Amber
Rag & Bone (2016)

I like this amber: I get dry notes like tobacco leaves and saffron, verging on bitterness, but the golden amber behind it is sweet enough to leaven that. It's unisex for sure and fairly balanced on my skin. That all being said, it's not unique enough to merit a full bottle and the price is too high for the lack of originality. I much prefer their Oddity or Encens.

I smelled Rag & Bone's new line on paper in the store and of the eight scents, I believe I was most drawn to Amber, especially considering how season-appropriate it is in the cooler weather, but also since it's a note that I've been loving more and more as of late.

Rag & Bone's Amber is certainly dominated by amber, but the booziness created by the combination of rum, cognac, and plum is a pleasant sweetness that provides a sustained brightness to mi that is only countered slightly by tobacco and oud in the dry down. The oud is barely noticeable at all, and the tobacco is rather subdued, especially relative to the sweet, boozy notes. The amber itself seems detectable from the opening so I'm surprised it's listed as a base note, but its lifespan in the fragrance does far exceed the rum, cognac, and plum, so it's appropriate in that respect as a base note.

Amber is a tough sell at $140 for 50ml, even for a solidly-performing EDP, and even as a slightly more versatile option, as this fragrance, while certainly cold-weather-leaning, is nonetheless probably workable for a warm weather night as it's not so heavy-handed with the darker notes, as the case is more or less with Tom Ford Amber Absolute and By Kilian Amber Oud, a couple of my amber favorites.

Rag & Bone's Amber is most analogous to Tauerville Amber Flash (also EDP concentration), however, and in that respect, the price points are very different, as Amber Flash is $65 for 30ml and Amber is $140 for 50ml, so in a smaller quantity, Tauverille's pricing is still better.

Overall, I like this one a lot, and in the absence of other amber-dominant fragrances, I might be more inclined to spring for it, but given the current climate of amber availability, I won't be opting for this anytime soon. While pleasant, it's simply not unique enough to merit the price tag. And it's possible that like as with niche quality fragrances launched by other retailers primarily of apparel, these may not have a long shelf life and may go on clearance soon enough (I'm thinking of the Coach Leatherware trio, in particular). So keep watch.

8 out of 10

Smells like toned down Bentley Intense, but very very similar to my nose. Boozy with some sweetness, dries down to a sweet boozy vanilla.

A slightly boozy Neroli opens the top notes, which is characterised by a somber freshness. The drydown sports a light and fresh fruity note - plum indeed but a bit anaemic, and the boozy notes is still present at this stage. The amber that gives this product its name arises in the drydown and continues well into the base. It is a light amber that is characteristic enough to be taken seriously, but is lacking any dark and harsh side.

The base expresses and additional tonka impression, whose sweetness is not overwhelming but blends in discreetly with the amber and the - fading - fruitiness. The tobacco side is rather perfunctory on me, resulting in a touch of soft spiciness more than anything else.

I get moderate sillage, very good projection and six hours of longevity on my skin.

A nice scent for cooler spring or warmer autumn days, it is a bit predictable but overall solidly crafted. 3/5.