Peau d'Ambrette
Atelier Materi (2019)

HI AMBROXAN. HOW ARE YOU? I THOUGHT I'D MATCH YOUR VOLUME TO MAKE YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE.

This is a safe space, so I want you to feel really comfortable, because that's what I do. I am a people pleaser. I want to believe you have a purpose in, what do we say—"exalting" the ambrette here. I know ambrette oil is quite costly, so we do need some bolstering a bit, right? Exaltolide isn't enough? Sorry, I could quite hear you through the DINNNNNNNNNNNNN....yes, the DINNNN you are creating here. I will wait for the musky, rooty-herby angelica to join us. I'll be patient....

Waiting...

Oh, did you know that angelica root oil is one of my favorite natural materials, along with ambrette seed oil? Ohh, I can just make it out, I sense it now, just a we bit, ok, well isn't that cute. It's competing with the ambrette for oxygen because you're a damn energy vampire, AMBROXAN.

As Peggy Lee sang, "Is that all there is?" It's a good thing I can seek the solace of Chanel No. 18, Goutal Musc Nomade, and Parfum d'Empire Le Cri after this ambrette disappointment.

Cedar, ambrette like the essential oil and a touch of rubbing alcohol. It's only two notes on me, really; sharp peppery wood and ambrette. As it dries cumin and a touch of anise creep in, but that's about it. A bit of an underperformer on me, and I adore ambrette.

The angelica roots can be distinctly detected, against a musky, sweet and slightly gourmand background. There is a discreet herbal inflection suggestive of clary sage. Subtle and gentle scent and one of the stars of this new brand. Packaging looks attractive and the concrete caps are said to be hand made, everything made exclusively by women. The very high price is difficult to justify, all the same.