Amber Poivre

This is Perfume Parlour's budget interpretation of Ajmal Amber Poivre, an oriental spicy amber centred squarely on amber. It opens with a peppery snap of black pepper, warm nutmeg and a green hint of cypress, though, like the original, there's less pepper bite than the name suggests. The middle is soft and transitional, a blur of woody and floral notes leading down to the main event. The base is all warm, smooth amber wrapped in creamy sandalwood, clean musk, cedar and a touch of patchouli - that full-bodied, discreetly sensual amber the original is loved for. Ajmal's version projects a few feet for the first hours before going intimate over 5-to-8 hours; the dupe keeps the cosy amber character but renders it thinner and shorter, with the woods less rich. For an inexpensive, comforting spiced amber for cold-weather wear, it nails the mood for the money.