Ambergris perfumes: eleven that list the note, and three built on 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.

Fresh and green ambergris perfumes

Here the ambergris note sits under something cool: iris, vetiver, wood.

Green Irish Tweed by Creed

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.

Original Vetiver by Creed

Original Vetiver came out in 2004 and is listed as unisex. Bergamot, ginger and mandarin orange open it, vetiver, sandalwood and iris form the heart, and musk and ambergris close it.

Community votes on its longevity lean long lasting. Community votes on its sillage lean moderate. Summer, fall and spring are the seasons voters name for it, with day and evening as the occasions.

Soft and musky ambergris perfumes

These two both list musk next to the ambergris note.

Amber Musk by Montale

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

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.

Amber Star by Xerjoff

Amber Star launched in 2013 and is listed as unisex. It is unusual because ambergris sits in the top, alongside ylang-ylang and cedar. Myrrh, guaiac wood and gurjan balsam form the heart, and benzoin, vanilla, opoponax and sandalwood close it.

Most community voters rate its longevity eternal. Its sillage votes lean strong. Winter is its season in the community vote, and night and evening its occasions.

Ambre Nuit by Dior

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

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

Ani launched in 2019 and is listed as unisex. It is the most layered of the group: ginger, bergamot, pink pepper and green notes 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

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

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.