Amber 7: Behind The Scent

Exquisitely crafted to enchant and captivate through a rare symphony of ingredients. 

A journey composed upon the skin, Amber 7 transports you to lands both mysterious and bold, leaving a long-lasting trail of elegance and sensuality. 

As we celebrate the launch of Amber 7, we look at the history of amber fragrances, break down the amber accord and dissect the ingredients which make up our newest scent. 

Amber 7 is a fragrance centuries in the making. 

The Amber we’re likely to recognise is the golden gemstone, formed from the fossilised resin of the Baltic tree, initially used in jewellery as an ornamental centre-piece. Prized for its unique yellow-brown hue and natural beauty, the gem has been used for over 4,000 years. 

It wasn’t long before alternative uses were explored, and the burning of the resin – called ‘anbar’ in Arabic – by ancient Arabian perfumers brought with it a unique, warming scent which established a global reputation.  

Before long, Amber was widely traded through ancient trade routes, but its status as a rare, difficult to source ingredient, made the resin highly sought-after and expensive, reserved for only the most discerning clientele.  

After centuries of use, the advent of modern perfumery brought with it the prized Amber accord we know today.

There can be some confusion over what exactly Amber is.  

Rather than being a single note drawn from the golden amber resin, the Amber accord as found in Czech & Speake’s newest fragrance Amber 7 is actually a complex combination of notes.  

Created with the introduction of synthetic vanilla in the early 1800s, this ‘modern Amber’ is composed of vanilla, benzoin and cistus, which combine for a unique depth and complexity, creating a scent which is warm, powdery, woody and sweet.  

Vanilla is a much-loved perfumery ingredient, lending Amber its signature soft, sweet powerdyness. And whilst vanilla can bring a moreish gourmand element to an accord – as seen in our Ausonia Eau de Parfum – the introduction of heavier woody notes in benzoin and cistus works to create a charming depth and complexity which ensures Amber’s status as an accord like no other.

Amber 7 is a proudly unique fragrance in the Czech & Speake collection, but if you are wondering what scent is close to Amber: the scent sits in the woody family, closest to our Spanish Cedar and Frankincense & Myrrh fragrances. 

When it came to creating Czech & Speake’s newest fragrance, founder Frank Sawkins sought to reinterpret and modernise the timeless Amber scent. 

Not that this process was simple. After years of development, it was the seventh version (inspiring the name Amber 7) which proved perfect. 

Grounded yet modern, Amber 7 opens on a symphony of light, bright notes, including sharp lime, verdant eucalyptus and aromatic rosemary.  

A debut note for Czech & Speake, eucalyptus is well-renowned for its energy-inducing therapeutic benefits: its forest-like scent, with hints of honey and citrus, have seen it used for centuries to revitalise and relieve stress. 

These lighter notes give way to a mid of ginger and myrtle. Another debut for C&S, ginger is a warm, spicy note which adds a fiery depth and energy, plus well-documented health benefits.  

As these notes mellow down to an exotic woody base, the amber accord sits alongside a bouquet of rich, comforting notes – including golden hay, smoky cedar and earthy patchouli – to create a long-lasting warmth and sophistication.