History of AMBRE ANTIQUE | Infiniment Coty Paris

AMBRE ANTIQUE, A MYTHIC FRAGRANCE

It took more than a century for one of modern perfumery’s great fragrances to be reborn. Created by Coty in 1905, Ambre Antique is once again available today as a limited edition. This legendary fragrance called for years of meticulous research to bring it back to life, much to the delight of fragrance lovers and collectors alike.

Amber fragrances, warm and enveloping compositions in which vanilla, resins and spices mingle to evoke the softness of sun-warmed skin, have become one of the most important families in modern perfumery. It is therefore an immense source of pride and pleasure to have revived what was once considered the very first amber fragrance of modern perfumery: Ambre Antique.

OLFACTIVE ARCHEOLOGY

Ambre Antique was able to return to life thanks to a meticulous, almost archaeological research process. The original formula, carefully preserved in Coty’s archives, was reweighed in accordance with the savoir-faire and techniques of the time. Yet some of the ingredients themselves had disappeared.
The very particular quality of bergamot used in the original composition was no longer being produced, and Coty succeeded in sourcing it once again. As for Ambréine S, the iconic base that defines the fragrance, no two perfumers could agree on its original formula.

Coty's Technical Perfumer, embarked on a long and fascinating research journey to solve this olfactive mystery. Without revealing all of its secrets, it can be said that Ambréine S (the “S” referring to its creator, chemist Samuelson) was born from an accidental initial overdose of vanillin on a bed of bergamot, combined with other ingredients to create an exceptional amber aura. Today, Coty has exclusive access to this ingredient and has incorporated it into three other exceptional fragrances from the Infiniment Coty Paris collection: Les Osmiums Extraits de Parfums.

Recreating a fragrance faithfully 120 years later is no simple feat. The fragrance complies with IFRA regulations, the International Fragrance Association, which sets the safety standards governing the use of raw materials in perfumery, and is also vegan.

THE RAW MATERIALS

Beyond its vintage allure, Ambre Antique is, paradoxically, remarkably modern when experienced today. Its formula combines Ambréine S, vanilla and bergamot with an array of precious ingredients, while its exact composition remains, to this day, a closely guarded Coty secret.
Among them are Mediterranean absolutes of Damascena rose, Grandiflorum jasmine and iris, lending the fragrance a subtly powdery floral facet. Orange blossom, tonka bean, musks and woody notes complete this exceptional trail.

A DISTINCTIVE BOTTLE

Ambre Antique is presented in the signature bottle of the Infiniment Coty Paris collection, subtly redesigned to house this exceptional fragrance. The back of the bottle features an exclusive decoration: a golden illustration inspired by La Danse des Parfums, the 1913 advertising poster created by artist Georges Goursat, known as Sem.

On the front, a golden medallion recalls its year of creation, 1905, like a great vintage. An objet d’art produced in just 1,905 individually numbered bottles, a tribute to the year in which it was created.

AN EXTRAORDINARY RECEPTION

Ambre Antique is more than a memory from the past. It is a deeply sensual fragrance that feels remarkably avant-garde. One hundred and twenty years later, it transcends gender and has received a response beyond all expectations.
Only a few bottles of this limited edition remain available today.

Discover Ambre Antique