Black Amber

The Scent Profile

Zara's Black Amber attempts a sophisticated warmth, but stumbles into an awkward first impression. The grapefruit note is more akin to grapefruit rind – bitter and pithy, fighting with a dusty coriander note that smells faintly medicinal. There's a fleeting hint of basil, but it's quickly overtaken by a dominant, almost cloying cardamom. The heart has a persistent chemical dryness. Where the original aims for sensual orange blossom, this veers towards a slightly sweaty gym sock accord. The drydown reveals a murky amber, a synthetic tobacco that smells oddly papery, and a cedar note that is reminiscent of pencil shavings. It's not unpleasant, but lacks the depth and refinement it strives for.

Performance Reality Check

On my skin, Black Amber hangs around for about four hours, with projection reaching just beyond arm's length in the initial hour. Tested in an office environment, it quickly faded into a skin scent, hardly making an impression.

To Buy or Not to Buy?

This fragrance might suit a younger individual trying to cultivate an image of worldly sophistication before they've quite earned it. Perhaps a college student aspiring to be a creative director, who frequents dimly lit coffee shops, hunched over a laptop writing poetry. He is trying to project a persona, and this scent, while not entirely successful, serves as a starting point.