Ambergris perfumes: eleven that list the note, and three built on Ambroxan
An ambergris perfume smells of salty skin, soft musk and a warm mineral glow. Eleven perfumes list the note, grouped by how they wear, plus three built on Ambroxan.
Quick answer
An ambergris perfume smells of salty skin, soft musk and a warm, mineral glow. To try one first, start with the fresh and green group: Green Irish Tweed by Creed and Perseus by Parfums de Marly.
Ambergris perfumes to try first
Eleven perfumes that list an ambergris note, in the order the guide presents them.
- 1
from €12.243 ml
Read the pick - 2Best for summer
Grapefruit and black currant over vetiver, cedar, tonka bean and ambergris; fresh and woody.
from €9.453 ml
- 3
Amber, ambergris, cedar, powdery notes and white musk; a warm, clean skin scent.
from €7.023 ml
Read the pick - 4
Saffron, cardamom and black tea over Bourbon vanilla, musk and ambergris; soft and spiced.
from €12.513 ml
Read the pick - 5Longest lasting
Elemi, frankincense and cardamom over vanilla, benzoin, opoponax, ambergris and oud; warm and resinous.
from €17.553 ml
Read the pick
Show all 11 picks
- 6
Bergamot, grapefruit and Damask rose over ambergris, guaiac wood and patchouli; floral and evening.
from €17.913 ml
Read the pick - 7
Saffron, amber and jasmine over benzoin, ambergris and sandalwood; warm, spicy and sweet.
from €23.133 ml
Read the pick - 8Best for evening
Ginger, cardamom and Turkish rose over vanilla, benzoin, ambergris and musk; layered and spicy.
from €11.703 ml
Read the pick - 9Best value
Green apple, white peach and caramel, with ambergris in the heart and white musk below; bright and sweet.
from €6.213 ml
Read the pick - 10
Coffee, amaretto and vanilla over ambergris and brown sugar; a sweet dessert coffee.
from €6.573 ml
Read the pick - 11Best for winter
Cinnamon, honey and osmanthus, with ambergris in the heart and tonka bean below; warm and honeyed.
from €9.183 ml
In this guide
An ambergris perfume smells of salty skin, soft musk and a warm, mineral glow that sits close to the body. To try one first, start with Green Irish Tweed by Creed from the fresh and green group, then move to a warm pick such as Outlands by Amouage. For what the material is and how it differs from its synthetic cousin, read ambergris vs ambroxan.
Every perfume in the first four sections lists an ambergris note in its catalogue notes. That is all we claim: we describe the note as listed, and we do not say what any house puts in the bottle. The last group is separate, because those three perfumes are built on Ambroxan instead. You can try every one of them as a 3ml decant before you commit to more.
Quick comparison
| # | Perfume | Label | Main notes | Lasts | Trail | Season | 3 ml | 10 ml | per ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Green Irish TweedCreed | Best overall | Violet Leaf | Long lasting | Moderate | Spring | €12.24 | €34.20 | €3.42 |
| 2 | PerseusParfums de Marly | Best for summer | Geranium, Green Mandarin, Vetiver | Long lasting | Moderate | Summer | €9.45 | €26.73 | €2.67 |
| 3 | Amber MuskMontale | White Musk | Long lasting | Moderate | Winter | €7.02 | €21.51 | €2.15 | |
| 4 | Eau DuelleDiptyque | Black Tea, Cardamom, Juniper | Long lasting | Strong | Winter, Autumn | €12.51 | €37.26 | €3.73 | |
| 5 | OutlandsAmouage | Longest lasting | Anise, Coriander, Cumin | Eternal | Strong | Winter | €17.55 | €51.57 | €5.16 |
| 6 | Ambre NuitDior | Damask Rose, Pink Pepper | Long lasting | Strong | Autumn | €17.91 | €62.01 | €6.20 | |
| 7 | Soleil de FeuTom Ford | Amber, Jasmine | Long lasting | Strong | Spring, Autumn | €23.13 | €70.11 | €7.01 | |
| 8 | AniNishane | Best for evening | Black Currant, Cardamom, Turkish Rose | Long lasting | Strong | Autumn, Winter | €11.70 | €35.37 | €3.54 |
| 9 | Jardin ExclusifMancera | Best value | Ambergris, Bulgarian Rose, Jasmine | Long lasting | Strong | Summer, Spring | €6.21 | €16.11 | €1.61 |
| 10 | Amore CaffeMancera | Ice cream, Vanilla | Long lasting | Moderate | Autumn, Winter | €6.57 | €18.18 | €1.82 | |
| 11 | OajanParfums de Marly | Best for winter | Ambergris, Artemisia, Benzoin | Long lasting | Strong | Winter | €9.18 | €23.85 | €2.39 |
Show all 11 picks
Community votes
Fresh and green ambergris perfumes
Here the ambergris note sits under something cool: iris, vetiver, wood.
Green Irish Tweed by Creed
- Top notes
- Iris, Vervain
- Heart notes
- Violet Leaf
- Base notes
- Ambergris, Sandalwood
- Time of day
- Daytime
Green Irish Tweed launched in 1985 and is listed for men. Iris and vervain lead, violet leaf follows, and ambergris with sandalwood closes the scent.
Its longevity votes lean long lasting. Most community voters rate its sillage moderate. The community's favourite season for it is spring, with day and office as the occasions.
Perseus by Parfums de Marly
Perseus came out in 2024 and is listed for men. Grapefruit, bergamot and black currant open it, vetiver, green mandarin and geranium form the heart, and cashmere wood, balsam fir, cedar, tonka bean, dry wood and ambergris close it.
Most community voters rate its longevity long lasting. Most community voters rate its sillage moderate. Summer and spring are the seasons voters name for it, with day as the occasion.
Soft and musky ambergris perfumes
These two both list musk next to the ambergris note.
Amber Musk by Montale
- Top notes
- Amber
- Heart notes
- White Musk
- Base notes
- Ambergris, Cedar
- Time of day
- Daytime
Amber Musk launched in 2018 and is listed as unisex. Its notes read as one soft block: amber, ambergris, cedar, powdery notes and white musk.
Community votes on its longevity lean long lasting. Sillage votes lean moderate. Winter and fall are its seasons in the community vote, and day wear its occasion.
Eau Duelle by Diptyque
- Top notes
- Bergamot, elemi, Pink Pepper, Saffron
- Heart notes
- Black Tea, Cardamom, Juniper
- Base notes
- Ambergris, Bourbon Vanilla, Cypriol, Musk
- Time of day
- Night out
Eau Duelle was created by Fabrice Pellegrin and launched in 2010. It opens with bergamot, pink pepper, elemi and saffron, passes through juniper, cardamom and black tea, and rests on Bourbon vanilla, musk, ambergris and cypriol. The vanilla and spice make it softer and warmer than the fresh group.
Most community voters rate its longevity long lasting. Its sillage votes lean strong. Winter and fall are its seasons in the community vote, and night wear its occasion.
Warm and resinous ambergris perfumes
Here the ambergris note meets benzoin, vanilla, wood and spice.
Outlands by Amouage
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Cardamom, elemi, Frankincense
- Heart notes
- Anise, Coriander, Cumin, Geranium
- Base notes
- Amber, Ambergris, Benzoin, Birch
- Time of day
- Night out
Outlands launched in 2024 and is listed as unisex. Elemi, lemon, Sichuan pepper, frankincense, cardamom and bergamot open it. Saffron, rose, geranium, cumin and patchouli are among its heart notes, and vanilla, amber, benzoin, opoponax, ambergris, oud and labdanum are among its base notes.
Its longevity votes lean eternal. Most community voters rate its sillage strong. Winter and fall are its seasons in the community vote, and night and evening its occasions.
Ambre Nuit by Dior
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Grapefruit
- Heart notes
- Damask Rose, Pink Pepper
- Base notes
- Ambergris, Cedar, Guaiac Wood, Patchouli
- Time of day
- Night out
Ambre Nuit is listed as unisex. Bergamot and grapefruit open it, pink pepper and Damask rose follow, and ambergris, guaiac wood, cedar and patchouli make up the base. The rose gives it a floral, evening feel.
Community votes on its longevity lean long lasting. Community votes on its sillage lean strong. Fall and winter are the seasons named for it; night, evening and day are the occasions.
Soleil de Feu by Tom Ford
- Top notes
- Pink Pepper, Saffron
- Heart notes
- Amber, Jasmine
- Base notes
- Ambergris, Benzoin, Sandalwood
- Time of day
- Daytime
Soleil de Feu launched in 2023 and is listed as unisex. Saffron and pink pepper open it, amber and jasmine form the heart, and benzoin, ambergris and sandalwood close it.
Most community voters rate its longevity long lasting. Most community voters rate its sillage strong. Spring and fall are its seasons in the vote, with day and evening wear as occasions.
Ani by Nishane
- Top notes
- Bergamot, Ginger, Green Notes, Pink Pepper
- Heart notes
- Black Currant, Cardamom, Turkish Rose
- Base notes
- Ambergris, Benzoin, Cedar, Musk
- Time of day
- Night out
Ani launched in 2019 and is listed as unisex. Ginger, bergamot, pink pepper and green notes sit on top, cardamom, black currant and Turkish rose in the heart, then vanilla, benzoin, sandalwood, cedar, patchouli, ambergris and musk.
Most community voters rate its longevity long lasting. Its sillage votes lean strong. The community links it to fall and winter, and to night and evening wear.
Sweet and fruity ambergris perfumes
In these three the note sits under sugar, fruit or honey.
Jardin Exclusif by Mancera
- Top notes
- Black Currant, Caramel, Green Apple, Lemon
- Heart notes
- Ambergris, Bulgarian Rose, Jasmine, Violet
- Base notes
- Madagascar Vanilla, Sandalwood, White Musk
- Time of day
- Daytime
Jardin Exclusif launched in 2018 and is listed as unisex. It opens on green apple, white peach, lemon, caramel and pear, puts ambergris in the heart with jasmine, violet and Bulgarian rose, and rests on white musk, Madagascar vanilla and sandalwood. It is the brightest sweet pick here.
Community votes on its longevity lean long lasting. Community votes on its sillage lean strong. Summer and spring are its seasons in the vote, and day wear is its occasion.
Amore Caffe by Mancera
- Top notes
- Amaretto, Coffee
- Heart notes
- Ice cream, Vanilla
- Base notes
- Ambergris, Brown sugar
- Time of day
- Daytime
Amore Caffe launched in 2023 and is listed as unisex. Coffee and amaretto open it, vanilla and ice cream form the heart, and ambergris and brown sugar close it.
Most community voters rate its longevity long lasting. Most community voters rate its sillage moderate. Voters name fall and winter as its seasons, and day and evening as its occasions.
Oajan by Parfums de Marly
Oajan launched in 2013 and is listed for men. Cinnamon, honey and osmanthus open it, benzoin, labdanum, ambergris and artemisia form the heart, and musk, patchouli and tonka bean close it. It is a warm, honeyed amber with spice.
Community votes on its longevity lean long lasting. Community votes on its sillage lean strong. The vote puts it in winter, for evening and night wear.
Three Ambroxan perfumes
These three do not list ambergris. Their notes list Ambroxan. They are a different material, so we keep them apart. The difference between the two is on its own page, and amber is a separate note again.
Another 13 by Le Labo
Another 13 was created by Nathalie Lorson and launched in 2010. Pear and apple sit on top, Ambroxan, moss and jasmine in the heart, and musk and ambrette at the base.
Community votes on its longevity lean long lasting. Community votes on its sillage lean moderate. The community names every season for it, with day and evening as the occasions.
Parisian Musc by Matiere Premiere
Parisian Musc launched in 2019 and is an eau de parfum. Virginia cedar opens it, ambrette is the heart, and Ambrettolide, Ambroxan and musk form the base.
On longevity, most community voters say long lasting. Sillage votes lean moderate. Spring and summer are the seasons named for it, with day, office and evening as occasions.
Le Gemme Tygar by Bvlgari
Le Gemme Tygar is listed for men. Grapefruit opens it, ambrette and ginger form the heart, and Ambroxan, musk, patchouli and vetiver close it. It is the lightest of the three.
Community votes on its longevity lean moderate. Community votes on its sillage lean moderate. Summer, spring and fall are its seasons in the vote, with day and office as occasions.
How to try ambergris perfumes before you buy a bottle
Ambergris notes read differently on every skin, so test before you commit. Pick the size by what you want to do. Use a 3ml for around 60 sprays to discover a scent. Choose a 10ml decant for around 200 sprays. Keep a 30ml decant for around 600 sprays. For how decanting works, read what is a perfume decant.
A good first trio covers three moods. Take one fresh pick, one musky pick and one warm pick, for example Green Irish Tweed at €12.24, Amber Musk at €7.02 and Ani at €11.70 for the 3ml size. Wear one per day on clean skin and give each a full day.
If you want an easy wear before the bottle, safe blind buy perfumes is a useful read, and if you like the soft, close-to-skin idea, white musk perfumes are a natural next step. Our notes on musk and amber explain the two neighbouring families.
The bigger picture: Chypre perfume and the other fragrance families, explained.
Frequently asked questions
- What does an ambergris perfume smell like?
- An ambergris perfume smells of salty skin, soft musk and a warm, mineral glow. How it shows depends on the notes around it: iris and vetiver make it fresh, vanilla and benzoin make it warm and resinous.
- Which perfumes have ambergris in them?
- Eleven perfumes in this guide list an ambergris note, including Green Irish Tweed, Perseus, Amber Musk, Eau Duelle, Ambre Nuit, Soleil de Feu, Ani, Jardin Exclusif, Amore Caffe and Oajan. We describe the note as listed in the catalogue, not what any house puts in the bottle.
- Is Ambroxan the same as ambergris?
- No, they are different materials, and the guide keeps them in separate groups. Another 13, Parisian Musc and Le Gemme Tygar list Ambroxan, not ambergris, and the ambergris vs ambroxan guide explains the difference.
- Which ambergris perfume is best for summer?
- Perseus and Jardin Exclusif are the two to try first for summer, because community voters most often pick them for summer.
- How can I try an ambergris perfume before buying a bottle?
- Order a 3ml decant, which gives around 60 sprays, and wear it for a full day on clean skin. If you like it, step up to a 10ml decant for around 200 sprays or a 30ml decant for around 600.
- Is ambergris used in perfume today?
- Yes, as a note on a perfume's list. Eleven perfumes in this guide list an ambergris note, and we describe the note as listed, not what any house puts in the bottle. Ambroxan is a different material, which is why the three Ambroxan perfumes sit in their own group.
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