Tunisian Amber, Beeswax, & Balsam

[Seajewel]

No scent description.

 

[Casablanca]

Here's one that smells much as I imagined---it's really an occasion of "It is what it says it is."

 

Smooth beeswax merges with a deep, rich, balsamic amber. A good deal of warmth suffuses this blend, from the gold of the amber to the honeyed sweetness of beeswax, but the balsamic note adds an acidic sauciness. 

 

I tend to amp balsam, but for this one, I smell a lot of it on the wand, as well.

 

Lovely, smooth blend for beeswax and resin lovers.

[doomsday_disco]

This one isn't as beeswax-heavy as some of the other menages with beeswax (such as Beeswax, Lavender, and Acacia Honey and Beeswax, Cedarwood, and Bourbon Vanilla). It features a somewhat smoky yet tangy amber note (it's not as weird as NAVA's limestone amber, for those who are familiar with that, but it does have a twang to it), and I agree with Casablanca's description of this being like a balsamic amber. It is backed by the beeswax, but the beeswax isn't able to tame the smoky or acidic aspects of the amber on me.

 

I don't think I'm particularly fond of this amber note, or perhaps I would have needed more beeswax to smooth it over. But I'm glad it wasn't a win for me, because I really don't need all of the beeswax menages. I haven't tried an amber from the Lab like this one before, though, so it's definitely unique.

Edited February 27, 2022 by doomsday_disco

[dancingchair]

I mostly get the dusty, golden amber and balsam, but the beeswax is there trying to bind the trip together. The balsam is tangy and sour on me, which is a bit jarring compared to the thick and sweet beeswax. I think I was hoping for more resin notes, but maybe this will smooth out and get more resinous as it ages?

[Elspethdixon]

I love this one. The amber and balsam (doomsday_disco is right, it does remind me of NAVA's wonderful limestone amber, except the addition of the balsam makes this a little sharper and tangier) blends beautifully with the beeswax.  The whole effect reminds me a little of the beeswax/olive oil/candle smoke combo in Hanerot Halalu, except richer and without Hanerot Halalu's fresh/clean feel.

 

I'm tempted to upgrade my sample vial to a full bottle just so I can wear this during Hanukkah. 

[zankoku_zen]

Honeyed amber. The beeswax is lovely in this, and definitely big throw of honey and amber. Good throw and wear length.

[MamaMoth]

this one needs more love.  where my balsam peeps at?

 

i adore balsam and this one is toothsome and bitey,  super golden and resiny. it's gloriously radiant.  beeswax is such a great complement to balsam, creamy and sweet and adding to the golden glow while kind of blunting the sharper aspects of the resin. i love that pairing very muchly in no. 93 engine, and fans of that gc gem should definitely give this one a spin.

 

i can't totally track the amber in this because the balsam is SUCH A DIVA. but it's there, recognizably amber but unique.  it has a very interesting resiny tang to it that works really well with this set of notes. i'd like to find other blends with this amber in them for comparison though, because i can't completely tell where the balsam ends and the amber begins. 

 

i love it.  bottle, yes.  backup bottle, possibly! 

 

 

[Thuy]

I've been utterly obsessed with anything beeswax and amber, and since I've never had an issue with balsam, I FS'd this pretty blindly (decant came, sniffed it, and promptly got a bottle order in thereafter). tbh I don't truly know what balsam is or how it smells on its own.... Is it the weird tang I first get when wearing this? Maybe? I've never had an amber act/smell like that so that's my thought. Anyway, it's a weird bite to start and then settles into that gorgeous golden glow that I LOVE. Just a touch sweet. Great throw, can't get enough of it.

[Jenjin]

This is another one I was gifted a sample of and afterward had to find a bottle one way or another. There's a local designer i've purchased beautiful caftans from, and the first time she brought one over, it smelled exactly like this. When I asked what the fragrance was, she told me "Vetiver"? Yes, it even gives me Two Sheep and Two Goats vibes. I know there's no vetiver in this, but maybe its the balsam? Not sure, but my reaction is the same. I love this so much! It's rich and tangy, the earthy notes mix with with the creamy beeswax while the amber gives a golden glow. I am so happy to have found a bottle of this addictive stuff.