Amber is a fragrance accord, often built up of resinous ingredients like benzoin, vanilla, tonka bean, labdanum, styrax, and a few more. It is a warm, powdery, sweet scent that is used to create oriental fragrances that convey a rich, spicy, and powdery feel. Amber is a "fantasy" perfumery note, which means it is a blend of natural and synthetic ingredients. It is not a unique ingredient, but rather a combination of other scents. The exact formulation of amber differs across different brands, with each makers individual interpretation of what amber is mixed in. Amber is typically found in the base of the best winter perfumes.
It is important to note that natural amber takes millions of years to form and is not used in perfumery. The term "amber" comes from the Arabic "Ambar" or French "Ambre" relating to Ambergris, a waxy substance found in the intestines of the sperm whale. Ambergris has been sought after since ancient times to be used in rare and high-end perfumery, but it is no longer used in perfumery for obvious reasons. However, it has inspired a very special synthetic ingredient called "Ambroxan".
In summary, amber in perfume is a fragrance accord made up of a blend of natural and synthetic ingredients such as benzoin, vanilla, tonka bean, labdanum, styrax, and a few more. It is a warm, powdery, sweet scent that is used to create oriental fragrances that convey a rich, spicy, and powdery feel. Natural amber is not used in perfumery, and the term "amber" comes from the Arabic "Ambar" or French "Ambre" relating to Ambergris, a waxy substance found in the intestines of the sperm whale.