GUERLAIN
ABSOLUS ALLEGORIA AMBRE SAMAR

2025

cardamom
almond
frankincense

davana
amber
amber gold

tonka bean
benzoin
Patchouli

‘As tantalising as the night during a lunar eclipse. With over 200 years of perfumery excellence, nature remains Guerlain’s main source of inspiration and guidance for its olfactory masterpieces. Presenting a contrasting journey reminiscent of red moonlight piercing through the darkness, the Ambre Samar eau de parfum elaborates a spicy introduction of frankincense and cardamom into a rich climax of amber and tonka bean.’ – Harrods

Ambre Samar is not quite what I expected and ultimately, not what I enjoy wearing.

Straight away, this reminds me 100% of Guerlain Tobacco Honey, which is kind of strange, given how close to each other they were released. It has a very similar, raw, darker and slightly earthy sweetness.

This is less honeyed, but if you would’ve said that this was a honey scent as well, I wouldn’t have thought it strange at all. It’s very sweet, bordering on cloying from start to finish. Fiery, harsh due to the spiciness. More importantly… I think it smells like a more generic take on Honey Tobacco; as if it took its base construction and toned down the stand out (honey) facets.

It smells familiar for a sweet spicy and earthy scent and it doesn’t feel smooth or interesting to me, instead, it feels demanding and tiresome (basically, the negatives that Tobacco Honey also had, are what makes up most of my experience with Ambre Samar).

It doesn’t smell bad and it’s strong, so if this is the type of scent you’re looking for… I guess it’s solid. I wasn’t in the mood for it and found it hard to find highlights in the wearing experience.