Ambre Antique
Coty (1905)

COTY – AMBRE ANTIQUE

The perfume collector of 2021 is perhaps more familiar with the classic Lalique bottle for Coty's Ambre Antique than of the scent itself. The release date is listed on Basenotes as 1910, but another site states 1905.

The Lalique bottle, pictured above is tall, stoppered, and decorated with the images of Greek maidens encircling the face. The bottle was recreated for a limited re-release in 1995 and it is the scent in that bottle that I am reviewing.

My nose most prominently registers ambergris, but not in the intense concentration found in such ambergris classics as Creed's Ambre Canelle. It is a much softer and restrained ambergris. I also detect the modern amber scent, created in the laboratory. They are both supported by a lovely vanilla.

Unfortunately, my nose can detect none of the other notes. This is not a tragedy, as what I can detect is enough to place it as a superb ambergris/vanilla, singular in approach, soft and eminently wearable. Anyone loving the ambergris note will be pleased with this creation.

My spouse does detect the floral combo of rose and jasmine in the heart. He finds that the frankincense/olibanum/labdanum trio provides a slightly smoky grounding for the scent as a whole and that the orris and violet lend an aristocratic dryness, that greatly adds to the beauty. The civet is very restrained. Great projection to begin with, but it dries down to a skin scent. Eminently wearable by both men and women for all occasions. A soft perfume for a strong woman or man.