Wood of Asia

Wood of Asia opens warm and spicy, cinnamon and pink pepper lifted by a green whisper of thyme, the lively entrance that signs Armani Prive's Ambre Orient. The heart turns earthy and resinous, patchouli folded into French labdanum for a rich, balsamic depth. It settles into the powdery amber base the original is famous for, sandalwood and vanilla rounding the resins into a smooth, cosy warmth. Set beside Ambre Orient, the Perfume Parlour interpretation keeps that spicy-amber character recognisable but reads sweeter and heavier, wearers note it drifts onto the sweet side after a few hours where the original is masterfully airy, vaporous and delicate. Longevity is good for the price, though the original's room-filling, ten-hour projection stays out of reach. For a few pounds it delivers that warm, spiced-amber signature faithfully, a cosy, sensual pick for cool-weather evenings and dressed-up nights.