FRAGRANCE | Ambra Calabria Extrait de Parfum by Nishane is surprisingly not about amber

halfwhiteboy - Nishane Ambra Calabria Extrait de Parfum 01

I often associate amber in fragrances with warm and sweet, if not dense, scent profiles. Expecting something in that mold, Nishane's Ambra Calabria caught me off guard with a sharp and bitter citrus opening. This type of citrus calls to mind Xerjoff's Nio, which shares a similar biting quality. I thought, okay, maybe it's just the opening, but then a barrage of fresh—and also bitter—greens come marching in.

A few more minutes later and some warm spices join the party. The spiciness isn't sharp and is instead rounded, perhaps due to the ensuing sweetness. Amber and vanilla gradually creep in but both are very light-footed. The scent, as a result, is never heavy. Later I get a vaguely smoky accord going on, followed shortly by a mild powdery character. The quasi-smokiness doesn't last long, though, but the powdery accord stays.

At some point I get a light, sweaty musk in the background but it never really moves forward. Then it all dries down to a mildly sweet blend with faint traces of citrus, greens, and spices that figured strongly in the beginning. A few more hours later and what's left of it is a mild, powdery vanilla sitting close to the skin.

halfwhiteboy - Nishane Ambra Calabria Extrait de Parfum 02

Ambra Calabria isn't the amber fragrance that I was expecting, but it doesn't have to. I actually find this lightly sweetened citrusy, spicy, green concoction to be quite pleasant. I also like how it goes against the thick and heavy trend of most fragrances with sweet bases by being defiantly light. But unlike Fan Your Flames, it doesn't project as much, which is rather unbecoming of a Nishane frag. It doesn't last as long either. But at least I like the added artwork in the old packaging that I have. Try before you buy.

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