Le Labo · 2010 · Unisex
Another 13
Amber Woody
Developed by Nathalie Lorson in collaboration with AnOther magazine, Another 13 is a hypnotic and elusive composition built around a heavy load of synthetic animalic musk, ambroxan, and crisp pear. The fragrance opens with an unusual, clean metallic-fruity sharpness before melting seamlessly into the skin like a second nature. It creates an addictive, clean, and slightly hypnotic aura that smells uniquely personal to whoever wears it.
Longevity
9-11 hours
Sillage
Intimate and ethereal
Notes documented
8
Season fit
Spring / Autumn / Summer
The pyramid
Read top to bottom as a timeline, not an ingredient list. Top notes typically flash off in 15-45 minutes, the heart carries hours two to four, and the base defines everything after.
Top — first 45 minutes
How it wears
Documented longevity for Another 13 sits at 9-11 hours, which places it in the Parfum band (20-40% aromatic compound). Sillage is described as intimate and ethereal, so plan application accordingly: 1-2 dabs or sprays on pulse points.
The base is built on Moss, Helychine. These are low-volatility materials, which is why the last third of the wear smells markedly different from the opening — and why a five-minute test at a counter tells you almost nothing about whether you will like it at hour six.
In cold, dry air expect the projection to read weaker and the wear to stretch longer; in hot, humid air expect the opposite. Use the season calculator to sanity-check a specific month and city.
When to wear it
Occasion tags here are editorial judgements derived from the composition's family, note structure and sillage — not brand marketing. A fragrance described as intimate and ethereal sillage should be applied more sparingly in shared air such as offices, lifts and aircraft cabins.
Context
Released in 2010, Another 13 sits in the Amber Woody family. This library documents 7 other fragrances in the same family, which makes it a useful reference point if you are mapping the category rather than shopping for one bottle.
Note that any composition older than a decade has almost certainly been reformulated: IFRA amendments have progressively restricted materials such as oakmoss (atranol), coumarin and birch tar, and supply constraints on sandalwood and natural oud have pushed houses toward reconstructions. A bottle bought today is not chemically identical to one bought at launch.
If you like this, try
Ranked by shared base and heart materials plus family proximity — fragrances sharing three or more base notes tend to feel related after the second hour.
Parfums de Marly
Herod
Amber Woody · Men
Formulated by Olivier Pescheux in 2012, Herod is a majestic, regal tobacco fragrance named after the legendary purebred stallion. The fragrance opens with a rich, inviting spice fusion of warm cinnamon and black pepper. The opulent heart introduces sweet tobacco leaves blended with smoky incense, fruity osmanthus, and labdanum. The warm, comforting dry-down wraps the wearer in a creamy blanket of rich vanilla, cedar, and musk. It is an effortlessly sophisticated and warm masculine masterwork.
Guerlain
Shalimar
Amber Oriental · Women
Crafted by Jacques Guerlain in 1925 and inspired by the legendary love story of Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal, Shalimar stands as one of the absolute masterpieces of amber oriental perfumery. The fragrance opens with an intense, sparkling burst of citrus dominated by crisp lemon and bergamot, which rapidly transitions into a dark, powdery, and deeply resinous heart. The core is anchored by a generous overdose of natural iris and smoky vetiver, creating an intriguing tension between cool, earthy elegance and smoldering warmth. As it settles onto the skin, Shalimar reveals its true identity through a legendary dry-down of rich, animalic vanilla, smooth leather, opoponax, and incense. Rather than a modern, linear confection, this composition demands patience and skin chemistry interaction, shifting continuously over many hours. It is an unapologetically dramatic, opulent, and historical olfactory journey designed for those who appreciate complex vintage architecture and profound depth in fragrance.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Baccarat Rouge 540
Amber Floral · Unisex
Created by Francis Kurkdjian to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the crystal manufacturer Baccarat, this modern phenomenon plays on the alchemy of crystal, fire, and minerals. The fragrance introduces itself with a sharp, medicinal, yet luminous touch of exotic saffron paired with transparent jasmine petals. Rather than relying on heavy traditional florals or sugars, the core features an ethereal, airy ambergris accord known as ambroxan, combined with rich amberwood that projects an unmistakable crystal-clear warmth. The dry-down introduces a contrasting woody backbone of resinous fir balsam and crisp cedar. Its paradoxical nature—simultaneously sweet, salty, airy, and dense—creates an optical illusion on skin where it seems to disappear and reappear to the wearer throughout the day. It has redefined contemporary luxury through its remarkable projection and singular chemical signature.
Tom Ford
Black Orchid
Amber Floral · Unisex
Developed in 2006 by fragrance house Givaudan under Tom Ford's vision, Black Orchid was conceived around the quest for a custom-grown, pitch-black flower with deep, complex narcotic properties. The opening is a daring, opulent juxtaposition of earthy black truffle, damp soil nuances, and lush dark fruits balanced by bright bergamot. At its heart lies a proprietary illusion of a deep black orchid note, layered with heavy dark spices, lotus wood, and rich florals that lean toward the gothic. The dry-down is an indulgent gourmand-resinous blend featuring dark Mexican chocolate, warm incense, heavy patchouli, and creamy vanilla. It challenges conventional gender boundaries in perfumery with its dark, brooding elegance, offering a heavy, atmospheric aura that demands confidence and cold-weather alignment.