Hi there ULGers, Olympic Orchids is one of my all time favourite indie perfume houses. While doing the big cull clean up I can across a just over 1/10 full bottle of Olympic Amber by Olympic Orchids. Last time I used it there was at least 50% there so we’ve had some evaporation. What was once already thick, rich and luscious is now an extrait with teeth. It’s enormous, tapestried and utterly glorious.
From Olympic Orchids: This traditional amber was originally formulated as a base for other perfumes, but it stands beautifully on its own. A rich golden scent that will transport you on a jeweled magic carpet of olfactory delights.
Olympic Amber by Olympic Orchids
Olympic Orchids gives these featured accords:
Labdanum, vanilla, benzoin, incense, resins, cypress, patchouli, woods.
Vanilla rich labdanum. Furry, bed heady, a little pissy and the full, rich panoply of amber on display with what smells like a heavy dose of very animalic musks. If you are even a little amber averse then Olympic Amber will be your nemesis, your kryptonite.
The background is a very earthy patchouli, smoke and burned out campfires, sharp, green, freshly broken branches and cool breeze that’s come over lake water. You’ve smelled ambers before but they were polite and cuddly compared to this beast. A burnished amber that will rock you to your core, it may even pick you up like you’re made of cotton and give you a shake.
No other amber comes close. Don’t talk to me of Grand Soir, Musc Ravageur, Musc Koublai Khan or Prada Amber PH. These are all nice, polite, board room versions of the genre. In Olympic Amber we have the King of the Jungle.
There’s also the fact that perfumer Ellen Covey is a sweetheart, and bloody talented. If you’re going across to Olympic Orchids to buy their very affordable samples then I suggest: Olympic amber, Ballets Rouges, Chevalier Vert, Blackbird and Golden Cattleya as excellent starting points. Tropic of Capricorn and Lil are hard core, but favourites too. Just be aware that they are not doing international shipping currently. If you live outside the USA you will need a frag mule.
Do you think you could handle Olympic Amber?
Happy sniffing
Portia xx
Undina's Looking Glass 
This sounds fabulous!
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If you love amber Alityke, then this could be your perfect find.
Portia xx
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Sounds so good. I have a little bottle of Golden Cattleya and a larger bottle of Amber-Labdanum Oil from Olympic Orchids. Had a few samples, I recall liking Blackbird.
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Hey MMKinPA,
I still have some Amber-Labdanum Oil too. What a fabulous thing to drop into a bath. Softening and fragrant. Two drops and the whole apartment smells glorious.
Portia xx
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I adore “Night Flyer”, “Kyphi” and “Rain Forest”. Ellen is a master!!
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I think this one might eat me. I’m still getting used to polite ambers for the most part!
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HA! Come back when you’re a little more inured to the size and breadth of amber Nose Prose.
Portia xx
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Based on your description, Portia, it seems like Olympic Amber should be approached with the same caution as a lion’s den. Is it worth taking that risk?
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HA! I think mine is now extrait strength Flaconneur,
It didn’t used to be so enormous (in my memory anyway)
I’m not sure if I tried Lion’s Den.
Most of the big ambers need a little caution, in my experience.
Portia xx
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Lion’s den is not a perfume, Portia. LOL
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WHAT?!?! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Excellent name for one though.
HA HA HA HA HA
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Agreed.
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I won an Amber Labdanum oil at a giveway on APJ a long time ago. I still have a bit left and I really treasure it. I think it was the first time I understood what the meaning od these two potent ingredients is in the perfume industry.
Is Olympic Amber somehow similar to that scent?
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Hey Neva,
I love that. Glad to have been part of it with you.
Yes, they are similar but the fragrance is just a little more sophisticated, with a larger scent story and broader note list. Similar.
Portia xx
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A long time ago I’ve won an Amber Labdanum oil in a giveaway on APJ. I still have a bit left and I treasure it. It was then that I realized how powerful these ingredients are and how important they are in the perfume industry.
Does Olympic Amber smell similar?
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^^^^
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I stopped trying Olympic Orchids’ perfumes because none of those that I tried won me over AND I have an utmost respect to the perfumer, so I just didn’t want to keep being disappointed after trying another perfume everyone loved.
Interestingly, according to my notes, I thought that Olympic Amber was nice in the development, after the initial “dry phase,” but I decided that it wasn’t nicer than my other favorite ambers, so I moved the sample to the “Library” status.
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Interesting Undina, some houses just don’t work for some people. Money saved.
Portia xx
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