Cardamom Amber Oil by Red Flower
October 17th, 2006
Cardamom Amber body oil is part of the Hammam Red Flower collection, “ritual-based body treatments founded on the principle of stimulating blood flow through the body by blending layers of exceptional ingredients and pure scents deeply into the skin” (Luckyscent.com). It is a body product, not a perfume, meant to be applied to both relax the muscles and scent the body. It’s also said to be high in vitamin E and fatty acids (and can be used as massage oil). All this intro aside, its scent is what appeals to me the most.
In spite of being just a body oil, it’s composed of quite an array of notes: cardamom, bergamot, rose, jasmine, litsea cubeba, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver, black pepper, sweet orange, apricot. It starts out very citrusy, with a slight lemongrass accord (litsea cubeba). The jasmine and rose appear gradually, with cardamom in the foreground. The drydown is perked up by black pepper, and there’s a slight “dirty” note that I attribute to ylang-ylang and patchouli, on a soft sandalwood base. The drydown is also my favorite part as not only does it convey my favorite cardamom in a most pleasing way but also fulfills on the promise of having an overall calming effect. Hence, I’d not wear it as perfume, especially considering its lamentable lasting power. I’d reach for it as a bedtime scent, for instance, or perhaps use it to layer with other scents (which I hear works very well).
Cardamom Amber oil is available at Luckyscent, Beautyhabit as well as other retailers.
Image source: www.luckyscent.com
Entry Filed under: Perfume Reviews
18 Comments Add your own
1. chaya ruchama | October 17th, 2006 at 6:05 am
Gosh, this sounds purty, Ms. I -
I love cardamom, added it to pumpkin pie the other day…
2. Elle | October 17th, 2006 at 7:19 am
Every single thing about this sounds like I should adore it, like it should be a HG. How could I *not* love something w/ cardamom as a key player? But the sad truth is that this did not work on me. At all.
I’m going to retry it, though. Maybe I’ve had a radical skin chemistry transformation…hope springs eternal.
3. Judith | October 17th, 2006 at 8:18 am
What a lovely coincidence! I just got this as an extra in a swap with a wonderful MUAer. Now I am covered in other samples, but I will find a place for this and put it on, and. . . .very nice! And I can see how it would be calming, too (something I need right now). An excellent bedtime scent, indeed!
4. Marina | October 17th, 2006 at 9:34 am
I love this one and need to get some more for winter. As you sad, it is an amazing bedtime scent!
5. Tommasina | October 17th, 2006 at 9:37 am
I love cardamom, too, and used to put it in coffee from time to time (can’t drink coffee now - boo hiss!) The other notes in this also sound wonderful, apart from lemongras which I love in Thai (and other) cuisine but not so much on myself. I think it’s bcs it’s rather close to citronella which I absolutely LOATHE with a passion. And it doesn’t keep bugs away from me, either!
Golly, aren’t I being negative? Sorry! It’s a day for that, though: wet and cold and nasty. Just like my native England, in fact - hah!
6. greeneyes | October 17th, 2006 at 10:20 am
I’ve been looking for a cream or oil for the winter that would layer nicely with some other fragances. May need to try this one…How’s the moisturizing factor?
Chaya, send me some of that pie!
Tommasina, cardamom in coffee? I must try this. My heart goes out to you that you can’t drink it anymore!
7. IrisLA | October 17th, 2006 at 10:30 am
Thank you for spotlighting this oil. Recently, I’ve fallen in love with cardamom. I must get over to LuckyScent to try this.
8. violetnoir | October 17th, 2006 at 10:37 am
Dang! Sounds like they should make a perfume out of this one, Ina. The notes sound divine.
Hugs!
9. March | October 17th, 2006 at 4:23 pm
Yum — I must try this one! I love to wear things to bed, but find it hard to pick something relaxing… I am surprised that it doesn’t last longer, given that it’s an oil, but at bedtime, who cares? I bet it would be great after a nice, hot bath, too.
10. Ina | October 17th, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Chaya, pumpkin pie! Yum!!!
11. Ina | October 17th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
Elle, I noticed that the reason I dismissed it last time was because I was put off by the top notes. You do need to wait for the drydown, for the best part. Maybe it’s the same for you.
12. Ina | October 17th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
Judith, you need to try layering it with something and let me know.
13. Ina | October 17th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
Marina, thanks to you, I was moved to try it again.
14. Ina | October 17th, 2006 at 6:24 pm
Tommasina, I detest lemongrass in perfume but it’s not prominent here, thankfully. We all need to vent once in a while!
15. Ina | October 17th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
Greeneyes, I haven’t used it amply yet but it seems to be great as far as a moisturizer. Yes, I must try cardamom in coffee, too!
16. Ina | October 17th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
Iris, glad to provide another reason to visit Luckyscent! Lucky you!
17. Ina | October 17th, 2006 at 6:27 pm
Robin, I know! I wish they would.
18. Ina | October 17th, 2006 at 6:27 pm
March, I think you’ll like it.
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