Hey there ULG, Here’s a bit of a story. Back in 2015 the gorgeous Tara from A Bottled Rose sent me a package. It must have arrived with a few other packages. Maybe I was about to go off on a holiday, moving house or extremely busy but these packages all got put in a box. On top of the packages were a few small sniffed sample packs and some papers. Over the six years the box has been in various places in my office and I never went through it, thinking they were only already sniffed sample sets. Slowly, through the last year I’ve been going through my boxes and finding lost treasures. This box is one of the last to be explored and what treasure! Tara sent me a big decant of Tart’s Knicker Drawer by 4160 Tuesdays and a pair of Amyris 5ml(?) manufacturers samples! WOW! So let’s meet this 2012 duo together, eh?
Amyris Femme by Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Orange, Lemon blossom
Heart: Amyris, Iris
Base: Ambergris, Vetiver
I had a decant of this way back when. Gosh! Now I know why I loved it so much. Like a cologne style but with a lighter, more relaxed approach. The opening is like a breath of fresh air. Softly citrus white floral with green accents. So elegant and utterly unisex. Amyris Femme is a full blown version of those perfectly soft whisperings of the magnolia inspired perfumes. This smells like a perfume for someone who is unafraid to change the air around them and get attention.
Not a blockbuster by any stretch of the imagination, no reflection of those 1980/90s superscents, here we have a fully fragrant expression of refined and luxurious life. I know MFK is quite an expensive brand but Amyris femme smells expensive, thoughtfully produced and beautiful to me.
Amyris Homme by Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Virginia cedar, Brazilian tonka bean absolute, Saffron, Caribbean amyris, Florentine iris, Sicilian mandarin orange, Moroccan rosemary
So interesting! The opening for me is greenery and citrus with a resinous background. Very pretty, slightly sweet. I would never have picked it as being made for a masculine market. The underlay seems to be one of this ubiquitous modern woodsy bases but tricked up a little to give it more depth and breadth. There also seems to be a lightly salty aquatic note through the heart that is very interesting and really helps to make the fragrance shine. I am finding the whole fragrance a completely unexpected journey. The tonka keeps it sweet but not sugary or ice creamy. Considering this was created 10 years ago I’m surprised it smells so avant-garde.
Amyris Homme smells like a sweet woody L’Eau d’Issey flanker with luxe ingredients. I really like it.
Did you ever wear these Amyris perfumes?
Portia xx
Undina's Looking Glass 
Your perfume room really is a treasure trove Portia. It’s no wonder things get buried occasionally. I’m happy you found the samples and enjoyed them. Whenever I have a clear out I always come across something interesting/useful.
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It’s so weird Tara,
We were so busy when you were in OZ that the perfume room got a little overlooked. Next time let’s plan at least two days clustered away in here so we can look in every cupboard and box.
Portia xx
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I’m not sure if I tried these or not. I can’t recall. There was one MFK scent from 2 or 3 years ago that smelled like a hair salon with lots of hairspray, but I’m pretty sure it was NOT this one. I’ll sample both of these now. I’m still wallowing in my sample of Diptyque’s new Orpheon, love it! It’s woody, with some white florals and tobacco and remarkable long lasting. Normally, Diptyque’s scents don’t last long on my skin but this one is an EDP and it’s still there 24 hours later. I think I’m going to buy it with whatever deal I can get in the Sniffapalooza zoom event this Thursday. I’ve missed the last few of the Sniffa zooms, but this is the one I really wanted to attend, so I’m happy!
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Remarkably– I do know how to spell!
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OOOHHH Ricky! Orpheon sounds wonderful. I will go get my sniff on it next week when I’m in town. 24 hours! That’s a huge longevity.
Have fun with the Sniffapalooza crew.
Portia xx
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I’m sure that I tried Amyris Femme at some point, but I didn’t have a chance to get to my database on my home computer today, so I can’t even tell you what I thought about it. Definitely, it wasn’t anything I thought I needed in my collection, but I’m not really sure why – whether I disliked it completely or it was just fine, but since I don’t like MFK as a brand, I decided not to pursue it.
But I think it’s funny that you hid it that well :) Good you didn’t throw it away.
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HA! Yes, well I do this thing when I’m packing stuff up to holiday or move. I put everything in a box and say to myself I’ll deal with it when I get back/move in. Sometimes I get home and have a day or two to do the washing, write trivia & organise everything. On those times I’ll find whatever box is around and go through it. Other times I’ll arrive home and have to work that night. Then things get frantically put aside to find the things I need right then & there.
Going through the perfume room has offered up a few such treasures this past year.
Portia xx
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Hey Portia, I love surprises!
If I recall correctly, I preferred Amyris Homme over the Femme, which was uncharacteristic of me. They are both very well done!
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Hey there Hajusuuri,
Normally I'[m not much for surprises but finding lost perfume is one I can definitely deal with. Anytime.
Yes, I think I like the mens more also but will happily wear these decants to empty.
Portia xx
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I had never heard of these, or amyris as a note, but am a sucker for all things magnolia – soft whisperings or otherwise! – and Amyris Femme sounds delightful.
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