Amber and Neroli

Final Thoughts

The ideal wearer appreciates simpler constructions and favors dry, woody fragrances. Perhaps someone who works in a creative field but prefers understated scents and avoids anything loud or flamboyant. This scent suits the minimalist architect or the sculptor who favors clean lines above all else.

Olfactory Experience

Amber and Neroli opens with a bracing, almost medicinal black pepper note. It’s less the freshly cracked peppercorn promised and more akin to a pepper-infused tincture. The initial blast is short-lived, thankfully, giving way to an amber accord that's considerably drier than anticipated. Think ambergris accord, not golden honeyed amber. The advertised neroli emerges in the base, struggling to cut through the pervasive dryness. It's a muted neroli, smelling closer to petitgrain with a slightly metallic tang. The original Zielinski & Rozen is richer, more resinous, and the pepper possesses an oily depth. This clone attempts the peppery brightness, but lacks the same grounding warmth. It diverges most in the drydown, where the original remains sweetly ambery, while this veers towards a vaguely antiseptic quality.

Projection Power

Longevity is moderate, clocking in around 5 hours on skin. Projection is intimate; it sits close, extending maybe half an arm's length in the first hour before quickly receding. Testing was conducted indoors in a climate-controlled environment. This isn’t a powerhouse, making it office-appropriate if that is your preference.