Ambre Sultan Serge Lutens for women

As a huge amber fan, I can categorically state that not all ambers are created equal, neither do they all smell the same. Like "chypre", another blend of notes, "Amber" seems to almost be a perfume style of its own, a subset of "oriental" but in tons of flavors.

Serge Lutens' fabulous Ambre Sultan is a strongly resin flavored amber, one that grabs incense and wraps it in myrrh, sandalwood and coriander to create a spectacularly elegant Amber, truly unlike any in my collection of ambers.

I cannot detect any Angelica, bay leaf or even any of the "herbal notes" others speak of, just a glorious resiny amber loveliness. Ambre Sultan is also amazing by dint of being definitely unisex but perfectly suited to both genders: not too girly, not too macho man cologne.

Worth the rather hefty price of admission and then some if you love amber, incense and compliments, and a perfume I would never wish to be without.

I love it. This was love on first sniff. Very wearable and sexy. I would wear this day or night. I love these orientals. I smell patchouli and the myrre, two of my favorite notes. I do find it a bit medicinal. But I personally have no problems with those kind of smells. Perfect for the cold winter like at the moment in Belgium.

A masterpiece I cannot wear. I like the beginning very much, a dry herbal amber, not sweet but the patchouli is just too much for me. If you like amber and patchouli this is a winner

Why call it a perfume when it is so much more. Ambre Sultan is good for the brain. The scent takes me on a voyage from my grandfathers house filled with the smell of cigarsmoke, whiskey, aftershave and cologne to the quiet smells and noises of the tropical rainforest. Ambre Sultan is medicine for the soul.

I know lot's of woman wear men's fragrances but never the way around, but really...

This can be worn by both sexes.

It's definatly not a woman only fragrance imo.

I didn't think it was anything very special when I was applying my small vial sample. Then.....the drydown.....warmer and wonderful as the minutes passed. I feel like I am enveloped in a warm comfortable hug! I'm afraid I'll have to put this on the list of have to have's! I am not faint of heart and am not afraid to spray.......Oriental must be my middle name......Love myrrhe and patchouli and amber.....

This one burns HOT! And not for the faint of heart as it literally melts popsickles and makes heads turn. Somewhat medicinal on the first application, it's a very dry type of fragrance, which conjures in my mind a scorched Arabian bazar. It dries down to a smooth mixture of resins and vanilla, the vanilla adding just the right tough of sweetness. Great sillage and wears all throughout the day. Although most would probably consider it strictly night time only, I often wear it during the day (in miniscule ammounts) as it's very comforting and reduces stress.
Although listed as unisex, it could easily pass as a masculine brew. I could definitely see it gracing the undershirts of a Smooth Operator as he strides about his business, or wafting from the hair of a mysterious exotic beauty as she stares straight through your soul with her kohl-lined eyes... but I digress. Ambre Sultan is not just sex, it's burning, scorching, smouldering lust that positively oozes confidence. You will not walk away from this one unscathed!

I'm a resin lover, a fan of coriander, an angelica glorifier, an admirer of woods and a patchouli supporter..

Ambre Sultan, in two weeks time, has become a very loyal companion. Of course I haven't forgotten my other friends, but this scent gives me the warmth when I need it, a uniqueness of character which pleases me and it stays with me for over 12 hours.

There's always an edge in perfume which Serge likes to cross, which is very interesting; in Ambre Sultan the edge has become its subject.
I find that even more interesting.

I'm starting to think that Amber should be declared an official perfume category. Serge Lutens AMBRE SULTAN is a beautiful member of a huge class of perfumes all of which are much more similar to one another than any of them is to any other oriental perfume.

AMBRE SULTAN opens with an evanescent herbality which is swiftly overwhelmed by the thick labadanum amber. This particular version is slightly smoky, not too sweet, and rich and thick like a perfume. Of course, Serge Lutens is one of the houses which has obstinately refused to succumb to the temptation to dilute their wares. As a consequence, the apparently high price is not really at all, since you're not getting 50ml of a fragrance with two hours of longevity. No, you're getting a very big bottle of perfume!

This entry in the Lutens line-up is no exception to the rule. Very thick and viscous and yummy. However, I generally find that amber perfumes prepared at proper concentration are all pretty thick and viscous and yummy. The drydowns of these compositions are very similar, and I honestly believe that in a blind test only a person with a huge amount of experience sniffing specifically amber perfumes could tell them apart.

Una grata sorpresa la que me llevé cuando recibí una muestra de Ambre Sultán de Serge Lutens. Mis primeras impresiones más que su aroma fue la excelente calidad de ingredientes que llevaba Ambre Sultan, se nota que la maison Serge Lutens emplea ingredientes naturales en sus fórmulas, y como no, el aroma de Ambre Sultan, me sacudió con todo su explendor de calidez y exotismo debido segúramente al ámbar. No soy muy entendido aún en esto del mundo perfumil pero a buen seguro que este perfume estará entre las cumbres de los perfumes de la familia oriental. Lo recomiendo fírmemente para todos los amantes de los perfumes de la familia oriental, aunque para algunos les recordará un cierto olor a herboristería.

Serge Lutens. The name itself, even if you are not all that learned about perfume, is said with a reverence and respect that he has truly earned. A perfumer par excellence, artist and true visionary. All he makes are perfumes (no clothes, no jewelry, no accessories) and his attention to detail is evident at first sniff. I remember looking longingly at his fumes and frowning when I saw the prices. Real art is expensive. I appreciate it, but (at this point) cannot afford to collect as much as I would like. Thanks to kind members and dear fragrant friends, I have some of this wonder in my possession.

Amber, as many of you know, used in perfumery is NOT the fossilized resin of poplar tree sap; but a combination of vanilla, benzoin and labdanum. A sultan is a very rich leader of a desert nation and this perfume could not be better named. From the first spritz, a very truly rich golden resinous aroma greets the nose and stays with you for a very long time. Linear does not necessarily mean boring, and that is evident when you wear Ambre Sultan. Dry, almost crumbly, sweet amber shines the brightest. This perfumer's gold is blended with the earthy leaves of patchouli, sandalwood and its creamy woodiness and dark, almost medicinal, myrrh resulting in an embarrassment of riches. Heavenly angelica (one of my favorite herbs) and coriander with its green cool spiciness keep it from going entirely too sticky, smoky, sappy on you, and keep it smooth and remarkably fresh for so oriental a scent. One spray (from a small decant) on one wrist, touched to the other, and one on the neck/shirt and all night long and into the next morning, I smelled as regal a Maharajah! Lutens perfumes MAY be expensive; but, if you are looking for something that lasts and reeks of quality look no further. It is money well spent. Whether you like a particular perfume of his or not, or would even wear it...you should at least experience this. Don't get it just BECAUSE it is "niche"; get it and try it because it is awesome!

Sillage: great
Longevity: awesome
Overall: 4.75/5

Yes, I went on and on. Yes, I bragged this scent way up. Why, you may ask (being a lover of amber and oriental perfumes that I am), did I NOT give this a 5/5? For one reason and one reason only: there exists a 100% natural perfume out there that does this same thing for me, only it is even more powerful, lasts longer and smells even more gorgeous than this, and costs considerably less. When it is added to the database, I will post my review and tell you all more about it...

Beautiful smooth rich amber, the best I've experienced.
The vanilla note is very tolerable in this beautiful juice

Coriander, sandalwood, bay leaf, patchouli, angelica, resins and myrrh, all favorites

Last 7-8 hrs
Projection 8-10
Rating 9-10

wow! finally my long sought smell of the chinese pharmacies known from my early childhood in malaysia! somehow growing up in switzerland was extremely wonderful but fragrance wise a little bit "sterile" with department stores offering "only" the big mainstream names. this is not to say, it is bad but somehow when i got the first whiff of ambre sultan, my first reaction was really the tall dark shelves with pots of wonderful looking and smelling herbs and other unknown and very misterious looking stuff in jars... can this be calles homesick??? i don't know...this is absolutely fantastic and unexpected...
now i finally understand the rants and raves about this scent!
today i was so extremely lucky and won a whole bottle of ambre sultan and couldn't resist spraying it directly onto my skin. in the meantime (30 mins since spraying...) i can experience the wonderful drydown of mostly chinese herbs and only slight vanilla.
will have to come back with tenacity...

EDIT 03.01.2012
Am wearing ambre sultan for some hours (about 6 by now) now. After liberal spraying sillage is quite good without being loud (although i do like my perfumes to be really loud) for the first 1-2 hours. after that it stays very close to the skin and in the last hour has faded to a very faint whiff. will have to reapply very soon :-)

I loved the stated notes... so I bought a sample.
I loved the precious sample...so I bought a bottle....
it came today....

OH
MY
GOD!

Heaven.

Everyone else has explained the scent so I won't gush (much). To me, it is EXACTLY what it says it is.

Spicy with an undercurrent of sweet, mysterious, sharp yet soft, resinous ooze and of-the-earth but subtle patch...

It is simply devine.

The dry-down hints, HINTS mind you, of post-coitus...makes it so sexy.

If you are the type who adores Kalimantan (similar with a sweeter dry-down), L'Air du Desert Moracain (more herbaceous) , Dolce Vita (similar) and Annick Goutal's Ambre Fetiche (sweeter) then THIS little charmer will steal your heart. It balances somewhere between L'Air du Desert Marocain and Ambre Fetiche IMHO, so now I can stop wearing both at the same time!!.

<3 <3 <3

Edit: The Next Day:
Got my very first "What are you wearing?" today in the company cafeteria (of all places). And was told "it smells REALLY good".... oh yeah baby... it sure does.

Ambre Sultan opens up with a strong resinous note right after the first spray followed by a combo of myrrh and spicy notes.

After a couple minutes a kind of sweet/ambery chord appears resembling Wazamba from Parfums d'Empire, but here the benzoin/coriander combination gives to this particular fragrance a differentiated tone much more like the aroma of Black Cashmere from Donna Karan instead of the sweet/hay present in Wazamba.

Anyway, a very rich, dense aroma that through time develops into a wonderful fragrance. Ambre Sultan is the ultimate proof that fragrances do NOT have gender.

The dryness of spices complements sweet amber. This is a good scent for anyone who has ever had a phase of all-natural perfumes. It has that solid presence of a natural perfume; unlike naturals it has decent longevity and sillage. It reminds me of some of the old-school Avedas. It isn't listed in the notes but I smell warm cinnamon in here, along with the bay and coriander. I'm surprised it is marketed to women, it seems like it should be a masculine. Hearty, satisfying stuff.

This reminds me a lot of Winter Woods by Sonoma Scent Studio....it starts more spicy with oregano and basil but during the trips towards the end is very similar. Finally, it gives you a nice woody vanilla perfume, similar again to Winter Woods. The main difference between the two perfumes is that Winter Woods is sweeter, stronger and lasts longer as it is a parfum consentration, not eau de parfum like Ambre Sultan. Generally a very nice perfume that you do not smell every day. It is dedicated for gold weather, chic dressing and rather for the night. If you like woody spicy smoky and heavy perfumes, this is what you want. It is classified as strictly female fragrance but in any case, this can't be worn by a woman. it has a masculine note that I would never expect to smell on a woman. The dry down is somehow between the middle, unisex one but again, for me for my nose this is a strictly olfactory masculine amber scent which is so different from all other ambers out there. Worth giving a try first before you buy. This is not a blind buy scent because you may find it heavy, too balmy, too woody/spicy but if you like those perfumes, it is a must have.

A dry, almost dusty amber that lingers all day. One of the absolute best non-sweet ambers. LOVE it. In my top 5.

I bought this today and I absolutely love it! I get a heady, almost incense, smell - lots of patchouli, resin, myrrh, sandalwood....! It reminds me somewhat of a dusty furniture shop - filled to the gills with old wood that has taken on an historic scent! Or a dusty old bookshop - with a leathery, old book smell. There seems to be an old-worldness to this - very reminiscent of places I visited in Cairo...!

It is very warm and I wonder how it would perform in warmer times - I can't really wait to find out! It's not a traditional 'amber' scent rather something more distinct and slightly off the beaten amber track! On my skin it dries down into a smooth 'almost' vanilla-style but still with the main notes sounding!

Definitely unisex and most definitely multi-purpose - day or evening. I feel it could morph into the situation at hand. Has a very oriental feel to it (as in the Middle-Eastern rather than Far-Eastern) and, indeed, a unique character!

Silage is good and longevity is also good!

Ambre Sultan is my favorite ‘contemporary’ amber (as opposed to a classic amber such as Shalimar, for instance) by far. Amber can be steered into so many directions: boozy, honeyed, gourmand, resinous, vanillic. The times I’ve smelled pure labdanum resin I’ve been struck by its mineral smell. It smells a bit like warm stones. The dried, dusty herbal quality of AS (oregano, bay, myrtle) is the perfect complement to its flinty tone. While one angle is herbal, it reads as more botanical than strictly culinary. The other is mineral, but both equally enhance the resinousness and keep AS clearly out of the sweet, gourmand range.

Others have mentioned that AS grows vanillic by drydown and therefore like every other contemporary amber. I get the benzoin and the patchouli, but I find the composition actually grows drier and a bit more bitter as time passes. It replaces the fading culinary feel, taking over its part in labdanum’s narrative, maintaining the dry, matte flintiness through to the rich but low-sillage drydown.

When I first smelled AS, I could only imagine wearing it in colder weather. Fortunately for me in the 9 months of summer heat in southern California, it absolutely blooms. It’s just delectable on sweaty skin.

An amber bomb! plus that typical "off" note that I find in lots of Lutens' perfumes which are put in there to keep you guessing. In this case I think it's myrrh. I can't see this being a daytime perfume; it is definitely a rich, warm, herbal concoction which would fit a cosy romantic evening - it has an enveloping quality and lies close to the skin, thus inviting close encounters with your partner. I'm happy to have tried my sample from dear friend Yamba1, but I would not wear this one, myrrh being difficult for my nose.

So I probably contracted every strain of the common cold and influenza known to man when I was a kid. My traditional Asian grandmother constantly forced weird, funky-smelling Chinese herbal medicine on me--the kind that came as powdery granules in little packets, which you then had to dissolve in hot water.

Overall, these drinks were both incredibly pungent and bitter. Once, and only once, did my younger self dump multiple spoonfuls of sugar into such a concoction, only to find out afterward that it did absolutely nothing for the taste. Quite the opposite, really.

Ambre Sultan reminds me of that particular experience.

No evocation of kohl-lined eyes, incense-filled harems, or sultry desert nights to be found here. Instead, one gets a loud opening of dry, raspy, and sweetened Chinese medicinal herbs that dries down to a more tolerable powdery vanilla. Complex and unique, yes, but neither easy-to-wear nor terribly pleasant on me.

Li Ching-Yuen longevity.

The Ugly Duckling of ambers. Ambre Sultan's opening is quite destabilizing due to the juxtaposition of bitter/dry herbs and the usual, extremely rich and sweet, Sheldrake's hallmark. An overall effect that's somehow medicinal, bizarre and challenging...let me say "ugly". If you survive to the opening you will soon discover an incredibly satisfying amber accord that's absolutely magnificent for its beauty. At this point herbs perfectly blend with the rest and play as a necessary counterpart to the general sweetness. Luxurious, intense...immense. Together with Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier's Ambre Precieux and Parfum D'Empire's Ambre Russe, they fear no rivals.

Be careful with dosage, this stuff kills! Another Lutens monster!

Rating: 9/10

Ah. Ambre Sultan. One of the 'must test' perfumes for any perfumista as this is often cited in the top three lists for both Serge Lutens and as a reference amber scent. So today I have had the privilege of testing and here are my thoughts:

Ambre starts with a strong sweetness that surprised me but before I could make sense of it, transformed almost immediately into a sharp dry, almost throat catching herbal accord that was the closest thing to Wazamba that I have experienced so far. It then developed into what I can only describe as a 2-zone scent. From afar, I was getting gorgeous amber and sweetness that was like a smokey, slightly spicy vanilla. Im guessing this is the angelica and resins. Up close though when I put my nose to my wrist, I could still smell the strong herbal accord that seemed to exist quite happily in parallel to the sweetness only merging every so often to balance one another and reveal the full beauty of this perfume.

I can fully understand the accolades given to this perfume. It is well deserved.

I was expecting to love this fragrance but was very disappointed I'm afraid. I haven't come across a Lutens fragrance that I've been knocked out by. In my opinion, Ambre Sultan is reminiscent of Chopard Madness. To me it's very gingerbread and gourmand. I think it would be better on a male.

This is a beautiful amber scent---already a favorite of mine. It opens very spicy, almost hot, with amber under the spices. It evolves fairly quickly to amber that has a sweetness as well as spiciness, rich and luxurious. Later, undertones of resiny woods and vanilla come out, with just the barest hint of smoke. For me, the patchouli is covert; I sense that it is there without actually detecting it distinctly. I notice the coriander, but it doesn't obtrude unduly, just giving a herbal note to the spice drydown. Very nice perfume, and a fine quality amber. I do wish it had a bit more projection---on me there is virtually none, a common problem I have with fragrances in general and Lutens' line in particular, and I'd love more staying power. But it's a lovely, well-crafted perfume for men or women.

So I put this scent on my want list about a year ago without smelling it. I finally purchased my first bottle and I have to say I am in love with this stuff. It is definately for either sex. Just warm, smokey, musky and delicious. Although musk does not appear as one of the ingredients it seems evident there is some in there. It so beautiful and exotic and gives me such a feeling of comfort for some reason. This goes on at first more on the masculine side then warms up and a touch of light sweetness, not feminine sweet more like wet wood kind of sweet. This is the the resins coming through with perfection. The first day I wore it I didn't know what to think of it and was back and forth on it. The more I wear it now the better it gets. Really just an amazing potion. Just an exceptional scent that I will treasure.

This is the most wonderful exotic juice I have had the honor to smell. The resins are rich and complex, not powdery. Everything is there in perfect proportions. There are many wonderful reviews written about this beauty so I don't have too much to add. The trick with this one is decanting it so one can apply a drop at many strategic spots. It is the best way I believe to fully appreciate this beauty.

Lush, rich, long lasting and a great amber scent. I get amber, Myrrh and a bit of wood and spice. I don't think this one has great silage, but just enough, pretty close to perfect. After about 8 hours this is still going strong with very little change for me, but the slight change does bring on a sweeter amber accord, not too sweet, a masculine sort of sweetness that is tempered to just the right degree with what must be patchouli. the dry down is delicious and so sexy. Sort of close to the skin but I still get the feeling that others notice it because I do without smelling my arm. Is it possible to be subtle and intense at the same time? Perhaps "intense" is not the right word because this one hovers gently around me. I love this scent. Very sexy and about the best amber scent I have smelled. (20 hours later and I can still smell this on my skin. Lovely.)

This is one I would love to own but of the Serge Lutens fragrances I have tried I have a very soft spot for Muscs Koublai Khan and that will be the first one from this house that I purchase, this will be the second.

For women? I think anyone can wear this one.

Update: I am in awe. I sprayed this on my arm yesterday, in fact 34 hours ago and I can still smell this faintly in my arm. Incredible. The scent is weak, but it is still there. I used another fragrance today but not on this arm. I can hardly believe how long this lasts. The ingredients must be very high quality. I can't tell you how much I love this one. Now I have to decide which will come first in the Serge Lutens line for me. Tough choice...

I love it. A masterpiece : warmth, sensuality and addiction. I think it's the sexiest scent I ever had, whithout any vulgarity.
On the other hand, it's a very relaxing fragance which make this one something really ambivalent.
Joy and Happiness, harmony... Dedicated to girls and boys!
10 /10 definitively.

Dry, dry wood, on which the cold water was sprayed. Like in the sauna...)
then it becomes more ambery warmer, more calm, real antidepressant)
The morning in the heated forest with the cool stream behind.

A spicy unisex amber fragrance that manages to stay both sweet, fresh, clean, but at the same time with an animalic touch. Also, it is not excessively sweet, like most of the other ambers. Lasting power is excellent. I think my 5 ml miniature will last me a while.

I love this, but it's just too strong for me and I can't wear it myself :( It's a very warm, spicy amber with a hint of patchouli in the dry-down. Definitely a conversation-starter - you will not go unnoticed when you wear this but don't apply it too heavily!

Hi.

It is always a conversation starter.what is it?where can i get it?An intimate, seductive and hot fragrance that is inspired by the timeless emotions of being deep in love.Delicoous and Dangerous at the same time.in other words Sweet,Potent,Passionate, Spicy,Woody,Subtle,Sultry and Laudable.

Sharp and strong opening with exotic elements,the middle notes are balanced but the base notes are the best part this one for me,when a sensual base of hot amber and wood with patchouli add comfort and warmth.The result is a sheer sensuality and this scents reminds me a hot Arabian woman.

AMBRE SULTAN is a definite keeper.More suitable for a mature lady.It is reserved for COLD weather and INTIMATE/SPECIAl occasions.It is not for Everyone, Ladies if you are loking for a gorgeous amber smell that will make the men drop at you,I would recommend this one.

Sillage?Strong

Longevity?8 hours on my skin.

7.5/10

Some ambers subtly caress you, like Le Labo's Ambrette 9. This just shouts loudly in your face. The benzoin leaves a harsh taste in the back of my throat.

A spicy, dry, herbal amber (as opposed to a fat, rich, or fruity one). This one unveils itself with each note taking over the other in succession: spice, then herbs, then resins, then patchouli, then smoke and wood. It always maintains that amber signature, but the spice calms down quickly. Quite strong, and definitely has a head-shop quality which some may not like. After many hours of wear (I'm on hour 9), the benzoin asserts itself too much for my taste. A must-try for amber lovers.

Rich full and sexy, Ambre Sultan might be the most
accuate Amber in perfumery nothing synthitic nor
chemically enhanced Serge Lutens uses the finest
oils to bring back to nature to it's simpicity,
Aesthetic wise i can conjour in a number of ways
to describe this and let my imagination run wild.
If the color of Amber had a scent no doubt Amber
Sultan whould fail, like it's namesake it's warm
and opaque not translusent or delicate, to lure
you to an ancient world where the sky touches the
earth the note of Sandalwood adds the firey nuances, Myrrah and incense burns throughout the night
with it's pure white smoke ascends the endless sky like an offering of the night and the cool wind blows through sand dunes and refreshes your senses
This scent brings to Ancient in all of us.

The benzoin and resins are really prominent on me an unfortuantely I don't like my ambers this thick and strong, I feel like an incense shop. Then again, I've never had any Lutens work on my skin, not one of them, so i'm not surprised that this is no different. Also I appreciate theherbs/spices that create a different take on amber but they give this a masculine edge on me.

Got this as a present years ago. Was overwhelmed by it. Didn't like it at all. Which was ashame, because it was one of the nicest gestures someone can make. Giving a rare perfume to a perfume lover that is.

Fortunately my sister (who is responsible for my fragrance addiction in the first place) absolutely loved it, so she finished my bottle in notime.
Bless her!

3/10

Whoa!!! In the beginning it smelled like a sweet spicy scent. Then suddenly, I got knocked out by the smoke. This fragrance is sooo smoky. It's like smelling oak, patchouli and smoke all at once. Problem is, that's not what I want. The curry comes in later, but Serge Lutens Arabie has more curry than Ambre Sultan.

This scent is totally kichen-like for me. The same odour you can smell in my kitchen when I'm making Chicken-Curry or something from Thai Kitchen. The smell is nice, of course, but I don't want to smell like a dish, so Ambre Sultan is just not for me.

I must absolutely stink of Ambre Sultan as I spritz just about every 2 hours when I am at home.
I spray it on my crochet blankets when i'm chilling on the sofa, my bed covers, my husband and sons coats hanging in the hallway (not sure they even like it.) EVERYWHERE. I adore it just as much in the summer as I do the winter.
This fragrance creates pure relaxation to my senses...it reminds me of my trip to Dubai walking through the souks and the aroma of spices and incense and basically all things good. I only wish I could get a bubble bath and lotion so I could submerge myself in bubbles of pure bliss.
Not surprisingly i'm on my 5th bottle, which is expensive but, I gave up smoking so now I have a few extra pennies. I found this little gem from becoming a member on fragrantica.
My sister in law has just got her boyfriend to buy her some for christmas as she said she just had to have some after smelling it on me all the time.
It's not for everyone though, my step father really doesn't like it and when ever I am around him he say's "Argh! You still smell like an old lady" but, I don't care...I don't wear it for him or anyone else it's solely for my pleasure. I know it's strong which is why I indulge in it when I come home. I know it sounds loopy but It blends perfectly with the aroma of my fresh coffee and my creamy caramel Yankee candles. Perfect! Hmmm
Not sure how to put more balloons up...If i knew I would put 10 :)

When I recently (finally) sampled a bunch of Serge fragrances I decided that this was my favourite. The sales assistant was surprised I like it and I am sure its because its more masculine and less mainstream than some of the other serge lutens but something about it appealed to me and then I realised it smells like my beloved Ambre Absolute sample by Tom Ford. Only, I would say this is slightly spicier, more cumin based and less ambery. But for the slightly cheaper price tag I dont mind. I will have to buy a full bottle one day. I just love the smokiness of this and its not a frangrance you smell on everyone. I actually thought I would like MKK the best but that disappointed me, so I am thrilled to love this so much.

First, I couldn't understand why I was smelling baby-powder, since there were no babies around. I realized the smell was coming from the bottle. Hmm, why on earth would anyone spend money on a scent that smells like a $2.00 container of drugstore baby-powder? I put some on my wrist, incense immediately jumped up and then just as quickly fell off to a dry dust with a tweak of honey—all in about 2 minutes flat! The effect on fabric was completely different, it smelled like wet turpentine with a wee-little skank skulking in the background, then the skank fell off to leave a dry turpentine. I can't help but visualize crushed-up frankincense, with a spritz of turpentine being rubbed onto a freshly powdered baby's butt. Oh, and the frag stains clothing!

i love lutens perfumes but this one smells just cooking and cumin carvia and otther spices for cook, i smelled and i posess many amber grey perfumes, and some of true amber grey from al qurashi and this one from lutens is just disapointing,in Cuir mauresque he did the same thing puting cumin in this noble perfume cuir mauresque would be so better without that cooking note too !

I love this! I think it smells very much like 50% Agent Provocateur Strip and 50% Donna Karan Black Cashmere. I can't stop smelling my wrist!

I sampled this without first checking the notes, and now that i'm seeing them for the first time I'm thinking hmmm...

Angelica? certainly not. I've tried Guerlain's Angelique Noire, and this note is very chewy and rich. I don't detect this at all here. Myrrh? I usually don't like this because it tends to be too sweet. And patchouli? This is a medicinal siren, and is completely absent here.

I thought Ambre Sultan was a piece of leather flash-fried over a sandalwood brisket. It is very dry, and has just a kiss of crackling spices. I've been busy writing all night and forgot what i was sampling, but my mind kept coming back to this arresting fragrance.

So yes, I like this. It's probably a smidge too light for permanent rotation, but I intend to play with it for a few months to see if my opinion changes. Is it a 'true' amber? Not really. Amber should wear like a fur coat, this wears like a worn leather jacket. But I like it.

This is a lovely, warm, very natural yet decadent, organically fitting composition... with one exception: the bay leaf. I use a fair bit of it when cooking, so to my nose it sticks out like a layer of ham in a chocolate cake - an acquired taste perhaps, but not one I'll spend any time cultivating.

My thoughts on getting a GWP tester of this was it is very sandalwood-ey, but not as prickly dry as Santal Blanc, which makes it a feminine version of the same basic theme to an extent. The amber gives it more sweetness, without being too cloying. Very hard not to mentally associate these spice and wood scents such as cinnamon and sandalwood with Winter, more than the Middle East, for most northern Europeans.

This is a very nice representation of what amber resin that is used in perfumery smells like (meaning it's not fossilized tree resin).

It's warm, sweet, and pure amber through and through. My only issue is that it is too sweet. The persistent sweet note is too much. Not that this is really a complaint but it's too strong, go lightly with it.

The base does drift from the top and mid notes of just sweet amber but it's exquisite.

That being said, Pacifica's Spanish Amber smells almost identical (base is different). I actually prefer Spanish Amber because it doesn't have the overpowering sweet note that this one does (and it's a lot cheaper!).

it remind me of my grandparent incense box. i used to think of it as a magical property which i was not suppose to touch.
its alluring but its way to heady for my personal use. love it on another person.

when applied it is very similar to Serge's other scent 'Arabie'. Although their drydown is entirely different.
I love the sweet ambery drydown of this one, therefore I prefer this one to Arabie. More complex.

I got this for my Birthday last year ...
Dec 19
I guess, I needed time to really acquire the words and prose to best describe it ...
I love this Fragrance!

LUSH!
Warm, Interesting, Unique, Edgy.
Those are the first words ...
With time the Amber which curiously isn't listed as an ingredient...
so lets call it ...
"The RESINS"
deepen to a languorous and rich creamy sensuality, with other notes coming through.

Inhale the sweetness....
the deliciousness

Your mind wanders and suddenly you are far away ...
YEMEN, OMAN and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia....perhaps
Enamel black eyes,
The scent of wood fires at night
The Stars sooo close you barely touch them ...

The Mystery ...
The boundary between Everything and Nothing...
Dare to open your eyes and ruin the dream.....

On me it smells myrrh and sandalwood. And I wouldn't say that it smells spicy, just oriental.
I like these notes in oriental fragrances, also I like that I don't feel the spiciness. And luckily it is not as sweet as some other fragrances by Serge Lutens, that I like, but hardly can take the honey sweetness in them. Besides I like that this fragrance is deep enough, like all or almost all fragrances by Serge Lutens that I know.
But I don't like that this fragrance doesn't play (change) on me. I feel something in common in direction with Opium by Yves Saint Laurent, but while Ambre Sultan opens on me more deep, Opium opens on me more complex, what I miss in Ambre Sultan. Also I would say that for me Ambre Sultan seems more masculine than feminine.
Definitely not bad, but in my humble opinion, not the most interesting fragrance by Serge Lutens.

Rich, decadent, amber and woods with exotic herbs. My cup of tea, glad i blindly bought this!

An aromatic wooden chest storing exotic spices in an Arabian bazaar. The smoke of burning cedar. Rich, warm and resinous. This scent takes you to another time and tells a story of dark and mysterious places. An unforgettable scent with excellent strength and good lasting power. One of the best.

Cassiano: The resin you are looking for is called "Tolu balsam" or "balsam of Tolu" (a variant of balsam of Peru). It is the resinous secretion of Myroxylon balsamum. The Tolu tree is originary from Northern Colombia (Municipality of Sucre, by the Caribbean sea). The resin is tapped from the trunk of the tree through incisions into the bark and collected when dry. The colour of the resin is light to reddish brown. Tolu balsam is pliable when warm and fractures in a pattern similar to flint when cold. The dry resin has a complex aroma consisting chiefly of cinnamon and vanilla notes with a slight floral character. Other than therapeutic, its main use in the modern era is in perfumery, where it is valued for its warm, mellow yet somewhat spicy scent.
Source: wikipedia. It is indeed a wonderful and deeply interesting raw material and makes Ambre Sultan just ... perfect.

It is funny the fact that this scent is sold as a female perfume but I found it completely shareable. Because of this I noticed lots of comments made by women saying that they preferred this scent being worn by their boyfriends.

Another curious fact is that I didn’t see amber in its composition, however, I felt a delicious amber from the beginning to the end. And I love scents with amber, patchouli, spices, etc.

This one has resins, I don’t know from which kind of plant, but it has. What I know is that it’s comfortable, warm, creamy and incensed. I felt many times a delicious aroma of almonds + a soft incense. I believe it’s because of the myrrh.

Ambre Sultan stayed linear on my skin, however strong and pleasant. The lasting power was great.

I wish so much I could tolerate-and like-patchouli, so this could work for me-but I can't and don't.

This is strong, dry, spicy, and slightly herbal, but not aromatic or having any dominance of green notes-woody, ambery in a way that reminds me of solidified resins-semiprecious amber stone rather than ambergris. I would rather smell this than any other patchouli-heavy fragrance on others-it's a fragrance that can't really be improved upon-strong and deep, not meant for everybody, but definitely meant!

I have about 20 SL fragrances and have tried almost all of his collections, imports and non imports and this is my absolute favorite. It always makes me feel strong and confident whilst remaining mysterious and feminine.On a cold winters day, it reminds me of wool jumpers and log fires and cabins. Fumerie Turque falls in the same category for me but doesn't quite grab me like Ambre Sultan does.

didn't suit me..... on my skin smells exactly like Femme Rochas

Oh how I love this stuff! So rich and warm it feels like being wrapped in a cashmere blanket! And as much as I love it on me, it smells even better on my darling husband! A perfume shared means a perfume that he is always willing to buy any time I am in danger of running out! Sweet!

Amber is one of my favorite perfume notes, so Ambre Sultan was a must-try. To my surprise it started off as a dry sandalwood that eventually began to reveal the amber notes, mixed with a little vanilla note, maybe from benzoin. However, the sandalwood never completely went away, so the amber always had that dry edge, giving it a little something extra above and beyond what I expect from an amber. Amber plus. I like the fact that there are no floral notes mixed with it. After a few hours the amber became warmer and seemed to have some fruitiness, eventually drying down to a vanilla-like end. This is probably going to become one of my favorite amber scents as well as one of my favorite scents from Serge Lutens. I'm already thinking about needing a decant.

I'm a sucker for Amber fragrances, and this is my gold standard for measuring Amber fragrances.A deep,rich, smooth Amber which from first spray till the last trace is detectable is a pleasure to wear. Well blended fragrance that flows smoothly through It's transition. From top, to bottom perfect accords.Blended with near perfection. Sweet, and spicy, but never cloying.A close second would be Blue Amber by Montale, and Vintage Ambre Précieux by MPG.

I feel bad posting the first negative review, but truth to be told, it didn't pass my skin test. On my wrist it smells like the dusty knick-knacks from a house where nobody lives and nobody lived for a while. This is a creepy feeling.

It becomes better with time, but the main quality remains. I have no idea what I am smelling and why, but it definitely was not a pleasant experience for me. It is amazing how differently things smell on all of us!

Anyone knows where to buy Lutens' products in London?

After receiving a decant of this in a swap I fell in love!! I was unable to pry my nose from my wrist. At this writing Autumn has arrived, the leaves have turned and the air is crisp. Ambre Sultan is the PERFECT scent for this time of year.The opening is very "herby" the dry down-fantastically warm and spicy. I will be wearing this one till spring!!

Oh, oh, this is my favorite amber so far! Warm, interesting, unique, edgy. I love it from the strong greenish herb chord on the beginning to the smoky, sexy middle phase to the intimate but definitely not boring drydown.

The blending is quite excellent in this, I don't think the singular scent elements at all when wearing it. It evokes pure feelings. The first impression is all about an old aphotecary with pungent but pleasant smells of herbs mixing to ancient woods. The middle phase is your own lovely skin after spending a day in the beach and continuing to the evening celebrating around the bonfire with your good friends. The sillage is almost shimmery in this phase, vibrating the aromas of warm amber, remains of those herbs, dry wood, bonfire, sophisticated animalic notes, spice. The drydown is the most beautifully balanced combination of amber, wood, spice and smoky-sweet aromas of vanilla and benzoine, the experience is very intimate and uplifting at the same time, very non-perfumey, feeling just like... ...me, just me!

Although there is strength and longevity in this, I would say that the fact that it stays close to your skin makes it very wearable in different situations. Only the strong head notes have heavy sillage - and even those are very pleasant to most people from the distance.

Edit. this stuff has really grown on me - it is one of my favorites for wintertime. I would love to have a touch bottle for this, it would be the right way to dose it - plus it would be in line with the intimacy of this scent. The lasting power is amazing - which can be a con, too. It is not easy just to switch perfume when using this, the drydown does not leave my skin in day or two... That suits well for me, though, I'm wearing the perfumes in phases.

Jaded as their view of ambers is, even Sanchez/Turin can't help but give Ambre Sultan 4 stars, despite putting it down as a scent for those who prefer "folk-naivité to the artfulness of Shalimar." Well, I'll take a good Berber tune anyday over Berlioz, so perhaps that explains why I find this to be most accomplishec Lutens/Sheldrake composition of the 20-odd I've tried, most of all because the tendency towards syrupy sweetness of ocassionally headache-inducing intensity is controlled here. Indeed, Ambre Sultan is a perfect perfume in that it achieves a wonderful interplay - harmony and tension - between bitter, dry, dark herbal yin and sweet, resinous, glowing yang, that adds up to much more than the sum of its parts. Ambre Sultan's quality lies precisely in taking things above 'merely' dressed up amber, it is a multidimensional scent, which becomes obvious by the multiple perceptions of it in the reviews - sweet, dry, dark, relaxing, stark, erotic... But for all its intricate twists and turns it also just simply smells wonderful and effortlessly perfect and that's what defines a true masterpiece. I find AS to be extremely powerful both in terms of longevity and sillage and prefer wearing the Eau Fraiche Parfumée, which in any other perfume line would qualify as an Eau de Parfum.

Too dry. Where's the amber? All I smell in this is a base of vanilla. Massively overhyped.

I loove it,a great amber scent.This is how the perfect amber perfume should smell.Spicy,sweet and smooth..

Sexy. Erotic. Elegant. Well-balanced. I would LOVE this on my husband more than on me. I honestly can't add to anyone else's comments. Great sillage and very long lasting.

This is beautiful! It's dark, spicy wood with a dash of resins, which gives a lovely sweetish edge. At first it's intense and then settles down to a fabulous and elegant experience. I got a sample today and surely will be buying a whole bottle!
(oh dear, my taste in fragrances gets more and more expensive, shortly I will be asking Fragrantica for a job to be able to buy those heavenly treats) :D
Ladies & gents may enjoy this ravishing product on cool days.

Sultry is the word, I love how warm and rich this is. It drives me crazy, Perfect for me. Must get fb some day! I love how well the spices are brought out in this one.

Starting with hot bitter spices and rich green notes. Many spices in a hot day and burning wood with resins. It's realy nice spiced amber scent, warm and long lasting. I love it.

I love Serge Luten's Amber Sultan on my boyfriend. It drives me wild and explosions of spices make him sparkly. When I close my eyes and smell him he smells mysterious, dark, and I like the animal like naughty aromas it gives off. It creates moods and scents which others would want to embrace (not that I would let them!!!!!!) its very inviting and makes me want to join him on the hot sandy beach. Get your boyfriend to wear this one!

I was expecting Ambre Sultan to be a powerhouse scent, being that it is, after all, an amber scent. But it's really a sensual, nostalgic, and gentle memory it seems.

It begins dark, hazy and powdery, as if one has stepped into a spice market and had instantly frozen in time, the latter being a bit jarring because my senses felt like it wouldn't move any farther than that instant moment. You smell the wooden tubs and bowls that hold rich spices of the faraway orient. Coriander and bay hit a perfect chord to bring out a woody facet of the amber more so than its normally resinous character.

As the scent progresses, the powder fades, honeyed notes appear, making it rich, sensual, and narcotic.

At first, I thought I wouldn't like this scent because of its still beginning, but one really has to enjoy this scent for its different aspect on amber.

First I didn´t find Ambre Sultan that special, I tought of it as a warm, comforting and slightly edgy oriental. Nice, cozy but not amazing.

I tried it again, and again and... well, I´ve got hooked little by little. Not love at first sniff, but steadily a kind of friendship is growing. Ambre Sultan can go with anything, in any occasion and any mood or weather in my opinion. A beautiful, allround perfume... Warm, some bitter edge, spicy, lovely golden almost dripping wet amber, really nice, really worth trying. A must if you´re in to orientals.

Ambre Sultan make me feel like I have just finnished a delicious oriental meal at a beautiful oriental restaurant in an exciting and exotic town some where in the middle east.

I will probably start looking for a nice decant of this.

Longlasting and great on men to.

Fantastic scent. Bossy and warm, unique, but approachable, tough and sexy, at the same time, a perfume of contrasts. Starts with a sharp, strong note of aromatic oils, a beautiful resinuous smell, then it settles to the most sensuous powdery, gourmand smell. Very long-lasting fragrance and very rare to find, as well.

Really, when I wear Ambre Sultan, I smell no perfume. Ambre Sultan, after sharp start, smells as warm up sun body, on wich they glitter marine salt. Very erotic, very warm, natural, oriental aroma. Beautiful.

Delicious edible scent. Amber and rock rose. Love this scent and it's perfect for cold weather.

I got a sample of this from Aedes, and it's great. Back in 1987, I had a friend named Viva staying with me for the summer. She was an ex-Fiorucci model, groupie, professional dominatrix, speed freak, and dabbhler in the occult. She used to compound her own incenses, brightly colored powders that would burn like a fragrant fuse when you touched a match to them. This one smell exactly like a magenta colored one she made that I love. This smell, for me, brings me back (here's that scent/memory thing) to a summer of warm, sunny days, amphetamine and sex-laced nights, all to a soundtrack of Love and Rockets, This Mortal Coil, and Hanoi Rocks. I first met the lady I'm currently in love with that summer (didn't see her again until last year, 20 years!. I'm going to start wearing this and see if she notices anything. Scent memory research!

Lovely warm scent. Very strong at first, with a spicy edge to it but it dried down in an hour to a warm honey and wood. Perfect for taking the chill off a cool fall day.