When I heard the name of the new perfume from A Dozen Roses, and saw the pretty bottle design, I immediately thought it would be a nice warm, woody fragrance with some rose notes in the heart, perfect for autumn. I really need to start looking at notes lists before I jump to conclusions about a perfume, because Amber Queen isn’t like that. I forgot that A Dozen Roses names their perfumes after actual roses, and that the names don’t necessarily reflect the scents. The Amber Queen Rose is a lovely floribunda rose in deep golden yellow. The perfume opens with fruit that also comes in lovely golden-orange colors: apricot and clementine. To say I was surprised by the fruit is an understatement; a bit disappointed, I had to regroup and re-try the scent on its own merits.
On my second testing, I applied lavishly. This is the kind of perfume that can take a heavy hand, and the aroma is better for it. Amber Queen is a fruity floral, with the above-mentioned apricot and clementine creating the golden glow on the rose accord that is a signature component of the line. The complexities of the fruit, with some subtle ginger, combine well with the rose heart. The notes list says there is amber and myrrh in the base, but it is too subtle to me, even after some time. The press materials describe this as a skin scent. I don’t completely agree; it doesn’t have the soft radiance a good skin scent has once it has settled in. It does have decent sillage, and average longevity.
There are many fruity florals on the market, to the point where it is has become a term of derision. It can be hard to remember that there are some nice ones, and that there are so many because the mass market consumer showed a preference for them at some point. In the scheme of things, Amber Queen does a good job of lifting itself above the fray. Perhaps it is because apricot is such a juicy, aromatic choice of notes that it helps the scent to stand apart. Also, there is no ubiquitous pink pepper, pink peony, or anything pink in the mix, which is welcome (not that there aren’t some good pink perfumes out there, just so many ho-hum ones). Fans of apricots and roses who enjoy a pretty bottle would be wise to seek this one out.
Notes: Apricot, Clementine, Ginger, Bengal Rose, Signature Rose Absolute, Amber, Myrrh
My sample was graciously provided by the nice folks at A Dozen Roses, who have also given us a lovely 8.5 ml rollerball to give away. Do you have a favorite rose breed you might like to see as perfume? I have always been partial to Cecile Brunner and Joseph’s Coat. Draw ends on September 1, 2012.
We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilt perfume.
-Tama Blough, Senior Editor