On rare occasion, a sales associate makes a fragrance recommendation for me that nails it and sometimes they don’t! I remember on my first trip to Paris, a sales associate embarrassed me when I wanted to buy Je Reviens by Worth. She told me in French that it was for grandmothers, and she suggested a light, springy scent by Caron that smelled to me like bananas. I bought it because she shamed me into it, but it wasn’t right for me. On another trip to Paris, another sales associate recommended an oriental scent by Lancaster, Royal Secret, that I wore successfully for years. Unfortunately, it no longer exists.
My favorite scent is still Musc Ravageur by Frederic Malle, but I’ve become much more adventurous and I am happy to try out something new. So when the SA at Sephora recommended Hermes L’Ambres Des Merveilles and offered me a sample to try at home, I thought why not?
L’Ambres Des Merveilles means The Wonders of Amber. It was developed by Jean-Claude Ellena and was introduced in 2012 as a flanker to their successful Eau Des Merveilles, but sweet rather than salty like the original. It is an oriental vanilla, just the kind of scent I love. Actually, it was love at first sniff for me.
The notes featured are amber, labdanum, vanilla, and patchouli. They form an accord, or basic character/impression that is an amalgamation of amber, vanilla, balsamic, patchouli, powdery, and animalic. Although it is considered a gender neutral scent, I consider it decidedly feminine.
It is a scent that is supposed to be reminiscent of a walk through the fallen leaves on an autumn day. I’m not sure that I see that when I wear it, but it is a warm, enveloping scent that is wonderful for fall and winter. However, I wear scents all year round, and I know I’ll be wearing this one in the spring and summer too because it’s so delightful.
For some reason, it takes a while for a scent to “stick” on me. I have to wear it repeatedly for a while before the scent clings to my skin. L’Ambre Des Merveilles has a rich scent, but it is rather lightweight. Reading other reviews of the fragrance, some mention that it is “close to the skin”, doesn’t broadcast its scent like other scents like Musc Ravageur do. Further, some say that the scent isn’t long lasting. So far, I have to agree. Though today, I am wearing it and it seems to have taken hold better than even a few days ago. I just bought an unscented body butter to try wearing it over to see if it will help with longevity. Some people suggest wearing a lightweight scent over unscented oil to help it last.
The Hermes L’Ambre Des Merveilles eau de parfum spray holds 3.3 fl. oz. And you know me, I hunt around for the best price and it wasn’t at Sephora, not even with the VIB discount. I bought mine at fragrancenet.com with a 30% off discount. Yes!
I’m glad I found another new scent to love. Have you heard of Hermes L’Ambre Des Merveilles or have you tried it yourself? Is this your kind of scent? Which scent are you wearing most these days?
Hmmm I know I’d like the vanilla notes, but not sure about the patchouli. It’s a fine line sometimes, and I always just have to try.
Yes, perfume always has to be tried first.
Ooooh. This looks DIVINE.
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I love that it’s lightweight but I’m not too excited about reapplying perfume a few ties for it to stay put. Still, it does sound like a nice scent.
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Yesterday, I put on body butter and sprayed the perfume over it and it actually lasted for hours and hours. Maybe I’ve cracked the code. Hope so, because it is divine!
This sounds like a very beautiful fragrance, and the bottle is gorgeous! Clever to use it over a body butter to increase its longevity! Bravo for cracking the code, Allison!
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I just found an unscented body butter from The Body Shop, and it’s definitely helping. L’ambre Des Merveilles is such a heavenly scent especially for this time of year <3
I love that you got a sample first so you didn’t make a costly mistake. That bottle is so classy and beautiful.
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I just won’t buy perfume any more without a sample. It always smells so different on me and it always needs time to develop before deciding, right?
I like warm scents if they aren’t too spicy, this sounds nice.
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Definitely take a sniff at Sephora or Nordstrom. It’s a beauty. Not too spicy at all.
Omg that packaging! Such a fancy item!
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Thank you, Kat! I think the Hermes fragrance packaging is gorgeous for all of their scents, but the interesting shape of the bottle for this line is so modern!
I hadn’t heard of this scent but I love the sound of it. The bottle is so perfect too.
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It’s so gorgeous, Bailey. If you’re a vanilla lover, you would love it
Patchouli never works on me though I love vanilla.
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I’ve been all about spice and incense lately. And some birch tar.
(Really, Rachel? Birch tar??? You want to go about smelling like birch tar? Yes, sort of. In small doses…)
To think, I used to be a Chanel-only gal!
Most of the blame sits at the feet of Mr Tom Ford, actually. Tobacco Vanille was my gateway drug. Now I’ll try anything. Lol
I still really like Tobacco Vanille, but my daily go to is Tauer Perfumes l’air du desert marocain. It garners compliments from men and women both. I shall have to try your body butter idea though, because my skin tends to eat perfume. I don’t mind wearing it close, but I would like to be able to still detect it come lunchtime. 🙂
I haven’t smelled birch tar. Sounds intriguing! I tried spraying Tobacco Vanille on me, and I was hopeful, but it just didn’t work with my body chemistry. Surprised because it’s the kind of scent I normally would like. I also bought a sample of LDDM, but unfortunately, it didn’t work on me either. I truly smelled like a dusty old bookstore, and the scent didn’t stay on me either so I never got to see if the drydown would be better. I was disappointed because I read such good things about LDDM. But there were enough folks who had the same experience as I did that I didn’t feel so bad. I’m glad to hear it suits you. Definitely try the unscented body butter or unscented oil. Hope it’ll work for you, Rach!
I hope so too! Thanks!
And well, I do feel comfortable in dusty old bookstores…. Maybe the compliments are also coming from other likeminded individuals…. Lololol!
I find the drydown is pretty sweet. I almost wish it were a little less so, but ultimately it’s not enough to put me off wearing it in the least.
I heard really good things about the drydown, and I like that kind of sweet ending but alas it just floats away on me into the desert after about 20 minutes. Have you tried Chergui? I have good luck with that scent. My fave remains Musc Ravageur. Have you tried it?
Chergui sits on my luckyscent wish list as we speak, hehe. I haven’t found a sample of Musc Ravageur yet though. You had me intrigued with one of your earlier mentions of it so I’ve been keeping a lookout!
They are both worth a sniff! With Chergui, you’ve gotta get to the middle and base notes before deciding ?
So interesting you mentioned Lancaster, that’s a beauty brand that makes such divine products but it hasn’t entered our market. This fragrance sounds intriguing. I usually switch my usual citrus in winter and Tom Ford Velvet Orchid is what I am wearing.
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We’re talking a loooong time ago, Norah. I was able to buy Royal Secret in the U.S. from some source in the early 90s. Then they sold off the scent to a cheesy fragrance company, and Lancaster was either sold or it stopped selling in the US. I was so disappointed. I’ve been glad I’ve found other oriental scents like this and Musc Ravageur to take its place, but these are so much more expensive, lol. I love Tom Ford’s fragrances but for some reason, they don’t work with my body chemistry – so disappointing because there are so many lovely scents. I will sniff Velvet Orchid next trip to Sephora 🙂
This sounds so nice. And I love the packaging!
The bottle is really cool, I agree. But I have to be sure to grab it relatively high up because it’s almost too wide to fit in my hand. I think the scent has begun to “take” on me coz it’s lasting much longer. It reminds me a little of Shalimar because of the vanilla notes, but more contemporary. It is beautiful. Spray some on next time you go to Sephora or Nordstrom and LMK what you think 🙂
I love vanilla scents, so I know I would probably like this one… but that bottle would make me spend all the money, such gorgeous packaging.
LOL, the bottle for this fragrance is definitely enticing. From what I know of your scent preferences, I think you might like this one. It’s so lovely for this time of year.
I feel so silly, I did not even know Hermes had fragrances, but it totally makes sense to me. This bottle looks so pretty I now have to go smell it.
Why would you know, Jill, unless you noticed them in the store? But I’m glad I discovered it. The scent is so fabulous
I am so glad that you found a favorite perfume…I personally never heard of it but love the packaging!
Ursula
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Hermes is most well known for their silk scarves and leather goods, but yes they have a quite a number of very well known fragrances.