I smell the amber right away, my skin has an unfortunate reaction to amber which is to turn it into a playdough smell, no matter how small a daub I put on.
BUT...once the amber dries, and mixes with the other scents, this turns into a lovely sophisticated blend. It reminds me of my mom getting ready for work. I could imagine her donning this, her houndstooth jacket and skirt, her hose and jewelry. This fragrance is not girly-sweet floral, and not too "headshop" either but a strong career woman scent. I love it.