Fun side note: I interviewed perfumer Denise Estrada for Fragrantica in June 2012–almost ten years ago to the day! Many brands have come and gone in that decade and when I started researching solid brands to feature on the blog, I was happy to see Mélange Perfume is still in the game. Happier still, while they’ve changed a great deal since 2012, the solid perfumes that were a hallmark of the brand in 2012 are still a pillar of the business and several new solid scents were introduced in 2022.
Perfumer: Denise Estrada
Size: 0.56 oz. Lots of bang for the buck.
Base: beeswax and jojoba oil (the magical combo!)
Vegan-friendly: No, due to the beeswax, but the brand also offers plant-wax and oil-based perfumes, lotions and body oils. A similar Tonka Bean, Tuberose & Chocolate scent is available in the brand’s vegan-friendly Luxe Body Crème format. All products from Mélange are crueltry-free.
Natural or Mixed Media: Mixed media–the ingredients list includes essential oils and fragrances.
Fragrance Description by the Brand: from the listing on Etsy: “New scent for 2022! This blend contains rich Amber and floral note Indian Tuberose, paired with Cocoa Noir & fruit notes. Wear your Solid Perfume Single alone or combine with others to create a unique fragrance blend. The perfect size for a handbag or travel because when you love your perfume it should go everywhere with you! Our favorite? Layer this perfume with Madagascar Amber / Amber, Plum & Vanilla.”
Notes: Amber and Indian Tuberose, paired with Cocoa Noir and fruit notes.
Longevity: I get about six hours on skin (lasts a little longer under clothing)–very good performance for a solid perfume.
Sillage: Intimate, fading to a skin scent in the last couple of hours.
Fragrance category: Amber, Floral Amber
The experience: While browsing the brand’s Etsy shop this spring, I noticed they had launched multiple new Solid Perfume Singles for 2022, and I immediately bought their new Amber, Chocolate & Tuberose, after a slight vacillation between this one and Saffron & Sandalwood. (As luck would have it, the brand sent me a Saffron & Sandalwood sample with my purchase, so I got to try it anyway. That one is also full-size worthy, plus its dusty woods and beautifully bittersweet saffron layer quite nicely with my Amber, Chocolate & Tuberose scent.)
I find aspects of other commercial fragrances here–chocolatey bits from Angel or Vera Wang Princess, head shop Amber oils, ethereal white floral summer scents like something from Elizabeth Arden or Bath and Body Works–but this scent is still unique. Perfumer Denise Estrada has done variations on amber, chocolate and floral notes in her palettes, perfume oils and solid singles, so clearly she understands these notes well and knows how to use them to best effect.
Amber, Chocolate & Tuberose occupies that rare space between edible gourmand and sweet floral, transcending gender and season, instantly likable and highly wearable if you’re comfortable in this space. The floral and fruity notes give it a little bit of a suntan lotion vibe, but the amber and chocolate add a sheer black veil of depth and mystery. I knew as soon as I put it on that it was going to become a spring and summer staple for me. I’m sure those lovely amber and dark cocoa notes will sing beautifully in the depths of winter.
Blending/layering of fragrances is part and parcel of the Mélange brand, and they offer a series of solid perfume palettes designed just for this, as well as suggesting other fragrances in their line that may blend with the scent you purchased. Further, I received the aforementioned sample of Saffron & Sandalwood in my package, as well as a sample of the Amber Noir Hydrating Body Oil. With notes of amber, vanilla, patchouli and benzoin, the body oil is the perfect complement to my Amber, Chocolate & Tuberose perfume, as well as amazing on its own. I’ve earmarked it for future purchase.
Occasion(s): This one seems suitable for any occasion. It works well with a lighter touch for daytime/office. Applied more liberally, it will work well for nighttime, clubbing, etc.
Season(s): The fragrance will work well in any season.
Gender considerations (Note: I include this information for people who may find it valuable, though I believe all fragrances are unisex and you should wear what you love): This is a unisex fragrance that leans a degree or two towards the feminine.
Where to buy: on the official website, in the brand’s Etsy shop, on the brand’s Amazon storefront.
Price: at the time of this publication, $20.
Availability: Mélange Perfume products are available for U.S. and international shipping.
All images by me.
Solidly Scented 
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