Tender Amber Intense by Zara

OK, OK, OK. I picked it up at a bargain price (eight dollars; in Chile it’s worth thirty). What could I lose? Nothing. What a surprise. It smells sweet and floral but with a totally masculine vibe. Is it a dupe for Erba Pura? I’d say about fifty per cent. I’ve tried several dupes and most smell the same, but this one has its own path. It’s unisex, with a heavier masculine weight, rich and super versatile: it works in the office, outdoors and for nights out. The performance is brutal. Zara has been criticised for this and has fixed it with this fragrance. It lasts about eight hours on the skin and the trail is noticeable for two hours. Bkn for Zara; I recommend it one hundred per cent.

Simply exquisite. And the best part is that it lasts more than fourteen hours on the skin.

This Zara option is a hit. The aroma is fairly linear from the opening to the dry-down, but it’s rich and distinctive. They say it resembles Xerjoff’s Erba Pura, which I haven’t tried, but it is very similar to Al Haramain’s. I liked it, although I’m not sure if I’d use it much because, although Zara perfumes usually don’t last long, this one has been spectacular. I applied it to my arm alongside other designer scents, worked out, showered and after eight hours it was still the only one I could smell, with no trace of the others. The next day I still had a hint of aroma, though very faint. If you like it, go for it. In the end, it tired me a bit due to the intensity after hours.

Writing this, I have Tender Amber Intense on one arm and Erba Pura on the other. I can only agree with Zara’s approach here. Although theoretically they are different (Erba Pura is citrus, fruity and vanilla; this one is fruity, floral and amber with incense), in reality they are about 80% similar. Yes, Erba Pura is more projecting, intense and long-lasting. Tender Amber Intense feels like a slightly more masculine, versatile and, above all, cheap version in the good sense: you can tell it’s quality. Both aim for a synthetic fruity explosion at the start. It didn’t click for me at first, but it deserves a second chance. Over time, I’ve fallen more in love with that rich, smoky amber and incense dry-down that lasts hours on the skin and days on clothes.

This one is worth it. Although the previous version didn’t disgust me, it didn’t passion me either. But the Intense adds that dark touch of incense and is a hit. The previous one came across as more ‘pretentious’, whereas this is more ‘rugged’. If you’re looking for Erba Pura alternatives while avoiding a loud scent, you’ll find something here that you might like. Control the sprays because four or five is enough to be delightful. For now, Zara is doing very well with the latest Intense releases, giving it ten out of ten.

Tested with two sprays on the skin. Immediate reaction: excellent. It smells clean, floral and ambered. Its longevity seems a bit weak, but ideal for spring and summer, and at the price you can overapply without fear.