The title derives from the slang expression "to put on the Ritz", meaning to dress very fashionably, and
Prada Amber Pour Homme dresses you that way. It was 2006 when the city was full of billboards with the image of a guy lying on a bed, shirtless, wearing only a coat, his hands in his pockets and a dark look. That was the advertisement for
Prada Amber Pour Homme. I luckily had a chance to own and rock the original version, a powerful bomb with huge performances. There are very few colognes that accurately smell just like shaving soap and only a handful that falls in the general ballpark. Anyone who needs a lesson in what "soapy" smells like should try Amber Pour Homme. It doesn't get any soapier than this.
I don't know where to start with this scent apart from maybe.... bows down at the feet of the nose behind this scent! The first time I smelled Amber pour Homme it was one of those times you have to keep smelling and keep smelling. It's gorgeous and the amount of compliments it draws is astounding. This is the first male fragrance that I've tried that I can classify as luxurious. Even a whiff of powdery iris raises in the heart, that's the Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone.
I love that fragrance, it has a rich sensual opening with very slight notes of old-fashioned barbers soap, a bit almondy, and a touch of powdery lavender that gently dies down through the course of the day. By the very end of the day, the fragrance declares itself over with a delicate yet luxurious note of vanilla, very long-lasting. How to describe it? Amber pour Homme is a downy soft scent to my nose but with a masculine twist. It smells powdery, sure, it smells like a warm, fluffy but masculine blanket. It's got sweet amber with a touch of powdery lavender soapiness. It starts pretty soapy strong but will mellow into something smooth, calm, and unique while its sweetness remains from start to finish.
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| Prada Amber pour Homme |
Prada didn't make this to sell by the millions as it is very unique but I like the fact that I don't smell like every other guy when I wear this. It is so unique and I love it, I also love the bottle design very simple but looks elegant.
Prada Amber pour Homme is sophisticated rather than overly masculine or sexy. I'm not saying that it isn't pleasant, because it most definitely is, however its cleanliness and subtlety is what I find differs from other scents. And believe me or not, I have not even found a clone akin or closely akin to this overall scent. There aren't any particular notes that stand out in this composition. They all tend to blend nicely, creating an almost soapy, powdery, and creamy-like quality, but there’s so much more going on than that. There’s a sweet, earthy, muskiness to it that is strong and bold, yet strangely calming.
I've read that perfumer
Daniela Andrier created
Prada Amber pour Homme centered on four accords, and in my humble opinion I could detect the following: fresh Cologne, here I get a brief rich blend of fresh cardamom and citrus peels on the first spray, clean Fougère, here the soapy accent from lavender is smooth on my skin, thereafter rich Amber, and I smell trails of powdery vanilla, sweet yet not cloying tonka, resinous myrrh, and modern patchouli, and finally warm Suede, again I get a rather prominent base note of saffron and tinge of sandalwood. The outcome is outstanding, it's executed beautifully in the drydown of Amber, with a musky finish that is both soft, warm, and breezy, like summer air through the bathroom window after a shower. The opening plagued me, it stank like aviation fuel, not gasoline, I kind of get that. It's a definite olfactory uppercut but doesn't smell bad to me (if you are anything like me, the fuel accord in CD Fahrenheit suits you).
Then comes the heart, the myrrh note here is awesome and crystal clear, a niche level takes on the note that positively smolders on my skin. It's backed up by a hot, dry, powdery amber. I don't get much patchouli, at least not the medicinal and dirty one, it functions here to smooth out the edges of the fragrance and give a sort of warm, creamy glow to the whole thing.
Afterward, saffron and leather blend beautifully together and are an iconic combo like rose and oud. The leather gets some added depth, and the animalic nature is enhanced with a floral twinge. I do get the musk which is a sort of golden vanilla musk, ephemeral wind through the window as aforementioned.
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| Prada Amber pour Homme |
Although I think it’s appropriate for most occasions, I most like wearing this to the office. Once it’s given time to settle on my skin, its perfect for public transport and closed office space/meeting rooms. Don't get me wrong, the original version was so powerhouse that anyone could detect it far away, the room was flooded by the soapy and powdery accords, yet the most recent release is watered down, the overall essence is the same but ain't stronger anymore. It stays with me nearly all day and when I do get a whiff it’s instantly relaxing. The top notes are quite powerful to me, so I always try to put this on ahead before walking out the door. It lasts a good 8 hours on my skin and I’ve had a lot of compliments when wearing this. So far I’ve only used this in an Italian Fall and Winter. I’m not sure how it will carry itself in the coming warm Spring and hot Summer, but I imagine that if it’s not over-applied it would do just as nicely during the evenings and nights out. This fragrance may not be "love at first smell" for some but I felt it's the type of fragrance that will grow on you...as one gets to smell and know more of the various accords of this luxurious perfume. Fellows, whenever you're in skepticism about how you should smell, wear
Prada Amber Pour Homme, there is absolutely no way you can go wrong with a fragrance that mimics smooth, masculine soap.
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