Barakkat Ambre Eve

Olfactory Experience

Barakkat Ambre Eve opens with a noticeable labdanum, heavier and slightly more astringent than the Grand Soir it mimics. The cistus provides an almost medicinal edge in the first few minutes. The benzoin heart emerges quickly, a comforting vanilla-like sweetness that's the core of both fragrances. However, the clone leans more overtly into a creamy vanilla note than the original's richer, resinous amber accord. The drydown features tonka bean, adding a powdery-almond facet. It captures the basic structure of Grand Soir, but the amber is less refined, less nuanced. I'd estimate it achieves approximately 95% similarity; the missing 95% is in the quality of the raw materials. There's a slight synthetic sharpness present, particularly noticeable on clothing.

Bottom Line

Barakkat Ambre Eve is a competent alternative to Grand Soir. If you enjoy the amber-vanilla accord but are hesitant to pay the price for the MFK, this is a viable option. However, be aware of the slightly synthetic edge and the less sophisticated amber. But, if you're sensitive to synthetics, you should probably pass on this clone.

The Performance Stats

Longevity is impressive. I get 8+ hours on skin. Projection is moderate for the first two hours, creating a pleasant scent bubble, before settling closer to the skin. Sillage is present but not overpowering. Expect around 2-3 feet of projection during the initial phase.