Above Us, Steorra
Above Us, Steorra is Aesop in warm spicy amber mode, built around cardamom, cumin, resin and a dry, non-gourmand vanilla. It can open sharp and savoury, then smooth into a softer, cozier skin scent that lingers better on fabric. Best in cool weather, it feels unisex and quietly distinctive. If cumin tends to go sweaty on your skin, this is one to.
Similar Suggestions
BETAFragrances with the nearest note and performance profile.
For more in-depth suggestions.
Performance Metrics
811 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Performance looks moderate overall, with projection usually reading intimate to moderate rather than bold. Some wearers find it fades faster on skin than expected, while others notice the scent lasting well on clothing and fabric. It usually wears as a close, personal scent after the opening.
Notes Pyramid
Search these notesChoose where each note belongs.
This is a warm spicy, aromatic amber with cardamom and cumin up front, then pepper, cinnamon and resin pushing through the middle. The vanilla is real but restrained, adding softness rather than sweetness. Overall it feels dry, textured, slightly balsamic and more cozy than creamy.
Main Accords
12 MAPPEDThe warm spicy accord leads from the first spray, but it is not a smooth spice blend for everyone. Cumin gives the fragrance its most distinctive tension, sometimes adding depth, sometimes tipping it into a sweaty or sharp effect. Amber, labdanum and vanilla soften the structure later, while incense and elemi keep the dry down airy enough to avoid heavy sweetness.
Community Data
601 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in fall and winter. The vote picture leans most toward night.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Warm spicy amber profile with a dry vanilla base
Interesting cardamom, resin and incense facets
Dry down is softer and more appealing than the opening for many wearers
Works especially well in autumn and winter
Usually feels clearly unisex
Subtle projection can suit daily wear
Can linger nicely on clothing and knitwear
Distinctive if you enjoy cumin-led spice
Less sugary than many modern amber-vanillas
Comforting, cozy mood once settled
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Cumin is strong enough to be a deal-breaker
Opening can read sweaty, sharp or bodily on some skin
Not a safe blind buy
Projection is often softer than the notes suggest
Longevity may feel only moderate on skin
Price can feel hard to justify
Some wearers find it too familiar or unoriginal
Vanilla lovers may want more sweetness
The composition can feel simple rather than rich
The opening and dry down may feel disconnected
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Aesop Above Us, Steorra Review”
Above Us, Steorra takes Aesop into amber territory, but it does not arrive as a plush, sugary amber. This is a spice-led composition with cardamom, cumin, pepper, cinnamon, frankincense, elemi, labdanum and vanilla, and the first impression on many wearers is clear: the cumin matters. If that note works for you, the scent can feel warm, textured and quietly sensual. If it does not, the opening may be the whole problem.
The start is where reactions split most sharply. Some describe it as an enveloping cloud of spice and resin with a soft vanilla edge. Others get a sharper, more bodily cumin effect that pushes the fragrance into sweaty or savoury territory. That makes this less of an easy crowd-pleaser and more of a personal skin test fragrance. It is not especially sweet, and it does not aim for the glossy comfort of a typical vanilla amber.
Once it settles, the tone usually becomes easier. The dry down is where many positive impressions land: softer amber, calmer spice, a smoother vanilla thread, and a resinous warmth that can feel cozy on scarves, knitwear and jackets. Several wearers specifically mention better longevity on fabric, which fits the way this fragrance seems to bloom through small lingering traces rather than big projection. The dry phase is the strongest argument in its favour.
In wear, Above Us, Steorra usually stays moderate at most, often closer and quieter than its note list suggests. That can work well if you want a cool-weather daily scent with intimacy rather than force. It also means some shoppers will find the price hard to justify, especially when the composition already reminds them of other spicy amber styles. Originality is not the strongest part of its profile, even for people who like it.
The fragrance feels most at home in autumn and winter. It suits evenings, but its softer trail also makes it wearable in daytime if you keep your expectations realistic. The unisex positioning makes sense. It does not lean lipstick-powdery or barbershop-clean. Instead it sits in that middle ground of spice, resin and dry warmth, with enough aromatic lift to stop it from turning flat.
The main buying question is simple: how do you feel about cumin in perfume? If you enjoy that lived-in, textured spice effect, Above Us, Steorra may come across as cozy, sexy and quietly luxurious once it settles. If cumin often goes sour or sweaty on your skin, this can be a frustrating wear. More than most recent releases in this style, it rewards sampling over blind buying.
FAQs
What does Aesop Above Us, Steorra smell like?+
It smells like a spicy amber with cardamom, cumin, pepper, cinnamon, resin and a dry vanilla undertone. The overall effect is warm, aromatic and slightly balsamic rather than dessert-sweet.
Is Above Us, Steorra more spicy or sweet?+
It reads more spicy than sweet on most impressions. The vanilla is present, but it usually sits underneath the spices and amber rather than turning the fragrance gourmand.
Does Above Us, Steorra have a strong cumin note?+
Yes. Cumin is one of the most discussed parts of the scent, and several wearers find it prominent from the opening. For some that adds character, for others it feels too sharp or sweaty.
Is Above Us, Steorra unisex?+
Yes. It generally wears as unisex, with a balanced spicy amber profile that does not lean strongly masculine or feminine.
How long does Above Us, Steorra last?+
Wear is usually moderate. Some people report better hold on clothing than on skin, and the scent often becomes softer and closer after the opening.
How strong is the projection?+
Projection is usually moderate to intimate. It tends to sit fairly close compared with louder amber-spice fragrances.
Is Above Us, Steorra good for everyday wear?+
It can be, especially if you like understated spicy fragrances. Its softer projection makes it easier for daily use, but the cumin-heavy opening may not feel easy for everyone.
What season suits Above Us, Steorra best?+
It fits autumn and winter best. The warm spices, amber and resinous base feel most natural in cooler air.
Is Above Us, Steorra a safe blind buy?+
No. The cumin note is polarising enough that sampling first is the safer choice, especially if you dislike savoury, sweaty or very aromatic spice facets in perfume.
Does Above Us, Steorra smell like vanilla?+
Yes, but not in a sugary way. The vanilla usually comes through more in the dry down, where it softens the spices and adds warmth.
Rankings
Full rankingsWear Diary
0 COMMUNITY WEAR LOGSKeep sprays, longevity, weather, and compliments in one practical log.
Sign in to keep private wear notes.
Compliment Signal
FROM WEAR LOGSReviews
No owner review yet. You can be the first.
Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCOREThere is some overlap in mood with other spicy amber and resin fragrances, and wearers have compared its territory to scents such as Ambre Sultan, Eau des Baux, Marrakech Intense and Diptyque 34 Boulevard Saint Germain. Those are best treated as rough style references rather than direct dupes, because the cumin balance here is unusually central and very skin-dependent.
No User submitted dupes yet. The first useful DupeScore can come from your community.
Live questions about Above Us, Steorra
Ask one quick question and let the community weigh in while it is live.
No live pulse yet.
Trusted Sellers
Community-submitted stores that regular buyers trust, by country.
No trusted sellers added for this fragrance yet.
Where to Sample
Discovery sets, official samples, and trusted decants.
No sample or decant options shared for this fragrance yet.