What Are The Best Ambroxan Fragrances NOW? Discover the Top 7!
Ambroxan.
One of the most complimented notes in perfumery.
The best ambroxan fragrances for men are warm, ambery, musky, and overall very attractive. With the numerous ambroxan-based fragrances on the market, which are the best?
Look no further; you’ll discover the top seven here.
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Table of Contents
#7 – Parfums de Marly Sedley
The opening starts bright and citric, paired with an aromatic accord. It is not as bright as the opening seemed it was going to be. The various citruses in the opening are all battling it out, tempering each other in the process.
The mid develops with a heavy aromatic note. It has a light, fresh spiciness.
The citruses from the beginning linger in the background. The lavender jumps to the forefront, bringing musky accents with it. This pair has an almost dusty accent that smells cool on the skin.
The dry-down is simple. A smooth softness coats the base, mainly from a small dose of Ambroxan and Cashmeran. Subtle woody accords become more prominent, mixing with musky accents.
On my skin, it lasted six to seven hours max. I wore it multiple times, and each time, it was weak. The same goes for the projection.
The first hour had one to two feet of projection, but after four hours, I had to put my nose within an inch of my hand to smell it. This is spring and summer wear for all occasions.
#6 – Versace Dylan Blue
It has a fresh shower gel vibe. The top notes are a citrus combination of bergamot and grapefruit. They are sweet and familiar. Resting underneath is an aquatic accord and ambroxan.
All last for the rest of the wear.
The citrus duo fades after some time but leaves its sweetness. Once the citruses fade, so does the shower gel vibe. At this point, ambroxan starts to darken with an earthy and spicy nature. Yet, it never comes across as dirty.
The fresh and sweet aroma heads in a warmer direction. Most of the aquatic nature is gone, and ambroxan is left. It is prevalent but not an ambroxan bomb like Dior Sauvage.
Dylan Blue has above-average longevity and projection. You can spray this on and not worry about it for the rest of the day. But speaking of sprays, be careful. It doesn’t seem like it’d be too intense, but 3 sprays in an office building fill the floor.
It’s all-season and occasion versatile. If you live in a climate below 10F (-12C), Dylan Blue will struggle but performs well for the most part.
#5 – Mercedes Benz Select
This is an Aventus clone that you can throw in a gym bag and not feel bad if it breaks.
It is fruity and tangy from the start. It is a less fruity pineapple with more noticeable fresh citruses.
Within a few minutes, a warm amber is coming in, with smoky woods not too far behind. It is not to the intensity of Aventus’ smokiness but masculine and warm.
As the scent stops changing, the warm amber is the most prominent, with some musk nuances that have made their way in. These fresh woods, amber, and musk, are what you’ll smell for the rest of the wear.
How’s the performance? Bad. This struggles to last four hours and becomes a skin scent quickly. This lack of strength makes it exclusively a warm-weather fragrance.
#4 – Mont Blanc Explorer
The opening is just semi-sweet and fruity bergamot. Is there any pineapple? No, not at all. The citrus does its best to smell like it, but it is still not the same.
As the scent develops, it picks up some spices, and this is all I smell for 5 minutes.
After this period, it is more of an Aventus clone. The citruses will be kicked to the side with a heavy dose of ambroxan and wood. At this point, Explorer has a dense freshness.
This is not like Aventus’ smoky woods, but the blend of these two comes close. The longer they are on the skin, the darker and earthier their accents get.
As the scent finishes developing, there are some musk additions. The rest of the wear is fresh wood, amber, and musk.
This lasts seven hours on the skin, with average projection. But the good thing is that it is great for all seasons and occasions.
#3 – Dior Sauvage EDP
Right from the get-go, ambroxan is at full strength. It is undoubtedly dominant but not overwhelmingly intense. It actually tempers the harshness of citrus and pink pepper. Thus, the opening is smooth and only spicy enough to be awakening.
After a few minutes comes a more prominent vanilla and lavender. Both pair with the dominant ambroxan. This trio rules most of the opening, projecting exceptional warmth.
One interesting aspect of vanilla is its subtle, dark, and smoky accents. It won’t come off as mysterious but more mature.
In the mid are more spices and citruses. The spices are never assaulting but instead add an additional invigorating dynamic. The citruses are a contrast of both sharp and juicy.
In the opening, they were present, but much of them get overshadowed by the ambroxan.
All notes settle into place in the dry down. Again the citruses are washed over, and for the rest of the wear, it is ambroxan with subdued spices. The warmth of vanilla and lavender still remains but nothing notable.
When it comes to performance, Dior Sauvage EDP does it all well. It lasts 8 -10 hours off my skin and fills a room. The longevity and projection are beast mode, and it works for all seasons, occasions, and times of the day.
#2 – Parfums de Marly Percival
The opening starts with a blast of fresh citruses and floral lavender. Bergamot is noticeable in the background as it contributes a slightly spicy kick. Other citruses temper its strength, never allowing it to come to the forefront.
The floral lavender is particularly enjoyable. It comes off as very clean and authentic. Pairing perfectly with the fresh citruses and emphasizing the vibrance of the opening.
As the top notes settle, wafts of musk and ambroxan spew from the base. Both will be at full strength later in the wear.
The heart of the fragrance starts to develop after 15 minutes. Ambroxan jumps to the forefront, pushing the citruses into the background. They lend more of their fresh accents than actual smell at this point.
The lavender from the top gives way to the greater whole of aromatics. Most contribute floral accents, but the background has a fleeting green tone.
One of the most interesting parts of the mid is the use of hedione. It has been shown in research to act as almost a pheromone. Yet, I am unsure how much this translates into scent and attractivity.
Over time, the smell is continuously more ambroxan-dominated. Pushing the aromatic florals into the background. As the dry-down develops, it is dominated by subtle ambroxan and aromatic nuances for the rest of the wear.
Percival lasts 8 – 10 hours on the skin and projects moderately during that time. It isn’t a scent that fills a room but leaves a pleasantly sized scent bubble around you for the first few hours. This is all-season and occasion wearable.
#1 – Prada Luna Rossa Carbon
Ambroxan, bergamot, and lavender lead the opening. In the first 5 minutes, the bergamot is the strongest and fades into the background. Ambroxan has a slight metallic nature and will retain this tone for the rest of the wear.
I particularly enjoy this. The citrus contrasts nicely with the more “abrasive” pepper and metallic tone. Yet, don’t worry; neither is overpowering. Into the mid, lavender gains strength and brings a shaving cream aroma.
It is not a 1:1 comparison, but the key here is that it is exceptionally clean. For a large portion of the scent, it is the focal point.
Lavender is retained into the dry down, along with dominant ambroxan. Both work hand in hand to provide not only a rounded and clean aroma but also a very mass-appealing one.
FAQs
What Does Ambroxan Smell Like?
Ambroxan comes in all different “flavors.” Some can be metallic, almost salty, and animalic (in a good way). In contrast, they can also be smooth, warm, and mass-appealing.
Many of the best ambroxan fragrances are warm, musky, and masculine. There are tinges of wood and root-like accents and often a mix of sweetness here and there.
What Are The Benefits of Ambroxan?
Ambroxan is a synthetic compound, which makes it harder to degrade over time. Fragrances using natural ingredients may only have up to three years of shelf life.
However, when synthetic (man-made) compounds are used, the fragrances can last up to ten years with proper care.
Ambroxan is also a very likable fragrance. If you’re looking for a fragrance that is easy to wear and grabs attention, almost all ambroxan fragrances will be the right choice.
What is the Difference Between Ambrette and Ambroxan?
These are similar things, but an ambrette is a seed with oil extracted. This is placed into fragrances for a strong musk aroma.
Ambroxan, on the other hand, is a synthetic compound that mimics the smell of ambergris (a sperm whale’s stomach lining). This artificial ingredient smells musky but with warmer and woody-like smells.
Why is Ambroxan So Popular?
Many love ambroxan because it is easy to wear, mass-appealing, and gets more compliments than most notes in perfumery. This is exactly why some of the most popular fragrances today use it as their main ingredient.
Final Words
Even if you didn’t know it, you probably own a fragrance with ambroxan. There’s no getting away from this “perfect” note.
For me, a fragrance with ambroxan has always gotten the most compliments. They are also some of the first fragrances I grab in a rush.
So, add one of these fragrances to your bucket list. All of them are worth a try!
The best ambroxan fragrances for men are all phenomenal. However, don’t limit yourself to them; discover the longest-lasting fragrances for men.
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