Amber Chocolate by The Lab

Almost no one and I mean very few enjoys BR540 dupes but this is the only one I can stand. It doesn’t make me fall in love but I do wear it. That turn into burnt dark seductive chocolate really throws me off. At first it smells like Orientica’s Amber Rouge but less synthetic and without that toothpaste fluorine scent. Here the dark chocolate is strong from the start with hints of clove and saffron that don’t smell like sweat. It evolves a lot and gets closer to the original Baccarat Rouge thanks to the resins and spices but it never loses its identity; the similarity feels accidental or like an improved BR540. The drydown matches By The Fireplace—sweeter and less woody. I see it as very sexy and unisex. It was a disaster in the heat but a marvel in the cold. Ideal for those seeking an elegant BR540 version or something spicy with chocolate as the star. These perfumes make me regain faith in gourmands. I don’t see myself wearing it but I’d love to smell it on someone else. Edit: (11/25/2024) I wore it in heat and humidity and as I said it’s a disaster; it smells like synthetic chocolate with banana and cinnamon. Don’t buy it blindly if you live in the heat; test it in the cold because the heat ruins it. Presentation: 4/10 (nothing standout for something expensive) Longevity: 8/10 (lasts almost eleven hours) Sillage: 7/10 (starts strong and fades gradually) Originality: 4/10 (too many similarities) Versatility: 6/10 (so heavy it’s only for cold nights) Season: Fall and Winter (a nightmare in heat) Scent Profile: 5/10. Would I buy again?: No.

Very well-developed and pleasant aroma reminiscent of Baccarat Rouge 540 but instead of caramelized sugar there’s dry chocolate; combined with soft tobacco it makes it more masculine. Lasts easily 24 hours on skin and survives two or three washes on clothes. It’s a deceptive fragrance like all from this house: you have to test the sprays because if applied too lightly it’s skin-scent but if you overdo it you’ll have to wash yourself because it’s too much.

This is my second favorite from this niche house after Neroli Noir. It’s the essence of what I understand by seductive fragrance: sweet and fragrant without being cloying like a spoonful of ganache perfect for the night. My wife loves it; when I hug her she can’t help but press closer to my chest to feel it better. I feel it doesn’t have much sillage but its longevity is notable.