Our take
What does Ambre Gris smell like?
Balmain released Ambre Gris in 2008, when Christophe Decarnin was its creative director. Guillaume Flavigny composed it, and it is worn by men and women alike. It feels warm from the first second. Cinnamon and pink pepper give a spicy sweetness close to mulled wine. The heart gets stranger. Immortelle brings its maple syrup and hay smell, myrrh adds a slightly bitter resin and tuberose stays muted. The base delivers on the name. Ambergris gives a salty, almost marine impression that benzoin and white musks soften. On some skins the drydown recalls the light smoke of a wood fire. Serge Lutens’s Ambre Sultan is more herbal and resinous. The Balmain version is saltier and airier. It has since been discontinued, which makes it hard to find. That is a shame, because few ambers handle salt this well.
When to wear it
An amber for autumn and winter, day or night. Two sprays are enough because it is strong.
It belongs to the Oriental / Amber, Spicy family. Ambre Gris is one of 7 creations by Balmain in our encyclopedia.
