ASTROPHIL & STELLA
AMBERLIEVABLE

2020

PERFUMER
Luca Maffei

Orange Blossom
Bergamot

Amber
Ylang-Ylang
Opoponax
Elemi

Vanilla
Sandalwood
Guaiac Wood
Cedarwood
Patchouli

I sampled the original starting releases from Astrophil & Stella and Amberlievable was my favorite. The other standouts from the (unexciting overall) line for me were Moonage Daydream and 8 Days A Week.

As the name suggests Amberlievable is an amber fragrance, but those come in a lot of different varieties. I’d say Amberlievable leans heavy on the woods and patchouli first. It’s very resinous and sweet as well, especially in the drydown, but it’s not an amber accord that goes in a gourmand direction for me (more so a woody, smoky benzoin).

Instead the woods are nice. I mainly get a dry wood vibe in the opening. It reminds me a bit of a less dense Francesca Bianchi Sticky Fingers, with an tobacco-like smokiness. There’s a brighter tinge with citrus and ylang-ylang as well, but after a couple of minutes I couldn’t really detect it anymore.

Within the hour it becomes sweeter, but it’s never cloying The fragrance becomes smoother texture-wise and everything begins to blend into one all-encompassing scent for me at this stage. Sweet, smooth, resinous, woody. It’s a mature scent, dark, but at the same time subtle.

It’s easy to wear, because the projection seems to be on the moderate side. The first time I wore several of the samples from the house at the same time and Amberlievable wasn’t as noticeable as some of the others, despite being a darker scent profile. I don’t think it’s a negative and the longevity and performance overall is solid.