Are you a fan of amber scents? Lucky you – lately, amber seems to be inspiring perfumers more than ever...

Need a refresher? Originally, amber was a fossilized resin that was very popular with jewelry designers. But in perfumery, amber is an accord composed of warm, spicy, vanilla and balsamic notes.

Nowadays, amber-based fragrances are often unisex, like Jovoy’s Ambre Premier, a slightly gourmand scent that ‘leaves a sensual trail on the skin; that je ne sais quoi that makes all the difference’, the in-the-know brand explains. Ambre Nue, the sixth creation from Atelier Cologne, which will be unveiled in 2012, is another unisex amber fragrance.

Men’s scents have also been experimenting with amber recently. Like Prada, with their Amber Intense pour Homme, a woody oriental that ‘sings the praises of amber in its classic form.’ Hugo Boss has chosen to pair amber with velvet in Velvet & Amber, in their “Boss the Collection” line that pairs fabrics and scents. In Velvet & Amber, velvet, which was traditionally reserved for royalty, expresses amber’s precious, jewel-like aspect.

More than just an accord, amber carries us off to a suave and mysterious world, and can be seen as a continuation of the Arabian nights fragrance trend. La Sultane de Saba presents their first fragrance: Ambre Musc Santal. It’s a vanilla composition inspired by the spa and cosmetics brand’s 1,001-nights atmosphere… just as Armani dreamt up Ambre Orient for their Armani Privé 1001 Nuits collection, which pays tribute to the Middle east’s most luxurious fragrance ingredients. And niche brand Les Sens de Marrakech unveiled Ambre, a colorful perfume steeped in Moroccan culture and traditions.

And of course, anyone who loves this sweet and sensual note will already know – or should definitely try – the most classic amber scent of them all: Serge Lutens’s Ambre Sultan. As well as Reminiscence’s Ambre, Hermès’s Ambre Narguilé and Dior’s Ambre Nuit... a woody-oriental that they recently brought out as a candle.

Amber: a totally trendy accord.

Nicolas Olczyk

Do you like amber scents? Which one’s your favorite?