Amber Teutonic by DS&Durga

I tried several scents from this house and took home Amber Teutonic and Leatherize; I liked almost all of them. Amber Teutonic smells of forest, but not dark or with that damp earth and roots sensation found in other perfumes. Here it is crisper, with pine and a balsamic touch, like what remains the morning after using Vicks VapoRub. It sounds medicinal, but it suits me. It lasts well, starting strong before calming down for the whole day. I’ve heard it’s used for blending, and I tried it with Grand Soir by Kurkdjian: the result was warm, enveloping, with a darker vanilla. There are other ambers to try with it. For fragrances like this, I love perfumery.

I’m starting my first review of this house. The bottle is correct, minimalist and elegant. The scent emerges slowly, like a fuse lighting gunpowder. Then the woods appear: cedar, pine, spruce, with a refined spicy base, reminiscent of Ormonde Man but with more character. After half an hour, it balances out, becoming creamier thanks to the green mandarin, which adds a bitter citrus note and blends brilliantly with the spices. In short, a great perfume with personality, more innovative than the typical style. I loved it; I see it as masculine but certainly unisex. Ideal all year round except in extreme heat, suitable for formal or semi-formal occasions. Scent 9/10, trail 8.5/10, projection 8/10, longevity 8.5/10.

The first half-hour of Amber Teutonic is among the most original in amber: the dense, resinous opening clashes beautifully with characterful spicy, green, and piney notes. Then they fade in intensity and blend into the amber, leaving a creamy, smoky trail. It’s not a bad perfume; quite the opposite, it remains high quality, although in the dry-down it becomes more familiar yet still distinctive. I see it for cold weather, semi-formal and elegant outings, with good performance like other scents from the brand. It’s one of the house’s most famous fragrances, and for good reason. I recommend trying it, especially if you like amber; I personally prefer the opening. Rating: 7/10.