : 17 January 2019
Bought my third bottle

Update : Fourth bottle 23 November 2020

Fifth bottle July 2022

This is getting silly 😂 .. I'm stopping with the fifth update. But you catch my drift. Timeless Perfume.

This is a very nice sweet amber fragrance with vanilla and fruity vibes. First hits are a fruity citrus from the bergamot with a hint of spice. This Act is fleeting before the main actors of Amber and vanilla take the stage with Benzoin and tonka adding some slight, dry, powdery facets in secondary roles. The citrus note from the Bergamot does come and go like a supporting actor for me for most of the scent life, and it adds the fruitiness to the sweet vanilla and amber notes. The dry down, like it says, is generic woody notes, hints of sandalwood/cedar etc mostly just a synthetic woody note that underlies the rest of the composition. But have no doubts, the heart is where this fragrance really shines and what a performance. I have had this on constantly since I got it yesterday and my wrist is more or less stuck to my nose. Ok I have to admit I am a sucker for Amber notes which might be why I like this fruity vanillic take on amber so much. The quality of ingredients is top notch.

I am testing this from a small 2ml sample so not been spraying much but projection is pretty good. I can smell it strongly on me. Longevity likewise is around the 6-7 hour mark with about 5-6 tiny spritzes from the sample so I have a feeling this would perform even better with proper even sprays from the full bottle or even a bigger decant. Two other fragrances it reminds me of to some extent is L'Ambre des Merveilles by Hermes although Ambre Imperial is somewhat fuller and has better performance. The other one is Dazzle by Al Haramain and I hesitate to make this comparison coz Dazzle is more or less a cruder, ham fisted version of this but it does have a similar vibe.

If sweet fruity ambers are your thing, this is one of the best ones I have smelled so far. Ambre Imperial is beautiful.

Very nice amber & vanilla scent, really similar to L'Ambre des Merveilles by Hermes. Honestly, I prefer Hermes due to more balsamic, softer touch possibly created by labdanum note. It looks like a single note can change a lot. Perfumes' creation is really an art.
I can recommend Ambre Imperial to all oriental scents' lovers.

I adore Van Cleef & Arpels. This one is a beautiful elegant and sophisticated, warm comfortable spicy creamy oriental perfume. Very soothing and inspiring. I love wearing it on cold days, when it's raining. It comforts and envelopes me in its warm embrace. It's just gently sweet, and beautifully masculine, which makes it a winner for me. Very delicious.

Amber Imperial is a real unisex fragrance, I pick up a warm/sweet caramelized amber vib with a a very sutble floral tone. There's also vanilla and tonka making it perfect during the fall and winter months.
Longevity and Silage is very good lasting between 6-8hrs.
I enjoy using this juice with a natural aroma of notes and not a synthetic pool. There's a smig more sweet than spicy blend which I prefer with this sort of aroma. I don't over spray only one or two times depending if it's for evening wear....8/10

This one is a warm and cozy, comforting amber....perfect cool weather warm scent....we love this one....

Complex warm scent, starts slightly fresh, but always with a sweet undertone and fully develops into a delicious gourmand, smelling of a vanilla cake fresh from the oven (at least to my nose). The Tonka Bean is strongly present and who ever tasted Tonka Bean in a dessert cream or used it as a spice (like French cuisine), might agree with me that it sometimes can beat Vanilla - if you like a bolder approach and a caribbean touch. Wikipedia says, they have a strong fragrance similar to sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) due to their high content of coumarin.

Anyhow, a mouthwatering scent which develops a little powder in the dry down, but never so strong that it makes you cough (which happens to me with overwhelmingly powdery scents, I normally tend to like very fresh greenish-white flowery-scents...)

In a nutshell: Smelled it and went "Mmmmh..." ..nom, nom... where's that cake, can I have a piece?! ;)

after years and years of searching for a perfume i can call my signature finally i found it! it's incredible! i hate hate hate sweet smells but the black pepper and bergamot which i do get hints of, cuts the sweetness so that it's more palatable.

honestly the first time i sprayed it on myself i felt my sacral chakra activate and damn! 'Man! I feel like a woman'

it puts the pep in my step and i think it suits my true personality and balances out the whole cool tone clothing i usually wear with it's warmth.

just stunning.

it lasts longer on clothing than on skin, maybe i need to put lotion i dunno


UPDATE - so 3 years later i've matured again and this became just like 1% too sickly for me. I can see myself buying it sometime again in the future but I've moved on. The enthusiasm of the original review has worn off and for the price... yeah, i think it'd need to last longer to justify the price for me. It's no longer my signature

I like this, but I don't feel an urge to buy it.
the opening is vaguely bitter and the amber accord is very full. After less than 30 minutes it dries down to Ambre des Merveilles and stay so till the end, with just a bit less orange sweetness, but honestly I could take one for the other in a superficial test. A good job anyway for nowadays perfumery. At least it is different. If I had to choose I'd go for Ambre des Merveilles.

It is a high quality sensual, creamy, warm scent. Fortunately only very slightly sweet fragrance. It is very comfortable to wear, it is like to put the finest wool pullover on. Excellent longevity and projection.

So glad I bought a sample, as I thought of buying it , it definitely has a masculine vibe , more than feminine, even vaguely after shave also...a hint of smoke with some citrus are the opening notes, the drydown gets smoother, sweeter, and a tad more unisex...still I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing it...I will add that longevity isn't too great..still, nice take on Amber, if you like masculine scents.

This is a beautiful, intriguing and, to my nose, mostly a masculine scent.
The accords are as described above, but to my nose there is a hint of smoke, resembling the the smell of a distant fire you can experience on a country walk in autumn. This makes it a scent for cold months, in my opinion.

A version of Hermes L’Ambre des Merveilles. Very close, a bit more powdery and less "sparkling".

Oriental spicy? Check. Amber, benzoin, vanilla and Tonka? Check. Classic, minimalist luxury bottle? Check. This is winter wishlist material right here.

First amber-based Van Cleef & Arpels' cologne for men (and women). The innovation is inspiring. May add this to my Wish list (thanks goodness it's EDP)!