Our take
What does Ambre d'Alexandrie smell like?
Boucheron added Ambre d'Alexandrie to La Collection in 2017. Jean-Christophe Hérault composed it and says he drew on Alexandria as a city of encounters and opulence. The opening pairs bergamot with a narghile accord. You smell sweet and smoky tobacco with a fruity edge, like a water pipe that has just gone out. The heart sets resinous, slightly leathery cistus on creamy vanilla. The base combines ambergris and benzoin balm. They give an animal warmth that stays smooth and never dirty. Serge Lutens' Ambre Sultan is drier and more herbal. Next to it, Ambre d'Alexandrie feels round and clearly more vanilla. It is a very comfortable luxury amber. The downside is a lack of surprise. After the first hour it resembles many niche vanilla ambers, even if it does the job better than most.
When to wear it
A winter evening scent for skin and coat. Two sprays are enough since it radiates for hours.
It belongs to the Oriental / Amber family. Ambre d'Alexandrie is one of 18 creations by Boucheron in our encyclopedia.
