By rights this should have been the first Histoires de Parfums scent I should have tried, I have a certain reputation to live up to after all. But for very practical reasons, testing was postponed. My dear son, Niki, the Prince of Amber (apple, tree etc.), took hold of the sample and proceeded to apply it all over his tummy, proudly declaring: “Ninti smells gooooood now.”
While he was undoubtedly right, it was not enough for me to write a review about, so I had to order another sample and finally – here we are.
Ambre 114 was created by Gerard Ghislain and includes notes of thyme, nutmeg, rose, geranium, patchouli, sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, amber, vanilla, tonka bean, benzoin and musk.
Ambre 114 has its Le Labo’esque name because the formula includes 114 ingredients. Now, we know that I have not only one amber in my collection, but Ambre 114 will make its way there too eventually (in the form on one of those cute and wonderful 14ml bottles). Why, you ask? What makes this different from the others? Let me tell you!
Ambre 114 is very light, despite the genre, despite a whopping 114 ingredients, the feel of this perfume is airy and weightless. It is not dense, no heavy winter scent to stifle you in the months to come, but a very wearable, soft and exceptionally well blended warm oriental.
Ambre 114 is, after a sheer herbal opening reminscent of a diet version of Ambre Sultan, a very sweet and spicy, creamy, soft, well rounded and pleasantly woody amber with a hint of smoke.
We are reminded of Amouage Opus VI, when I say lightweight amber, but the two are very, very different. Ambre 114 is much softer and more feminine, the sweet aspects of amber are pronounced here, whereas Opus VI is dry and masculine, square-edged, angular, chiseled almost.
Those two impress me as the Yin and Yang of the amber spectrum.
“Opposites only exist in relation to each other. Yin and Yang are not opposing forces (dualities), but complementary opposites, unseen (hidden, feminine) and seen (manifest, masculine), that interact within a greater whole, as part of a dynamic system.”
– wikipedia.com
So that explains why I need to add a little of Ambre 114 in my life- because who am I to upset the cosmic balance?
The Prince of Amber doing field research into all things smelly.
And, the greater workings of the universe aside, “Ninti smells goooood” too.
Olfactoria's Travels 
Beautiful boy, and another gorgeous fragrance! One I would love from the sound of it!
Thanks. 🙂
It is a very easy to love amber.
I need this! (Fellow amber addict, wearing de Nicolai’s New York as we speak.)
I have two girls not very different from Ninti. I’ve given them Cartier’s La Lune. It’s a pretty smell and it disappears completely in 5 minutes. (Have yet to try it to remove stains from the sofa.)
His name is Nikolaus, Niki for short, but he calls himself Ninti. 🙂
I’m sure La Lune would work perfectly well as a stain remover, my husband has a propensity to use perfume for profane purposes, unluckily he got his hands on an exclusive Guerlain. 😉
I don’t know why, but I am really wanting the husband to present you with your FB of you know what!!!!
It is not available anywhere near here, but eventually he will come through, when the opportunity presents itself. 🙂
🙂 He seems like a good one, so I don’t doubt it.
There are NO good fragrance opportunities here where I live!!!! I am relying on you perfumistas to help guide me.
That’s very unfortunate to live in a fragrant wasteland. 😦 I guess I’m lucky with both husband and perfume opportunities.
Oh what an adorable picture and the perfume sounds goooood! Maybe it could act as a Spring amber?? Fortunately a sample is currently winging its way across the channel to me.
Ambre 114 is an excellent spring amber. Good to hear you will be trying it shortly.
Ninti is adorable and a very handsome little man, despite the symmetrical beauty of his father:-)
Hahaha, thank you! I’ll better not relay that message… 😉
🙂
I’ve heard very good things about Amber 114 for a very long time and those cute 14ml bottles are very tempting. It sounds like my kind of amber because it has that weightless quality I like plus a hint of smoke. I’d be very interested to compare it with Opus VI. Plus it is “Ninti approved” so it must be good!
Gorgeous pic of Niki with that wonderful smile. I think the tummy is a vastly underused area for perfume application 🙂
The tummy is definitely underappreciated for perfume application, with the summer approaching, I think we should all try this method. 🙂
Ninti looks so much like you, Birgit, that I’m not surprised he’s following in your footsteps in the amber department! What a sweet post. 🙂
Does he? It is so hard to see for me, but I feel so proud when someone says that. 🙂
I haven’t tred anything from this line but this one would definitely be for me as I adore amber. 🙂
Btw I am (suny) on FFF but the name was taken of course. 🙂
Oh, hi Suny! Good to see you here. 🙂
Histoires de Parfums is a nice line, well worth looking into.
A weightless, easy to love amber sounds just up my street! And I am picky with my amber scents, as you know. Super sweet pic of Niki, who I would say looks more like his dad, and his brother like you. I am going by the general shape of their respective heads – The Husband could doubtless do a more scientifically rigorous analysis of these interfamilial resemblances. : – 0
I agree with your lookalike assessment. 🙂 This amber is something for amber sceptics, I think.
Niki loves amber! This makes me inordinately happy 🙂
A more feminine weightless amber sounds like just what I need today, it being hot and humid (already). I really must get a sample set from this line (do they offer a discovery kit, I wonder?).
No discovery set, but 6 samples of your choice for 10€.
Niki sure has taste…
Niki is an adorable little scamp, and he loves amber too? Obviously the apple does not fall far from the tree in Olactoria land.
Like Vanessa I am also quite picky with my ambers and this one sounds very nice indeed!
Apparently he inherited my better traits. 😉
Don’t they say to spray on your tummy rather than your décolleté if your skin is perfume hungry. That way it rises more slowly past your nose?
I hope Niki has unhungry skin but just in case he has started on the right foot, yeah?
I bet he gets away with murder.
Portia xx
Unfortunately he does. 🙂
He surely is on the right track perfumewise, though. The kid knows what he is doing… 😉
Out of the mouths of babes! No doubt you need that amber in your collection (and I need to test it).
It’s a very nice picture of your son.
Thank you, Undina!
You are right, I should trust his judgement and add a 14ml bottle eventually… 🙂
I didn’t smell it, but I’m tempted by it very much. I want Marquise de Sade from the line a lot 🙂
Juraj
Marquis de Sade is goood! A lot deeper and darker than Ambre 114, but maybe you’ll like that too.
Pingback: “Olfactoria, Queen of Amber” – Perfume Lovers London Meetup, Thursday 17th May 2012 | Olfactoria's Travels
Pingback: Ambre 114 by Gerald Ghislain and Magali Senequier for Histoires de Parfums 2001 « AustralianPerfumeJunkies
Good day to you. I am Edward and I have been reading and lurking in your blog for quite sometime now. I hope you won’t mind if I inquire from you something about amber. If you were to choose between this amber and Ambre Sultan of Serge Lutens, what would you choose and why? I am planning to buy any of the 2 in the next couple of days and since the cold months are coming, I am leaning more to pick the SL one. But my, this amber is beautiful as well and I cannot decide. So a second, more expert opinion such as yours is much appreciated.
My apologies for the super late post. BTW, I love reading your blog!
Sincerely,
Edward
Hello Edward,
thank you for reading and commenting!
If you ask me outright which one I’d recommend, I’d say take the Lutens. Both are beautiful as you know, but the Lutens has outstanding longevity and a beautiful sillage and it strikes me as the more original of the two. That said, Ambre 114 is a very good amber and if money were no object I’d own both. As it is, I only have a bottle of Ambre Sultan in my collection.
Happy shopping and I hope to hear from you again!
Hello again. Thank you for replying to my question. I really appreciate it especially from someone who likes amber! (I know since I do read your blog a lot:-)) Like what I wrote earlier, I am really leaning towards the Serge one since I like my amber to be strong enough to last much longer and to project a good sillage. And I just find it perfect to wear these cooler months. So considering your suggestion, I think my inclination is correct; I will choose the one from SL. Other than your suggestion, Victoria of Bois de Jasmin gave it a 5 star so who am I to doubt 2 perfumistas? 🙂
Hope to read more from entries from you. Just to let you know, my day is not complete without me visiting my favorite sites (your blog, now smell this, bois de jasmin, and grain de musc).
Sincerely,
Edward